Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie is now more than half over but there is still plenty to see as 16 of the world’s top makers of Swiss luxury watches gather in Geneva to show off their latest designs.
Van Cleef & Arpels Carpe Koï
Some of those attending this year’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie may have thought they were viewing the ultimate in decadent luxury when Richard Mille displayed his Tourbillon Fleur and Tourbillon Diamond Twister, but another brand has one-upped him with an even more impressive timepiece. Van Cleef & Arpels saluted Japanese culture with the opulent Carpe Koï watch bracelet.
While the idea of a fish with a watch in its mouth might not sound like the inspiration for a luxury timepiece, the result is a breathtaking work of art that is part of the brand’s Palais de la chance high jewelry collection. A very realistic carp crafted from yellow gold set with yellow sapphires and spessartite garnets rides on waves of white diamonds and tourmalines. The mouth of the golden koi pops open to reveal the dial while the clasp is concealed inside the tail.
This unique timepiece required 3,450 hours of work and contains 8,000 colored gemstones. The Carpe Koï won’t appeal to all tastes but it has to be the ultimate gift for the woman who has everything.
Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Victoire and Bugatti Revelation
The makers of luxury watches have a major love affair going with the automobile, especially Parmigiani Fleurier, which is now celebrating 10 years of partnership with carmaker Bugatti. This alliance has already produced several limited-edition timepieces including the Atalante, Vitesse, Aerolithe, Bugatti Type 370 and Super Sport.
In 2014, the Bugatti Mythe was released and Parmigiani Fleurier is following up with two more racy models, the Victoire and the Revelation. All three are inspired by the classic Bugatti 370 driving watch which in turn drew its style from Bugatti’s Veyron supercar.
Both watches have designs based on Veyron models. The Bugatti Revelation sports a honeycomb of tightly-packed diamonds that draws inspiration from the Veyron’s grille while the Victoire features a pattern of concentric Vs that resemble skid marks on a racing track. Since the Bugatti Mythe came with a price tag of $430,000, the latest additions to the line should be equally pricey.
Hublot Auctions Classic Fusion Watch for Charity
The third day of SIHH 2015 ended with a charity auction at the Grand Hotel Kempinski in Geneva. A special edition Classic Fusion model by Hublot brought in 59,000 Swiss francs for the Institut Jaques-Dalcroze, which is celebrating its centenary.
Hublot and designer Roger Pfund collaborated to produce a one-of-a-kind timepiece crafted of King Gold with the figure of a dancer on the dial. The design honors the charity work of musician Emile Jaques-Dalcroze who devoted his talents to creating a teaching method that helps children develop their cerebral and motor skills. The Institut Emile Jaques-Dalcroze now has several teaching centers that instruct teachers and trainers in aiding persons dealing with mental disabilities or Alzheimer’s disease.
A limited edition of this watch will be available at Hublot boutiques. This year’s SIHH will continue through January 23 in Geneva.
