James Bond: All of the watches from Casino Royale as the film turns 20

Posted on by Sam Moore

Back on the big screen as it turns 20, Casino Royale is a seminal film, not just for reviving the James Bond series but by enduring as one of the greatest action movies of all time.

Daniel Craig’s debut as Bond, it was a turning point in 007 history as the world’s favourite secret agent received a bit of modernisation without losing his old age cool. There’s at least three all-timer action sequences, a villain for the ages and probably the best Bond girl of them all. Throw in a Chris Cornell theme song, a globetrotting adventure and a screenplay with real emotion and you get to the best Bond there ever was.

And, of course, there’s the watches. Casino Royale took Omega’s relationship with the franchise to a whole new level but they are not the only brand represented in the film. With audiences flocking back to cinemas to see Casino Royale again, we’ve taken a look at all of the watches featured on screen throughout the film. Check them out below.

Omega Seamaster Diver 300m

“Rolex?”

“Omega.”

“Beautiful.”

One of the most iconic watch moments in all of film, it’s the train journey that meant James Bond and Omega will now be forever held close to each other. Continuing the Pierce Brosnan trend of having Bond in a Seamaster, Daniel Craig wore one in all of his outings as Bond but real fans will forever have the fondest of feelings for this one.

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean

Daniel Craig in Casino Royale. CREDIT: MGM.

The other Omega Craig wears in his initial outing as 007, the Planet Ocean is what’s clasped to his wrist in the earlier stages of the film, most noticeably during the epic parkour chase across a building site. Omega later released a 007 edition of the watch that came with the iconic gun barrel logo on the caseback. Rather cheekily, only 5,007 were manufactured.

Longines Evidenza

Bad guys don’t get to wear Omega, they get to wear Longines instead. Still under the extensive Swatch portfolio, the Longines is hardly a runner-up to the Omega and is seen prominently on Le Chiffre’s wrist throughout the high-stakes poker game in Montenegro. Noticeable for its distinctive oval/rectangular shape, the Evidenza is the only non-Omega watch around the table, highlighting Le Chiffre’s role as chief antagonist throughout the film.

Hamilton Khaki Field

Giancarlo Giannini’s Mathis has all the suave you’d expect from an old school, silver-haired Italian star of the 70’s and while Hamilton don’t have quite the same level of luxury as some brands, it makes sense that the secret agent also needs something that is practical. The silver dial on Mathis’ version elevates the Khaki Field into more of a dress watch and of course, Bond himself wore a Hamilton back in the Roger Moore days. Giannini would also wear a Hamilton in Quantum of Solace as would Jeffrey Wright.

Omega Constellation

Simon Akbarian in Casino Royale. CREDIT: MGM.

A villain that does get to don an Omega is Alex Dimitrios, an arms dealer/middle man who works with Le Chiffre on a bombing plot in order to make a fortune on the stock market. Played by Simon Akbarian, his Constellation is dressy and subtle, unlike many of his other moves such as speeding an Aston Martin DB5 around the Bahamas while wearing almost absurdly garish shirts. It’s a shame that when Bond won his Aston in a game of poker he didn’t get his watch to add to his collection of Omegas.

Like this? James Bond Day: The best watches worn by 007’s villains

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China tax crackdown could put watch and jewellery demand at risk

Posted on by Rachael Taylor

China’s tightening of tax rules around offshore trusts is creating a new demand risk for luxury jewellery and watch brands serving the country’s wealthiest consumers.

Rules introduced on 24 July treat the transfer of assets into an offshore trust as a disposal, with gains subject to individual income tax at 20%. Income generated by the trust can also be taxed annually at the same rate, including in some circumstances when it has not been distributed.

The measures apply retrospectively to certain assets and income from January 2023. A 90-day transitional period gives affected taxpayers until 22 October to declare historic liabilities and make payments without late penalties.

For luxury jewellery and watch businesses, the threat is significant. Clients facing large and unexpected tax bills might need to defer discretionary purchases. Others could become more cautious about highly visible spending as authorities increase their scrutiny of offshore wealth.

Hermes store in Beijing. (Henry Chen:Unsplash)
Hermes store in Beijing. (Henry Chen/Unsplash)

Luxury groups remain closely tied to China

China’s importance to the luxury sector extends beyond sales made in mainland boutiques. Chinese clients also support spending in international shopping destinations, while the country remains central to the growth strategies and retail networks of the largest European luxury groups.

