Clare Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven, is many things. She is a respected journalist (formally the social Editor for Tatler magazine), wife to George Mountbatten, 4th Marquess of Milford Haven, mother, polo player and Jaeger LeCoultre ambassador. But above all, she’s a wonderful woman (I swear she didn’t pay me to say that).
Jaquet Droz is all about sensory delights. From exquisite enamel dials and the pursuit of rare métiers d’art to animated automata like the chubby gold cherub being drawn by a butterfly chariot and chirping birds on minute repeaters, this is one brand that knows how to appeal to the senses. The Lady 8 plays on the sensuality and symbolism of the figure eight and is revisited in 2018 in this delightfully petite model with a sparkling blue aventurine dial or a glamorous red gold mother-of-pearl version. Fitted with an automatic movement, the diameter of the case measures a dainty 25mm and the watches feature a spherical pearl or aventurine ball at noon that rolls under the finger.
Recently, in London, Frederique Constant unveiled the all-new Ladies Automatic collection of timepieces, with its global charity ambassador, Gwyneth Paltrow. The new, softly colored Ladies Automatic watches also have a charitable side. According to Peter and Aletta Stas of Frederique Constant, USD 50 of the sale of each watch will benefit Paltrow’s charity of choice: DonorsChoose.org. This new Frederique Constant Ladies Automatic Collection isn’t only good looking, it also has good intentions.
Introduced in 2011, the ladies’ PanoMatic Luna introduced two complications into the brand’s reduced line-up of women’s watches. The complications, a hallmark Glashütte Original Panorama big date display and a moon phase function, already featured on the men’s elegant PanoMatic Luna line, were interpreted in a more feminine key. A moon phase function is always a good excuse to introduce some poetry onto the dial of the watch and the ladies’ PanoMatic Luna has been interpreted with dreamy mother-of-pearl dials and a sprinkling of diamonds. To celebrate the International Day of the Kiss on 6 July 2018, the PanoMatic Luna is revisited in rubies, diamonds and a white mother-of-pearl dial in a limited edition of 50 pieces. Unlike the simpler Pavonina collection for women with its quartz movement, the ladies’ PanoMatic Luna features a Glashütte manufactory automatic calibre with the excellent finishes we associate with the Saxon brand.
It was six years ago that Jaeger-LeCoultre unveiled its first new collection for women in decades: Rendez-Vous. Launched with Diane Kruger as the face behind the line, the collection was designed expressly for women and was all about romance, femininity and allure – indicative of its name. Since then, the line has evolved to include […]
What happens when the iconic Daytona runs into a tutti-frutti trove of precious gemstones? The Rainbow Daytona: a spectacular watch that combines the thrill of the racetrack with the thrill of vibrant gemstones. The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Ref. 116595RBOW, aka the Rainbow Daytona, is a “wow watch”. Exuberant and downright flamboyant, it’s either yes or no, love or hate, but you can’t help reacting to it. Now in its third iteration, the model unveiled at Baselworld 2018 comes in a warm Everose gold case and the hour markers are highlighted in gradated sapphires to match those set on the bezel. Warmer and more harmonious than its white and yellow gold predecessors, the 2018 Cosmograph Daytona recreates the colours of the rainbow with extraordinary beauty and showcases the superlative skills of Rolex’ gemmologists and gem-setters.
For the last three years, Chopard has adopted the graceful peony flower to decorate its L.U.C XP Esprit de Fleurier 35mm limited editions for women. This year is no exception and Chopard unveiled a beautiful 18k rose gold edition of eight watches decorated with the silhouette of black paper-cut peonies on the dial and exquisite Fleurisanne engraving on the bridges of the movement. As the female representative of the L.U.C XP family, the watch is fitted with a Chopard manufacture ultra-thin automatic movement.
Having recovered from the jubilation following the release of the steel GMT Master II Pepsi during Baselworld 2018, we can now turn our attention to another candidate in the classic Oyster Perpetual Datejust 36 line that is out to conquer the hearts of men… and women. Housed in a two-tone Everose Rolesor case (combination of steel and pink gold), Rolex has fitted the watch with its new-generation calibre 3235 and given the case some design tweaks. Handsome and refined with just the right touch of luxurious rose gold, practical for everyday wear and tear, robust and ready for action sports yet with enough style to work as a casual dress watch… what’s not to love about the Datejust 36? So, a word of warning to all you boyfriends out there: do not leave this watch unattended.
The turbulence generated by Patek Philippe’s Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Ref.5524 seems to have abated and the model has landed as a stable member of the Calatrava family. In addition to a fresh iteration of the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time for men in warm rose gold, Patek unveiled its first self-winding Travel Time model for women just ahead of Baselworld in an unprecedented move for the brand via an Instagram campaign. There have been choice pickings in the complications arena for women at Patek Philippe in 2018 with the launch of the manual-winding ladies’ chronograph in a round case and this pilot’s watch for women. Equipped with a useful dual time function, Ref. 7234R is housed in refined 37.5mm rose gold case with a glossy chocolate-brown dial decorated with vintage touches. The tasteful combination of rose gold and brown is quintessential Patek making this an excellent choice for globetrotting women, while the sporty, slightly manly charisma of a pilot’s watch will appeal to all those Amelia Earhart out there with a taste for high-flying adventures.
Ok, well maybe saying that the watch will have you roaring is a bit of an over-reach, but we know if you are an art- or big-cat lover, this watch is going to hit all the bells and whistles for you. Sorry men, unless you love diamonds, the watch is really meant for the lady in your life. I say “sorry” because I believe that a man would enjoy the boldness of a non-diamond red/orange version of the new Petite Heure Minute Smalta Clara created in Plique-a-Jour enamel.