Chanel
Glyptic, an ancient Egyptian technique for sculpting semi-precious gemstones, was used on creating the decoration on the dial of this Mademoiselle Privé Coromandel watch. This adds depth and realism to the oriental kingfisher scene that is inspired by Coco Chanel’s Coromandel folding screens. The hand engraved motif, set on an onyx plate, is made from coral, opal, beige gold, mother-of-pearl and turquoise and finished with Grand Feu enamel. This beautiful timepiece with quartz movement is caged in a 37.5 mm white gold case set with 635 snow-set diamonds.
Van Cleef & Arpels
The mother-of-pearl dial of this enchanting Lady Arpels Ronde des Papillons timepiece is decorated with hand engraved gold plates featuring a miniature painted poetic scene of three coloured butterflies and a swallow flying between the grey clouds against a blue sky. This lovely scene is captured by a 38 mm white gold case with a bezel set with diamonds. The watch has a self-winding mechanical movement and an alligator strap with a white gold pin buckle set with diamonds.
Bulgari A Bulgari Haute Joaillerie brooch from the 1930s was the main source of inspiration for this Serpenti Incantati watch. Its refined 30 mm pink gold case in snake design is set with 79 brilliant-cut diamonds, 30 baguette-cut rubellites and 1 rubellite and encircles a snow–set pavé dial with 116 brilliant-cut diamonds. This striking timepiece has a quartz movement and is fitted with a brown satin strap featuring a pink gold buckle set with 20 brilliant-cut diamonds.
Hermès
The delicate art of miniature painting was used on the mother-of-pearl dial of this Slim d’Hermès Mille Fleurs du Mexique. The colourful composition was inspired by a Hermès silk scarf designed by Laetitia Bianchi who looked at Mille Fleurs tapestry from the 15th and 16th century and the folklore of her native Mexico while creating this image. This idyllic scene is framed by a 39.5 mm white gold case housing a mechanical movement and fitted with an alligator strap.
Christophe Claret
Moving around a white lacquered daisy with a ruby heart a male butterfly on the minutes hand chases a female butterfly on the hours hand on the dial of this lovely Marguerite watch. This poetic scene, framed by a red gold 42.5 mm case set with diamonds, can be enhanced by pressing the pusher at 2 o’clock to start a “He loves me, he loves me not” game. The self-winding mechanical movement is visible through the sapphire glass on the caseback which is sculpted like a daisy and set with eight rubies.
Cartier
Since 1914 Cartier has been using the panther on ladies watches as a symbol of sophisticated elegance and confident femininity. The dial of this Panthères et Colibri watch shows a resting panther with a hummingbird flying around her. After pressing the crown a cub shows up from underneath its mother’s belly to chase the bird. This scene occurs against a rhodium-finished white gold background set with 11 brilliant-cut diamonds. The panther motif is made of rhodium-finished white gold set with 270 brilliant-cut diamonds, black lacquered spots and a pear-shaped emerald eye. The dial is framed by a 42.75 mm white gold case set with 314 brilliant-cut diamonds and housing a mechanical movement.
Jaquet Droz
The Year of the Monkey inspired the artisans at Jaquet Droz to design this Monkey-themed version of the emblematic Petite Heure Minute. A 35 mm red gold case set with 232 diamonds surrounds the ivory Grand Feu enamel dial featuring a miniature painting of a tree jumping monkey. The watch is equipped with a self-winding mechanical movement and fitted with a brown alligator strap.
By Ruud Van Slooten[:]
