Watch Report: 4 visual spectacle for your wrists
While we all love our technical details of fine timepieces, visual aesthetics also play a major role.
From the dazzling jewels on the bezel to quirky innovations on the dial and even, handpainted masterpieces, there's much to swoon over this year at Baselworld (see here) and Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH).
And topping the list of visual pleasures for the wrists (that can be coined as art wonders) are brands like Cartier, Chanel, Van Cleef & Arpels and Corum.
(Scroll down to find out which timepiece made the list)
Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Papillon Automate
It goes without question that when it comes to grace, beauty and elegance, Van Cleef & Arpels (VCA) is one of the top players in haute horologerie.
And this year, VCA blew us off our seats with its Lady Arpels Papillon Automate timepiece that has automated fluttering butterfly within its three-dimensional, diamond-encrusted case.
Yes, you've heard it right. For this unique timepiece by VCA, the watchmakers have created a gold and enamel butterfly that flutters its wings on the dial, which is a beautiful floral landscape of jewels, as the wearer moves or wind its crown.
Even when it is stationary, the butterfly will flap its delicate wings 19 times in an hour.
Chanel Mademoiselle J12
Leaning towards the more quirky side (think pop art), Chanel has unveiled the Mademoiselle J12 watch.
Part of its "Year of Gabrielle" campaign, in celebration of its founder Mademoiselle Coco Chanel, this latest timepiece is no short of excitement as we see an animated version of Coco Chanel on its dial where her hands work as the hour and minutes hands.
Essentially, it is an adult and more chic rendition of your childhood Mickey Mouse watch. Who can resist this charming little wrist wonder?
Cartier Ronde Louis Cartier XL Flamed Gold
If there's anything you need to watch out for, it is definitely the annual creation for the Cartier Métiers d’Art collection.
Known for using the most unconventional materials and reviving rare artisanal crafts to create its masterpieces, Cartier adds a new technique to its portfolio – the art of heat painting.
And for 2017 the highlight goes to the Cartier Ronde Louis Cartier XL flamed gold watch, created using heat painting, which uses the different level of steel oxidisation to create the hues of the watch dial, which is the iconic Panthère de Cartier.
This means no actual paint was used. Each layer is painstakingly heated in different temperature and scraped to create the various tones of the panther. An art wonder indeed!
Corum Bubble Magical 52 Matteo Cesarini
Taking the term of "watch" to the next level, Corum has its eye on you this year. Literally.
Presenting to you the Corum Bubble Magical 52 Matteo Ceccarini, where the iconic watchmaker takes you on a psychedelic journey with an eyeball for a dial.
Housed in the large 52mm case, Corum engaged with DJ and composer Matteo Ceccarini to create this timepiece with a three-dimensional eye on its dial with dots to mark the hours and black circles to work as the minutes and hour hands.
Matteo also mentioned that the eye was chosen because the eye has been used as a protective symbol since the ancient times. So when you have your new Corum watch on, you'd have someone to "watch" your back.
In case you've missed it, click on the link here to read more about unique timepieces we saw at Baselworld 2017.
