Black Forever

Fawaz Gruosi, the passionate designer known for his daring creations in high jewellery and timepieces, pays tribute to black that has adorned the de Grisogono collections since its origins in 1993. Fifteen years after placing the black diamond at the top of the international jewellery scene, he has become renowned worldwide for his innovative designs featuring this precious gem, rich in colour. Eleven years since having blackened his first watch movement, Fawaz Gruosi stands out as the luxury industry's pioneer for having placed black at the centre of his timepiece creations which adds depth, mystery and glamour. A success rapidly emulated throughout the watch world that is today celebrated by de Grisogono through “Black Forever”, a collection of its iconic timepieces.

BLACK PRECURSOR

This story that began fifteen years ago with the love for the jeweller's artistry and the desire to break away from established traditions. Owing to the rarity and precious nature of the black diamond, only a select few emerge as settings on the luxury jewellery pieces. Months of research and detailed examination is carried out by its highly skilled gemmologists. The black diamond derives its colour from the presence of a myriad of microscopic graphite or hematite particles that absorb the light and give the stone its particular luster.

In 1996 having been introduced to the famous 190 carat “Black Orlov” diamond, Fawaz Gruosi fell under the spell of these mysterious gems rarely used at the time, which was due to their extreme fragility. Fawaz Gruosi appreciated the gem's powerful and mysterious colour and began experimenting. It was at this stage that he realised their ability to compliment and embellish his jewellery designs through their combination with other stones and colours.

This genuine revelation came to him, when he placed a magnificent white pearl in their midst. His first collection was born: a ring in blackened white and yellow gold, set with 120 black diamonds weighing 17 carats, highlighting a 17mm South Sea white pearl. With its classic composition and amazing volume and patterns, the white pearl is perfectly accentuated by the simple luster of black diamonds, creating a striking effect. The black diamond became de Grisogono's emblem and from the year 2000, the crowns of many of their most iconic timepieces have been set with this precious stone. 

In 2002, Fawaz Gruosi presented an exceptional ring set with the world's largest black diamond of 312.30 carats, which he named "The Spirit of de Grisogono". This exceptional stone was part of the “Diamonds” exhibition at the Natural History Museum in Paris for the world to admire. It was cut from a stone of 587 carats and mounted on a ring set with 704 white diamonds. The ring was Moghul-cut, a style of cutting developed in India hundreds of years ago. It was not long before the world's elite began to notice, putting de Grisogono at the top of the luxury wish list. As a result, the price of the black diamond soared. de Grisogono quickly gained international fame with its jewels and timepieces set with black diamonds.sertis de diamants noirs.

BLACK ROMANCE

The black diamond evokes excellence and exerts a powerful influence on our imagination, leaving no doubt of the brand's knowledge and DNA in the world of luxury. This year at Baselworld 2011, the romance continues with a new jewellery line of Galuchat bracelets set with black diamonds in the form of the brand's emblematic arabesque design. New additions to the high jewellery collection from Fawaz Gruosi's imagination includes a ring in blackened rose gold set with a 20 carat black diamond surrounded by brown diamonds, purple sapphires and amethysts.

BLACK FOREVER

To further honour the stone, de Grisogono launches a special edition of timepieces entitled “Black Forever”. From the brand's first watch collection “Instrumento No Uno” to the “Meccanico dG”, de GRISOGONO's Black Forever Collection is a true concentration of the technological innovation of seven timepieces which have been re-inspired. A blend of materials and subtle lines highlight these exclusive pieces with a highly avant-garde personality. A look that is both simple and quintessentially luxurious - black dials with anthracite decals on grey or white indexes and hands, watchstraps in black Galuchat or rubber, cases in blackened matte PVD, subtlety set or fully set with natural black diamonds.

Since its creation, de Grisogono constantly creates new designs and concepts in both the worlds of jewellery and timepieces. After giving back the deserved nobility to the black diamond, Fawaz Gruosi let his imagination run free in this bold universe of black. The designer began to blacken the movements in his timepiece collections shining through their sapphire glass backs, as well as creating jewellery collections in blackened gold, both by a process exclusive to the brand. This attraction to the luxurious simplicity of black today gives birth to a collection of timepieces combining simplicity, elegance and artistic know-how.

BLACK GLAMOUR

The romance between de Grisogono and the black diamond is well-known among today's celebrities and elite. From Cannes to Hollywood, on the red carpets of glittering soirées, the black diamond creations by Fawaz Gruosi tour the world and adorn the greatest international stars such as Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Emmanuelle Béart, Naomi Campbell, Laetitia Casta, Clotilde Courau, Salma Hayek, Eva Herzigova, Adriana Karembeu, Aishwarya Rai, Elisabetta Briatore, Eva Mendes, Caterina Murino, Demi Moore, Ornella Muti, Kristen Scott Thomas, Dita Von Teese, Eva Longoria, Kylie Minogue, Rihanna and Kelly Roland, Cheryl Cole who are just some of the celebrities who have chosen to wear exceptional de Grisogono black diamond jewellery and timepieces to add a touch of mystery and extraordinary glamour to their appearance.

