Haute Joaillerie Hedgehog Timepiece
A precious secret
The Chopard Haute Joaillerie ateliers have created a masterpiece: an
all-diamond ‘secret’ watch with the dial hidden beneath a dazzling hedgehog encrusted
with moonstone spikes. This magical
timepiece embodies the latest chapter in Chopard’s poetic exploration of the
fabled Animal World.
NOW YOU SEE ME...
...NOW YOU DON'T!
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To capture the stunning radiance of a jewellery creation that is also a watch,
this unique piece requires hundreds of hours of work by the finest talents of
the Maison’s Haute Joaillerie workshops.
Beauty meets precision in this
stunning hedgehog-shaped ‘secret’ watch featuring 18-carat white gold entirely
paved with diamonds and moonstones according to an exceptional gem-setting
technique. This timepiece celebrates the wondrous encounter between reality and
dreams: an imaginary journey to the heart of a precious bestiary.
Haute Joaillerie at Chopard
This jewellery watch showcases the virtuosity of the
artisans that producing it and the
essential genius underlying its conception. Stemming from the creative impulse
and guidance of Chopard Co-President and
Artistic Director, Caroline Scheufele, the Maison’s Haute Joaillerie has enjoyed
spectacular developments in recent years.
It now encompasses the dazzling
Animal World as well as Red Carpet and Green Carpet collections, which exhibit the
expertise of the finest craftsmanship and express truly modern artistic inspiration. From
design through to execution, the Haute Joaillerie collections represent a
standard of excellence within the
Geneva-based firm.
Inspired by nature and nurtured by a singular aesthetic and
ethical sense of responsibility, these Haute Joaillerie creations are a source
of constantly renewed wonderment.
Uniting artistic crafts
The creation of
this Hedgehog watch stems from the expert, patient and inventive hands of the
Chopard artisans who devoted their talents to this exceptional piece.
It required
the skills of the entire range of Haute
Joaillerie team: designers, wax-sculpting jewellery makers, lapidaries, jewellers,
gem-setters, polishers, etc.
From lines to volumes, crafting gold to setting precious
stones, by pooling their skills the craftsman have given shape to this ‘secret’
jewellery watch and infused the precious hedgehog with a matchless sense of
light in motion.
This seamless
and complementary interaction between various talents is made possible at the
Chopard workshop as more than 30 crafts are practiced together under one roof.
The Scheufele family
carefully nurtures these precious assets by focusing on the training and transmission
of expertise from generation to generation, for Chopard is keenly aware that
the human beings are the most valuable part of its heritage.
An exceptional creation in the
Animal World collection
Joining the wonderful bestiary of the Animal World
collection, the latest creation from the Chopard Haute Joaillerie workshops is
an adorable little mammal: a stylised hedgehog set with moonstones illuminated
by tiny diamonds which are set according to a unique technique by the master
gem-setter in the company’s Geneva workshops.
Cut into delicate spikes of
varying heights by the lapidaries of the Haute Joaillerie ateliers, the
extremely delicate moonstones required the dexterity, expertise and talent of
the gifted artisans to create the spherical body of the hedgehog with its ample
volume.
The head, set fully in diamonds, is embellished with
two sapphires, giving it a strikingly radiant gaze. Meanwhile, its mischievous
snout set with brown sapphires hides a well-guarded secret – touching it
transforms this piece of jewellery into a watch.
A dedicated mechanism governs
the opening of the hedgehog in the middle of its back and reveals a tiny, baby
hedgehog holding a watch dial in its paws. Entirely set with diamonds, the
interior of the watch reveals all the splendour of an objet d’art, rendered
even more precious by its secret nature. Sheltered from prying eyes, it unveils
its charms and its watchmaking function only when the owner so decides.
The ‘secret’ watch
While making a prime companion for situations when the
time must be checked discreetly, the Hedgehog watch is meant to help its wearer
entirely forget about the passing of time. ‘Secret’ timepieces carry a hint of
nostalgia reminiscent of an era when good manners implied occasionally peeking
at the time without being noticed.
Its aura of mystery and intrigue, together
with its extraordinary beauty, endow this Hedgehog timepiece with a singularly
aristocratic allure.
THE MAKING OF CHOPARD'S HEDGEHOG WATCH STEP BY STEP!
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