There are jewelled watches and there are excessive jewelry watches. As proud symbols of technical and artistic mastery, they’re particularly singled out by main jewelry homes as a part of their annual excessive jewelry collections. Historically, a excessive jewelry watch is a ‘secret’, a rare-gem-set bracelet with a tiny hidden watch dial designed to offer the wearer possession of a pleasant shock. Like a hidden door, the timekeeping component of a excessive jewelry watch is engineered to mix seamlessly into the jewel design. This not solely hides a tiny watch dial however the quantity of the quartz watch motion required to energy it.
This yr, Cartier, Chaumet and Chanel provided notably graphic takes in three playfully fashionable designs.
Three 2024 excessive jewelry watches
Chaumet ‘En Scène’ Tango
Chaumet’s ‘Tango’ secret watch in white gold, rubies and brilliant-cut diamonds
(Picture credit score: Chaumet)
The jewelry home at 12 Place Vendôme has a robust historical past in watch design and, on this proud Paris Olympics yr, it might have been a welcome shock to see a resplendent return of Chaumet’s sporty Class 1 design – a jewelled divers’ watch for girls created within the Nineties. Hopefully, it will likely be revived someday quickly. At this time, excessive jewelry watch iterations are the important thing focus at Chaumet and the sheer simplicity and graphic pleasure of the performance-inspired ‘Tango’, in white gold, juicy rubies and brilliant-cut diamonds, makes it a winner. There’s no hiding it’s a watch slightly than a bracelet, however the now-you-see-me-now-you-don’t ‘secret’ cowl creates sufficient sparkle to make you itch to see what’s occurring beneath. The diamond-row lugs and sheeny, black satin strap nod to Chaumet’s inherent French stylish in watch design. Did I point out, how a lot I’d like to see a excessive jewelry return for the Class 1…
chaumet.com
Cartier ‘Nature Sauvage’
The Cartier ‘Nature Sauvage’ excessive jewelry watch permits the wearer to verify the time with a fast twist across the wrist
(Picture credit score: Cartier)
Probably the most enduring nature motif in excessive jewelry, the Cartier Panthère slinks into watch design with ease. In reality, Jeanne Toussaint, the girl who launched the wild cat to Cartier in 1914, launched it on a ladies’s wristwatch. This yr’s ‘Nature Sauvage’ excessive jewelry Panthère watch is engaged in a gem-encrusted recreation of cover and search. A tiny, bevelled watch dial is seamlessly set into the clasp of a daring, white-gold Panthère bangle, resplendent with oval Ceylan sapphires, diamonds, emeralds and black lacquer. This, after all, permits the wearer to discreetly verify the time with a fast twist across the wrist.
cartier.com
Chanel ‘Quilted 2.55’
The Chanel ‘Quilted 2.55’ excessive jewelry watch is designed to be worn on the again or to the entrance of the wrist
(Picture credit score: Chanel)
The horological star on this yr’s Chanel’s ‘Haute Joaillerie Sport’ assortment, designed by Patrice Leguéreau, director of the Chanel Jewelry Creation Studio, is a gently humorous addition to the jewelled-watch style. It was Richard Mille who, simply over 20 years in the past, steered sport-watch design in direction of its luxurious juxtaposition of specialist super-tech materials and treasured supplies. Introducing that up to date combine to the hallowed world of French excessive jewelry design, nevertheless, is a daring transfer on Chanel’s half. The ‘Quilted 2.55’ bracelet watch additionally bends the course of custom in its homage to the home quilted motif, now reinvented as a performance-fabric mesh design. The perfume-bottle-stopper diamond dial with its good red-lacquer arms could be worn to the entrance, as is the norm, or slid across the wrist and ‘hidden’ on the again. The clasp, within the traditional 2.55 design, is not a hidden technical should however a stunning ornamental element.
chanel.com
Supply: Wallpaper
