DE GRASCDSONO – Occhio Ripetizione Minuti
The Occhio Ripetizione Minuti from 2005, famous for its camera shutter-like aperture dial that reveals its movement when the minute repeater mechanism is activated, returns with a glitzier redux version.
Courting a new generation of moneyed moguls is a spectacular diamond- encrusted variant featuring baguette-cut stones (totaling 18ct) that encircle the dial, pave the case flanks and embellish the lugs.
Glitz aside, the Occhio’s aforementioned signature calling cards reprise their roles on both the case architecture and the hand- winding movement designed in collaboration with Christophe Claret.
Aficionados can pause to admire the action of the hammers and gongs through the sapphire case back, which also showcases the movement’s finely polished screws and meticulous finishing on the anthracite grey bridges and plates. Available in matte blackened 18K white gold with black alligator strap.
CORUM – Golden Bridge Lady
Horizontal is the new vertical, according to Corum. On the cusp of its 30th anniversary, the brand’s iconic linear Golden Bridge mechanism adopts a reclining position in an upsized 41 x 34mm case.
Like Old Master portraits of reclining nudes, the Golden Bridge Lady provides an intimate panorama of its inner beauty. Neatly suspended in mid-air between two sapphire crystals and decked out in resplendent 18K gold, the C0113 movement (dubbed the ‘baguette’) displays its barrel, wheels, gear trains, mainplate and bridges to glorious effect.
On the horizontal flanges, 144 diamonds accentuate this mechanical marvel like stadium floodlights. A further 108 brilliant cuts set into the gently curved case band act as framing devices for this masterpiece, bringing the total carat count to 2.5.
As a parting shot, the crown is set with a mother-of-pearl appliqué. Available in 18K rose gold with a white crocodile strap or 18K white gold with a black crocodile strap.
CHOPARD L.U.C – Tourbillon Lady
12 years, female admirers of Chopard L.U.C’s high complication watches have had to contend with just that – admiration. But that has changed with the Tourbillon Lady, the venerable brand’s first foray into dedicated women’s complication watches under its L.U.C in-house manufacture.
But Chopard knows only too well how diamonds are a girl’s best friend sightings of its signature Happy Diamonds collection have been known to send hot-blooded women into ecstatic frenzies – so it has liberally paved the dial, bezel, case, lugs, even crown and cabochon, with bling-bling diamond, all 8.6 carats of them.
Tear yourself away from the dazzle of the brilliants and the baguettes, and you’ll notice how the Tourbillion Bridge morphs into an elegant letter ‘C’. Blued steel hands contrast beautifully against the crystalline purity of the dial that does away with numerals and indexes. For busy bees flitting from meetings and events to cocktails and soirees, the four-barreled L.U.C 4T Calibre works as tirelessly as you do, giving nine days of power reserve, which is indicated by the pointer at ’12′.
The final act of seduction comes in the form of the transparent case back, which reveals the immaculate movement in its hand-finished, Geneva-striped splendor. Limited to 25 pieces each in 18K rose and white gold with a hand-stitched black alligator strap.
PIAGET – Altiplano Small Seconds
Though surprisingly sedate for a Piaget jeweler watch, this newcomer should go down well with the genteel set more accustomed to high tea at The Peninsula than bacon-and-egg ice cream at The Fat Duck.
The Altiplano Small Seconds displays its classicism with the assurance of one well established in the genre. Corralled by 48 brilliants (totaling 1.5 carats) on the bezel, the gorgeous brush-finished silver dial plays host to stylized numerals and a small seconds sub-dial at ’10′, ringed by 30 brilliants (0.1 carats).
The latter’s asymmetric positioning delivers just the right dose of eccentricity to offset the strict geometry of the 30mm square case. At its core, an ultra-thin manual winding movement: Calibre 450P, with a thickness of only 2.1mm.
This being a Piaget Manufacture, the finishing on the mechanism is second to none: Circular Cotes de Geneve, circular-grained main plate, beveled bridges and blued screws – a delightful vista visible through the sapphire case back. In 18K white gold with a white alligator strap.
