Felix Scholz
Along with grey dials and pocket watches, one of the most distinct trends of Watches & Wonders 2015 was the high calibre of women's watches. From diamonds to divers the ladies were spoilt for choice. Here are six of our favourites.Piaget Limelight StellaThe Limelight Stella is Piaget's first complicated watch designed explicitly for women. The watch is a harmonious balance of shapes and the large moonphase aperture is one of the most elegant we've seen in a long time. Check out our video review of it here. RRP $42,500.Van Cleef & Arpels Oiseax Enchantes Extrordinary DialsWhile the French jeweller might not be well known in Australia, there's no arguing with the artistry of their romantic timepieces. Their latest collection of extraordinary dials features the art of Nelly Saunier, whose miniature birds crafted from actual feathers, are three-dimensional wonders. POA.Roger Dubuis Excalibur BroceliandeIt's hard to think of a more masculine brand than Roger Dubuis, with its big, technical watches characterised by their almost aggressive skeletonisation. And while the 42mm Excalibur Broceliande meets all these criteria, it does so in a very feminine way. Case in point: the skeletonised bridges are entwined with diamond-set vines featuring hand-painted leaves, a motif inspired by Arthurian legend. RRP $2,290,00 HKD (or roughly $410,000 AUD).Baume & Mercier Promesse JadeEspecially for the Hong Kong-based fair, Baume & Mercier have produced a limited edition of the Promesse with an Asian focus. Featuring a hand-cut jade bezel highlighted with no fewer than 61 diamonds the Promesse Jade is limited to eight pieces (naturally). RRP $16,500.Panerai PAM 574While the 42mm PAM 574 isn't just for women (a quick poll of the Time+Tide office found that we'd all be happy wearing it, regardless of gender), the colourful strap options indicate that Panerai definitely have feminine wrists in mind with this release. The PAM 574 also comes with Panerai's brand new P.1000 calibre (an updated version of the P.999), boasting a 72-hour power reserve. RRP $10,350.Vacheron Constantin Heure DiscreteNot content with releasing the Harmony collection at the start of the year, or the most complicated watch in the world a few weeks ago, Vacheron Constantin came to Watches & Wonders with a brand new women's collection – the Heures Creatives. Taking inspiration from periods of 20th Century history that were particularly significant for women, the standout piece is the Deco-inspired (and diamond encrusted) Heure Discrete – a fan shaped secret' watch, with a total of 429 round cut diamonds totaling 14.7 carats in weight. POA.
07.10.15