Watchmaking X Haute Couture: A Fusion of Style and Microscopic Precision
4 min read
Catering the dynamic market tastes is a successful recipe that brands across all disciplines have to adopt. For watch brands striving to be visible and trendy, collaborations allow for an added market interest that stretches beyond the horology mania-infused audiences.
When storied watchmaking houses partner with haute couture fashion brands, wonderful things emerge. This millennial madness of collaboration that has enlightened the horological frontiers is elevating the hype around an already hyped industry and when the geniuses of micromechanics open their revered doors to the masters of fashion, a new level of excitement is brewed.
We have listed our top picks below:
Reverso Classic Duetto by Christian Louboutin
The SIHH fair of 2016 saw a wonderful exhibit by Jaeger-LeCoultre to celebrate the 85th birthday of their iconic Reverso model. The Maison opened its doors to the fabled shoe designer Christian Louboutin to realize an exclusive incarnation of the brand’s lady Reverso Classic Duetto line.
The Art Deco wonder got a voguish treatment with Louboutin’s signature decoration styles. Exercising his creativity, the Reverso timepiece was garnished with shimmering customization possibilities including a diamond trim for the bezel, a vibrant strap, and a warm orange and yellow sunburst dial.
Moser & Cie x The Armoury: Total Eclipse
The minimalist gentleman adornments from The Armory are pinnacle statements of sartorial excellence. When the vision is transposed onto H. Moser & Cie’s Endeavour Small Seconds, it results in a limited-edition timepiece called the Total Eclipse which features a Vantablack dial paired with steel and red gold accents.
Inspired by the celestial event of a total solar eclipse, the timepiece expresses a coming-together of two worlds to craft an elegant expression of timekeeping. Menswear brand The Armory co-founded by Mark Cho and Alan See found a perfect partner in H. Moser & Cie and its tailored excellence gets a horological flair with this exceptional creation.
Panerai Luminor Due Prada Re-Nylon
The Panerai Luminor Due Prada Re-Nylon marks the coming together of two Italian names, a coveted fashion house Prada, and the fabled diver’s watch specialist Panerai. This collaboration masterfully fuses the styling elements of Prada to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the Panerai Luminor Due timepiece.
The Luminor Due Prada Re-Nylon collaboration brings a chic collection of watch straps manufactured with regenerated nylon fabric and available in a wide range of hues to match the vivid shades of the dials. The 100% recycled nylon for the strap comes from discarded materials such as fishing nets, carpets, and industrial waste, serving as an ambitious ode to sustainable collaboration.
The Orb by Vivienne Westwood x Swatch
Iconic collaborations between watchmaking houses and fashion designers don’t get better than The Orb by Vivienne Westwood and Swatch. Elevating the POP Swatch to an all-new allure of vogue, British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood gave the POP Swatch collection a royal makeover with her iconic styling flair.
Vivienne Westwood’s matte white orb featured on the POP Swatch was set with glass gems. The watch was embellished with a gold Victoria cross as well.
Audemars Piguet X Ralph & Russo
Traction and reinvention collided when Audemars Piguet collaborated with the luxury fashion house Ralph & Russo to craft a line of scintillatingly beautiful timepieces. Presented at the Paris Fashion Week in 2020, the collab timepieces marry Audemars Piguet’s savoir-faire with Ralph & Russo’s intricate embellishments.
AP’s Royal Oak and Royal Oak Concept models were designed to complement the Spring/Summer 2021 Prêt-à-Porter collection by Ralph & Russo. The collection features 34mm Royal Oak pieces and an intricately embellished iteration of the Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon.
When watches become vehicles of creative expression...
Watch brands collaborating with fashion brands bring renewed energy to the horological industry and play a collective role in enhancing the awareness of their timepieces among admirers of fashion. Such collaborations bridge the gap between distinct worlds, creating something beautiful and enduring for enthusiasts of both fashion and horology.
At the end of the day, it is about taking the off-beat path to create watches that are stylish and expressive at best.
