Ever Changing Time

PRODUCTION AND PHOTOGRAPHY EMILY MINCHELLA

INDOMITABLE

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“Panthère de Cartier” has returned in its spectacular new avatar! This jewellery watch of the 80s – born in 1983 – brings back the joys and panache of a liberated time, memories of legendary evenings which go perfectly with Cartier’s favourite animal. We are dying to see how the millennials will make this style icon their own, an icon built to marvellously adapt to any sort of personalisation thanks to its perfect form, its wonderful chain link strap and its disarming allure.

“Panthère de Cartier” watch, small model, casing and crown in 18 carat gold ornate with a blue sapphire, quartz movement, waterproof to 30 metres, Cartier.

SPORTY

It is difficult to think of a more iconic watch than the “Royal Oak” with its steel casing, its octagonal bezel held down by eight hexagonal screws, its Tapisserie dial, its integrated strap, its elegant and sporty design, with its roots in the mind of prodigious designer, Gérald Genta, the watch hasn’t aged a day since its first presentation in 1972. We find it again this year, with pleasure, in its chrono version (“Royal Oak Chronograph” just had its 20th birthday), black, brilliant to a fault, ornate with enlarged counters, a new font, tracings and new finishing touches.

“Royal Oak Chronograph” watch, casing and strap in stainless steel with a folding clasp, black dial with Grande Tapisserie motifs, silvered counters, index dial markers and hands in grey gold with a luminescent coating, 2385 self-winding calibre, waterproof to 50 metres, Audemars Piguet.

ICONOCLASTIC

Artist and visionary are the two words that always come to mind when we think of Jacob Arabo: this self-made man was only 16 years old when he began work as an apprentice, two years after his arrival in the United States. Even though his name has, for a long time, been associated with jewellery (the biggest stars in the world wear his designs), it is because of his exceptional watchmaking skill and extraordinary creative zeal that all enthusiasts in search of a strong sensation are seduced. Launched in 2013, the “Epic X Chrono” collection did, most certainly, set a horological benchmark from which this superb house of immense character has continued to maintain its excellence.

“Epic X Chrono Gold” watch, casing in rose gold and ceramic, 47 mm, skeleton Bi-Compax Chronograph JCAA05 self-winding movement calibre, mineral crystal dial, waterproof to 200 metres, watchstrap in rubber or alligator, folding over clasp in rose gold and titanium, Jacob & Co.

DAZZLING

Laurence Graff is undeniably the king of diamonds, a league of his own. This phenomenal English jeweller is so attested not only by the superior quality of the one of a kind stones he offers his cliental, but also, since 2008, by the excellence of his vision and watchmaking skill. Graff watches are loyal to the essence of the Maison: dazzling and posh. The casing of this glimmering watch, an aureole of baguette cut diamonds was thought of and constructed primarily around movement which would be precise at every centimetre resulting in absolute comfort and complete visual harmony. The last word in comfort and class.

“Baguette Diamond Watch” in white gold and 146 baguette-cut diamonds, Graff.

TEMPTING

With its 27mm dial, finely lacquered and engraved sun, its casing delectably curved in stainless steel and rose gold, the new variation of the iconic “Serpenti” by Bulgari shows us its versatility. We love watchstraps that wrap around the wrist in Elephant Trunk Snake skin: a water snake, non-venomous with a singularly thin and supple skin which brings to mind the skin of a lizard. It requires careful tanning treatments after which the leather feels comfortable on the skin, soft and smooth. The watchstraps are available in a wide range of tones which are easily interchangeable – a single click and you’re done!

“Serpenti Skin” watch in stainless steel set with diamonds, mother of pearl dial, quartz movement, watchstrap in snake skin, Bulgari.

SIGNATURE

Now, a watch which gives the wearer the very art, so dear to Gabrielle Chanel, of twisting elements of a masculine wardrobe to fit a woman. Its shape brings to mind the emblematic watch “Première”, its aesthetic and signature form prescribe perfectly to the horological vocabulary of the house. The watchstrap print, created by the enmeshing of fine steel wires, is remarkable and took several months to attain the desired tweed-like motif and acquire an incredible softness making it almost part of one’s skin when worn. The octagonal shape of the buckle when opened will inevitably remind you of la Place Vendôme and the mouth of a Chanel N° 5 bottle.

“Boy.Friend Tweed Noire” watch in stainless steel set with 64 brilliant cut diamonds, stainless steel watchstrap with a tweed motif, folding buckle in stainless steel, Chanel Horlogerie.

IRRESISTIBLE

One need not present the “Reverso” by Jaeger-LeCoultre. It is an exceptional watch by the maestro, the legend without compare, full of character. Its graphic sobriety and geometric simplicity hasn’t stopped, for a second, to exercise its irresistible charm over several decades now. A legitimate trend of its own: a manifestation of the style and philosophy of Art deco which comes across with ease on every wrist and effortlessly adapts to any occasion thanks to its reversible casing (diamonds for the evening and steel by day) by three emblematic gadroons.

“Reverso Classic Medium Duetto” watch in stainless steel, diamond encrusted, Jaeger-LeCoultre 854B/2 calibre, mechanic movement with manual winding, battery reserve, watchstrap in alligator leather, Jaeger-LeCoultre.

EXTRAORDINARY

You will be surprised to know up to which point women maintain a true interest in everything which concerns the mechanical precision of the most exclusive timepieces. Nothing surprising, however, about what, in the Richard Mille prodigies, has them so keen. He, who never stops from stupefying us with the ultra-modern architecture of his watches, on a fine line between creative madness and fundamental research. With his top quality skeleton movement, this automatic watch, in the shape of a barrel, extra flat, will live up to the standards of the most exigent of enthusiasts of sporty, chic and high-tech models.

“RM 67-01 Automatique Extra Plate” watch, extra-flat casing in titanium, skeleton movement, self-winding with hours, minutes, dates and function indicators, rubber watchstrap, Richard Mille.

CHARISMATIC

Created in 2002, the “Tambour” watch marked, with a bang, the beginning of Louis Vuitton watchmaking. The new collection, “Tambour Moon” brings a new expression of this symbolic timepiece and completely takes on its feminine role with a delicate, circular casing, a new curve in the shape of a croissant and a concave section which houses a divine play of light and reflections. We adore everything, especially the little second counter placed at 6, with its monogramed metallic flower in rose gold, which counts sixty seconds in one complete rotation.

“Tambour Moon Star Petite Seconde Blanche” watch, stainless steel casing 28 mm, dial set with 12 index with decorative heads, quartz movement, waterproof to 50 metres, interchangeable watchstrap, Louis Vuitton.