These Jewelled Watches Are Modern Heirlooms

The jewellery watch, carefully designed and set with diamonds and other precious stones, is made for the bride’s trousseau. Not only can it add deliciously fun detail to an outfit, it transforms into a family heirloom—a keeper of memories. From an updated icon to a couple of limited editions, a secret watch, and one that can double up as a brooch, discover some of the most beautiful gem-set timepieces that dropped at Watches and Wonders in Geneva this year (think of it as the watch world’s annual fashion week).

Best Jewelled Watches To Add To Your Trousseau

Mallion Libre Brooch Watch, Hermés

Here’s a trousseau-worthy timepiece that can be worn anywhere, anytime. Inspired by a traditional Hermès motif, the anchor chain, this delicate gemset brooch watch could also double up as a sari pin for your wedding day. It comes in a white or rose gold case set with 44 brilliant-cut diamonds, and the brooch features diamonds and indicolite or terracotta tourmaline. Transform it into a sautoir necklace by stringing it on the corresponding calfskin cordlet with clochette. If you like to wear your watch squarely on your wrist, choose the sculptural wristwatch instead.

Serpenti Aeterna, Bvlgari

Bvlgari has chosen the Year of the Snake to revamp its iconic Serpenti watch. The new Aeterna is a very fresh, minimalist take on a timepiece that was first launched in 1948. With its single twist and petit dial, it is more bangle than bracelet. A quiet luxe timepiece, it is perfect for the sophisticated bride. It comes in two versions: rose gold with snow-set brilliant-cut diamonds on head and tail; the second high jewellery version is made from white gold with larger diamonds running the length of the bracelet.

Tressage, Cartier

Bubbling over with a timeless elegance, these sculptural pieces form the first watch collection of the Tressage catalogue. Mimicking the tressage (braid, in French) form of the rings and bracelets that form the original jewellery collection, the outer edges of these watches feature bubbling twists in gold or diamonds. One version comes in minimalist black with gold twists; the other three models feature snow-set diamond twists and dials. Our favourite? The mixed gold version with 466 diamonds (approx 6.3 carats) — it’s a neutral piece that can be worn for any wedding function.

J12 Blush, Chanel

The J12 Blush is where high fashion meets fine The J12 Blush is where high fashion meets fine watchmaking. Style apart, this gorgeously quirky ‘secret watch’ is super covetable as it comes in a limited edition of just five pieces. Now more about the watch: borrowing the shape of Chanel’s iconic lipstick tube, the brand’s Artistic Craft Watches department has

hidden a tiny Kiss Me watch within the case, which itself is a charm that hangs at the end of a sautoir. The watch dial is made of black onyx and housed in a polished black titanium tube set with gold and yellow beryls. The necklace is made up of black onyx and rhodonite beads, and is set with diamonds.

L'heure Du Diamant Precious Hours, Chopard

Released at a time when dials are getting smaller and smaller, this glittering cocktail watch is ideal for your, well, cocktail. The L’Heure Du Diamant Precious Hours features a tiny 26mm mother-of-pearl dial that rests on a lace-like grill. Meanwhile, the bezel comes inlaid with a generous 2.20 carats of diamonds and the matching strap is made from 18K white gold.

Reverso One, Jaeger-Lecoultre

The heavy-weight watch brand has released so many delicious versions of its iconic Reverso that it’s almost impossible to choose a favourite. Yet, consider the Reverso One Precious Colours limitedto-10 series. Its case comes encrusted with 277 diamonds, but the reason the watch stands out is because of the intricate grand feu enamelling, which took artisans 60 hours and 15 firings (at 800 degrees centigrade) to create. The design is inspired by the Art Deco period, which is when the Reverso was launched as well.

Sixtie, Piaget

Piaget definitely has bolder, high-shine watches in its catalogue, but the understated bride will appreciate the clean lines and quiet luxury aesthetic of the brand new Sixtie watch collection. Ticking the trend box, the case size is petite at 29mm and is cast in an asymmetric trapezoid shape, which, when introduced by Piaget in the late 1960s, achieved icon status.

While the collection has four models, consider the rose gold and diamond version, which looks set to be a modern classic.

Lady Arpels Pont Des Amoureux Clair De Lune, Van Cleef & Arpels

The most romantic — and complicated — watch on this list, it features a couple walking across a bridge, under a Parisian night sky. They come together at noon and midnight to share a kiss, all orchestrated by the brilliant mechanics found under the hood. Part of the Poetic Complications series, the watch features a 38mm case made with white gold and diamonds. The strap is alligator leather.

Traditionnelle, Vacheron Constantin

Here’s a milestone watch for a milestone moment. To celebrate their 270th anniversary, the haute horology brand has released two versions of the understated Traditionnelle. Features include a diamond-set bezel and railway-type minutes track, faceted Dauphine-style hands, and applied gold baton-type hour-markers on the mother-of-pearl dial. The Manual-Winding watch, limited to 270 pieces, is a delicate 33mm and comes with a pink gold case. The slightly larger Moon Phase has a 36mm gold case, and is also limited to 270 pieces. Both watches carry the anniversary emblem, inspired by a Maltese cross.

Boheme Day & Night, Montblanc

Another quiet luxe piece, the Bohème Day & Night comes in three variations. However, we’d pick the silver calf leather strap timepiece, which complements the 30mm or 34mm stainless steel case (take your pick). The dial features a celestial complication that tracks the sun and moon across the sky, while an almond-shaped window at 6 o’clock shows the date. The main dial is fluted and studded with handwritten numerals at 9, 12, and 3 o’clock. Diamonds make up the rest of the markers.

This story appears in Manifest India’s Issue 03. Subscribe here for more stories like this.