Haute Time: Watch Trend Report

Never before have women had so many elegant and inspiring watch designs to choose from. Today’s watch trends a blend of art, sophistication and surprise that will dazzle everyone in the room.

Graff Diamonds is world renowned for its incredible diamonds and its innovative settings. This new Graff Princess Butterfly watch, unveiled earlier this year in Baselworld, is a prime example of the brand’s master craftsmanship and creative talent. The dazzling quartz timepiece is a secret watch. When closed, the highly sculptured butterfly looks like a shimmering piece of jewelry on the wrist. However, the diamond wings separate to reveal a lustrous mother-of-pearl watch dial beneath—a secret treasure only the wearer knows exists. The work of art—inspired by nature’s most graceful insect—consists of 380 brilliant and baguette-cut diamonds weighing 14.5 carats and forming the butterfly wings and body. The elegant white gold watch opens and closes thanks to an intricate jeweled mechanism. It is offered on either a satin strap or a diamond bracelet, which, when combined with the butterfly, weighs more than 23 carats. The Princess Butterfly is also offered in pink diamonds, yellow diamonds or blue sapphires—resembling nature’s vastly colored butterflies. Starting price of the collection: $150,000.

Roger Dubuis—always a leader in cutting-edge, daring designs—has captivated the female watch lover with its sensual Velvet collection for years. Now, the brand partners with famed footwear designer Massaro to bring its newest watches to all-new heights. Massaro has created a sumptuous leather strap that emulates his shoe designs and perfectly complements the Roger Dubuis Velvet watches. This Roger Dubuis Velvet by Massaro features a pleated leather haute couture strap—offered in several strap colors, including shimmering silver, luscious gold and midnight black. Called “Lana,” this 36mm watch is crafted in 18-karat white gold and features a bezel set with brilliant-cut diamonds weighing just under 2 carats. The center of the pleated silver strap is magnificently set with a row of pearls. The automatic mechanical movement is made according to strict technical and finishing standards and carries the Hallmark of Geneva—attesting to its quality and craftsmanship. Just 88 pieces of each version will be made. $42,000.

Easily one of the most iconic watches of the past half-century, Chopard’s Happy Diamonds watches have a way of delighting and enthralling us thanks to the free-floating diamonds that seem to whirl around the dial with every move of the wrist. The first Happy Diamonds watch, unveiled to the world in 1976, was inspired by a waterfall. Designer Ronald Kurowski emulated that beauty by devising a concept wherein diamonds could float freely if placed between two sapphire crystals. The idea was so ahead of its time that the Happy Diamonds watches won the Golden Rose Award in Germany that same year. This year, in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Happy Diamonds collection, Chopard brings out a new Happy Diamonds Anniversary series that marks the first time the brand has used prong-set free-floating diamonds (15 of them) and offers a prong-set bezel and inner ring. The prong setting of the free-floaters allows more light diffusion and sparkle. It also emulates the prong-set diamond bezel and the inner prong-set double ring where the time display resides. The watch is offered in a limited edition of just 150 pieces. $48,500.