Elite Traveler September-October 2018

VANCLEEF &ARPELS LADYARPELS PLANÉTARIUM Extremely complicated watches designed expressly for women can be rare in the watch world, making the new Lady Arpels Planétarium even more spectacular. Inspired by the more complex Midnight Planétarium for men, these watches bring miniature mechanical planetariums to the wrist. The module for this automatic movement was the result of a collaboration with renowned master watchmaker Christiaan van der Klaauw. On the aventurine dial, it depicts an 18K pink gold sun and its three closest planets using gemstones: a turquoise earth, a green-enamel Venus and a pink mother-of-pearl Mercury. Each rotates around the dial in real planet orbit times. Earth, which rotates around the dial once every 365 days, has a moon that rotates around it every 29.5 days. The shooting star on the dial indicates the time. The 38mm 18K white gold watch is adorned with diamonds, and a full diamond-set bracelet is available. $255,000, available at Van Cleef &Arpels in Palm Beach, Florida, contact Christiane Ouvier, sales supervisor, +1 561 655 6767, vancleefarpels.com

BOVET 1822RÉCITAL 22GRANDRÉCITAL The third in an important trilogy of astronomical watches, the newest Bovet 1822 watch was several years in the making and holds an incredible five patents. The independent Swiss watch brand delivers a complete working tellurium orrery — a real-time mechanical rendition of the Earth, the moon and the sun. It also has a patented, raised double-sided tourbillon; hand-painted topographical map of Earth; a moon phase accurate for 122 years; retrograde indications of the minutes and the power reserve; and a complete perpetual calendar. Easily one of the world’s most complicated timepieces, with 472 components, the Récital 22 Grand Récital depicts the hours in 24-hour format via a hand beneath the Earth orb. The Earth rotates on its own axis, and a moon orbits it in the exact synodic time frame of 29.53 days. In addition to mechanical mastery, the watch boasts artistic elegance thanks to hand painting and harmonious design. Just 60 pieces of the stunning watch will be made. $470,000, available at Cellini Jewelers in NewYork, contact Leon Adams, owner, info@cellinijewelers.com, +1 212 888 0505, bovet.com