Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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FROM LEFT: The hidden watches by Vacheron Constantin, Piaget, and Chanel reveal their secrets. wear a beautiful piece of jewelry and still see the time on her wrist. While that old-world thinking has long since changed, the mystique of wearing a secret watch has endured. "They remain very mysterious and discreet," says Hugues de Pins, president of Vacheron Constantin, North America. "In the past it was considered rude for a woman to check the time, so having a piece of jewelry that let them slyly see time made sense. Today, the multifaceted woman loves a secret watch for the extraordinary beauty and craftsmanship of it." Vacheron Constantin, a brand with more than 250 years of history, has been making secret watches since its inception. The newest piece is the Kalla Haute Couture à Pampilles watch, which is crafted using more than 34 carats of diamonds, including flame-cut stones that are unique to Vacheron Constantin in the watch world. Only one of these timepieces can be made each year because of the enormous amount of time that goes into cutting and setting the perfectly matched diamonds. "Haute jeweled watches like these involve several crafts," says de Pins, "from the secret watch with a cover to the different diamond cuts, along with the unique technique of setting them, which we developed in-house." A handful of other brands—among them Piaget and Chanel—have also mastered the creation of secret watches. These stunning works of haute joaillerie often offer covers bearing natureinspired motifs such as animals, birds, or flowers, and are embellished with diamonds and gemstones. "Secret watches are all about mystique," says Larry Boland, president of Piaget North America. "You can choose whether you want to share that secret with someone, or just keep it for yourself. Personally, I think it's always better to share, as 'oohs' and 'ahhs' are pretty much guaranteed." Because secret watches have hinged covers that slide aside or open, they are highly challenging to create. The mechanics of the case and cover are "You can choose whether you want to share the secret with someone, or just keep it for yourself." —LARRY BOLAND, PIAGET complex, so watch brands strive to showcase the technology with equal parts beauty and elegance. It should be noted that because of the elaborate design of these watches, they often require hundreds of hours of gem setting or enamel painting. As such they usually are made in limited numbers and can command top prices—anywhere from $25,000 to hundreds of thousands of dollars. No matter the time it takes to build them, or the exquisite detail in design, these timepieces and their secretly seductive style continue to reign as cult classics. For more watch features and expanded coverage visit bostoncommonmagazine.com/watches. BC BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 110-111_BC_SS_TimeHonored_Holiday_13.indd 111 111 11/1/13 5:53 PM