Love/Hate : A Whole Lotta Bling

When I started working as a watch designer, I used to hate putting stones onto watches, especially because it often seemed as it was just a default method of making a watch look as though it were designed for ladies. But as any good product designer will tell you, designing is all about putting you client first. So over the years I have designed a lot of watches with a whole lotta bling.

Maybe this is what changed my opinion, or maybe watch brands are becoming more adventurous in the way they set watches, but I am finding myself more and more enticed by stone set watches. What do you think? Are stones just another way of showing off how rich you are or can they genuinely add something to the design of a watch?
 

Omega Ladymatic

Ok so let's start simple, this is the Omega Ladymatic, and it's not so much the stones, but the setting that is amazing. This is called a snow-setting, and all of the stones vary in size creating a very nice effect.





Franck Muller Quatres Saisons (Four Seasons)

The watch in itself is nothing special but the colours are stunning. Similar to the Dior below, but with a much better balance between the case, dial and strap.



La D de Dior

As mentioned above, either there is something very wrong with the balance between the case and the strap or this is a terrible photo. I haven't yet seen this watch in the flesh so I couldn't say, but the colours of the stones are beautiful none the less.



Perrelet Diamond Flower (Prestige Edition)

I find these watches beautiful and incredibly well balanced considering the number of things going on. The one on the left is set with baguette stones and the one of the right with round stones.


Ulysse Nardin Royal Blue Tourbillon

The baguette cut of these stones is very well used in this watch, giving each piece a direction by setting the stones in a certain way.


 
Patek Philippe Gondolo Tonneau

The setting on this watch is very discreet, and I especially love the setting on the crown.




Boucheron Chameleon Ronde Seconde Folle & Owl Ronde Seconde Folle

Hold onto your hats, these models are definitely if the love/hate variety. Personally, I'm a huge fan of the ones of the left, because c'mon, if you're going to do stones, then this is how to do them, but there is no denying that they are incredibly kitsch and not to be worn with just any old outfit.