11 dazzling high jewellery watches that tell time in fabulous fashion
- Luxury brands have outdone each other with sophisticated gem- and diamond-encrusted timepieces, from Bulgari’s sleek Serpenti to Piaget’s Limelight Gala and Rolex’s new Day-Date 36
Gems continue to be a source of inspiration for watchmakers this year. From blinding, full-pave dials to rainbow gems-set bezels, we take a look at the sparkling timepieces that have caught our eye.
1. Jaeger-LeCoultre
The Rendez-Vous is a contemporary design that has quickly become one of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s flagship ladies’ watches. It’s the perfect counterpart to the brand’s iconic Reverso, with its round case and playful interpretation of a round dial. With or without a moonphase, or in some cases a tourbillon, there are plenty of details on the dial to admire.
This year, the watchmaker transformed the elegant and understated silhouette by adding sparkle to the design. Instead of a single line of diamonds around the bezel, the watch now comes in a new version with a second row of larger diamonds surrounding the case. Solitaire-setting techniques used in jewellery-making allow more light to penetrate the diamonds, and the result is the Rendez-Vous Night & Day Jewellery, which sparkles with 186 diamonds weighing a total of 3.52 cts.
2. Piaget
Taking a page from its history books, Piaget opted to transform several of its flagships this year, including the Limelight Gala and Possessions, all presented with more diamonds than before. The watchmaker, however, marries the sparkle of diamonds with the shine of gold to create stunning timepieces. The Extremely Lady and Limelight Gala are interpretations that feature supple gold bracelets. The gold straps are hand engraved to give off a slightly muted glint that complements the high shine of the bezel.
3. Hermès