OVAL DELIGHTS. There’s something inherently—and wonderfully—feminine in the delicate curves forming the oval case of a ladies’ watch
FIT FOR A QUEEN
Breguet Reine de Naples Princesse Mini 9818
While not literally designed for a royal princess, Breguet’s Reine de Naples Princesse Mini comes from a collection inspired by the first wristwatch created by Louis Breguet for Caroline Murat, aka Caroline Bonaparte, aka younger sister of the Napoléon Bonaparte. With such a heritage, expectations are high, and this newest interpretation certainly doesn’t disappoint. There’s the 18K white gold case, the bezel and lugs that are encrusted with 64 Brilliant-cut diamonds and also the lavender-colored mother-of-pearl dial adorned with white mother-of-pearl marquetry. And then, there’s the crown of this Queen of Naples: A single Briolette diamond sits on the—you guessed it—crown. Finally, keeping this Queen of Naples ticking is a numbered and signed Breguet movement.
Case size: 32.7mm x 27.3mm
Case material: 18K white gold
Dial: Mother-of-pearl
Strap: Leather or white gold bracelet
Movement: Calibre 586/1, automatic
Power reserve: 38 hours
Water resistance: 30M
LITTLE PROMISES
Baume & Mercier Petite Promesse
Good things come in small packages, they say. One good example of this would be if you replace “they” with “Baume & Mercier” and “good things” with the “Petite Promesse” watches. It’s definitely a petite timepiece, but this mini 22mm case packs a lot of intriguing details, from the interplay of oval (the case) and round (the dial) to the scintillating array of diamonds on either side. What onlookers would notice first, however, would definitely be the double wrap-around strap. Speaking of which, there are three strap variations on offer: Bright blue calfskin, vivid orange calfskin or polished stainless steel which harkens back to Baume & Mercier’s designs from the 1920s for a promise of retro elegance.
Case size: 22mm
Case material: Stainless steel
Strap: CalfsKin or stainless steel
Movement: ISA 257.1320, Quartz
Water resistance: 50M
SPELLBINDING SPIRALS
Cartier Hypnose
When you see a Cartier watch, you’d instantly know that it’s a Cartier watch. This strong brand identity, however, has seemingly led to an affinity for small and subtle design changes with powerful results. The Hypnose watch perfectly embodies this idea. Carefully aligned oval forms, the arrangement of different-sized diamonds and other little touches like black lacquer in the crevices of some models create the illusion of an endless spiral. You might also notice the lack of a visible crown, but this actually harkens back to Cartier’s first oval watches from the 1950s. Price-wise, the Hypnose is rather costly as far as quartz watches go, but given its overall quality and mesmerizing design, it’s definitely worthy of a place in your private collection and on your wrist.
Case size: 30mm x 26.2mm or 38mm x 33mm
Case material: 18K pink or white gold
Dial: Silver or diamond pavé
Strap: Alligator or 18K white gold bracelet
Movement: Quartz
Water resistance: 30M
POP GOES THE BEZEL
Corum Bubble
With a 42mm case—considered big even for men’s watches—the Corum Bubble definitely stands apart from its more elegant sisters on these pages. And then, there’s the pronounced dome shape and flashy colors. Yet, the Bubble’s bubbly appearance belies its excellent mechanical qualities and robust performance of its automatic movement. Besides, there are also diamond-adorned variants for all three of its color options (pink, blue and white) with 50 round diamonds arranged on the bezel. The white version, in particular, showcases the Bubble’s uncluttered appeal and clean lines. In short, the Corum Bubble is not a safe choice—but it is definitely an exciting option.
Case size: 42mm
Case material: Stainless steel
Dial: Mother-of-pearl
Strap: Alligator
Movement: CO 295, automatic
Power reserve: 72 hours
Water resistance: 100m
This article first appeared in DA MAN Caliber 2016. Get your copy here.