The Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève 2016 gave the award for the best jewelry timepiece to Chanel for their Eternelle Signature Grenat… a flabbergasting piece of craftmanship and beauty.
Every month of November, the evening of the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève echoes a ceremony we could rename the Oscars of Watches where 72 watches undergo the expertise and analysis of 25 members of the jury to award only one per category. 12 pieces become Best of, Must have, or Must Seenas a tribute to watch excellence.
Within the Jewellery Timepiece category – 6 watches were selected to win among which Graff, Chopard, Audemars Piguet, Louis Vuitton, Kari Voutilanein had their chances. Chanel won under a round of applause, even its competitors admitted it was well-deserved!
The Signature Grenat by Chanel is a high-jewelry cuff mounted on 18 carat white gold and set with over 1’170 diamonds. 600 hours were required to assembled, set and calibrate the 91 yellow sapphires weighting 2.5 carats; the 79 fancy orange sapphires weighting 30.4 carats and the 87 spessartite garnets weighting in total 2.5 carats. The warms hues of sapphires intermingled with quilted motif paved with diamonds in a succession of squares reinforce the central 52.61 carats Carmine Garnet set on the top of the paved dial. A masterpiece made by masterminds in the ateliers of Chanel located Place Vendome.
“Diamond squares enhanced with exceptional stones are juxtaposed in a play of mirrors; they evoke the Couture spirit of Chanel and conceal a precious watch dial. It leads to a modern vision of secret watches using our timeless quilted motif,”explains Chanel’s Fine Jewellery Director, Benjamin Comar. “Like a precious embroidery, the 18-carat white gold cuff is quilted with diamond squares and sprinkled with orange sapphires. At the centre, a 52.61-carat carmine garnet delicately opens to reveal a watch set with diamonds,” adds Comar.
To say the least, compared to most secret watches where time can only be read if the top part of the dial is open… time can be read on the Eternelle Signatre Grenat through the stone … due to its transparency and quality deprived of any inclusion… adding another level of magic to the piece !
