Who put their money on Vacheron Constantin releasing an update on its Lady Kalla jewellery watch this year, in the form of the Grand Lady Kalla high jewellery watch? The Art Deco–inspired piece that looks like it had jumped right out of a 1920s silent movie reminds us of Vacheron Contantin’s long history of jewellery and pendant watches that stretches as far back as 1812, when it created a pocket watch festooned with small pearls.
Made up of 268 diamonds totalling more than 46ct, Akoya pearls, onyx beads, the white gold quartz-powered watch can be worn as part of a sautoir complete with tassels, or on a fully paved diamond bracelet. It is based on the design of the Kalla jewellery watch introduced in 1980, which was derived from the 1979 Kallista jewellery watch.
Furthering Vacheron Constantin’s theme for 2024, “From Geometry To Artistry”, the Égérie collection goes extra innovative this year with its collaboration with couturier Yin Yiqing, who is also a spokesperson of the manufacture’s “One Of Not Many” campaign since 2020. This partnership has resulted in two watches: the Pleats of Time concept watch, with an embroidered strap doped with nanoparticles of a custom scent created by master perfumer Dominique Ropion, that is released through wrist movements; and the limited-edition moonphase watch with its dial and three interchangeable straps developed with Yin’s input.
In particular, the former features a lilac dial pattern reminiscent of pleats, a 37mm pink gold case, the notable absence of hour markers, and a silk strap inlaid with mother-of-pearl shards; the fragrance was designed to “be universal, like time itself,” according to Ropion, “a mineral scent with pastel, wintry, powdery and iridescent notes, playing with the sun and wisps of smoke.”