Glashütte Original Uses $35 Million Mansion To Introduce Ladies Watch Collection

The Waterfall Mansion in New York was the setting for the Glashütte Original unveiling of the Pavonina Collection. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

German watch manufacturer Glashütte Original presented its Pavonina Collection of ladies watches during a 1920’s theme party at the Waterfall Mansion in New York City.

Cushion-shaped 18k red gold case and white mother-of-pearl dial and guilloche finished. The settings and date window enhanced with red gold; rhodium and red gold plated feuille hands. 18k red gold metal bracelet design mirrors the cushion shape of the case.

A total of 20 new models of the watch line were presented in an exhibit setting on the second and third floors of the townhouse mansion, which has a listing price of $35 million. The multi-story waterfall, the signature highlight of the building on New York’s Upper East Side, was backlit in the Pavonina color of “royal purple” with the design theme of petals containing the names of the guests in attendance.

The Waterfall Mansion signature waterfall backlit with the "Royal Purple" and petal display of the Pavonina Collection. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

Dieter Pachner, Glashütte Original Global VP of Sales, explained that the cushion-shaped case design of the watches is the same design of popular ladies watches in the 1920s. The period is important for women as time of liberation and independence from the constraints of society, he said. The case comes in stainless steel, 18k red gold, and in a stainless steel and red gold combination.

Cushion-shaped stainless steel case with a dial made of galvanized ruthenium with guilloche finish; set with 12 diamonds. Settings and date window enhanced with red gold; rhodium and white gold plated feuille hands. Anthracite satin strap attached to lugs set with 42 diamonds.

As part of the 1920s theme of the event, several rooms contained portraits of women pioneers from the 20th Century and furnishings represented the period. One case contained vintage Glashütte Original ladies watches.

One of the Glashütte Original's 1920s-era watches on display. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

The dials for the quartz-powered watches were created in house in a range of designs that include mother of pearl and diamond motifs. The stainless steel models are offered with dials in either galvanized silver or ruthenium (a platinum group metal); with cabochon or diamond indexes as hour markers. bi-color models are available in mother of pearl or galvanized ruthenium dials. There are other options.

18k red gold case, galvanized black dial with guilloche finish and 12 diamonds as hour markers. Settings and date window enhanced with red gold; rhodium and red gold plated feuille hands. Fine black Louisiana alligator bracelet attached to flexible lugs set with 42 diamonds.

The collection also includes several choices of metal bracelets and colorful satin straps along with a “quick-change” pin that makes it easy to replace straps and bracelets. The metal bracelets are available in stainless steel, red gold and bi-color versions—the latter with alternating stainless steel and red gold links. The satin straps are offered in petrol green, violet or rich anthracite, or high-gloss patent leather in mocca brown and violet.

A couple of the new watches on display. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

 
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Cushion-shaped 18k red gold case and white enamel dial set with 98 diamonds. The settings and date window are enhanced with red gold; rhodium and red gold plated feuille hands. Violet satin strap nattached to lug decorated with 21 diamonds.

Breguet Celebrates the First Watch With Unveiling of the Reine de Naples Watch and Jewelry Collection

Reine de Naples ladies timepiece

Abraham-Louis Breguet is said to have created and delivered the first wristwatch, for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples on October 5, 1812. To pay tribute to this historical piece and its creator, the Swiss luxury watch brand that bears the creator’s name went off to Naples for a celebration commemorating the 200th anniversary of the event.

The Breguet celebration held on Oct. 5 and 6 on the Gulf of Naples included a tour of Reggia Di Capodimonte, which was the home to Caroline Murat, who occupied the throne of Naples until 1815 and a gala and an historical exhibition, “Reine de Naples,” on the Isle of Capri.

The Swiss luxury watch brand also unveiled the 10th anniversary of its “Reine de Naples” ladies watch and jewelry collection. Launched in 2002, this collection is a tribute to the first wristwatch, ordered by Caroline Murat from Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1810 and delivered in 1812.

