Baselworld 2014 recently took place in Basel, Switzerland from March 19 -26. Whitewall was at the watch and jewelry fair to check out the latest launches first-hand.
Chanel’s watch collection, Mademoiselle Privé, is sourced from the life of Gabrielle Chanel, displaying the objects and symbols she kept around her and cherished. Created by master artisans and limited to an edition of 18 pieces, the watches feature 18k white cold cases with 562 brilliant-cut diamonds, an embroidered face by Masion Lesage using “needle painting” technique, 18k white gold hands, and 18k white gold crown set with an onyx cabochon.
Hermès’ Arceau Millefiori
Hermès’ Arceau Millefiori model bridges fine watchmaking with the fine glassmaking. Aesthetically inspired by the 19th-century paperweights crafted by Cristalleries royales de Saint-Louis, the watches integrate intricate glasswork into their faces. Layered and ornate, canes of glass are cut using centuries-old techniques to create a visual impression that is singular but also nods to a history of glass craftsmanship. Cased in white gold, with a dial made from the crystal historically used in the Millefiori paperweights, this collection is a playful and colorful example of the finest in swiss watchmaking.
Hermès’ Arceau Temari collection is inspired by the intricate Temari “hand balls” of Japan that were created from the fabric scraps of Kimonos. In these watches the advanced skills of snow setting and stone marquetry are employed to create bold jewelry watches. This motif, which has previously inspired a Hermes silk carre, has been reinterpreted using white gold, diamonds, and marquetry composed either of white mother-of-pearl, onyx, lapis lazuli or opal. In execution, no less than 700 stones are set on the case, which takes each master gem-setter almost three weeks to complete and results in each piece being unique.
Hermès’ Arceau Temari
