Mesmerizing opals and dazzling white diamonds are the stars of the new high jewellery timepieces in the prestigious Premier collection. Inspired by the chrysanthemum flower, Harry Winston’s exceptional gem-setters recreated this spellbinding floral arrangement with precious gemstone petals that will last for all of time – Harry Winston Premier Hypnotic Chrysanthemum Automatic 36mm.
The high jewellery spirit of Harry Winston
Known throughout his life as the ‘King of Diamonds’, Mr. Winston was as famous for his collection of the world’s rarest gems as he was for his innovative gem-setting style. Taking cues directly from nature, Mr. Winston believed stones should dictate design and float freely in near-invisible settings. Like fresh floral bouquets, his gemstone ‘clusters’ would become the distinctive style of the House of Harry Winston.
Marrying the rich, three-dimensional language of Harry Winston High Jewelry with the precision and elite mechanics of House timepieces, the Premier Hypnotic Chrysanthemum presents the best of both worlds.
Chameleons of the gem universe
Opals are magical gemstones, characterized by their unique bursts of colour. In fact, their name is derived from the Greek word opallios, meaning ‘to see a change of colour’. Opals form in heavy rainfall, when silica drawn from the ground seeps into cracked rock. As the water evaporates, the silica deposit left behind forms millions of unique silica spheres. These spheres are what refract light and produce the signature play-of-colour, which is different from other precious gemstones that depend on facets for their colour show. In jewellery, opals are often cut and polished to form a cabochon, as the domed surface maximizes their magical quality. The opals in the Premier Hypnotic Chrysanthemum were each polished by hand before being applied on the dial.
Premier Hypnotic Chrysanthemum – Nature power
Bursting with intense blue and green colour, the spectacular opals are enhanced by the neighbouring, carefully set white diamonds. To create great depth on the dial, Winston designers worked with unique layers and gem-setting techniques. The first layer is composed of 60 baguette-cut diamonds set on an 18-karat gold base.
Rising from this majestic diamond platform, 32 marquise-cut and 160 brilliant-cut diamonds are interspersed between the magical opals. Once again, by layering stones of different cuts and sizes, Harry Winston’s talented gem-setters have achieved an incredible sensation of volume. Both models feature ‘peacock’ opals, a name that refers to the multiple tonalities of blue and green. Here, the colour blue – a reference to the House’s brand colour – plays a dynamic, ever-changing game, alternating from deep midnight blue to neon turquoise and from shimmering aqua to luminous green, depending on the light.
A dazzling Premier case
In keeping with the exquisite high jewellery spirit of this watch, the luxurious 18-karat white gold case is set with 161 baguette-cut diamonds. In an invisible setting, baguette-cut diamonds sit on the bezel, sides of the case, and on the distinctive arches at either end of the case, designed to recall the arched entrance to Harry Winston’s Fifth Avenue Flagship Salon. Difficult and demanding, the invisible setting requires stones to be positioned in tight, perfect arrangements that conceal their underlying structure. The result is a solid, uninterrupted surface that reveals each stone’s face in its entirety. In addition to the sparkling case, the watchstrap features truncated brilliant-cut diamonds at the four points of attachment. Further, a truncated dark blue sapphire or light blue sapphire, depending on the model, sits at the crown.
Premier Hypnotic Chrysanthemum – Automatic movement
The hours and minutes of the Premier Hypnotic Chrysanthemum are powered by a high-end Swiss mechanical automatic movement with a robust 72-hour power reserve. The latest technology, in the form of a flat silicon balance spring, ensures years of impeccable service. The sapphire crystal on the case back reveals the fine finishes on the movement, including the circular Côtes de Genève on the bridges, circular graining on the base plate, rhodium-plated parts, and a skeletonized 18-karat rose gold rotor with the letters HW.
The straps of both Premier Hypnotic Chrysanthemum models echo the colour scheme of the dial; the model with lighter opals is presented with a turquoise pearly alligator strap, while the darker model comes with a dark blue pearly alligator strap. Both are attached to the wrist with a gold ardillon buckle set with 28 baguette-cut diamonds.
Harry Winston Premier Hypnotic Chrysanthemum Automatic 36mm Technical specifications
Name
Premier Hypnotic Chrysanthemum Automatic 36mm
References
- Version with blue tones: PRNAHM36WW028
- Version with turquoise tones: PRNAHM36WW029
Movement
- Calibre HW2008
Type
- Mechanical, automatic winding
Movement dimensions
- Diameter: 26.2 mm
- Thickness: 3.37 mm
Number of components
- 186 Number of jewels
- 28 Frequency
- 28 800 vibrations/hour (4 Hz)
Balance spring
- Flat silicon balance spring
Finishes
- 18K rose gold skeletonized rotor, circular Côtes de Genève, rhodium plating, circular graining
Power reserve
- 72 hours
Functions
- Hours and minutes
Case
- 18K white gold
Case dimensions
- Diameter: 36.4 mm
- Height: 10.5 mm
Crystal
- Sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides
Case back
- Open, sapphire crystal
Water-resistance
- 3 bar (30 meters)
Gem-setting on the case
- PRNAHM36WW028 :
- 161 baguette-cut diamonds (invisible setting)
- 4 brilliant-cut diamonds
- 1 brilliant-cut dark blue sapphire
- PRNAHM36WW029 :
- 161 baguette-cut diamonds (invisible setting)
- 4 brilliant-cut diamonds
- 1 brilliant-cut light blue sapphire
Dial
- 18K gold base, opal
- 160 brilliant-cut diamonds
- 60 baguette-cut diamonds
- 32 marquise-cut diamonds
Strap
- Turquoise or dark blue pearl alligator leather
Buckle
- 18K white gold ardillon buckle set with 28 baguette-cut diamonds
Total Gem-Setting
- PRNAHM36WW028:
- 249 baguette-cut diamonds (approx. 10.24 cts)
- 164 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.72 carat)
- 32 marquise-cut diamonds (approx. 0.70 carat)
- 1 brilliant-cut dark blue sapphire (approx. 0.05 carat)
- PRNAHM36WW029:
- 249 baguette-cut diamonds (approx. 10.24 cts)
- 164 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.72 carat)
- 32 marquise-cut diamonds (approx. 0.70 carat)
- 1 brilliant-cut light blue sapphire (approx. 0.06 carat)
