Haute Time: The Princess of Monaco’s Glitzy New Watch

Sorry, Kate, but there’s a new princess we’ve got our eyes on at the moment… as well as her new watch. South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock became Charlene Princess of Monaco last Friday and, in celebration, the principality’s independent luxe watch brand Ateliers deMonaco created its inaugural ladies watch, La Sirene. The glitzy stunner apparently received official approval from the new princess and her husband, Prince Albert II, who also got a custom blue Lexus LS 600h L Landaulet for his big day.

Pim Koeslag, co-founder of Ateliers deMonaco, said that they got the idea to make their first ever women’s watch from the princess herself. She explained, “We promised her to start the development the next day. And we actually did.” Koeslag also reported to Forbes during last March’s Baselworld that a light blue topaz was the gemstone of choice to match Wittstock’s eyes and to symbolize water, for which the Olympic swimmer was formerly most known for. These reasons are also where the name of the watch came from; “La Sirène” is what the princess has affectionately been dubbed by her new citizens.

The design of dial – which is made up of several of the stunning light blue stones – is inspired by the King Protea, the national flower of South Africa. The flower takes a gorgeous symmetrical form and boasts the largest bloom in its genus. The flower is a symbol of resilience due to its ability to persevere through the harshest conditions, including wildfires. Housed in a 39mm, 18k gold case is a custom-created automatic movement that uses contemporary materials like silicon and a hand-engraved rotor on the reverse. The watch retails at approximately $116,000, depending on the gemstones, and will be limited according to the gemstone availability.