Bejeweled Ladies Watches Dazzle at Baselworld
At Baselworld 2015 one prominent theme for men’s watches was updating classic designs, but the most talked about timepieces for the ladies were all about bling! For some makers of luxury watches diamonds are truly a girl’s best friend, along with sapphires, rubies and more sparkling jewels. When it comes to extravagance the sky’s the limit at this year’s Baselworld expo.
The Fascination by Graff
This watch has been called the world’s most expensive transformable timepiece and given the price it should be versatile as well as elegant. The Fascination from Graff is adorned with 153 carats of dazzling white diamonds fashioned into a cuff bracelet. As a centerpiece Graff has placed a 38.13-carat pear-shaped diamond that can be removed and worn as a ring. This stunning watch should be able to do double duty since the tab for this piece is $40 million.
Graff Tassel Secret
Equally versatile (and decadent) is the Graff Tassel Secret watch, which can be worn as two individual brooches or as one brooch with tassel. The “secret” of this item is that the tassel conceals a tiny pave diamond watch dangling from a platinum chain. The complete piece contains 330 carats of sapphires plus 40 carats of diamonds for a spectacular blaze of bling. Another “secret” is that the beaded tassel holding the watch is made from meticulously matched sapphire beads that create a three- dimensional look from any angle.
Les Eternelles de Chanel “Secret Watches”
The house of Chanel has been known for enduring elegance and the latest line of High Jewelry watches from the brand are both luxurious and timeless. The three diamond-studded timepieces all owe their inspiration to the legendary Coco Chanel and her passions for comets, feathers and camellias. All have a “secret”—a watch that can be discreetly hidden but easily revealed. (Secrets seem to be very “in” this year.)
Chanel first used the comet as a design in her 1932 Bijoux de Diamants collection and the modern Comet Secret Watch combines diamonds and sapphires into a cuff bracelet adorned with stars. The largest of these can be moved to show a watch face composed of baguette sapphires.
The Camellia Secret Watch features three camellias in a pave setting composed of 45 carats of diamonds. A push on one of the smaller flowers causes the largest to move aside, revealing a watch dial of 34 baguette diamonds.
The Plume Secret Watch is inspired by the feather, which is represented by a diamond feather deftly concealing a dial of pink baguette diamonds.
Hermès Arceau Ecuyère Aventurine Watch
More understated than the lavishly bejeweled watches above, the Arceau Ecuyère Aventurine timepiece from Hermès evokes a starry sky against a stone dial of dark blue aventurine surrounded by white diamonds on the crown, bezel and lugs. Set into the dial are 26 diamonds, while 74 Top Wesselton VVS diamonds adorn the case. A rose-cut diamond marks the crown and the piece is finished off with a matte indigo blue alligator strap.
Baselworld 2015 is officially over but more on the new watches from the show will be coming next week.
