The Fascination by Graff Diamonds

Graff Diamonds has unveiled “The Fascination”, a highly-unique transformable jewel that perfectly epitomises its diamond expertise operating at the very pinnacle of the luxury jewellery industry.

A true work of art

The Fascination incorporates 152.96 carats of the very finest white diamonds. At the heart of the piece lies an exquisitely rare, 38.13 carat D Flawless pear shape diamond, cut and polished by Graff

An interchangeable element, this magnificent diamond can be worn as the centrepiece of a highly sculptural bracelet or placed into a bespoke shank and worn as a ring.

Adding further intrigue and in an exemplary showcase of design ingenuity, an elegant diamond watch face can be inserted into the bracelet, creating an opulent jewelled timepiece.

Founder and Chairman of Graff Diamonds, Laurence Graff played an integral role in the design and creation of The Fascination – which demonstrates the close collaboration between Graff’s London and Swiss ateliers.

Commenting he said: “We are inspired by the rarest and most precious diamonds – their influence is evident throughout everything we do. The Fascination is an outstanding piece, carefully crafted so it can be worn in a number of different ways – adding a touch of magic to the jewel.  It perfectly encapsulates the ethos of our business, from sourcing the very finest diamonds, uncovering their potential through our cutting and polishing divisions, pushing the boundaries of design, meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail – resulting in the creation.”

He continued: “The Fascination is truly unique and joins our roll call of important jewels, which are among the rarest and most sought after stones ever uncovered. It is a true celebration of our diamond mastery.”
The Fascination is probably the most expensive three-in-one jewels ever created, with a value of around Euro 36.287.100 ($40 million).

                                                   More information about the "Fascination"

Beautiful Astronomia Tourbillon Baguette by Jacob & Co.

 Beautiful Astronomia Tourbillon Baguette by Jacob & Co.

The watch was created in such a way as to allow the wearer to have a look into its wonderfully complex inner workings, but not in the usual way, by fitting the piece with a transparent caseback or dial. Instead, the Astronomia Tourbillon Baguette features a series of smaller sapphire crystals which are windows into the movement, with a larger crystal covering everything else. Even more eye-catching are the myriad diamonds adorning the piece, 16 carats-worth of precious stones invisibly-set on the dial and lugs.

This glittering timepiece comes with a 50 mm, 18-carat rose gold case, housing the exclusive Jacob & Co Manual Winding JCEM01 Caliber.
The Astronomia Tourbillon Baguette by Jacob & Co. has all the makings of an horological masterpiece, so it’s only appropriate it comes with an incredibly steep price tag of just over $1 million! It costs as much as a supercar, but it’s just as likely to turn heads, so there will probably be no shortage of watch aficionados with very deep pocket willing to shell out that sum.

Cartier Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire

  Cartier Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire is a stunning timepiece

 2014 is set to be a year of launches for Cartier who unveiled four watches that will makes its debut next year – the Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire (perpetual calendar tourbillon), Rotonde de Cartier Earth Moon (an unusual moon phase design), the Tank MC Two Tone Skeleton (a new version of the Santos 100 skeleton), and a Cartier Caliber diving watch. First on the list is the Rotonde de Cartier Astrocalendaire, a creative implementation of the perpetual calendar via the Caliber 9459 MC, designed in-house by Cartier.

The timepiece features a 45mm x 15.7mm platinum case, with a concentric perpetual calendar, marked by blue brackets, wherein the day/date/month is displayed by means of rotating aperture. The leap year indicator is on the back of the watch on one of the movement bridges. At the center is a flying tourbillon with the Cartier “C”. The calendar functions are set via the crown except for the day which is advanced by a pusher in the case. According to Cartier’s head of fine watchmaking, Carole Forestier-Kasapi, this is because day and date can never be synchronized and need separate mechanisms. In this movement, it is driven by a star wheel and can be manipulated by a secure corrector at two o’clock. By replacing spring-and-lever system with an innovative wheel driven system, the movement yields a whopping 80 per cent gain in chronometric stability.

The Rotonde de Cartier AstroCalendaire bears the prestigious Poinçon de Genève and both its movement and case are individually numbered. With a 50-hour power reserve, this timepiece is limited to only 100 pieces and retails for around €150,000 or $200,000 apiece.

The Vacheron Constantin Malte tourbillon

The Vacheron Constantin Malte tourbillon is a wearable sculpture in diamonds

Vacheron Constantin comes out with yet another vibrant dedication to its Métiers d’Art heritage, the Malte tourbillon high jewelry model. This delightful timepiece combines the magic of watchmaking and the mystery of gem setting with its revered Hallmark of Geneva coupled with handcrafted, invisible settings. Dressed in 418 baguette diamonds (totalling approximately 19.6 carats), it is decadent to say the least. But what’s truly charming is its innate ability to reflect supreme artistry.

Only a few artists today have mastered the technique for producing invisible diamond settings. Supported by a track, they form a field of light without any trace of fastening, as the gold remains hidden. Such precision means that over 100 hours of goldsmith-ing work went into creating this wondrous composition.

 Such wonder in a watch called for an equally exceptional movement. That is where the mechanical hand-wound Calibre 2795 came in. Comprising 169 parts and endowed with an almost two-day power reserve, this new tonneau-shaped movement makes a perfect fit for the magnificent case. Its character is accentuated by its côtes de Genève decoration, meticulous hand chamfering of the bar edges, and engraved individual serial number.

The tourbillon carriage isn’t less than spectacular either. Inspired by the brand’s signature Maltese cross, it includes a number of naturally hand-beveled interior angles. The rounding off of the tourbillon bar is a result over 12 hours of manual work itself. The craftsmen rubbed it down with stones, buffs, wooden pegs and finishing pastes for that perfectly polished effect.
Finished off with a fabulous black, hand-stitched Mississippiensis alligator leather strap accompanied by a diamond-paved 18K white gold folding clasp, the Vacheron Constantin Malte tourbillon high jewelry model is a hallmark of insurmountable quality making its wearer an apostle of unquantifiable elegance.

Ulysse Nardin Presents | The Redesigned Freak Cruiser Timpiece

Ulysse Nardin is a timepiece brand in a class by itself. Their iconic designs and watch models are exquisite. While their iconic “Freak” timepiece continues to get praise and as it is referred to as one of the best watches from the brand. The follow-up, the Freak Cruiser, was officially unveiled this week.

The Cruiser is a complete redesign. Its case is available in either an 18kt rose or white gold option with double sapphire crystals. This timepiece has no dials or hands and it is designed so that the movement revolves on its own. The lower bridge that indicates the hours is linked to its center while the upper bridge holds the gear train, balance spring, and the exclusive Dual Ulysse silicon escapement that shows the minutes. All this is accented by an alligator strap with a matching gold buckle that gives this timepiece a classy and elegant appearance to its revolutionary design.