Richemont offers the clearest indication of current jewellery and watch demand in Asia. Its Asia-Pacific sales rose 21% at constant exchange rates to €2.07 billion in the quarter ending 30 June, led by its jewellery brands, while sales across mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau increased by double digits. The picture was more subdued for its watch brands, for which Asia-Pacific sales were broadly stable, with a decline across China, Hong Kong and Macau offset by growth elsewhere in the region. Kering and LVMH have also reported growth in their jewellery and watch divisions and positive momentum in Asia, although neither publishes a precise regional revenue figure for those categories.

The uncertainty arrives as Fope expands in China with its first Hong Kong boutique, making the resilience of wealthy Chinese consumers increasingly important to its international growth strategy. Hong Kong jeweller Lukfook, meanwhile, is moving in the other direction, entering the UK as it seeks to diversify beyond Greater China, although mainland China still accounts for the overwhelming majority of its store network.

LVMH will publish third-quarter results on 12 October, followed by Kering on 22 October (the same day as the tax deadline), with Richemont publishing its half-year results on 13 November. While the results may capture an initial change in confidence following the July announcement, the figures will cover trading before the tax-payment deadline so will be unlikely to reveal the full impact.

Prince Harry: What are the former Royal’s favourite watches?

Posted on by Sam Moore

Everyone knows that Prince William wears an Omega Seamaster given to him by his late mother and that King Charles III has quite the enviable watch collection but there is a lot less talk about what Prince Harry wears on his wrist.

Recently returning to the UK along with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, the no longer working member of the Royal Family is expected to have more of a public facing presence than he has had in recent years, especially with his Invictus Games taking place in Birmingham next year.

Harry’s taste in watches reveals a lot about him and history. A serving member of the British Armed Forces for a decade who saw significant action in Afghanistan, Harry has a clear preference for tool watches that pride function over flash, wearing a number of different pieces but all capable of assisting him militarily.

Below, take a look at some of Prince Harry’s best watch moments.

Rolex Explorer II

Spotted wearing this military suitable Rolex on a number of occasions, Harry’s version has a white dial with an orange hand and was with the prince during his deployment in Afghanistan. Presumably worn while Harry piloted helicopters, Rolex later did develop an edition of the Explorer especially for the Attack Helicopter Regiment in which he served. It’s not known if Harry’s Explorer is one of those models but unlikely given the time frame. Regardless, the Explorer is an exemplary tool watch.

Breitling Aerospace Avantage

Prince Harry and Usain Bolt. CREDIT: Danny Lawson – WPA Pool / Getty Images.

Not a standard production model, Harry’s version was only made available by Breitling to pilots with combat experience and features a unique Air Corps Wings logo on the dial as well as an Apache helicopter in the 3 o’clock position. A favourite of the prince’s, he has been seen wearing it to his beloved Invictus Games and it would have served him well in a combat situation with its lightweight configuration and clear, easy to read dial.

Pulsar G10

A popular choice among the British military, the watch is said to be nicknamed “The Prince Harry” among serving personnel because of how regularly he wore it while deployed in Afghanistan. The watch started being given out to soldiers from 2001 where it developed a reputation as being simple and rugged with a strap that makes it virtually impossible to lose while out in the field. Collectors and military enthusiasts can pick one up second-hand for less than £200.

G-Shock GA-100

Frequently worn by Harry during his early adulthood, the GA-100 was an early indicator of trends he would follow over the next couple of decades in that he values a watch’s function over anything else. Suitable for a budding military man, the G-Shock is resistant, reliable and rugged enough to withstand the rigours of a live conflict, though we have only seen Harry wear his on official Royal engagements and on a date as a younger man.

Like this? Meghan Markle wears $21,150 emerald necklace honouring Archie and Harry in London

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Jeremy Allen White: Inside The Social Reckoning star’s impressive dress watch collection

Posted on by Sam Moore

Jeremy Allen White has had a steady ascent to the top of Hollywood. He starred in the American adaptation of Shameless for the better part of a decade before quickly getting thrust into the spotlight through his award winning and critically acclaimed turn as a Michelin starred chef in The Bear.

Since then, he has played a professional wrestler in The Iron Claw, Bruce Springsteen in Deliver Me From Nowhere and now investigative journalist, Jeff Horwitz, in The Social Reckoning, the long-awaited follow-up to The Social Network.

And along the way, he has done it with arguably the best dress watch game in the business. An ambassador of Louis Vuitton since last year, White has also deployed titans such as Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Tiffany & Co.

