Elite Traveler September-October 2017

INSPIRE TOP 50 WATCHES

Art on the Wrist

PIAGET ALTIPLANO RADIANT FEATHER MARQUETRY

Awork of beauty and nature, this 38mm 18K white gold Piaget Altiplano Radiant Feather Marquetry watch is ablaze with feathers. Colorful and alluring, the dial is crafted using feather marquetry with a mix of peacock, duck and rooster feathers that are partially covered in silver leaf. The artisan must carefully select the right feathers — looking at shade, density and texture— for an end result that is unique and beautiful. Accenting the feather dial, the case is set with 78 brilliant-cut diamonds and peacock plumes adorn the strap. The watch is powered by the Piaget 430P ultra-thin hand-wound movement. Just 38 numbered pieces will be made. $47,000 Where to buy Piaget in New York, + 1 212 246 5555, piaget.com Always enthralled with the world of couture, gowns, ruffles and lace, the House of Dior this year unveils a special series of 10 unique watches that recall the beauty of the universe. The new pieces, such as this Galaxie Pavo watch, emulate a galaxy of twinkling stars. The watch is powered by the Dior Inverse caliber, which showcases the automatic oscillating weight of the watch dial-side. There, the brand can adorn the rotor with anything from feathers to gemstones. Since the rotor is always moving, the allure is magical. The 36mm gold Galaxie Pavo watch features a marquetry dial of pieces of Australian white opal in different hues. The white gold bezel is meticulously set with round-cut diamonds in a snow setting. The gold caseback features an engraving of the Pavo (peacock) constellation with inset round-cut diamonds. The watch houses the automatic Dior Inverse 11-1/2” caliber with 42 hours of power reserve. In total, the watch is set with 422 diamonds weighing 2.42 carats. $165,000 Where to buy Available by appointment at Dior in New York, +1 212 931 2950, dior.com DIOR GRAND BAL PIÈCE UNIQUE GALAXIE PAVO

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS LADY ARPELS PAPILLON AUTOMATE This year, Van Cleef & Arpels pulled out all the stops with its Lady Arpels Papillon Automate 40mm Poetic Complication watch that combines automatons and several types of Métiers d’Arts. The watch dial is a stunning array of diamonds, multicolored sapphires, mother-of-pearl, miniature painting and champlevé, paillonné, plique-à-jour and curved plique-à-jour enamel that all come together to form a butterfly amidst a breathtaking garden. Making the watch even more breathtaking is the fact that the butterfly is actually an automaton whose wings open and close —fluttering randomly one to four times in a row every couple of minutes when on the wrist. The wearer can also activate the butterfly with a push of a button. The 18K gold case and bezel is set with diamonds and the watch houses a self-winding mechanical movement. $290,000 Where to buy Available by appointment, +1 877 826 2533, vancleefarpels.com One undeniably beautiful aspect in watchmaking today is the concept of Métiers d’Arts, as watch brands continue to pull out all the stops when it comes to creative dial designs and the use of art in horology. Where a Métiers d’Arts dial of yesteryear focused on stunning hand-painted or enamel dials, today we have all of that and more. In addition to fine painting and enamel work, today’s high- horology brands are unveiling watches with dials featuring sculpted gold, fine embroidery, marquetry of stones, wood, mosaics and even feathers. Indeed, the only limit on creativity in the Métiers d’Arts field is the artisan’s self-imposed constraints, if he or she has any. Often these dials are created using microscopes and tiny single-hair brushes or other minuscule tools of the trade. It can take hundreds of hours to complete a single dial.

CHANEL MADEMOISELLE PRIVÉ COROMANDEL GLYPTIC

JAQUET DROZ PETITE HEURE MINUTE PINK FLAMINGO

A unique piece, this Chanel Mademoiselle Privé Coromandel Glyptic watch embraces the brand’s haute couture roots. Crafted in proprietary 18K beige gold, the watch is snow-set with 502 diamonds weighing 4.80 carats. The elaborate dial is created using glyptic and sculpted gold techniques. The flowers are raised and created in coral, while the leaves are painted. The ancient Chinese screens found in Coco Chanel’s glamorous office in Paris inspire the design. An automatic movement with 42 hours of power reserve keeps the watch running. $219,200 Where to buy Available by appointment, +1 800 550 0005, chanel.com

Jaquet Droz has long been a master at creative watches and dials, using rare stones, meteorites, fine painting, automatons on the dial and other techniques. The new Petite Heure Minute Pink Flamingo watch features a black Grand Feu enamel dial background with a vibrant flamingo painted on top. Crafted in 18K rose gold, the 39mm watch is set with 248 brilliant-cut diamonds. The dial is entirely painted by hand with the aid of a microscope, and it takes at least one week to produce each one-of-a-kind piece. Just 28 pieces will be made of this watch, each sold with a certificate of authenticity from the Ateliers d’Art, signed by the artist. A self-winding mechanical movement powers the watch. $39,400 Where to buy Manfredi Jewels in Greenwich, CT, Robert Weintraub, store manager, rob@manfredijewels. com, +1 203 622 1414, jaquet-droz.com