Chopard spikes up its Haute Joaillerie range
The luxury fine-jewellery Maison has embarked on an empowering poetic journey of the fabled Animal World with its latest Haute Joaillerie creation. Beauty merges with precision in The Hedgehog Timepiece that is crafted to harbour a precious secret; a secret only unveiled on the sophisticated wrist of its owner
Stemming from the creative impulse and leadership of Chopard’s Co-President and Artistic Director, Caroline Scheufele, the Maison’s Haute Joaillerie has relished spectacular progression in recent years. The brand now encompasses the dazzling Animal World collection as well as Red Carpet and Green Carpet collections, which showcase the expertise of fine craftsmanship that expresses modern artistic inspiration. From the design phase right 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 pieces are a source of constantly renewed wonderment. The Animal World range is a unique high jewellery collection featuring a bestiary of 150 dream-like animals.
Skilled Chopard jewellery artisans have spent hundreds of hours crafting the latest diamond masterpiece to join the nature themed line. Aptly named ‘The Hedgehog Timepiece’, it was first unveiled at Paris Couture Week where, for the first time ever, Chopard joined the Fédération Française de la Couture as a “jeweller” member. This unique timepiece is a prime companion for situations when the time must be checked discreetly, whether at a meeting or at a formal dinner, the Hedgehog watch is meant to help its wearer appear confident and comfortable in time-crunching situations. The ‘secret’ timepiece carries a hint of nostalgia reminiscent of an era when good manners implied occasionally glancing at the time without being noticed.
Patience, experience and creativity were the key ingredients to coin the exquisite jewellery piece which only doubles as a timepiece once the mesmerising hedgehog spikes have been opened. The exterior of the timepiece is encrusted with mysterious moonstone spikes that lift upwards to unveil a delicate dial that boasts an explosion of dazzling diamonds. The head of the hedgehog is fully set in diamonds and is embellished with two sapphires, giving it a strikingly radiant gaze. Meanwhile, its mischievous snout is set with brown sapphires that harbour a well-guarded secret; by touching the tiny nose, a mechanism is triggered that transform this piece into a watch. The dedicated device controls the opening of the hedgehog in the middle of its back and reveals an oval where a tiny, baby hedgehog is holding a circular watch dial in its delicate paws. Sheltered from prying eyes, the watch unveils its charms and its primary function only when the owner decides.
This precious mammal celebrates the incredible encounter between reality and dreams; its hardened shell and time display are both fashioned in 18-carat white gold and entirely paved with diamonds and various length moonstones using an exceptional gem-setting technique. The Chopard Haute Joaillerie team vigorously undergo continuous training to remain the leaders in miniature crafting techniques, and currently the team consists of designers, wax-sculpting jewellery makers, lapidaries, jewellers, gem-setters and polishers who pooled together their knowledge in the pursuit of the perfect two-in-one creation.
