enamel

Van Cleef & Arpels Extraordinary Butterfly Watches Hands-On

Last month in Geneva, luxury watch brand and jewelry maker Van Cleef & Arpels was nice enough to invite me into their world and spend some time telling me about their brand and unique perspective on watch making. I had the opportunity to see an artistic side of the haute horology watch world that I didn't know existed. High-end art watches are particularly interesting to me because they are functional art ( they tell the time in addition to looking good).

I previously discussed the Van Cleef & Arpels Extraordinary Butterfly watches here. After praising them, I thought it would be a good idea to follow up after checking them out myself. Note that these are of course women's watches, sized at 38mm wide in 18k white gold, and liberally decorated with fine, large diamonds. Each of the watch dials is totally hand done, and each of the five watches comes in a limited edition of just 8 pieces. After seeing the watches, this makes sense. To capture the high level of quality you just can't mass produce these things. The dial colors really jump out at you - thanks to the special type of enameling that is done like stained glass. Note the metallic framework, with the enamel applied between the lines (literally). In the pictured watch, you can really get a good visualization of the stained glass look in the brown and yellow butterfly as well as the adjacent flower. For any woman with means, and an appreciation for talent and details, this is an impressive collection.

As a play on the collection being like a set of actual pinned butterfly specimens, the box the watches come in has a sliding magnifier that gives you a closer look at the watches, just as an enthusiast would look over his or her butterfly specimen collection. Each of the watches is top quality in feel and construction, which should be expected with their high price points. Inside the watches are mechanical Swiss movements. In all, a really impressive line if luxury items should you ever be interested in high-end watch watches with a artistic and jewelry feel to them. The rest of us can simply enjoy their beauty. Price for the Van Cleef & Arpels Extraordinary Buttery watch collection is an extraordinary $495,000. I look forward to experiencing more and more visually pleasing luxuries from this brand .

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Van Cleef & Arpels Extraordinary Butterfly Watches Hands-On

Tags: 2010, butterfly, enamel, extraordinary, limited edition, LimitedEdition, sihh, van cleef arpels, VanCleefArpels

Angular Momentum Crown Jewels Of Nature Enamel Bird Painting Watches

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Latest from the Angular Momentum Verre Eglomise Artisan Timepiece collection comes these beautiful enamel painted watches in four varieties with three cockatoo painted dials and one kingfisher. The dials are done in verre eglomise which is reverse enamel painting on a sapphire crystal. The paintings are done in reverse and by hand. Using the Angular Momentum Time Gallery watch case these watches are each done in 18k white gold and are between about 40mm - 41mm wide (which probably feels like a good size given the very thin bezel, and yes each is a slightly different size).

Diamonds decorate the thin bezels and lug structures, while each watch has an attached alligator strap. Inside the watch is an automatic mechanical movement. Time is read digitally (this is digital too) through the window placed at 12 or 6 o'clock. The rest of the dial is dedicated to the limited edition paintings. This is not the first time that Angular Momentum has presented enamel paintings of birds, but each new collection impresses me. Interestingly, this collection has three different images of cockatoo birds - each in a different pose - and a beautiful version with a kingfisher bird. I must admit not being sure what the namesake bird of an Indian beer has in common with a popular clever shoulder avian, but I like the watches. Prices are likely at least $25,000 - $30,000 each.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Angular Momentum Crown Jewels Of Nature Enamel Bird Painting Watches

Tags: angular momentum, AngularMomentum, cockatoo, crown jewels of nature, CrownJewelsOfNature, enamel, kingfisher, painting, timepiece, verre eglomise, VerreEglomise, watch

Jaeger LeCoultre Grand Master Tourbillon Continents Watches

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

jaeger lecoultre grand master tourbillion

This interesting timepiece will arrive in three varieties showing different parts of the world. There is the pictured model showing Asia and the nearby areas, another version focusing on Europe and Africa, and a third version focusing on the Americas. This is another "we can do it" watch by Jaeger-LeCoultre who just recently announced the Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie, which is the most complex watch in the world. While the Tourbillon complication is complex in this Grand Master Tourbillon Continents watch line, the focus is on the artistry on the dial.

The dial starts with a machine engraved plate where the continents are outlined, and the vertical texturing is applied within the body of the land masses. The plate is then hand painted with enamel in a champleve technique to apply the various colors in the most delicate of manners. I am almost oversimplifying the process, but you get the idea. The bodies of water are done with a raised wave-like texture that is likely extremely tough to do. Compass symbols line the bezel and double as hour indicators for the hands of the watch. You can see the tourbillon (also the subsidiary seconds dial) through the window at 6 o'clock as part of the Jaeger LeCoultre Calibre 978 manually wound movement. Sapphire crystals cover the top and back of the watch. The Grand Master Tourbillon Continents watch really succeeds in creating a visually stunning map in a technique that few companies can be said to have mastered. Each of the three versions will be limited to 20 pieces in three materials that include 18k white, yellow,or rose gold. Not sure about price but more than likely over $100,000.

Via WatchTime.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: continent, continents, enamel, grand master, GrandMaster, jaeger-lecoultre, limited edition, LimitedEdition, timepiece, tourbillon, watch

Jay Strongwater's Butterfly on Pear

by Sandy Maple (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Jay Strongwater's home accents are instantly recognizable for their stunning, old-world appearance. From the Papillion Collection, this sparkly butterfly rests of the stem of a swirled green and topaz glass pear. The butterfly and leaf are hand-painted enamel over metal, accented with hand-set Swarovski crystals. The richness and depth of the pear alongside the delicate butterfly results in a striking piece of art that appears antique and modern at the same time. From stem to base, the piece measures 5.25" high. $525.

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Tags: art, butterly on pear, ButterlyOnPear, butteryfly, decor, enamel, fruit, glass, home decor, HomeDecor, jay stronghold, JayStronghold, luxe decor, LuxeDecor, luxury decor, LuxuryDecor, old world decor, OldWorldDecor, pear, swarovski

Hermes Wide Enamel Bracelet

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Bangles and other solid bracelets seem to be quite popular at the moment, but even the pieces are upscale stores are often just pieces of molded plastic. Fun, perhaps, but not exactly elegant. The Hermes Wide Enamel Bracelet keeps with the trend, but the 2.5" wide piece is made of silver with palladium plating, a combination that is at least a step or three above a plastic bangle. To add color, the bracelet is enameled with either pink or red, and bears a signature "H" at the clasp. Price: $480.

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Tags: bracelet, enamel, hermes, jewelry, wrist

Ocie Jeweled Accessories

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

The latest small treasures from Ocie, who make lavish bejeweled miniaudieres, are these new sterling silver accessories. The mirror, card case and a small double picture frame feature enameled designs accented by cabuchon rubies. The suggested retail is $500 to $700. Up close looks at the three new pieces after the jump.

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Tags: accessories, enamel, mother's day, ocie, rubies, silver, sterling silver

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