Reine de Naples ring in 950 platinum paved with brilliant-cut diamonds (2.48 ct), with baguette-cut diamonds (approx. 7.50 ct), and an oval-cut blue sapphire (9.50 ct).

The “Reine de Naples” anniversary special has a striking mechanism that marks the top of every hour with two chimes repeated three times. A pushpiece at 2 o’clock disables the function. Along with the usual technical imperatives involved in designing an oval movement, this timepiece incorporates the results of fundamental research by Breguet into the acoustics of chiming and repeating watches.

The geometry of the bridges, the oscillating weight and the decoration, displayed through the sapphire crystal back of the watch, form the image of a garden pavilion in the Mediterranean style, identical to the stately residences of Caroline Murat. To do justice to the lavish setting in which the piece is unveiled, the bezel and the snap of the “Reine de Naples” anniversary special are set with 28 brilliant cut diamonds and 27 blue sapphires. The striking hammers appear above the dial at 11 and 1 o’clock, while between them the diamond heart of a rose engraved in gold indicates the engagement of the hour striker. The silvered gold dial and its flange are paved with 233 brilliant cut diamonds and 303 blue sapphires with different nuances, offering a subtle color gradation. A crown placed at 4 o’clock and set with a briolette-cut diamond adds a sublime final touch to this exclusive anniversary watch, mounted on an alligator strap with a folding clasp set with 26 diamonds.

Reine de Naples tiara in 950 platinum paved with brilliant-cut diamonds (12.75 ct), baguette-cut diamonds (approx. 8.00 ct) and an 8.37 ct oval-cut blue sapphire.

The Reine de Naples jewelry set consists of a ring, pair of earrings, necklace and tiara, all in 950 platinum. The central motif of the jewels in the set is an oval-cut blue sapphire. It is surrounded by two ovoid rings paved with baguette-cut diamonds in an elegant and refined echo of the case of the first wristwatch, which had an oblong shape. 

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Montblanc Honors Princess Grace with a Sparkling Collection

Princess Grace

There may be no greater symbol of royalty, style and fashion than Grace Kelly. The Philadelphia-born actress was thrust into the international spotlight when she married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and became known throughout the world as Princess Grace. It was a role she was born to play and till this day she is looked upon as one the world’s great fashion icons.

With this in mind, Montblanc, has created the “Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco,” as a tribute to the person and the place. It is a limited-edition collection of jewelry, timepieces and writing instruments, encompassing the specialties of the luxury brand. All of the pieces are embellished with filigree petal cut stones, honoring the Grace de Monaco pink rose, a flower named after Kelly in 1956 for her wedding day. Diamonds and pink sapphires are strong influences in the collection.

The collection comes with a charity partnership between Montblanc and the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, which assists emerging talents in the performing arts.

The haute joaillerie collection is made up of three one-of-a-kind sets featuring petal cut stones and diamonds. Each set includes a necklace of cascading pink sapphires and diamonds (pictured), long earrings ending with drop cut pink sapphires and a refined matching bracelet.

The timepiece collection consists of a limited edition of eight watches in 18k red gold with 76 baguette cut diamonds on the bezel and the horns (3.30 cts.). The crown is topped with the Montblanc diamond (0.05 ct, F-G color). There’s a three-dimensional pink sapphire drop at 6 o’clock. The flange and dial are set with a cascade of 177 brilliant cut diamonds (0.53 cts.). The dial is made of white mother-of-pearl. A white alligator strap and a buckle are set with 76 brilliant cut diamonds (0.32 cts.).The case back is engraved with the Princesse Grace de Monaco monogram.

The fountain pen, available in a limited edition of three as a tribute to Princess Grace’s three children, is crafted entirely of champagne colored solid gold with diamonds and rubies on the cap and barrel. The Principality of Monaco coat of arms provided the inspiration for a circle of rhomboid-shaped cut rubies arranged on the cap of the writing instrument. The piece is topped with a heart-shaped hole of the gold nib and the finely engraved Princesse Grace de Monaco monogram on the cap-top.