haute

Cartier Captive Women's Watch

While I rarely say this about Cartier items, this is a weird watch. That doesn't meant I don't like it, but rather that it is extremely avant garde. More so that I would expect from the brand. Torn apart, it is in fact easily placed among Cartier's ranks of highly exclusive haute joaillerie timepieces, but taken at a glance, this is something "different."

The watch is in 18k carat white gold, that interestingly has been rhodium plated. The case is 35mm wide (which Cartier considers large) with a bezel set with many diamonds that continues on to the dial as the hour markers. The watch face is actually quite tiny - with the hands being readable if you look closely. The dial is more art than watch. The elongated hour markers seem to burst in a sunray pattern. The upper lug extends into the face like part of a chain link. Chains hold things together - so perhaps that is how they came up with the "Captive" name.

Cartier gives the watch a canvas gray strap with a matching white gold strap. The watch is curved and comes with a sapphire crystal. Inside the watch is a Swiss quartz movement. A lovely little - and likely highly expensive - model.

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

Tags: Captive, Cartier, haute, joaillerie, watch

Piaget Limelight Exceptional Watch Pieces For 2009

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

New from Piaget comes a fresh Limelight watch collection for 2009. Each Exceptional Limelight collection watch is known for being a serious haute joaillerie item of art. With Piaget's requisite level of beauty (and diamonds) the watches are interesting, original, and most important, beautiful. Brilliant-cut diamonds cover every surface of the timepieces (as much as is possible), and materials like mother-of-pearl make up the watch dials. The cases and bracelets themselves are each done in 18k white gold.

Literally hundreds upon hundreds of hours are dedicated to putting together each watch. This has to do with the copious amounts of time required to cut and set the diamonds, as well as craft the timepieces. Piaget does a remarkable job making metal look flowing. This is real horological art and passion - and again you see their penchant for making the watches "secret." Many Piaget Limelight watches prefer to cover the watch face when not being used, so as to give the pieces a dual watch and jewelry character. Inside, the watches have Piaget caliber 56P Swiss quartz movements. The timepieces have an intense amount of diamonds with weight up to 40 carats, and hundreds of stones per timepiece. These women's watches are marvelous to look at, exceedingly rare and exclusive, and of "word-class" expense. Look for them at select Piaget boutiques around the globe.

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

Gallery: Piaget Limelight Exceptional Watch Pieces For 2009

Tags: diamonds, exceptional, G0A29084, G0A34133, G0A34133 870, G0a34133870, haute, jewelry, limelight, piaget, watch

Chanel "Light" Jewelry Watch Collection

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Images speak louder than words for this collection of watches that Chanel hopes to not only capture the light, but also look as though it was cut from it. Going back to what made the French luxury brand famous, their wrist watch arm releases a new line of four watches in the "Light" collection of watches.

The pictured watch is the "Tweed," while the other watches are the Ribbon, First Watch, and First Jewelry Show watches. Each of the watches is in 18k white gold covered from top to bottom in diamonds. Each watch has from about 3-10 carats of jewel weight and between about 300 and 600 stones. The watches are feminine and luxurious, while also delicate in design. Serious haute joaillarie watches from the brand that helped make the concept famous.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com

Gallery: Chanel Light Watch Collection

Tags: chanel, diamonds, haute, jewelry, joaillerie, light, watch

Vacheron Constantin Lady Kalla Flame Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Timepieces / Watches

Flame on! This jewelry watch from Vacheron Constantin features the newest officially recognized diamond shape, the "flame cut." The shape, that looks like a small flame, is emphasized in the dial as well as the use of 200 flame cut diamonds all over the watch, 20 on the case, 60 in the dial, and 120 used on the bracelet. The settings and case of the watch are all made from 18k white gold. Being a jewelry watch, the Vacheron Constantin Kalla Flame is a pretty wild looking piece, but still retains the grace you have come to expect from the brand.

Interestingly, Vacheron Constantin chose to retain a mechanical movement for the small profile watch. Inside is a manually wound 1005 movement, that is just 3.6mm thick. Don't expect too much life out of it though as you need to wind it at least every 30 hours - certainly enough for a good night (and morning) out. With a total of 36.5 karats of the attractive new flame cut diamonds, the Lady Kalla serves its purpose well to highlight a novel, but classic looking piece of watch jewelry for women.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 17620S11G-9478, diamond, flame, haute, kalla, lady, timepiece, vacheron constantin, VacheronConstantin, watch