“unlike wiTh preCious meTals, The relaTionship beTween a diamond’s CaraT weighT and iTs priCe isn’T as sTraighTforward”

with diamonds packed closely together. Naturally, the components in question are then polished to smooth away the marks of drilling or shaving that’s been done.

The actual setting method will vary from design to design, but some of the more common ones include: Prong settings (where metal prongs or “claws” hold individual stones in place), grain or millgrain settings (where small beads formed from small shaving of metal secure the stone), closed (where a circle of metal—quite like a bezel—grips the stone), channel (where stones are lined between metal “rails” and held in a groove) and the invisible setting (which was patented by Cartier and which creates the appearance of multiple stones holding each other in place).

a man’s besT friend?

Obviously, there has never been a shortage of women’s watches with diamonds. A particularly grand example of this would be Audemars Piguet’s Diamond Outrage, which was preceded by the Diamond Fury in 2016 and the Diamond Punk in 2015. These (and others which you can see in the Women’s Watches section of this issue as well as previous editions of DA MAN Caliber) tend to lean more towards rather than while they are beautiful watches, they can easily pass for being highend jewelry.

The majority of men’s watches with diamonds, however, tend to be a bit more subtle. Or it used to be. From the same brand that gave us the Diamond Outrage also comes the Royal Oak Chronograph Diamond Pave White Gold Men’s Watch. The case, bezel, dial and even bracelet are paved with diamonds, plus several sapphires for the hour indexes. H. Moser & Cie’s Swiss Alp Watch on the Rocks is another example of how a watch with an extra helping of diamonds.

For gents with more conservative tastes, Patek Philippe’s Nautilus Ref. 5713 with its diamond-studded bezel could be a great option. Of course, the brand also has many models featuring diamonds in a more subtle configuration, usually on the hour markers. Cartier, unsurprisingly, has quite a lineup of diamond watches for men. These range from the still rather subtle Ronde Louis Cartier watch, the eye-catching Clé de Cartier 35 mm flying tourbillon watch up to the understated but impactful High Jewelry Watch.

But even sporty watches can come with prestigious bling. Take Hublot’s Big Bang Unico Sapphire Baguettes watch, for instance, which pairs diamonds and a sapphire crystal case. TAG Heuer, meanwhile, has the Carrera Heuer-02T Baguette-Cut Diamond. There is even a variant of the Modular 45 connected watch that comes with a diamond-encrusted bezel, and is apparently the timepiece of choice for brand ambassador and “art provocateur” Alec Monopoly.

So, to conclude, if you do have a taste for precious stones, especially diamonds, there is a watch out there for you. And rest assured that the stones added to your timepiece of choice goes much further than just “extra bling.”