Sometimes it can be hard to draw the line to say what defines a jewelry watch. Is it enough with a diamond bezel? To us, rather than counting stones, or saying that a certain percent of the watch should be meticulously decorated, it is the spirit of the watch. We hope that you will feel that in our selection.
1. Van Cleef & Arpels, Ludo watch
The secret Ludo watch dates back to the 1934 birth of the Ludo Bracelet, and has existed as watches since the 1940s. A gentle press on the petal-shaped, paved part of the cuff reveals the time behind brick-shaped links. A supple piece of cuff jewelry, heritage storytelling, and time keeping on demand. Does it get more luxurious than that?
2. Myst de Cartier
One of Cartier’s latest watches also has a direct linage to the 1930s, when sparkling timepieces were created under the creative direction of Jeanne Toussaint. Today’s Myst combines yellow gold, black lacquer, and diamonds in swirly shapes on an extremely three-dimensional watch. This approach also links it with an ongoing trend blurring the lines between sculptural jewelry and precision timepieces.
3. Chopard, L’Heure du Diamant
The collection which first came in 2012 revisits the Scheufele family company’s 1960s heritage, and every year it is becoming more and more refined. The strongest model of 2026 combines black, shiny onyx with brilliant-cut diamonds set around the tonneau-shaped case. Think the little black one combined with diamonds. Three details beyond these stunning optics make us like this piece even more: The gold is ethically sourced. So are the diamonds. And last but not least it is run by an automatic movement, which fits hand in glove with Co-President Caroline Scheufele’s strong views on women wanting “real” mechanical watches.
4. Piaget, Sixtie Cuff
The asymmetrical Sixtie cuff watch in engraved 18K rose gold set with diamonds has a shimmering black opal dial placed off-center. A thickness of only 6.7 millimeters makes this flamboyant piece surprisingly wearable. The outlandish shape, the baton hands, the unusual stone dial makes this quartz-powered watch a direct descendant from Piaget’s experimental 1960s.
5. CHANEL, COCO GAME
This was perhaps the most unexpected timepiece ever. Coco Chanel, the Queen of this unique chess board, is actually a watch. And it can be connected to a pendant, for when you are not playing chess. And for the woman who did more than anyone for ladies’ tweed jackets, it is befitting that the artisans working for CHANEL has come up with a new type of diamond setting called tweed setting. So, is this jewelry, is this timekeeping, is this art, is this utilitarian art, is this artisanal artistry? Who cares, as long as it is amazing.