With The Social Reckoning arriving in cinemas this week, we thought it was the perfect time to take a deep look at White’s best watches, check them out below.

Louis Vuitton Monterey

Only 188 of the new Monterey have been manufactured by Louis Vuitton and The Bear star wore his to the premiere of his new film, The Social Reckoning as well as last year’s Governors Awards. 18 karat yellow gold, the watch is a little grander than the new Monterey’s Vuitton just announced with a smaller dial and cleaner face, though it’s likely we’ll see White in one of those as well as he’s an LV ambassador.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Small Seconds

For the Met Gala, you always need to make a big impression, especially as a man, where your wardrobe choices are a little bit more limited. White attended the 2025 event and while he kept things simple but stunning in a pinstripe suit, the star of the show was the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Small Seconds on his wrist. The Art Deco and polo inspired watch is having a moment in Hollywood as it has been seen on the wrists of the likes of Andrew Garfield, Nicholas Hoult and Jack O’Connell.

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony

Jeremy Allen White at the 2023 Golden Globes. CREDIT: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images.

Worn by White to the Golden Globes in 2023, the Patrimony further proves the actor’s status as the king of the dress watches as it’s the epitome of polished elegance. Ultra slim at just 8.55mm thick but large as lug to lug, the Patrimony is 47mm, it’s a watch with presence and guile and it brought White some good luck as he won Best Actor when he wore it to the Globes.

Tiffany & Co. Cocktail

For the 2024 SAG Awards, White wore this curio from Tiffany & Co. A dainty feminine piece with a diamond bezel (adding up to 0.85 carats) and white guilloché dial, it’s a quietly out there watch, especially when you factor in it’s unusual oval shape. The watch paired especially well with the Shameless star’s crisp white suit.

Bvlgari Bvlgari

Bolder than some of his other choices and the watch that really re-established Bvlgari in the men’s watch game when they re-launched a couple of years ago. Easily recognisable as the work of Bvlgari with it’s 18 karat gold bezel engraved with their logo, it’s a watch said to be inspired by the coins of Ancient Rome. That it comes with an alligator leather strap is just an extra flourish on top.

Like this? Pierce Brosnan’s best watches: From James Bond’s Omega to his own vintage Cartier

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Seiko have released a panda watch, complete with ears and a tail

Posted on by Sam Moore

Seiko originally premiered their Panda watch in 2024 as part of their Power Design Project where they allow their designers to push ideas to the extreme without having to be commercially viable. The program has given birth to ideas such as an egg timer made from actual egg shell and a watch that doubles as a pincushion.

And the Panda.

The idea of a panda face is a well-worn trope in horology. It’s a white face with black subdials and virtually every brand from your finest Swiss masters to fast fashion high street chains have sold one. But never like this.

Taking the idea of the panda to its literal end, Seiko designer Kiyotaka Sakai has turned the watch into the actual animal.

The subdials are shaped exactly like panda eyes, while the dial has a hairy gradient, complete with a nose and mouth to complete the panda face. On the bezel, panda ears double as pushers and the caseback is striped, while a 3-D tail sits at the bottom.

The panda theme is completed by the tachymeter scale being renamed Sasameter, with sasa the Japanese word for bamboo, the main food for the animal.

On the technical front, the watch is 43mm in size, making it larger than you would expect for a novelty piece while inside is a quartz calibre 8T61.

Two editions of the watch are being made available, the standard white one and a pink version, which is a nod to the fact that pandas are pink when they are born.

Only 3000 of the white version are being manufactured while just 2000 of the pink will hit the market. Both watches will cost £510 and are available to pre-order now with a delivery date estimated for next month.

Earlier this year, Seiko unveiled two highly limited new additions to their premium Astron collection.

More expensive and complex than most of Seiko’s offerings, the Astron has the ability to connect to a GPS network which enable the watches to change their time zone at the push of a button.

The Seiko Astron HAB005J1 and HAB006J1 are the new issues and mechanically identical with both watches a sizeable 43.4mm made out of titanium and also boast 100 metres of water resistance and magnetic resistance.

While the robust technical specifications are identical, the watches have very different visual identities.

The HAB005J1 comes in a leafy, textured green while the HAB006J1 is a more daring bright pink.

The new Astron models are also at the top of Seiko’s price point, with both set to retail for £2,600.

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Why is Audemars Piguet moving into jewellery?

Posted on by Rachael Taylor

For a watchmaker with a client base that is reportedly 70% male, the new Royal Oak Joaillerie line could offer Audemars Piguet a pathway to a female customers – and access to a category currently showing greater momentum than watches.

