SWAROVSKI WOMEN’S WATCH COLLECTION SLIDESHOW:
AUSTRIA. Swarovski introduced its first collection of timepieces at the 2009 BaselWorld trade fair last month – marking a major step into the women’s fashion watch market for the Austrian crystal jewellery specialist.
“The time has come for Swarovski to present its own collection of watches,” said Robert Buchbauer, who is a member of the Executive Board and a member of the Swarovski family.
“Introducing Swarovski crystal to the world of watches is the culmination of over three years of research and development. It’s also a real step forward for our company,” he added.
Designed under the Creative Direction of Nathalie Colin at Swarovski, the collection is aimed at the “modern, fashion-conscious woman”, the company said.
Speaking exclusively to The Moodie Report about the response to the launch from buyers at BaselWorld, Daniel Swarovski Corp Vice President Travel Retail Peter Zottl added: “Combining rigorously Swiss made quality with the best of Swarovski, retailing between €400 and €700, this exclusively ladies’ watch collection found a very good reception. It covers a new segment of the watch market and was dubbed by many visitors ‘the right collection for the right time’.”
SWAROVSKI WATCH COLLECTION 2009
The collection is grouped into five lines, comprising 45 watches. Of these lines, the Avant Time model gives free rein to a designer invited to work with Swarovski. The result is described as “a collection of exceptional pieces embodying Swarovski’s visionary view of time”.
For this collection, Swarovski presents new, exclusive cuts that play with light. Metal, leather and rubber are enhanced with crystals in all shapes and sizes to deliver a one-of-a-kind collection. Swarovski signature elements appear in every line as a unifying theme, and the company’s logo and its Swanflower motif recur in each model.
Apart from the new crystal cuts developed exclusively for these timepieces, Swarovski has employed Swiss watchmaking expertise to guarantee its watches are of the highest quality and precision. A number of handmade parts are incorporated into the watches, and all models are waterproof up to 30 metres.
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Vice President Travel Retail Peter Zottl on Swarovski’s fashion watch launch at BaselWorld: “Combining rigorously Swiss made quality with the best of Swarovski, this exclusively ladies’ watch collection found a very good reception. It covers a new segment of the watch market and was dubbed by many visitors ‘the right collection for the right time’.” |
NEW LINES INCLUDE:
Octea Sport: The Octea Sport fashion watch is inspired by diving watches and aims to combine the reliability of a Swiss quartz calibre movement with the delicacy of crystal. Described as both functional and elegant, the sporty watch captures the light, while the angles of its stainless steel case are faceted like Swarovski crystals. The watch features a unidirectional rotating bezel, and a timer appears at the heart of the Soleil cut crystal. Featuring a double-level 39mm dial, strong numbering and hand-applied indexes, this watch is said to meet international standards of sportsmanship and water resistance. It has luminescent hands and a non-reflecting sapphire crystal watch glass.
The wide cabochon-set crown bears the signature metallic Swan on a lacquer base. This model is also adorned with the Swanflower motif on its back which is engraved in high relief. The Octea Sport can be worn on a metal bracelet or on a soft rubber strap enhanced by six faceted crystals, traditionally mounted and set. The faceted horns and buckle are further Swarovski markers. This line is available in several colours as well as in a sports version with a stainless steel bracelet and butterfly clasp.
Baguette: The Baguette quartz watch is fitted with baguette-cut crystals and is designed as an evening accessory. Its geometric design, clean lines and cascading facets shape the light via regular and sophisticated prisms. The square case in polished steel features a simple face illuminated by three miniature crystals and a swan at the top. The base of the dial features a tone-on-tone effect with a sunray or mother-of-pearl finish, while the sapphire crystal that protects the faceted hands has been treated so as to complete the mirroring effect of sparkling crystal. Other features include the company’s logo beneath an oversized cabochon glass crown and the Swanflower engraving on the back of the case.
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Swarovski’s stand at the BaselWorld trade fair, featuring a “Crystal Lake” wall from Japanese architect Tokushin |
The jewellery bracelet is made up of 16 identical faceted baguette-cut crystals, playing on the theme of repetition, infinity and eternity. Each crystal is housed in a polished steel bezel setting, while the steel bracelet is said to offer comfort, with a clasp featuring a side-release mechanism. The piece is available with a choice of clear, jet hematite or amethyst-coloured baguette-cut crystals, as well as a matching coloured dial. A gold-tone steel bracelet is also available.
