SIHH: Montblanc Unveils the Princess de Monaco Collection

Montblanc designed a collection inspired by the memory of Princess Grace of Monaco - refinement and elegance is just what we find in the collection unveiled this week at Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland. The fine watch trade fair is by invitation only and features only the top names in the industry.

Montblanc presented their haute joaillerie watches – the Petales de Rose motif wristwatch. The design is inspired by the love of flowers for which Princess Grace was known, one in 18 ct red gold and another in 18 ct white gold, both feature cambered sapphire crystal, patented Montblanc diamond, white mother-of-pearl numerals, pink sapphire index, 4 rubies, and on the rose-petal contours – more diamonds than we can count.

The Princess Grace de Monaco collection also includes an 8-piece and a 29-piece limited edition watch designs.

The 8-piece collection, unveiled in September, feature alligator leather straps, 44 baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel and 32 baguette-cut diamonds on the horns, 4 rubies, white mother-of-pearl with diamond indices, and, our favorite design and feature, a finely wasp-waisted rain of diamonds that look as though they were trickling throught the neck of a sandglass – a precious feature.

The 29-piece collection has an 18 ct red gold case studded with gems and attached to an alligator leather strap. The bezel is embellished with 126 brilliant-cut diamonds set in two rows along the sides and 130 brilliant-cut diamonds along the flange around the dial. The feature on this desing which we love is the 45 brilliant cut diamonds surrounding the seconds subdial which looks like a necklace with a pink sapphire pendant. Among other features, this collection also features 4 rubies.

The moderately priced, unlimited edition designs in the Princess de Monaco collections is the stainless steel designs. These watches have a stainless steel case with a 6 diamond dial indices, a glittering wreath of 130 brilliant-cut diamonds along the flange, and depending on the model, the numerals and the leaf shaped hands are plated either with red gold (white strapped) or rhodium (black strapped). The straps are also alligator leather with large reptilian scale and features 4 rubies as well.

All watches carry the Princess Grace de Monaco symbol – a pink sapphire teardrop that simultaneously adorns the dial as well as marking the 6 o’clock position.

View the collection unveiled at SIHH below.

[Images: Getty Images]