Demand for jewellery watches is by all accounts heating up, and Swiss watch and clockmaker Patek Philippe is nourishing the segment with an unprecedented burst of bling: seven new jewelled pieces, ranging from diamond bezels to pieces with full setting on every surface. Highlighting the launch are two rainbow-sapphire and diamond models in the ladies’ Aquanaut Luce collection, plus five new pieces in the Nautilus collection, including three fully set models.
The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Luce “Rainbow” Minute Repeater Haute Joaillerie. | Images: Supplied
In case your Christmas bonus allows for extra-generous gifting this year, the new Aquanaut is also a minute repeater, the first grand complication to appear in the ladies’ Aquanaut line, which got its first mechanical complication last year with an annual calendar.
The Aquanaut Luce “Rainbow” Minute Repeater Haute Joaillerie reference 5260/355R-001, is set with 52 multicolored baguette-cut sapphires (3.19 ct), 112 baguette-cut diamonds (7.31 ct) and 160 brilliant-cut diamonds (0.72 ct). The rainbow of invisibly set sapphires on the octagonal bezel is the star of the show, framed on the outside by a row of diamonds. The inner dial is paved with invisibly set baguette diamonds.
The bracelet of the Aquanaut Luce “Rainbow” Minute Repeater Haute Joaillerie .
The strap version of the Aquanaut Luce “Rainbow” Minute Repeater Haute Joaillerie
And since the Aquanaut is, after all, a sports watch, the baton hands are lumed, and the strap (it comes with three: in beige, red and white) is rubber, which makes this watch as wearable and functional as it is spectacular.
There is also a bracelet version (ref. 5260/1455R-001), with rainbow sapphires set into the links, and on this one, the hour and minutes hands are set with rubies and sapphires – an outstanding flourish. They contain the automatic minute repeater caliber R 27, which chimes on demand using two classic gongs. Prices for both on request.
Sapphire version of the Patek Philippe | Image: Supplied
The new Nautilus Haute Joaillerie lineup includes three fully set models that combine diamonds with either sapphires, rubies or emeralds (references 7118/1451G-001, 7118/1452G-001 and 7118/1453G-001). Each is set with 1,500 brilliant-cut diamonds (6.53 carats), and 876 rubies, emeralds or sapphires (which work out to various carat counts depending on the gem).
Emerald version of the Patek Philippe. | Image: Supplied
Ruby version of the Patek Philippe. | Image: Supplied
The stones are snow set in random sizes, a technique that minimizes the amount of metal showing between each gem, and just makes for a more interesting composition than normal pavé. Cases and bracelets are 18k white gold, and dials are set with diamonds between rows of gold in the wave motif signature to the ladies’ Nautilus collection. They contain the automatic caliber 26-330 S, and the bracelets are rigged for safety (you don’t want to lose one of these pieces) with fold-over clasps secured by four independent catches. Prices on request.
Patek Philippe Nautilus. | Image: Supplied
The final two new Patek Philippe Nautilus references are decked out with purple lacquered dials in the signature Nautilus wave pattern, one with an 18k rose gold bracelet to match the case, priced at $56,183, and the other with a rubber strap (actually a composite material) priced at $39,624. Let the holiday shopping begin.
