Graff’s new gem of a collection

Women’s watches have come a long way since the days of “shrink and pink”. Take Graff’s jewelled timepieces, conceived and crafted in its Bond Street HQ by the same individuals who design and create every Graff jewel. The maison sees a jewellery watch as the final piece of a parure, paying the same attention to its form as it does to that of earrings, necklaces and rings. “A watch must be just as elegant, wearable and beautiful as the jewellery,” says Anne-Eva Geffroy, Graff’s design director.

The new 6ct Diamond Threads watch ( POA) is a case in point. A lattice of diamondset stitches wraps the wrist, mixing brilliantand custom-cut baguette stones, culminating in a sculptural nest housing a pavé-diamond dial at its centre. The graphic links that feature throughout the Threads collection are designed, according to Geffroy, “to symbolise all the connections in our lives”.

Maintaining the fluidity of the design in a timepiece required intense collaboration between Geffroy’s team of designers, Graff ’s London-based craftspeople, and the watchmaking department in Geneva. “We work very closely with the team in Switzerland,” says Geffroy. “Sometimes they can offer a new component that’s 1mm smaller, which has a huge impact on a jewellery watch.”

This near-surgical precision was crucial when it came to articulating each diamondset link to create a smooth and comfortable bracelet. The team created six prototypes, before Geffroy was finally satisfied. “We always create several prototypes,” she explains. “Our priority is perfection.”

And perfectionism flows throughout the Threads collection, from pendants and stud earrings (starting at a more accessible £8,200), up to one-of-a-kind high jewellery, including a necklace featuring 74 carats of white and Fancy yellow diamonds ( POA). Sarah Royce-Greensill graff.com