The world of Haute Horlogerie witnesses a revival of the fashion tendency that had once been very popular: the leading jewellery and watchmaking brands make not watches accompanied with bracelets but bracelets equipped with watches.
Some time ago while choosing a wristwatch a customer spent a lot of time choosing a case and then simply adjusted the first (or maybe the second) suitable strap. But today such an approach is out of fashion as now people choose not a watch with a bracelet or strap but a bracelet equipped with useful timekeeping device. And this fact is really not surprising as a wristwatch actually evolved from a bracelet. But elegant and stylish design of a timepiece is not the only reason for the leading watchmaking brands to start paying more attention to bracelets.
The thing is that contemporary watches have turned into an independent self-sufficient adornment major part of which is presented by the bracelet or strap. Even the most prestigious and reputable watchmakers as Patek Philippe and Rolex that during years have been giving priority to complicated movement and functionality have started to complement their timepieces with bracelets specially designed to make an integrated part of colour scheme and architecture of the timepiece. And as far as designer and jewellery brands are concerned they witness now a Golden Era of possibilities and creativity.
Women are getting tired of “eternal classics” and crave for originality and unusual uniqueness of the timepiece which can without doubt be guaranteed by an original bracelet or strap. The watchmakers responded to the needs of the beautiful and feminine part of their customers by new designs. This year three leading jewellery and watchmaking companies - Cartier, Piaget and Van Cleef & Arples – decided to accentuate the jewellery part of their specialization and create original jewellery pieces to which watch movements were harmonically integrated.
Cartier has presented the Declaration model which combined the watch wit another symbol of lapse of time – rosary. The long narrow bracelet is decorated with ten diamond set rings. The rings can be easily moved up and down as the beads of a rosary. If all the ten rings are moved down they close the dial but reveal the main secret of the Declaration watch – a huge diamond.
Designers from Piaget came up with the idea to relocate the timekeeping device from the wrist to forearm. They designed a bracelet with golden threads which can add to any woman mysterious charm of an Oriental dancer. It should be noted that to tell the time looking at one’s biceps is even easier – all one have to do is just slightly turn the head.
For those who prefer traditional bracelet watches Piaget created a new divinely elegant and airy Limelight watch which looks more like a golden-white seine net full of diamonds.
The legendary Van Cleef & Arpels knows how to delight its customers. The company created a new version of the famous Hexagonial bracelet consisting of six hexagonal plates which was transformed into the Pampille watch. The golden cord of the fastener is hooked to the side plates of the bracelet including the case of the timepiece. The same hexagonal bracelets were also used for the Ludo Swann and Ludo Swing timepieces.
Skeleton bracelet of the Avenue C watch by Harry Winston makes not only a wonderful frame for the rectangular case. The patented movement works as a clip or as a delicate trap – it doesn’t squeeze the wrist but at the same time prevents the watch from rotation.
Complicated luxury watch brands keep pace with their fashion and jewellery colleagues and also offer dazzling new models. Vacheron Constantin continues to experiment with diamonds using them not as a decoration but as the working material. The brilliant example is its Lady Kalla watch with amazing bracelet made of diamonds and other precious stones.
Ebel uses the trendiest designer trick: Ebel watches are accompanied with bracelets consisting of linked golden letters “E”. Such a timepiece will make a perfect accessory for all Elizabeths and Eleanors.
Fashion brands also follow the trend and present original everyday accessories. For example Hugo Boss offers a watch with bracelet consisting of two long rubber cords. The case travels smoothly along the cords with allows the owner to chose the new place for it everyday – the wrist, neck, waste…
Time passes but watches are getting more and more original and attractive owing not only to their movement but also to the thing which secures them on the wrist.
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