Sparkling Gem-Set Watches For 2018

Gem-set watches combine the artisanal skills of high jewelry with the craftsmanship of high watchmaking. Each of the four watches below provides a different interpretation of the skills required to produce exceptional timepieces with master jewelry making techniques.

Cartier Recontre de Panthères
This meeting of two sparkling white panthers on the dial is made of 18k white gold paved with brilliant-cut diamonds and highlighted with emeralds and black lacquer. The bright whiteness is backed by black mother-of-pearl. The miniature hands are made of steel with a black rhodium finish. The sparkling white motif continues for the 42mm case, crown and lugs, which is made of white gold paved with brilliant-cut diamonds. The watch is powered by the Caliber 9603 MC automatic movement.

Richard Mille RM 07-01 In Gem-Set Black Ceramic
The name doesn’t quite roll off the tongue but its black sleek design with sparkling white diamonds provide all the description this women’s watch needs. Being a Richard Mille, this timepiece is more than just a pretty face. The tonneau-shaped case is made of technologically advanced black TZP ceramic that provides hardness and scratch resistance. It’s finished in a fine grain matte effect, produced through a long and delicate process of milling and micro-shot peening. Each diamond is encased in a 0.25-millimeter red gold prong that is set into the black ceramic. The 5N red gold dial is set with black onyx and diamonds. It is powered by the in-house Caliber CRMA2 automatic movement assembled on a baseplate and bridges crafted in titanium.

Bulgari Lucea Skeleton
The elaborate openworked design and its complicated automatic movement has earned the lion’s share of attention for this women’s watch. However, the gem-set version of this timepiece from a luxury brand known for its high jewelry deserves some recognition as well. The 33mm case of the jeweled version is in 18k rose gold. The bezel is adorned with 44 diamonds with an additional 22 diamonds on the lugs. The 18k rose gold crown is set with a pink cabochon-cut stone and a brilliant-cut diamond. The skeleton-worked Bulgari name on the dial is topped with 117 diamonds. It is powered by the Caliber BVL 191SK automatic movement with skeleton execution.

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Rainbow” in Everose Gold
This men’s watch, which first appeared in yellow gold and white gold, is now available in Everose gold – a proprietary 18k pink gold alloy that is a blend of gold, copper, and a small amount of platinum. Its most significant feature is a bezel lined with 36 colored sapphires in a gradation arrangement of rainbow hues. The case is paved with 56 brilliant-cut diamonds set into the lugs and crown guard. The dial is adorned with 11 baguette-cut sapphire hour markers, each of which matches the color of the corresponding point on the bezel. The chronograph counters are in pink “Gold Crystals, which the watch brand describes as “a material with a particular shimmer effect, created during the crystallization of a pink gold alloy by means of a special process developed by Rolex.”