There are a thousand and one ways to attach time to the wrist. Linen, leather, vinyl, metal, tubogas, Milanese mesh… Straps and bracelets appear in all manner of guises that appeal to us in equally varied ways.
CHANNELING THE SIXTIES VIBE
Could the super-sexy new J12 XS be the new way of wearing time ? Forget about discretion and ignore shy watches ! Dress codes have changed and Chanel is all about wearing time with panache, in a manner vastly different from the conventional mini-watch trend. One can indeed not help wondering how such a tiny 19mm watch can draw all eyes. Its secret doubtless lies in a broad vinyl strap with a vintage, glam-rock, wristband-type look.
DELECTABLE LEATHER
Dear Roger Dubuis, all I want for Christmas is a princess-style watch with a glamorous, sexy and unmistakable Haute Couture look, if you see what I mean. Perhaps a diamond-studded model. A watch to shine, a watch to dance. I imagine its strap in gold-toned leather with a dainty pleat along the center. The kind of strap that Rita Hayworth might have worn. Dear Roger Dubuis, could you please bring me the Velvet by Massaro as a Christmas gift ? How about it ? Big hug, Gilda.
ONE DAY I’LL TRAVEL TO MILAN WITH YOU
Gentleness, suppleness, innate elegance : a style statement. What more could one ask from this delicate Milanese mesh bracelet accompanying the Limelight Gala and coiling around the wrist like a second skin ? The refined and silky-smooth Milanese mesh is every bit as comfortable as a fabric, with its woven gold design making a perfect match with the round shape of the case enhanced by asymmetrical lugs. Undeniably chic and resolutely vintage !
RUNWAY-READY
This particular Louboutin is not designed to be worn on the foot, but instead on the wrist. The fashion world’s best-known shoe designer worked hand in hand with Jaeger-LeCoultre in giving an eccentric twist to the classic Reverso. No red soles on show here, but instead a shimmering leather strap. Part siren, part runway queen, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso exudes the kind of sheer charisma that would be at entirely at home in a high-glam series such as Sex and the City.
HIGH-FASHION FIBER
Regarded as the ultimate summer material, linen now wraps itself around our wrists year-round, ever since Hublot has dedicated an entire collection to it. Working with one of the oldest plant fibers cultivated by humankind, Hublot has succeeded in mastering all its characteristics in order to clothe time with a unique hand-crafted weave. From the strap through to the case and dial, the Big Bang Tutti Frutti Linen offers an attractive alternative to carbon fiber. Better still, it provides scope for all manner of eccentric touches and covers the entire color spectrum. Blue, turquoise, orange, purple… These scrumptious shades are simply irresistible !
YOUR EYELIDS ARE GETTING VERY HEAVY…
It coils around the wrist to hypnotize the gaze. “It” is of course the Bulgari serpent symbol. Masterfully charmed by the artisans of the Rome-based Maison, the cult reptile revealed by Liz Taylor displays an endless gift for reinventing itself. Spectacular in a coil Serpenti Tubogas version, the sinuous steel and pink gold body of the snake wraps itself around the entire forearm. One never tires of admiring the exceptional suppleness of the Tubogas principle, a Bulgari specialty since 1932. Enchanting…
SLEIGHT OF HAND
What is the new color of elegance ? Green. What is its shape ? A leather cuff strap punctuated by a dainty watch case set with emeralds and framing a pretty malachite dial. Effectively blending watchmaking, jewelry and leather craft, Faubourg Manchette revisits the aesthetic codes of mini-watches through a fascinating stylistic exercise on leather workmanship. Part aesthetic sleight of hand and part technically sophisticated conjuring trick, this model naturally earns a well-deserved round of applause…
