Don’t expect to see too many watches using scarab beetle shell marquetry on their dials in the coming years. Despite there being just 12 piece-unique watches crafted under the Dior VIII Grand Bal Envol series and only half of those using the aforementioned material, the setting process was so difficult that there was something of minor artisan rebellion during the production.
This exquisite collection of watches employing the very finest jewellery techniques neatly illustrates that women’s high jewellery watches needn’t be poetic ode’s to fluffy romantic notions but can be edgy, stylish and incredibly powerful. The strong greens highlighted with neon pink and yellow flourishes used in this 36mm automatic Dior VIII Grand Bal Pièce Unique Envol N°5 suggest 1960s pop-art and leave a lasting impression.