Piazza: Inspired by urban forms and architecture, the Piazza line offers modern, clean, feminine styling. This watch, 36mm in diameter, features a hand-set metallic appliqué swan sitting at the top of a circular face, while each hour is marked by four miniature crystal chatons in Swarovski’s exclusive Xilion-cut, which appear to float in relief over the opaline dial.
The soft, round galvanic face features a sunray finish, with faceted hands. Swarovski lettering is engraved on one side of the large polished casing, while on the other a metallic logo adorns the crown. For the strap, Swarovski has employed Crystal Mesh, a popular look from its fashion accessory range. Mounted on leather, it forms “a river of crystals”, according to the firm.
Incorporating a Swiss ETA movement, the watch comes in either jet hematite, golden or crystal colouring. A more traditional look is available with a white, black or pink leather strap, or beige leather and gold-tone steel. The clasp combines a ribbon of crystals with discreet, hidden magnets.
Elis: The Elis line draws its inspiration from the pyramid, and its square case features a succession of facets and angles. Framed by a steel bezel, the watch contains Swarovski-exclusive Xilion crystals forming three relief appliqué indexes on the two-level face. The swan logo sits at the top of the face with a sunray finish and metallic effect, and is repeated beneath the cabochon glass of the crown.
As well as the case, which features the Swanflower on the back, the geometric influence can be found on the rubber strap and its eight pyramid-cut crystals. These three-dimensional stones are held in place by steel settings at the bottom, with the stones hand-set into either a white, black, prune or chocolate-coloured strap. Each steel dial co-ordinates with the strap and its buckle, while a golden steel version on chocolate rubber and a prune-coloured variant offer the most daring and fashionable colour combinations. The line also features the same steel model on a white or black leather strap, as well as the same Swiss movement.
Octea Lady: This line, made up of seven versions with Swiss movements, is said to embody femininity through the faceting of its bezel, which reflects the Nirvana ring, an icon of Swarovski design. The minute and hour hands feature a luminova finish, while the second hand has a crystal-like hexagonal head and the date is displayed via an aperture. A metallic swan sits at the top of the dial, along with sparkling Arabic numerals and indexes. The crown incorporates a metallic swan on a lacquer base, which along with the engraved Swanflower identifies the brand. The bezel is paired with a leather strap in beige, pink, black or white. The model is also available with a steel bracelet. The golden version features a mother-of-pearl dial with five chatons.
Octea Mini: The Octea Mini line is made entirely of faceted crystal, in four different tones, and reflects Swarovski’s iconic jewellery piece, the Nirvana ring. The face features an opaline sunray or mother-of-pearl finish that co-ordinates with a leather strap in white, pink or black, or one made of steel. The face measures 24mm in diameter and is available in a range of designs, with traditional and contemporary options. For the double leather strap version, five crystal chatons indicate the time, with the black or white leather of the strap incorporating a further 18 miniature hand-set crystals. The dial features hand-set indexes, along with a swan that is repeated on the crown. On the back, the Swanflower motif reflects the elegance of the brilliant case and its faceted horns.
Avant Time N°1 D:Light by Eric Giroud for Swarovski
The Avant Time collection has resulted in an avant-garde timepiece, D:Light. For this first edition, Nathalie Colin called upon the creative talent of renowned watch designer Eric Giroud.
The futuristic D:Light model merges new electronic technologies with jewellery design. Fashioned in super-fine steel, the design brings together the functions of emotion-creating watch, bracelet and collector’s item, according to Swarovski. Its rectangular dial is a crystal screen, designed by Swarovski featuring 171 exclusive Xilion-cut crystals.
The time appears with a simple touch on the Swan cabochon. The crystals change colour, light up, sparkle and show the hours and minutes in luminous orange dotted lines. There is no date or hands, with only a 12- or 24-hour clock function. Its gold-tone steel bracelet with the wide faceted, polished links and butterfly clasp ensure it is reversible so it can be worn on the left or right hand.
The D:Light watch is said to link refined aesthetics with an exceptional watch movement which was under exclusive development for several years by Swarovski.
Hiding an induction system, a stylish white charging dock enables the watch to fully recharge in three hours and should then remain charged for a month. Set on the dock, the timepiece becomes a design piece, the company added.
For details, contact Peter Zottl, Vice President Travel Retail, Daniel Swarovski Corp, General Wille-Strasse 88, CH-8706 Feldmeilen, Switzerland, on e-mail peter.zottl@swarovski.com, tel: +41 44 925 73 64, fax: +41 44 925 73 53 Visit www.swarovski.com
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