The comeback

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The comeback  - Yellow gold watches
2 minutes read
They may have fallen out of favour for a while, courtesy of their “bling-bling” reputation, but yellow gold watches have made a triumphant comeback at Audemars Piguet, Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre and even Van Cleef & Arpels.

Audemars Piguet – Royal Oak Extra-Thin

To commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the first Royal Oak Extra-Thin in yellow gold, Audemars Piguet is reintroducing the iconic reference 15202 this year. This new version of the Royal Oak Extra-Thin is faithful to the original model, picking up the traditional 39 mm diameter and following the aesthetic codes that have helped to cement the collection’s timeless reputation. So we see the familiar octagonal bezel with its eight hexagonal screws, the petite tapisserie guilloché dial and the bracelet seamlessly integrated into the case with its perfectly calculated combination of graduated links. Inside, the new Royal Oak Extra-Thin is equipped with the extra-thin self-winding manufacture calibre 2121, which made its debut 50 years ago.

The comeback

Cartier – Panthère de Cartier      

The Panthère de Cartier watch, born in 1983 and withdrawn from the catalogue in 2004, made its big comeback to the SIHH in January. And it doesn’t look a day older. Its aesthetic codes are identical to those of the 1980s, with its square case, screwed bezel, Roman numerals and minutes track. The timepiece pays homage to the feline grace of the panther, one of Cartier’s signature motifs, its flexible articulated bracelet recalling the fluid motions of the beast as it prowls through the jungle. The Panthère, both a watch and an item of jewellery, comes in two sizes (22 mm and 27 mm) in yellow or rose gold, steel or two-tone, with optional gem-setting and a quartz movement.

The comeback

Jaeger-LeCoultre – Rendez-Vous Night & Day Medium

Five years after the launch of the Rendez-Vous, Jaeger-LeCoultre is enriching the collection with a number of new references. A selection of feminine complications, a wide range of materials and neutral and iridescent hues confirm the timeless style of this elegant collection with its Art Deco accents. This year, yellow gold makes its debut in the Rendez-Vous Night & Day Medium 34 mm. The precious metal appears almost to melt into the skin as it gracefully envelops the contours of the plain bezel, elegant lugs and understated clasp. The silvered dial is embellished with an elegant guilloché motif, accentuating the brilliance of the bezel. The watch conceals the finely-worked wheels of a self-winding mechanical movement, the Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre 898A/1, which is produced, assembled and finished by hand. 

The comeback
Van Cleef & Arpels – Bouton d’Or watch

In 2016 Van Cleef & Arpels unveiled Bouton d’Or, a jewellery line inspired by the paillette motif created by the Parisian jeweller in the late 1930s. This year at the SIHH, Van Cleef & Arpels presented the Bouton d’Or watch, a symphony of circles and sunny highlights. All the sparkles culminate in a concave dial paved with diamonds.
With its overlapping beads of gold studded with diamonds, the timepiece captures the three-dimensionality and visual depth of the collection as a whole. In order to ensure the bracelet remains flexible, several dozen separate elements are fitted together, with an overlapping row of sequins down the centre.

The comeback

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