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8 jewellery watches guaranteed to turn heads: celebs from Rihanna to Michelle Yeoh are bringing the bling – add your own red carpet sparkle with diamond timepieces from Chanel, Bulgari, Graff and more
STORYAnders Modig Davin
Do you want ice with that? New York jeweller Jacob & Co. is one of the go-to brands for iced-out watches, as could be seen in June when Rihanna wore the 47mm Jacob & Co. Brilliant Flying Tourbillon watch choker.
But did you know that bejewelled watches are arguably the oldest horological trend there is? One of history’s first-known wristwatches, gifted to Queen Elizabeth I in 1571, was held in place by an armlet garnished with diamonds and pearls.
Here Style weights up eight more blinging jewel watches worth a look:
1. Jacob & Co. Billionaire Ashoka Small
If you prefer to wear something on your wrist, one of Jacob & Co.’s latest offerings is the Billionaire Ashoka Small, a 31.67mm watch with more than 100 carats of diamonds.
2. Richard Mille RM 72-01 Lifestyle Automatic Chronograph
Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille – known to have used diamonds galore in pieces worn by Michelle Yeoh – also likes the baguette cut: one of its most recent iced-out cases is the cushion-shaped RM 72-01 Lifestyle Automatic Chronograph.
Why Richard Mille watches are known as ‘the billionaire’s handshake’
Why Richard Mille watches are known as ‘the billionaire’s handshake’
3. Graff Tilda’s Bow
London-based Graff enters a more delicate universe with its update of the Tilda’s Bow diamond watch in white gold, adorned with a rose gold and pink diamond ribbon, its stones totalling 23.74 carats.
4. Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Secret necklace
As art deco has been a strong influence in recent years, it was perhaps not a surprise that the sautoir (long necklace) watch made a huge return in 2023, with dazzling, dangling bejewelled timepieces from brands including Piaget, Chanel, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Van Cleef & Arpels and Bulgari.
Inside Chris Hemsworth’s jaw-dropping luxury timepiece collection
Inside Chris Hemsworth’s jaw-dropping luxury timepiece collection
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Secret necklace is arguably the most art deco sautoir around: the chain made of diamond-set links and polished onyx beads holds a rose gold Reverso, which is richly adorned with graphical patterns made of diamond and onyx. This is a true Reverso, wherein the wearer chooses when or if to reveal the time.
5. Chanel Mademoiselle Privé Lion sautoir
Large onyxes, albeit faceted, are also dangling at the end of the Chanel Mademoiselle Privé Lion sautoir. Secrecy is again a theme, with the watch hidden behind a diamond-encrusted lion’s head that can be swivelled around. The animal is of particular significance: Leo was Coco Chanel’s star sign, and she considered the king of beasts “an endless source of inspiration”.
6. Piaget High Jewelry Sautoir watch
Swiss luxury watchmaker Piaget’s High Jewelry Sautoir collection features twisted gold chains that take some 130 hours to create as well as hand-textured gold cuff watches – one of the versions with a 25.38-carat cabochon emerald for added greenery above the malachite-dialled watch.
7. Van Cleef & Arpels Perlée Secret pendant watch
French luxury jewellery company Van Cleef & Arpels’ Perlée Secret pendant watch is inspired by the same era, with the perlée gold beading on the edges of the case part of the brand’s design heritage since 1920. The bezel behind the lid – which is set with diamonds and deep-blue sapphires – is also set with diamonds.
8. Bulgari Cameo Imperiale Secret watch necklace
Italian luxury fashion house Bulgari looks back to the 1960s, another strong decade for the sautoir – and the time when Bulgari included ancient Roman coins in its jewellery. This look was the starting point for the octagonal Secret watch necklace Cameo Imperiale. The not-for-the-faint-hearted 18k rose gold coin-shaped case and chain are set with rubies, diamonds, and pink and blue sapphires.
- This season Jacob & Co. – a brand famously worn by Rihanna – offers a wristwatch with more than 100 carats of diamonds, while Richard Mille and Graff also have diamond-encrusted watches for the wrist
- With art deco a strong influence, the sautoir – or long necklace – timepiece made a big return for 2024, with offerings from Chanel, Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Piaget