Timepieces that serve a dual purpose of
function and ornamentation define this
fetching roundup of horological delights.

Without resorting to wearing a watch and jewellery on your wrists, why not &ldquo;fuse&rdquo; the utility of wearing them both, as demonstrated by these bejewelled timepieces that show time and adorn simultaneously. From cocktail-style watches to resplendent metal bracelet varieties and blinged-out sporty renditions, the boundary between horology and jewellery have been beautifully blurred into a modern, multitasking expression.

FELINE POWER 

The Panth&egrave;re de Cartier&mdash;Cartier&rsquo;s defining icon from its women&rsquo;s universe&mdash;gets a revamp this year that looks to be one of its most enthralling. Built upon a legacy of radiant design, the manchette watch and mini watch are the current stars that celebrate the same hedonistic and ultra-feminine spirit that Cartier champions wholeheartedly through jewellery.

Audacious to a fault, the statement-making manchette is anchored by the supple and flowing bracelet of the Panth&egrave;re de Cartier, now widened multiple times over, yet does not lose an iota of the grace and charm of its original model. The dial sits off-centre on a partially open-worked chain bracelet, thereby giving the classic timepiece a stamp of unapologetic modernity. For its counterpart, the proportions have been subverted from the original as a stylistic exercise.

Transformed and catapulted into new levels of elegance, the super refined and classy Panth&egrave;re de Cartier mini watch is offered in a variety of bracelets. Together, the Panth&egrave;re de Cartier manchette and mini are Cartier&rsquo;s latest attestation of a bold and free-spirited sense of luxury where the worlds of watchmaking and jewellery design collide and commingle with sublime abandon.

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LADY LUCK

 
Each spring, the Alhambra is reborn into a new iteration, and uniquely embellished yet again. Since 1968, the motif inspired by the four-leaf clover&mdash;a beloved icon that signifies luck and celebrates it&mdash;has taken the spotlight in the constant reinvention of Van Cleef &amp; Arpels&rsquo; Alhambra collection of timepieces and jewellery. Being featured is the recognisable emblem set in white or grey mother-of-pearl, hard or precious stones on rotation basis.

 
Last year&rsquo;s Sweet Alhambra is distinguished by a downsized quadrilobed symbol, and for 2019, it is translated into a quintet of watches designed with a nod to the uncompromising elegance of jewellery. Slim, refined and sophisticated, they come with interchangeable leather bracelets in precious alligator, offered in a variety of classic and vibrant hues.

 
Drawing style inspiration from the universe of jewellery, the casing of the clover-inspired pattern is lined with two rows of gold beads enveloping the dial set in one of these: shimmering white mother-of-pearl, lustrous onyx, sparkling diamonds (full or serti neige-style pavé setting), and yellow gold with gleaming traditional guilloché.&nbsp;To echo the delicately streamlined aesthetic of jewellery, the crown of the watch is tucked under the case. The fact that the Sweet Alhambra watch comes presented in a jewel box is perfect and parallels the sweet, playful and lucky persona it embodies.

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CUTTING-EDGE CHIC

Forging ahead at a million miles per hour, contemporary watchmaker Richard Mille loses no time in proposing one innovative creation after another. Case in point: the Gemset Sapphire RM 07-02 certainly brings copious amounts of colour into the realm of haute horlogerie.

Precious metals are forgone and replaced by the high technicity of gemset ceramic and Carbon TPT&reg;, and the groundbreaking watchmaker goes one step further with coloured sapphire, setting it with diamonds. The journey to achieving this feat is long and arduous, beginning with an in-depth study of the sapphire&rsquo;s composition, before a 40-day machining and finishing process of shaping it from a giant block.

Again, close examination of the sapphire&rsquo;s deep structure is required to ensure the exact tone on the brand&rsquo;s wish list is realised. Each element is set to the nearest micrometer using laser. It is even harder than working with ceramics or Carbon TPT&reg;, taking double the time. Red or grey hand-polished gold prongs are then embedded in multiple settings to hold a delicate row of diamonds. The translucent sapphire is exquisite against the diamonds and case screws emblem.

Over and above all the wizardry with aesthetics, the RM 07-O2&rsquo;s skeletonised movement is micro-blasted grey gold for the green and blue versions, and in 5N red gold for the pink sapphire. Each sapphire colour is matched with a specific ornamental stone on the dial, alongside a diamond studded crown. With flourish, Richard Mille succeeds yet again in unifying disparate and complementary references, innovation and creativity in a horological masterpiece that dazzles like haute joaillerie.

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