
Chopard's new Imperiale Joaillerie is covered with 581 sapphires totalling 47.98 karats, with the crown and lug covers set with amethysts. The result of their arrangement is a rainbow effect of shimmering color. Oh, and it also tells the time.

Hublot celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Big Bang watch by launching an haute joaillerie collection of 10 pieces, with each watch priced at $1m.

Bulgari's 2016 Serpenti Incantati, or snake bracelet, in which the timepiece is found secreted in the serpent's mouth, is an example of skilled design.

Five years ago Graff revolutionized the industry by developing its patented 'mosaic' setting that allowed the use of more but smaller stones to cover the bezel of its watches: this means that a piece that would typically cost perhaps $2.2m is now a more reasonable $1.2m.

It is one thing to have the expertise in stone-setting, another in the mechanics of fine watchmaking, and quite another in combining the two. "That combination of skills is something very few companies can do," explained Jean-Christophe Babin, the CEO of Bulgari

The new Harry Winston Twist has 61 baguette-cut diamonds, 50 marquise-cut diamonds and 70 marquise-cut rubies, with the bracelet adding another 178 white diamonds and 110 rubies.

The Princess Butterfly by Graff has wings composed of sapphires and a body made of diamonds, which opens to reveal a 17mm watch with a mother-of-pearl dial.

Chanel's Signature de Saphir and Signature Duo pieces, with 1,566 diamonds between them, both employ a quartz movement, demonstrating the company's skills across multiple expertise.

Jacob & Co arguably rebooted a trend for jewelery pieces among men by chiming with the hip hop community. The new crystal-cased Astronomia Clarity is a watch that might well point the way to a less-is-more future of haute joaillerie.


