The gentleman’s watch is witnessing a revival, with economy of flourish a central virtue. New from Parisian firm Van Cleef & Arpels this year is the Swiss Made Pierre Arpels watch, which we had the pleasure of encountering at the SIHH 2012. The aesthetic opposite of a shaped watch like the Tank from Cartier and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, the Pierre Arpels watch celebrates the perfection of the circle. The design banished even the lugs, diminishing the connection between case and strap down to a virtually invisible point. The inspiration is the man at the iconic jeweler who created the original watch in 1949.
Essentially a two-hand time-only classic, the watch is just slim enough to fit discreetly under a gentleman’s sleeve, thanks the ultr-thin Piaget 830 P manual calibre. Available in a 38mm and 42mm versions, there is also a choice of precious metals: pink gold or white gold. While the diamond in the crown is standard for the Pierre Arpels, there is a more flashy version with a gem-set bezel. As always, Van Cleef & Arpels uses only D, E and F diamonds, all VVS.
