Since its very early years, one of Cartier’s strengths aside from jewelry and watches has surprisingly been accessories for men. In fact, cufflinks appeared in Cartier records as far back as 1859. Here George Cramer explores modern and vintage options for a nice personal touch.
Alexander Doerr hadn’t really paid much attention to opals before, but upon closer inspection realized that this gemstone is extraordinary – they are shrouded in mystery and well worth learning more about. Looking at an opal is like looking at fireworks or even looking into a galaxy. And two Swiss watch brands specialize in using the fiery gemstone in watches are Jaquet Droz and Piaget.
At Baselworld 2018, Martin Green unexpectedly came face to face with the Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph High Jewellery: this was a timepiece he had been totally unaware of at the time, but one he will never forget. Find out why!
Adding a few diamonds to a watch: how hard can that be? As it turns out, stone setting is a lot more difficult than many appreciate. Diamond-setting watches requires the expertise and craftsmanship of about half a dozen highly skilled craftsmen, each a master of their craft.
Ah, Paris! City of Lights. For the watch collector, it’s a great place to visit with boutiques aplenty, some owned and operated by the major brands; high-end mega-stores like Bucherer; and smaller independent retailers like Chronopassion and Dubail. Gary took a quick weekend trip to Paris and while there he took the opportunity to pack in as much fun as possible. Come along and bienvenue!
Watch collecting should be fun! Yes, it’s important to show the proper respect for the designers and makers of the watches we all love, but at the same time I think it’s completely appropriate to go beyond somber and traditional daily watches and give a bit of free rein to one’s desire for more flamboyant timepieces.
After Fabergé merged with Gemfields in 2013, this historical brand became a specialist in colored stones, so I was pleased to have the opportunity to wear one of its lovely high-jewelry necklaces featuring emeralds to the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2017, where I was in the jury. I also had the chance to wear the enigmatic and beautiful Lady Compliquée Peacock Black.
It took my breath away. I saw a heart beating: a golden heart truly beating . . . seemingly pulsing to a human rhythm. The effect was astonishing. But what attracted me to Paul Forrest’s Heart’s Passion even more than the motion of the heart was the patented movement entirely crafted in Fleurier, Switzerland that gave it “life.”
Post-war United States boasted unique market conditions that allowed for diamond-set men’s watches from a variety of brands to thrive. Martin Green takes us on a journey to discover how and why diamond-set watches became part of the American Dream.
