MTF
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CHOPARD Secret Hedgehog watch
CHOPARD Secret Hedgehog - Animal World Collection
Chopard Haute Joaillerie ateliers created a remarkable and cute masterpiece: an all-diamond ‘secret’ watch with the dial hidden beneath a spiky moonstone hedgehog. 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.
This jewellery watch showcases the virtuosity of the jewellers and the pure genius underlying its conception.
Chopard Co-President and Artistic Director, Caroline Scheufele provided the creative remit and guidance for the Animal World Collection with spectacular developments in recent years.
Chopard started the Animal World Haute Joaillerie collection of 150 unique animal-themed pieces for their 150th anniversary in 2010. The Collection has continued and the latest offering is what I call “Hidden Hedgehog, Bashful Bear”.
No, seriously – the focus is on the new Secret Hedgehog but the old Bear also features in my household.
I have no ‘live’ photographs as only one piece of the Hedgehog Watch was completed for Paris Couture Week in January 2015.
Animal World watches - polar bear, monkey and penguin
CHOPARD Secret Hedgehog Watch
The creation of this Hedgehog watch requires the skills of the entire range of Haute Joaillerie team: designers, wax-sculpting jewellery makers, lapidaries, jewellers, gem-setters, polishers, etc. This is possible at the Chopard workshop because more than 30 crafts are practiced under one roof.
The Scheufele family carefully nurtures their precious assets by focusing on the training and transmission of expertise from generation to generation, for Chopard is keenly aware that their people are the most valuable part of its heritage.
In-house Gold Smelting at Chopard
Jewellers at Chopard Manufacture
Chopard Animal World Collection
Making the CHOPARD Secret Hedgehog Watch
This hidden hedgehog-shaped ‘secret’ watch features a case of 18-carat white gold, entirely paved with diamonds and moonstones using an exceptional gem-setting technique.
The adorable creature starts off as tiny life-like parts that are assembled into a watch case.
The head is set fully in diamonds and embellished with two sapphires, giving it a piercing, radiant gaze.
Turning our attention to the mischievous snout reveals brown sapphires that hide a well-guarded secret – touching it transforms this piece of jewellery into a watch.
A dedicated mechanism actuates the opening of the adorable hedgehog to reveal an even cuter sight – a baby hedgehog holding the watch dial in its paws. Awwww!
The moonstone crystals are shaped into delicate spikes of varying heights by the lapidaries of the Haute Joaillerie ateliers.
The placement of extremely delicate moonstones required the dexterity, expertise and talent of the gifted artisans to create the spherical body of the hedgehog imbued with ample volume.
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Entirely set with diamonds, the interior of the watch exposes all the splendour of an objet d’art that is deliciously rendered even more precious by its coquetry.
Hidden from rapacious eyes, it unveils its charms and timekeeping function only when the owner chooses.
The sum of the whole is greater than the sum of the parts
Horology is about the outside as well as inside the watch case.
The dial, hands, watch-glass, lugs, crown, movement and buckle all meld together to make the timepiece. At this level of watchmaking, there can be no weak feature.
Regards,
MTF
CHOPARD Secret Hedgehog watch
Usually we like complicated watches BUT
From Mrs. CaliforniaJed:
