Couture watch

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Couture watch - Dior
2 minutes read
Since the start of the decade, Dior has been developing ultra-feminine mechanical watches featuring a wealth of references to the haute couture universe of its founder.

Launched in 2011, the Dior VIII watch collection celebrates the ‘lucky number’ of the watch designer who founded the firm on October 8th 1946 in the 8th arrondissement of Paris and named his first haute couture collection “En Huit”. The ceramic bracelets feature pyramids-shaped links evoking the sculptural lines of the “Bar” suit jacket that heralded the famous New Look, or the cannage (wicker-chair) topstitching of the Lady Dior handbag launched in 1994.  The dials of the Dior VIII watches display just one numeral, the VIII, except… when they join the dance in the Grand Bal de Dior Inversé: an 8 1/4’’’ or 11 ½’’’ movement exclusively developed by Les Ateliers Horlogers Dior, Soprod and Frédéric Jouvenot. In these calibres, the oscillating weight – while remaining entirely functional in terms of winding the movement – is placed on top of the dial rather than beneath it so as to reproduce the twirling glory of a ball gown.

The creations are interpreted in Plissées versions with opal or jade marquetry skirts, in Broderies, Plumetis, Dentelles or Résilles versions, featuring openworked skirts or in Plume variations featuring skirts adorned with genuine white or fawn-coloured feathers. In addition to these interpretations generally issued in 88-piece limited editions, the collection also includes several one-of-a-kind creations playing on the radiance created by stones arranged in subtly graded shades , as well as the effect of two ceramic or lizard skin wristbands. The N°8 thus appears with a white gold and black ceramic case, a bezel set with baguette-cut sapphires, a blue-tinted titanium dial paved with snow-set sapphires, and a white gold oscillating weight enhanced with opals, turquoises, azurites, chrysocollae, sapphires and Paraiba tourmalines.

 

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In parallel, Dior also offers women exceptional models powered by variations of the famous Elite calibre created in 1994 by the Manufacture Zenith. As a sister brand within the LVMH group, it enjoys access to these ultra-thin movements renowned for their precision and reliability. The hand-wound Elite 631 movement driving the D de Dior models combine a masculine appearance featuring 1970s-inpsired round cases with a jewellery spirit expressed through dials that are snow-set or adorned with ornamental stones. The self-winding 671 and 681 calibres, respectively with and without seconds hands, are reserved for the Dior Grand Soir collection and its one-of-a-kind models each bearing a distinctive tribute to the heritage of the Maison. The latest newcomer, N°20, combines a bezel set with baguette-cut yellow sapphires and an engraved dial embellished with mother-of-pearl and diamonds, while the back provides a view of its openworked oscillating weight and its floral motif matching that on the face. To ensure a variety of pleasures and accentuate the haute couture character of this creation, Dior delivers it with three straps in pleated or smooth grey taffeta or purple alligator leather.

This range of ultra-feminine models pay tribute to the elegance and refinement that the House of Dior has established as the supreme values governing all its creations, whether in the fields of horology or couture. Click on the large image on top of the page to open the photo-gallery and enjoy!

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