Women buying for themselves accounted for 27.5% of Audemars Piguet’s clients in 2025, according to chief executive Ilaria Resta. She wants that to reach 40% over the coming years. Although the company avoids dividing its products into men’s and women’s categories, its new jewellery business could help close that gap without imposing gender labels on its watches.

The wider market makes the timing particularly interesting. Bain & Company described jewellery as the standout luxury category in 2025, estimating that sales increased by between 4% and 6% to €32 billion. Sales of new watches were broadly flat at an estimated €52 billion.

An Audemars Piguet craftsperson polishes the inside of a Royal Oak Joaillerie cuff
An Audemars Piguet craftsperson polishes the inside of a Royal Oak Joaillerie cuff. (Audemars Piguet)

Turning recognition into new revenue

Royal Oak Joaillerie allows Audemars Piguet to enter a different product category without having to build a fresh creative identity from the ground up. The collection translates the Royal Oak’s bracelet construction and geometric links into necklaces, earrings and cuffs, giving the jewellery immediate recognition among existing clients.

Client behaviour appears to have helped shape the decision. Resta told the Financial Times that customers had begun stacking multiple Royal Oak Mini watches as jewellery, while feedback from a Hong Kong client event in late 2025 influenced three pieces in the collection.

A bracelet from the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Joaillerie collection
A bracelet from the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Joaillerie collection. (Audemars Piguet)

A controlled distribution test

The distribution model for Royal Oak Joaillerie suggests that the watchmaker is approaching jewellery cautiously. Pieces will initially be sold through private client events during a global tour rather than through its 25 AP Houses, with production kept limited and largely made to order.

This gives Audemars Piguet an opportunity to assess demand without taking on substantial inventory exposure. Private presentations can also strengthen relationships with top clients, giving the company greater insight into how its watch customers respond to jewellery and whether the category will find an audience beyond its existing collector base.

There is precedent for a family-owned watchmaker building a significant second business from jewellery. Chopard transformed the Happy Diamonds concept, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary, from a watch design into an extensive jewellery proposition. Prior to the launch of the first Happy Diamonds jewellery collection in 1985, the brand was exclusively a watchmaker, and this year jewellery is generating more sales for the company than watches, according to an interview Chopard co-president Caroline Scheufele gave the Financial Times.

James Bond: Pierce Brosnan Omega from Tomorrow Never Dies goes up for auction

Posted on by Sam Moore

Fresh off James Bond Day, a watch related to 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies is set to hit the auction block.

Propstore are putting on a huge James Bond auction which begins today (October 6) and runs for the next three weeks. Among some of the lots in the auction is a suit worn by Daniel Craig in No Time to Die, a dress worn by Ana De Armas in the same film and a car from The World is Not Enough among hundreds of other bits of props and memorabilia.

And as this is James Bond, there are watches available.

The most intriguing watch-related lot is an Omega Seamaster Diver 300M identical to the one Brosnan wore in Tomorrow Never Dies.

In the film, the watch features a detonator and while no such gadget exists on the watch available, it still has an interesting history.

Not actually worn by Pierce Brosnan in the film, this Omega was displayed during a publicity event hosted at Jaeger’s flagship store on Regent Street just before the release of the movie. There were two Omega’s on display with one sold and the other gifted to an employee.

Although the watch is without its movement, it has estimate on it of between £5,000 and £10,000. At the time of writing, the highest bid was £4,000.

Another watch available to bid on is a limited edition Omega Seamaster Co-Axial 300M James Bond 007 50th Anniversary that was gifted to marketing director Charles “Jerry” Juroe by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.

Jurne had a 25-year involvement with the iconic franchise, working on Dr. No and on many Bond films up until his retirement in 1990.

This watch was released in 2012 and gifted to Jurne then with the inscription “To Jerry, love from Michael and Barbara”.

Propstore have put an estimate on the watch of between £8,000 and £16,000 with bids starting from £6,000.

In present day Omega news, the iconic watch brand have unveiled two new Seamaster James Bond edition watches, one dedicated to 007 himself and the other for admirers of Spectre.

The Bond iteraion of the watch features a blue aluminium dial not unlike the one Brosnan wore in GoldenEye, while the bezel is grade 5 titanium and the Bond family crest sits at 12 o’clock. On the caseback, the wearer can admire the 007 gun barrel logo.