Ref. Instrumento N°Uno DF S41
Watch in 18K gold with a matt black PVD coating
set with 184 black diamonds (2.2 carats)
Automatic movement
Dual time and date
Black guilloché dial set with 147 black diamonds (0.50 carat), grey Arabic numerals, grey dauphine-style hands
Sapphire glass front and case back
Crown set with a black diamond (0.10 carat)
Black galuchat strap with a de GRISOGONO butterfly buckle in 18K gold with a matt black PVD coating set with 104 black diamonds (1.00 carat)
Water-resistant up to 30 meters

Ref. Instrumento N°Uno DF S42
Watch in 18K gold with a matt black PVD coating set with 478 black diamonds (8.7 carats)
Automatic movement
Dual time and date
Black guilloché dial set with 365 black diamonds (1.00 carat), grey Arabic numerals, grey dauphine-style hands
Sapphire glass front and case back
Crown set with a black diamond (0.1 carat)
Black galuchat strap with a de GRISOGONO butterfly buckle in 18K gold with a matt black PVD coating set with 192 black diamonds (1.50 carat)
Water-resistant up to 30 meters
10 pieces Limited edition

Ref. Instrumentino Steel & Diamonds N14
Watch in stainless steel with matt black PVD coating
Quartz movement
Dual time
Black guilloché dial, grey Arabic numerals, indexes and hands
Sapphire glass front and case back
Crown with de GRISOGONO crest
Black rubber strap with a de GRISOGONO butterfly buckle in stainless steel butterfly buckle with a matt black PVD coating
Water-resistant up to 30 meters

Ref. Instrumentino S33 QZ
Watch in 18K gold with a matt black PVD coating set with 124 black diamonds (2.2 carats)
Quartz movement
Dual time
Black guilloché dial set with 145 black diamonds (0.4 carat)
Smokey open sapphire case back
Black galuchat strap with a de GRISOGONO butterfly buckle in 18K gold with a matt black PVD coating set with 112 black diamonds (0.8 carat)
Crown set with a black diamond (0.1 carat)
Water-resistant up to 30 meters

Ref. Instrumentino S34 QZ
Watch in 18K gold with a matt black PVD coating set with 405 black diamonds (6.9 carats)
Quartz movement
Dual time
Black guilloché dial set with 312 black diamonds (1.10 carat)
Smokey open sapphire case back
Black galuchat strap with butterfly buckle in 18K pink gold with a matt black PVD coating set with 112 black diamonds (0.79 carat)
Crown set with a black diamond (0.1 carat)
Water-resistant up to 30 meters
Limited edition 10 pieces

Ref. Meccanico dG N09
Watch in titanium with a matt black PVD coating
Handwinding mechanical movement, exclusive to de GRISOGONO
At top, analogue display of hours and minutes, white dauphine hands
At bottom, mechanical digital second timezone displayed by white mobile microsegments
Power reserve indicator
Black natural rubber strap with a de GRISOGONO titanium butterfly buckle with a matt black PVD coating
Sapphire glass front and case back
Water-resistant up to 30 meters
10 pieces Limited Edition

Ref. Instrumento Grande N11/C
Watch in stainless steel with a matt black PVD coating
Automatic movement with large date at 6 o'clock
Crown with de GRISOGONO crest
Sapphire crystal back and lateral window
Black guilloché dial, 3 and 9 o'clock indexes with grey superluminova, grey dauphine hands in ruthenium with superluminova
Black rubber strap with a de GRISOGONO butterfly buckle in stainless steel with a matt black PVD coating
Water-resistant up to 30 meters

Ref. FG ONE N06
Watch in stainless steel with a matt black PVD coating
Automatic movement
Dual time, jumping hour, retrograde minutes and seconds indicator, progressive second time zone, day-night indications
Black dial, grey dauphine-style hands, grey Arabic numerals and indexes
Black alligator strap with a de GRISOGONO butterfly buckle in stainless steel with a matt black PVD coating
Crown integrated at 12 o'clock
Water-resistant up to 30 meters

Ref. “Occhio Ripetizione Minuti” S02
Watch in 18K gold with a matt black PVD coating set with 167 black diamonds (1.9 carats)
Black matt twelve-blade titanium diaphragm dial
Arabic numerals in silvered script, dauphine hands in 18K white gold.
Hour, quarter and minute repeater strike on three gongs with opening of the diaphragm.
Cathedral gong strike.
Matt black alligator strap with a de GRISOGONO three-ply deployment buckle in 18K gold with a matt black PVD coating
Water-resistant up to 30 meters
5 pieces Limited edition