OH THE JOYS OF LOVE!

As the ultimate celebration of love is about to dawn, the Joux Valley manufacture unveils a jewelry piece totally adorned with diamonds and inspired by a timepiece once owned by Marilyn Monroe.

A silhouette, a face, a voice, a style: Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) has been the absolute embodiment of femininity and continues to weave her magic on the world. Throughout her life, the sublime American actress and singer wore a Blancpain-created 1930s cocktail watch on her wrist which was recently showcased in the watchmaker’s New York store. This art deco-styled timepiece inspired the creation of a 14-piece limited edition dedicated to this lovers’ celebration, the Saint-Valentin 2020 model, enshrined in the Women Collection.

Like its elder sibling, this new watch embraces a rectangular case decorated with a flat, fluted crown. This svelte white-gold silhouette, measuring 35×16 mm and just 6.50 mm thick, strewn with 84 diamonds including two marquise-cut ones caressing the lugs, hosts a hand-wound mechanical movement. The caliber 510 delivers a power reserve of 52 hours and drives the key time data, i.e. the hours and minutes.

The immaculate face of this piece made for celebrating love features white mother-of-pearl marquetry from which two half hearts emerge, each crowned with a diamond. Two precious butterflies, whose bodies are fashioned with golden thread and whose wings are set with rubies and diamonds, hover delicately over this iridescent scenescape whilst a pair of central sword-shaped hands displays the hours and minutes.

Blancpain’s Women Collection Saint-Valentin 2020 wraps around the wrist with a white calfskin strap attached by an ardillon buckle adorned with a brilliant-cut diamond totaling 1.477 carats.

Price: CHF35’000

By Sharmila Bertin