The Magic of Mother of Pearl
No dial glistens quite like a mother of pearl. Whether it’s reflecting rays from the Mediterranean sun, or gleaming under moonlit midnight walks along the beach, it’s sure to shine with grandeur. Both feminine and strong in stature, it makes for a noble counterpart to the contemporary woman. But, what’s more intriguing to the sophisticated shopper, is what lies beneath. When selecting a suitable timepiece, appearance and function are equally crucial.
The fiercely glamorous Chronographe Flyback Grande Date from Blancpain appeases many requisites of those looking for a mechanically complex timepiece, whilst also making a statement on the wrist. Its mother of pearl dial is decorated with a minute track and encased in diamond set 18K rose gold, measuring 38.6mm in diameter. The sub-dial featuring Roman hour and minute numerals floats upon two waves rippling out from the dial centre, adorned with an additional 17 diamonds. Housing the Blancpain Calibre 26F8G self-winding movement, the brand is the first to incorporate the “flyback” function into a ladies’ watch, where the chronograph hand resets and restarts again with the push of a button, as opposed to the usual order of pushing buttons 3 times with an ordinary chronograph. A second complication, the double-disc large date, is revealed at 6 o’clock through twin apertures. Fully operational, Blancpain have successfully delivered a cleverly compact timepiece.
If elegance is what you’re after, Girard Perregaux’s Cat’s Eye tourbillon with gold bridge is the epitome of fine craftsmanship. This mother of pearl dial is graced with a hand-engraved orchid pattern, with the tourbillon prominently present, peeking through the surface at 6 o’clock. Femininity flourishes throughout, evident in the flower-shaped crown set with a diamond, as well as the pink gold case embellished with 50 brilliant-cut diamonds. Hosting a mechanical manually-wound movement with 70-hour power reserve, this high performing ladies’ watch makes for a stand-out piece guaranteed to impress.
For a modest, mechanical timepiece understated in design, the effortlessly chic A. Lange & Söhne Little Lange 1 is a classic. A hand-winding watch powered by Lange’s manufacturer calibre L901.4 represents several functions, present upon the shimmering mother of pearl dial with blue tint. The big date sits at 1 o’clock, the power reserve indicator at 3, small seconds at 5 and the hour and minutes at 9. Slightly smaller in size than its siblings at just over 36mm in diameter, the Little Lange 1 comes in two versions, pink or white gold casing. A Lange & Söhne have managed to imbed accuracy and precision into a refined timepiece, tailored to those after timeless style.
