Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
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(1.64mm) Calibre 1003, consisting of a lacework of meticulously engraved wheel trains visible in the center of the watch dial and through the case- back. The series includes pieces bearing Indian, Ottoman, French, and Chinese-inspired motifs. At the same time that Vacheron Constantin began unveiling women's wonders, so did Jaeger-LeCoultre. About two years ago, the brand released Rendez-Vous, its special collection for women, which was focused on the Night & Day model, with an updated moon-phase indicator and a mechan- ica l movement . A f ter meet i ng w it h posit ive response, t he compa ny expanded the collection to include a celestial model, a tourbillon, and more. This year it introduces a perpetual calendar version and the Rendez- Vous Date, with the 27.5mm Calibre 966, one of the smallest mechanical movement s on t he ma rket. "W h ile we have a long h istor y of ma k ing watches for women, this was different," says Philippe Bonay, president of Jaeger -LeCoult re Nor t h A mer ica. "We had to create a ll-new ca ses just for women, a s opposed to sh r ink ing somet h ing dow n f rom t he men's collect ions. Especia lly in t he high- end seg ment of watches, t here is a n entire culture of women who know exactly what they want, who see the watch as a horolog ical piece. W hile they still want beaut y and precious materials, they [also] want a movement that makes a statement and elicits a response to their knowledge." COMBINING ART AND STYLE The r ush to create watches for women isn't only about new launches. Brands that have long designed for this market, such as Cartier, Baume & Mercier, Piaget, and Roger Dubuis, are recognizing the need to step up their game. As Bonay said, it isn't just about adding a mechanical move- ment or a simple complication to a woman's watch; it's also about offering newly thought-out designs. "We are known for our very feminine style," says L a r r y Bola nd, president of Piaget. "But women, especia lly in t he boardroom, have a sophisticated sense of style and want a complex watch t hat makes a statement on their wrists." This year, in its A ltiplano and L imelight lines, Piaget unveiled severa l new mecha nica l watches for women t hat a re at once elega nt a nd technica lly impressive. The new Limelight Blooming Rose watch features four diamond-adorned rose pet- als encasing a center dial. With a simple touch, the upper case swivels and four more petals appear—surrounding the dial in full bloom. This yea r Ca r t ier is focusing on versat ilit y, which plays a key role in its Métiers d'Art collection. First released in 2013, the series features artis- tic dials and overlaid sculptures, each of which can be removed from the case and worn as a brooch. This season's models include a watch with a removable gold and diamond crocodile on top of a striking green enamel dia l; a not her, w it h a removable f la m ingo, emulates a piece made for t he Duchess of Windsor in 194 0 by Ca r t ier's fa med desig ner Jea nne Toussaint. In addit ion, the brand worked with actual rose petals in the desig n of it s ma rquet r y pa r rot t imepiece. A ll of t hese diverse watches house mechanical movements and offer unparalleled artistry that proved to be a h igh point of SI H H. INDEPENDENCE BREEDS INGENUITY Independent watchma kers a re a lso a nswer ing t he ca ll to act ion from women, with some very unusual responses. Christophe Claret, famed for his ultramechanical chiming watches that allow the wearer to play poker, rou- lette, a nd ot her ga mes, t his yea r unveils his f irst complicated women's timepiece. Called Margot, the limited-edition mechanical watch has a daisy dial inspired by the love-struck romantic's game of plucking petals from a f lower one by one while saying, "He loves me, he loves me not," as well as an ingenious mechanism for predicting the answer: With the press of a pusher at 2, the watch comes to life, with a single petal or a pair of petals randomly fall- ing off the f lower, disappearing beneath the natural mother-of-pearl dial until the answer appears in French calligraphy at 4. Adding to the charm is the melodic chime that resonates in typical Claret style with each press. FROM LEFT: Christophe Claret's Margot mechanical watch ($315,000) functions via an ingenious mechanism that plays the game "He loves me, he loves me not." Each time the wearer presses the pusher, a single petal or a pair of petals randomly falls off the flower, disappearing beneath the dial. (There is also a nondiamond version for $199,500.) Wynn & Company Watches, 702-770-3520; christopheclaret.com. F.P. Journe's new quartz-powered Elegante ($11,400) stops displaying the time after lying flat for 30 minutes, but is awakened with motion and automatically readjusts the clock. Bellusso, Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian and Palazzo, 702-650-2988; fpjourne.com. With a white mother-of-pearl dial under an open-worked 18k gold plate that is set with half pearls, Piaget's Limelight Blooming Rose watch ($46,900) features four diamond-adorned rose petals, which bloom into eight petals with a touch of the case. Available this fall. Encore Las Vegas, 702-770-5470; piaget.com. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Perpetual Calendar watch ($49,800) is powered by the mechanical Calibre 868 automatic movement, which takes into account the months' unequal lengths and requires no adjustment until March 1, 2100. Encore Las Vegas, 702-770-5472; jaeger-lecoultre.com 120 VEGASMAGAZINE.COM 118-121_V_F_Watches_MAYJUNE_14.indd 120 4/21/14 1:25 PM