Haute horology

Luxury timepieces are nothing new. They’ve been a part of high fashion from times immemorial, reminding us that a watch can be more than a timepiece; it can be a work of art. But when it comes to luxury watches, few companies approach timepieces with a mix of flair, beauty and decadence as does de Grisogono, the watch and jewellery makers from Geneva.

Though fairly young—the company started making watches only in 2000—it has carved out a niche for itself with stunning watches and complicated technical designs that had been previously thought impossible. We decided to take a closer look at one of its landmark timepieces, the diamondstudded Instrumento Grande, and figure out what the fuss is about. This, incidentally, is the firm’s most expensive watch currently available in India.

• Rhodium indexes set with 10 baguette white diamonds
• Silver guilloche dial with a prominent date at the six o’clock position
• Polished 18-carat white gold case with a bezel top ringed with 56 baguette pale blue sapphires, 8.1 carat
• Water-resistant up to 30 metres
• Sapphire crystal back and lateral window that lets you see the intricate mechanisms working away
• White galuchat strap with 18 carat polished white gold folding clasp