Blancpain – Ultraplate Saint-Valentin
Blancpain is celebrating this 14th February with a new 99-piece limited edition, specially created for Valentine’s Day. The bezel and lugs of this 29 mm timepiece are set with 68 diamonds, while the delicate mother-of-pearl dial has eight. The second hand represents Cupid’s arrow, and a heart set with 19 rubies adorns the dial at 12 o’clock. The sapphire caseback reveals the new automatic calibre 913 with silicon balance spring for optimum precision. The Blancpain logo is engraved directly onto the white gold rotor, as well being prominently displayed on the dial. This Valentine’s watch comes with two interchangeable alligator straps: one in white for purity, and the other red for passion.
Bovet – Amadeo Fleurier® “Miss Audrey” and 19Thirty Fleurier
This year, the Maison Bovet has created a duet of “his and hers” timepieces in stainless steel with blue dials. The “Miss Audrey” has the Amadeo case that allows the timepiece to be effortlessly converted from a wristwatch into a table clock or pendant watch. Despite its dainty 36-mm diameter, the model is driven by an automatic mechanical movement. Its deep midnight blue dial features a guilloché decoration carried out in-house by Bovet’s master dial makers.
The 19Thirty line, first seen in spring 2015, comes exclusively in steel, and is inspired by one of the last pocket watches made by Bovet in 1930. The calibre 15BM04 that drives the 19Thirty was specifically developed for this range, and has a quality of execution and finish generally reserved for grand complications. Its manual movement provides a power reserve of seven days with a single barrel.
Chopard – Imperiale La Vie en Rose
The Imperiale collection, a Chopard classic, now has a new pastel pink model in honour of Valentine’s Day. Its sculptural lines, Roman hour markers and hands in the shape of Roman fighting daggers are all references to the Ancient Empire. The subtle curves of the timepiece are softened by its delicate pink hue, which gives the whole watch an ethereal lightness. The centre of the dial, in old rose mother-of-pearl, glows with a velvety lustre. The Imperiale La Vie en Rose comes in a steel case with pink alligator strap, and is available in a limited edition of 100.
De Grisogono – Samsung Gear S2 by de Grisogono
De Grisogono caters for the less traditional Valentine with the Samsung Gear S2 by de Grisogono. Combining style and functionality, this smartwatch lives up to its watchmaking and jewellery heritage with a bold display of the aesthetic codes of the maison: rose gold, black diamonds and de Grisogono’s signature textured shagreen strap. This tactile watch has menu functions accessible from the bezel, with two digital screens – in black or white – featuring the company’s distinctive pink gold accents and the famous de Grisogono crest. The dials give access to a world of infinite possibilities and a library of apps including all the usual notifications and monitoring functions.
Glashütte Original – PanoMaticLunar and PanoMatic Luna
These two Glashütte Original moon phase models feature an off-centre hour display and a finely worked moon phase indication. The picture is completed by slim white gold hands and the classic Panorama Date. Both watches nevertheless have their own distinct character. The PanoMaticLunar features a midnight blue dial with matching calfskin strap, offset by silvered indices and SuperLuminova-coated hands for optimum legibility. The 40 mm stainless steel case contains an automatic manufacture movement. Its feminine counterpart, the PanoMatic Luna, goes for lustrous mother-of-pearl and a Louisiana alligator strap in delicate azure blue. The bezel and dial set with 83 diamonds bring a glamorous touch to the stainless steel 39.4 mm case, which encloses an automatic movement. The women’s watch is an exclusive model available only in Glashütte Original boutiques.
Including all three case styles which are available as the benchmark TPINS002 from 18k red gold, the TPINS001 in natural titanium, and the TPINS003 from DLC-coated black titanium. Last, it seems that Bovet has also upgraded the warranty in their watches (at least a few of these) in light of moves from other watch industry players, so the Bovet Pininfarina OttantaSei 10-Day Tourbillon is going to have a movement guarantee of five decades. Price is $165,000 in titanium and $180,000 from 18k red gold. Including all three case styles that are available as the benchmark TPINS002 from 18k red gold, the TPINS001 in organic titanium, and the TPINS003 in DLC-coated black titanium. Last, it appears that Bovet has also upgraded the warranty in their watches (at least a few of these) in light of moves by other watch industry players, so the Bovet Pininfarina OttantaSei 10-Day Tourbillon will have a movement warranty of five years. I have been writing about watches for quite a very long time; I have been working on them even longer; and I have been in the market longer still. I am not sure when I determined where I stumbled on the “are watches artwork?” Issue, but I will tell you that: I can not remember regarding watches like anything but works of art. Some of it’s high forehead, some of it low. It does not really matter in which the watch falls upon the scale in order for it to be regarded as an art form. But perhaps that has more to do with your definition of art (and that I have an admittedly broad definition of this term). What I have always believed is that something seems as art if it is the “expression of what cannot be said.”
Jaquet Droz – Petite Heure Minute Astorite
With its off-centre dial at 12 o’clock, the Petite Heure Minute provides a generous playing field for Jaquet Droz’ artisans. For Valentine’s Day, the face of this timepiece is embellished with astorite, a gemstone with a unique radiance. The pink of the mineral is answered by the red gold glimmer of the case, chapter ring and hands, and offset by the white mother-of-pearl subdial. The elegant look is completed by a diamond-set bezel and lugs. The supremely feminine Petite Heure Minute Astorite is available in a limited edition of just 28.
