These Astro Watches Will Make You
Reach The Moon
10th December 2018
If you are a passionate astronomer, slightly superstitious or just a deep daydreamer, these watches are made for you!
These past seasons revealed a real fad for night sky design: from zodiac stars signs to planets, the prestigious watchmakers are fighting for the moon. It is a fabulous offer composed of diverse complications and various materials such as aventurine, enamel and diamonds, where each piece is truly embedded in their respective House’s collections.
It is all about fascination: what is more intriguing and intangible than the vastness of the sky and its heavenly body? These timekeepers immerse us in the sparkling constellations and allow us to get closer to the firmament of the universe.
In this review, we will go through some beautiful models of Van Cleef & Arpels, Chaumet, Bulgari and Cartier.
The Lady Arpels Planétarium Watch, from The Poetic Complications Astronomy Watch by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Van Cleef & Arpels: Lady Arpels Planétarium
At SIHH 2018 event, the fairy-like brand unveiled its feminine version of the previous Midnight Planetarium that was launched in 2014.
At first sight, the dark blue dial transport you in the Milky Way featured by the aventurine’s bright inclusions. Your eyes can follow a magical galaxy tour around the different elements: the central pink gold sun, the turquoise Earth, mother-of-pearl Mercury, green enamel Venus, diamond Moon and finally the white gold shooting star. The latter indicates the time.
Not only it is visually exciting, but it is also a highly complicated watch as each planets, satellite and star are moving around the sun at their own speed (Earth will accomplish its circle in 365 days). Indeed, each elements remain on their own orbit ring that rotate on an individual movement. And this is not all! The date is also indicated on the verso of the watch, which also features a celestial design made of diamonds, aventurine and turquoise.
The 38mm diamonds set case is hold, either by an alligator strap, or a full pavé bracelet, in both case the production is limited.
Creation of The Lady Arpels Planétarium Watch, from The Poetic Complications Astronomy Watch, Van Cleef & Arpels.
Van Cleef & Arpels: Lady Arpels Zodiac Lumineux
In a more superstitious mindset, Van Cleef & Arpels launched in 2018 a new version of the zodiac signs watches that features the monthly birth constellations in an automatic movement. Each 12 models represents a zodiac symbol using various materials such as colored enamel, diamonds, sapphires and gold. All watches presents a dark blue sky dial with its illuminating stars, as well as a pave diamond and white gold case.
We already discovered in 2014 colorful and joyful zodiac watches but today Van Cleef & Arpels go further the drawings. The surprising effect of these creative timekeepers remains in the vibration and the hidden LED lights that allow some enamel stars of the dial to shine whenever you wish it. This characteristic not only brings the dial to life, but it also creates emotions and fascination for the lucky woman who wears one of these dazzling jewellery watches.
I believe the Cancer watch would be a great version for me, what about yours?
Complete Collection of The Lady Arpels Zodiac Lumineux, Van Cleef & Arpels.
Chaumet: Colombes Creative Complications
This Romantic automatic watch features 2 diamonds doves dancing in the dark velvet sky. Surrounded by opalescent enamel clouds and golden stars, the delicate birds hold 2 white gold rings as a sign of love and eternity. The doves are mobile: The central one indicates the hour with its ring, while the other one fly around the clock showing the minutes.
The white gold case and the cloudy buckle are together composed of 225 billiant-cut diamonds. I am sensitive to details and so, I have to highlight the tiny clouds and stars engravings on the case’s sides, which definitely add some sparkles and magic.
With this beautiful storytelling, this watch looks like a perfect wedding anniversary gift, but hurry: only 12 pieces are available!
The Colombes Creative Complications Watch, Chaumet. The watch indicates 9:50.
Bulgari: Divas' Dream Roman Nights
Once again, Bulgari proudly states its Roman origins with its new jewellery watches. Indeed, the diamonds constellations that appear on the dial are the ones that we can admire in the sky while wandering in Rome. This dreamy watch is sparkling with its 24 brilliant-cut sapphires and numerous diamonds, spread on the bezel and lug. The elegant dark blue aventurine dial is composed of 2 rotating disks that are respectively indicating the minutes and hours thanks to one pear-cut diamond and one brilliant-cut diamond. This “mystery” set gives lightness and femininity to the powerful Diva’s Dream collection.
The back of the watch indicates the constellations’ names and reveals the automatic mechanism.
The Bulgari's Divas' Dream Roman Nights watches are available in pink and white gold, both with a dark blue alligator strap.
The Diva's Dream Roman Nights, Bulgari.
Cartier: Rotonde Day & Night
10pm or 10am? The beautiful Cartier lacquer dial has the answer: The rotating disc features, on a first half, the cloudy sky with the sun, and on the other, the starry night and moon. This movement comes along a retrograde moon phase mechanism where each phase is symbolized by 118 diamonds and 28 blue sapphires. The iconic Roman numbers guide the unique time hand, surrounded by the 68 diamonds bezel.
Released in 2016, this powerful and sophisticated watch perfectly represents the Maison Cartier and its impressive ability to gather technicity and creativity.
The Rotonde Day & Night, Cartier.