Tiny Timepieces

Image
mini montres comparaison
2 minutes read
While few will object to the presence of precious stones on a timepiece, glittering gems are not the only way to transform a watch into jewellery. Often, a bite-size case is all it takes. This selection of eight styles, none of which measures more than 26 millimetres, is proof that good things do come in small packages.

Chopard, CHF 4,420

An entry price point for a watch that is small in size but big on character. As well as the eco-friendly credentials of 80% recycled steel, its grey dial becomes a dance floor for the five diamonds that whirl above the hands, numerals and indexes. It is the very definition of the Happy Diamonds concept, created in 1993 by Caroline Scheufele, co-president of Chopard.

Happy Sport en acier, lunette sertie de diamants, 25 mm de diamètre, mouvement à quartz, bracelet en cuir © Chopard
Happy Sport in steel, diamond-set bezel, 25mm diameter, quartz movement, leather strap © Chopard

Chanel, CHF 5,750

Inspired by the octagonal stopper of the N°5 perfume bottle, the Première returns as a reissue of the 1987 original and it hasn’t aged a day. Dressed in black and gold, boasting a minimalistic lacquer dial and that iconic chain bracelet, decades later its inimitable style remains intact.

Première en acier PVD or jaune, 26 x 20 mm, mouvement à quartz, bracelet chaîne en acier PVD or jaune et cuir © Chanel
Première in yellow gold PVD steel, 26 x 20mm, quartz movement, chain bracelet in yellow gold PVD steel and leather © Chanel

Cartier, CHF 6,650

Ever since its debut in 1906, the Baignoire has seduced the world’s most elegant women, including many famous names, with its distinctive oval shape. A creative wellspring for the brand, it makes a statement in a diminutive format on a gold bangle bracelet, and is also proposed on a leather strap.

Baignoire en or jaune, 24, 6 x 18, 7 mm, mouvement à quartz, bracelet en or jaune © Cartier
Baignoire in yellow gold, 24.6 x 18.7mm, quartz movement, leather strap © Cartier

Bulgari, CHF 7,750

A reinterpretation that stays true to the icon released in 1977: the embodiment of Bulgari as the ambassador for Italian style and flair. The engraving around the gold bezel, borrowed from the circular inscriptions on ancient Roman coins, creates a unique aesthetic which makes this one of the most recognisable timepieces of all.

Bulgari Bulgari en or jaune, 26 mm de diamètre, mouvement à quartz, bracelet en cuir © Bulgari
Bulgari Bulgari in yellow gold, 26mm diameter, quartz movement, leather strap © Bulgari

Hermès, CHF 12,320

We know Hermès as the master of understated elegance. The Faubourg watch’s one flight of fancy is a single diamond at 12 o’clock on its pristine white lacquer dial. Note the exceptional craftsmanship of the bracelet with its trio of delicate links in rose gold.

Faubourg en or rose, 15, 5 mm de diamètre, mouvement à quartz, bracelet en or rose © Hermès
Faubourg in rose gold, 15.5mm diameter, quartz movement, rose gold bracelet © Hermès

Blancpain, CHF 20,536

Blancpain is a name most collectors associate with grand complication watches for men rather than diminutive designs, yet the manufacture is behind the smallest automatic watch in the world. This version of the Ladybird presents a superb mother-of-pearl dial, decorated with diamond and ruby swirls.

Ladybird Ultraplate en or rose, lunette sertie de diamants, 21, 5 mm de diamètre, mouvement automatique, bracelet en cuir © Blancpain
Ladybird Ultraplate in rose gold, diamond-set bezel, 21.5mm diameter, automatic movement, leather strap © Blancpain

Van Cleef & Arpels, CHF 27,500

This tiny timepiece replicates the delicate beading of the Perlée jewellery collection on its bezel and rose gold bracelet, while the mother-of-pearl dial is embellished with precious guilloché. For a more relaxed style, swap out the bracelet for a leather strap, fastened with a rose gold deployant clasp.

Perlée en or rose, 23 mm de diamètre, mouvement à quartz, bracelet en or rose © Van Cleef and Arpels
Perlée in rose gold, 23mm diameter, quartz movement, rose gold bracelet © Van Cleef & Arpels

Jaeger-LeCoultre, CHF 172,000

This rose gold beauty recreates the timepiece that Elizabeth II wore during her coronation ceremony on June 2, 1953. Its movement, Calibre 101, is still the smallest manual-winding mechanical movement ever made. Truly a watch fit for a queen.

101 Reine en or rose, 6, 8 x 5, 5 mm, mouvement à remontage manuel, bracelet en or rose et diamants © Jaeger LeCoultre
101 Reine in rose gold, 6.8 x 5.5mm, manual-winding movement, rose gold and diamond bracelet © Jaeger-LeCoultre
Featured brands