Conversely, the Spectre version features a suitably villainous black dial with matching ceramic bezel while the caseback prominently displays the criminal organisation’s haunting octopus logo.

It’s these little but significant design elements that separate the two references as they are otherwise the same watch. They’re both the standard 42mm, have all the water resistance and make use of Omega’s Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8806.

Like this? Pierce Brosnan’s best watches: From James Bond’s Omega to his own vintage Cartier

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Omega unveil two new James Bond watches with one especially for villains

Posted on by Sam Moore

Omega has unveiled two brand new James Bond Speedmaster’s with a twist that’s a first for the brand. There’s a watch for heroes and a watch for villains.

The official watch of 007 for more than 30 years, since 1995’s GoldenEye, Omega are still bringing out James Bond special editions even though the martini sipping spy has not been seen on the big screen since 2021’s No Time to Die.

With it being James Bond Day, Omega have chosen the celebratory date to unveil their latest creations, the Seamaster Diver 300M James Bond and Spectre editions.

The Omega Seamaster Spectre edition. CREDIT: Omega.

The Bond iteraion of the watch features a blue aluminium dial not unlike the one Brosnan wore in GoldenEye, while the bezel is grade 5 titanium and the Bond family crest sits at 12 o’clock. On the caseback, the wearer can admire the 007 gun barrel logo.

Conversely, the Spectre version features a suitably villainous black dial with matching ceramic bezel while the caseback prominently displays the criminal organisation’s haunting octopus logo.

It’s these little but significant design elements that separate the two references as they are otherwise the same watch. They’re both the standard 42mm, have all the water resistance and make use of Omega’s Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8806.

Each watch is available now online and in stores and is retailing for £7,200.

The Omega Seamaster James Bond limited edition. CREDIT: Omega.

As well as these standard editions, there are two pairs of elevated special edition watches that form the collection. Only 77 of each are being made available for sale and are only available to buy as a duo.

Each set of watches features a stainless steel model as well as a platinum-gold model. The stainless steel issue features its limited edition number at 9 o’clock while the platinum-gold version features a platinum diving scale and a 18 karat white gold dial. Again, the differences between the James Bond and Spectre models and design-leg. The Bond version features a PVD gun barrel design while Spectre’s own reference again boasting the octopus logo.

While James Bond’s relationship with Omega is as strong as ever, for the new 007 book, King Zero, authored by Charlie Higson, MI6’s finest opts for something a bit different.

Bond wears a vintage Vertex Cal. 59, one of the original Dirty Dozen watches manufactured during the Second World War at the behest of the British military.

In the book, Bond inherits the watch from an uncle who saw action on D-Day with Higson describing the watch as a “solid reminder of the real world” for Bond.

Not one of the best known brands or even one of the best known Dirty Dozen watches, Vertex was founded in 1912 and was the only British company to supply pieces to the military during the war alongside the likes of Omega, IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre.

In 1944, Vertex began large-scale production of the Cal. 59 with more than four thousand models distributed to troops in advance of D-Day.

The Cal. 59 was also manufactured for the war and can be found on the secondary market, usually for less than £2,000, which is around half of what the JLC equivalent costs.

Like this? Pierce Brosnan’s best watches: From James Bond’s Omega to his own vintage Cartier

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James Bond Day: The best watches worn by 007’s villains

Posted on by Sam Moore

Happy James Bond Day! The date of the premiere of Dr. No some 64 years ago, October 5 is a celebration of everything 007.

And here at Something About Rocks, we are looking at the watches of James Bond’s villains. Everybody knows about Bond’s watches. The Rolex’s of Sean Connery, the digital models of the Roger Moore era and Omega’s now synonymous association with the character of supplying both Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig with Seamaster’s over the last 30 years.

But the villains? Not so much. Below, we have spotlighted some of the best villains to cross paths with 007 and take a deep dive into just what they wear on their wrists while planning world domination.

Rolex Cellini King Midas – Scaramanga

Christopher Lee and Roger Moore in The Man with the Golden Gun. CREDIT: MGM.

Inspired by the Ancient Greeks and designed by the legendary Gerald Genta, the Cellini King Midas almost resembles a piece of gold bullion, which would have made it perfect for Goldfinger but alas, it is worn by the world’s best assassin, Francisco Scaramanga in The Man with the Golden Gun.The watch is featured prominently throughout the film given how many shots there are of Christopher Lee holding a gun and it’s a piece that accurately reflects the often extravagant personalities of Bond villains.

