Dior launches new Grande Soir Automate watch

By Kim Parker

Christian Dior has just announced the addition of the Grande Soir Automate to its Grand Soir line, the collection that draws the closest parallels to its couture heritage. Christian Dior was renowned for his devotion to his lucky stars, as well as for his love of nature. So when it came to inspiration for its latest groundbreaking watch, the maison didn’t have to look very far.

Three new models make up the Grand Soir Automate collection, which all feature a brand new bespoke automatic mechanism, that, when activated with the touch of a pusher button, animates each hand-crafted dial with whimsical movement.

The Étoile de Monsieur Dior features a dial that replicates the designer’s beloved 30 Avenue Montaigne flagship boutique, hand-painted onto a mother-of-pearl dial. Here, the night sky is set with twinkling diamonds, which also feature on the yellow gold bezel and white gold lugs.

At the touch of a white gold pusher at the crown, the custom movement sends two tiny stars shooting up into the midnight blue sky, at the 3 O’clock and 8 O’clock positions, in a charming ode to the lucky ‘star’ that led Christian Dior to find his famous location and that later guided him throughout his career. Only 28 pieces of this 38mm timepiece will be made (another lucky nod to Dior’s favourite number, 8).

Meanwhile, the new Dior Grand Soir Automate Jardin Rêvé takes its cue from Christian Dior’s life-long passion for flora and fauna, inspired by the garden of his childhood home in Normandy. There are four different toile de jouy dial designs (each will be produced in a limited run of just 8 pieces) featuring an enchanted forest crafted with yellow, white and rose gold with diamonds.

At the touch of the pusher, the automaton mechanism sends a tiny golden monkey swinging through the branches of a tree, makes a giraffe peek out from behind some foliage, sends butterflies fluttering at the 7 O’clock marker and makes a toucan hop up and down.

Two one-of-a-kind jewellery watches complete the collection. The Dior Grand Soir Jardin Rêve has also been interpreted as two entirely gem-set timepieces, in either white gold or pink gold and diamonds. With diamonds set all over the bracelet, dial, crown and lugs, these rarified pieces represent the most precious members of the new Grand Soir Automate family.

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