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Time to shine: The best jewellery watches
No outfit is complete without a touch of sparkle so dazzle this Christmas with some of the year's finest bejewelled timepieces
Elizabeth Taylor, Ingrid Bergman, Sophia Loren… Bulgari was the jeweller of choice for some of the film industry's most beautiful women and it is these luminaries of mid-20th century glamour that have inspired its Divas' Dream collection. It embodies the perfect meeting of the brand's haute joaillerie and watchmaking prowess, featuring an eye-catching, textural ruby stone dial with a delicate smattering of diamonds that reveals the time through jumping hours and retrograde minutes, powered by an in-house movement.
Bulgari Divas' Dream Heart of Ruby, £23,700; bulgari.com
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Breguet's accomplished timepieces have been favoured by aristocracy for centuries. Here, it pays homage to one of its most loyal customers, Empress Josephine, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. Among her expansive collection was a tact watch – a watch that allows the wearer to tell the time by touch alone – acquired in 1800, which has inspired this similarly elegant piece. A showcase of the watchmaker's gem-setting expertise, the oval case features brilliant-cut diamonds set around the rim of the bezel, further complemented by a single, large pearl at six o'clock, a signature of its high jewellery models.
Breguet Perles Imperiales, £81,200, available at Harrods and from the Breguet boutique on Bond Street, London; breguet.com
My Precious Time by Harry Winston
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Art Deco has always underscored the New York jeweller's aesthetic and this piece, with its alluring geometric form and clean lines, is no exception. Underneath the surface of the dazzling brooch, adorned with 368 white diamonds, lies a secret, discreet watch. The unusual, octagonal-shaped dial is further embellished with 142 of the precious stones, which continue on to the caseback, featuring a sparkling assortment of brilliant, baguette and marquise-cut diamonds.
Chaumet's pedigree in fine jewels dates back more than 230 years and the French maison puts as much attention to detail into its watches as its breathtaking jewellery collections. This newly launched Josephine Rondes de Nuit watch catches the eye with its unusual pear-shaped case, hand-paved with 129 brilliant-cut diamonds, contrasted against a chic and understated black powdered satin strap.
Chaumet Josephine Rondes de Nuit, £28,130; chaumet.com