Longines Evidenza – Le Chiffre

While Bond is firmly in his Omega era by the time of Casino Royale, the film’s villain, Le Chiffre, opts for a Longines Evidenza with a chronograph function. Noted for its unusual rectangular shape, the watch is clearly seen during the climactic poker scenes in which Bond defeats Le Chiffre, bankrupting the financier. Like Omega, Longines is under the Swatch umbrella and their watches later pop up in Skyfall.

Rado D-Star – Mr Hinx

A left-field choice for Dave Bautista’s hulking yet silent henchman, the Rado D-Star gets the limelight during arguably the film’s most famous scene – when Mr Hinx squeezes out another human being’s eyeballs with his thumbs. A large watch and made out of ceramic but made to look like metal, it’s a piece befitting the muscularity of its wearer.

Tissot T-Touch – Miranda Frost

Rosamund Pike in Die Another Day. CREDIT: MGM.

The rare watch to feature in James Bond that sits on the affordable end of things, the Tissot T-Touch is a functional piece with a unique touch screen feature which allows the wearer to access features such as a compass, thermometer and altimeter – basically the closest thing to an Apple Watch in 2002. In Die Another Day, the watch is worn by Rosamund Pike’s Miranda Frost, the MI6 spy who betrays Bond to Gustav Graves with the watch seen during her fight with Halle Berry’s Jinx.

Omega Seamaster – Alec Trevelyan

Yes, the exact same watch as what James Bond wears throughout GoldenEye but with one very noticeable difference – the strap. Bond’s Seamaster is worn on a metal bracelet while friend turned foe Alec Trevelyan has a rubber strap. The only Bond film where the villain has the same watch as 007, the choice seems to suggest that the Seamaster is standard MI6 issue given the world’s favourite super spy is still wearing it decades later.

Like this? Pierce Brosnan’s best watches: From James Bond’s Omega to his own vintage Cartier

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Patek Philippe unveils Gondolo Ladies First wristwatch

Posted on by Kim Parker

Available in six new colourways, the Gondolo Ladies First watch represents the first women’s collection launch from Patek Philippe since 2018. Read all about it below.

Read More: Omega seems to be teasing that a new James Bond watch is coming…in a cryptic way.

Unveiled this week at the opening of Patek Philippe’s new ‘Watch Art’ Grand Exhibition in Milan, which comes just after the seasonal flurry of Milan Fashion Week, Patek Philippe has just released a glamorous new collection of women’s watches called Gondolo Ladies First.

The six new wristwatches represent the first major new women’s launch from the venerable Swiss watchmaker, since it launched the Twenty-4 Automatic collection, which debuted in October 2018.

Patek Phillippe new Gondolo Ladies First
Patek Phillippe new Gondolo Ladies First – CREDT: Patek Phillippe

The new collection also riffs on the brand’s breakthrough design of its 2009 Ladies First Chronograph, with its cushion-shaped, Art Deco-inspired case, now enlivened with diamond-set dials. Three ‘Joaillerie’ versions in rose gold, white gold, or a mix of both, take gem-setting to dizzying new heights, with the entire dial, case and lugs entirely pavéd with over 600 brilliant-cut diamonds.

They also boast colourful gemstone hour markers, in blue topaz, green tsavorite or purple amethyst, and matching leather straps in either peacock blue, green or purple.

Three other versions, in white gold or rose gold, are more suitable for day, featuring engraved opaline dials, and matching calfskin straps, with either a denim finish or grained finish, in blue, chestnut brown or yellow-toned beige.

Patek Philippe new Gondolo Ladies First
Patek Phillippe new Gondolo Ladies First – CREDIT: Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe certainly has form when it comes to women’s timepieces. Indeed, included in the exhibition is the maker’s very first wristwatch – an ornate yellow gold and enamel model made in 1868 for the Countess Koscowicz of Hungary.

The new Gondolo Ladies First watches build on this pedigree, taking design cues from the innovative Ladies First Chronograph but powered by Patek Philippe’s E15 quartz movement, which measures just 1.8mm thick, making this slender, super wearable wristwatch ideal for daily wear or dressing up.

Its elegant, Art Deco-esque case design, with its rounded square silhouette, harks back to another Gondolo collection that Patek Philippe first unveiled in the early 1990s. Two existing haute joaillerie models from this line, originally launched in 2016, will remain as part of the collection, set with brilliant and baguette-cut diamonds and luminous Akoya pearl bracelets.

Like this? Audemars Piguet has unveiled its first ever jewellery collection, take a look here

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