Cover Photo: Courtesy of The Graff
These secret watches offer a discreet way to tell the time, with covers over the dial that can be flipped open or moved aside

1. Cartier Magnitude Sorelli

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Cartier

The pinnacle of high jewellery and watch design, Cartier’s Magnitude collection is an explosion of colour and light. Precious gems were rarely seen together, including lapis lazuli, rock crystal and matrix opal, are married in bold and mysterious combinations.

The Sorelli watch in white gold is set with a spectacular cabochon cut rutilated quartz weighing in at 83.34 carats, which is surrounded by kite-shaped and brilliant-cut diamonds. Underneath the burnt orange dome hides a detailed dial. Powered by a quartz movement, it waits to be discovered.

See also: 5 Of The World’s Most Famous Jewellery Collectors

2. Graff Peony Secret

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Graff

This exquisite timepiece takes inspiration from the peony flower and is set with differently cut white diamonds that are set in numerous directions, accentuating the fluidity of the watch’s design and the vibrancy of its dazzling stones.

The peony symbolises prosperity and honour in Chinese culture, as founder Laurence Graff discovered during a visit to Asia. Fascinated by its beauty and significance, Graff chose to celebrate this full-bodied flower’s meaning with a series of secret watches all featuring top quality stones that are immaculately cut and polished.

3. Van Cleef & Arpels Ulysse & Pénélope

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels

The superb Ulysse & Pénélope secret watch in white gold set with sapphires and diamonds houses a quartz movement, and expertly demonstrates the jeweller’s unique savoir-faire through colour gradients and three-dimensional forms. This watch takes inspiration from the maison’s founding theme: love.

4. Dior Joaillerie Multicolore Nuit Tanzanite

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Dior

Victoire de Castellane is celebrating 20 years as the creative director of Dior Joaillerie and has unveiled Gem Dior, an expansive collection of no less than 99 rings, earrings, necklaces, watches and more, with stones spanning all the colours of the rainbow, as demonstrated in the Multicolore Nuit Tanzanite timepiece.

Set in yellow gold, emeralds, tsavorite garnets, rubies and yellow sapphires, among others, are piled on top of one another. Hidden Dauphine style hands and a quartz movement further elevate this otherworldly piece into the highest realms of horology.

5. Piaget Secret Oasis

Tatler Asia
Above Photography: Clément Rousset

The Golden Oasis collection by Piaget is centred on three themes: Plays of Lights; Desert Minerals; and Native Blooms, with some 10 high jewellery watches in the 80 plus piece collection.

The Secret Oasis timepiece elegantly displays 1,188 brilliant cut diamonds alongside 129 baguette cut diamonds in a radiant plant design made from white gold. A hidden dial sits beneath several delicate fronds, which are made using a fully openworked underside that allows light to shine through the leaves.

6. Chanel Éclat de Diamant

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Chanel

The Éclat de Diamant is an ode to the camellia—Coco Chanel’s favourite flower that has, over the years, become a symbol of the fashion house. Its transformable cover, which hides the dial, can be detached and worn as a brooch thanks to a discreet mechanism, and features a rose cut diamond weighing eight carats. A nice touch considering Coco always wanted her jewellery to be as liberating as possible.

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