High Times
Photo credit: @vancleefarpels
Time to go luxe
There's everyday jewelry, and there's dream jewelry. Enter haute horology, the jaw-dropping result of when high jewelry meets timekeeping engineering. Think diamonds, gemstones, and eye-popping price tags. These adornments are rare and highly coveted by collectors and the elite. Initially designed for women at the beginning of the 20th century, when keeping time was considered improper for a lady, high jewelry watches were disguised as opulent bracelets. Today, these creations are a sparkling nod to female empowerment. Here are ten exquisite watches we'd break the rules for.
Tilda's Bow
This high jewelry house has combined imaginatively glamorous designs with Swiss engineering to create glittering watch collections and bespoke timepieces, such as Tilda’s Bow. It’s magic, with a stream of flawless diamonds strung into a diamond bow. This timepiece is as precious as it gets.
Graff Tilda's Bow collection jewelry watch with 5.77ct diamonds set in white gold. $60,000 at Graff
Deep Passion
Heir to the JAHAN Jewelry throne and the first female head in eight generations, Nour has taken her family legacy of clean-cut high jewelry and created a collection showcasing her modern vision. Unexpected yet wearable, this sapphire and diamond watch exemplifies her fresh perspective.
Deep Passion watch set in white gold with 39 oval-cut sapphires, 60 pear-shaped sapphires, 29 brilliant-cut sapphires. $48,000 at Nour by JAHAN
Secret Alhambra
Since 1968, Van Cleef & Arpels has been celebrated for its famous Alhambra motif resembling a four-leaf clover. For the first time, the brand launched four secret watch pendants, one being this diamond pavé design inspired by the chain watches that appeared in Europe in the 17th century. The simple pivot of the stone-set motif reveals a guilloché yellow gold dial.
Alhambra secret pendant watch, yellow gold, diamonds, dial in guilloché yellow gold, quartz movement. $44,700 at Van Cleef & Arpels
The Marine
Zadok Jewelers in Houston, Texas, is home to some of the world's most influential watch brands. They carry their own watch designs and makers from around the world, such as this Poseidonia Watch by Breguet. With a mother of pearl dial decorated with a spray of sapphires, this watch is the epitome of Parisian style, with its understated leather strap balancing the jeweled bezel.
The Marine Haute Joaillerie 9509 Poseidonia Watch by Breguet with alligator strap, mother of pearl, and sapphire-colored dial. $256,000 at Zadok Jewelers
‘N°5’
Every woman knows of the iconic Chanel N°5 perfume. To celebrate its 100th birthday, High Jewelry Director Patrice Leguéreau decided to honor the moment by using the perfume as inspiration for the house's latest High Jewelry collection. This watch is inspired by the jasmine scent of the perfume, where yellow and white diamonds blossom amid a snake of pearls.
‘N°5’ Jewelry Watch in 18K white gold, 18K yellow gold, yellow sapphires, diamonds, and cultured pearls. Price upon request at CHANEL High Jewelry
Divas’ Dream
Established in 1884, Bulgari's gem collections and mechanisms are unparalleled, making them an emblem of Italian craftsmanship and artistry. La Dolce Vita's vitality inspires this watch. Its soft, elegant mother of pearl dial is serene, while its moveable diamond and emerald petals bring playful passion to the design.
Bvlgari Divas’ Dream Divissima Emeralds watch set with white gold, round brilliant-cut diamonds, round brilliant-cut emerald, mother-of-pearl, and green alligator strap. Price upon request at Bulgari
Diamond Reptilis
A legacy since 1947, Cartier is one of the few jewelry houses with expertise in both watch mechanics and high jewelry. This Deco diamond pavé watch required the intricate work of watchmakers and jewelers, who painstakingly set 301 brilliant and princess-cut diamonds into its framework along with the precision of Swiss watchmaking.
Reptilis Fine Jewelry watch set with white gold, 70 princess-cut diamonds, and 231 brilliant-cut diamonds, Price upon request at Cartier
Dior & Moi
Victoire de Castellane, the visionary behind the bold creations at Dior Joaillerie, has dreamt up her colorful paradise in her high jewelry collection Dior et Moi inspired by sentimental jewels, often referred to as “toi et moi” (you and I) pieces. Here, the mother of pearl and opal dials are a feat of engineering genius, as carving stones in such a way is a complex look.
White gold, diamond, black opal, sapphire, and emerald high jewelry watch, Price upon request at Dior Joaillerie
Brilliant One
Fearless and pioneering, Jacob & Co's spirit reflects the resilient nature of Jacob Abarro's family, who moved from the former USSR in search of a better life. Jacob is inspired by his female family members for their Ladies Collection. The complexity in design and mechanics is balanced; such is the case on this everyday elegant diamond and tsavorite watch for green lovers.
Brilliant One Row rose gold, diamond, and tsavorite watch, $32,500 at Watches of Switzerland
Editor: Samantha Durbin
Wordsmith: Livia Primo Lack
Every item featured is personally selected by our writers and editors (read: we're totally into it). Please know that when you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission (read: we get to keep doing what we love).