By Jovan Krstevski
Nature is what defines Frédéric Boucheron’s incredible creations. For the brand, the untamed flora has always been the source of inspiration ever since the founding of the Maison in 1858. No flowers tamed or arranged. Nature is free, proud and wild as Boucheron says. Applying this to a wristwatch sounds easy enough but truth be told, in horology, such an endeavor proves to be challenging but not for the brand who has been at it for a long time. Read a little excerpt below.
The Empress Eugénie latched on to wild flowers during the Second Empire. At this prosperous times, Boucheron’s creations graced the women of the court in splendid finesse. What this entails is that the jeweler’s aesthetic bias took shape – that of a flower not shaped by man’s hand. This can be interpreted as a symbolism between fantasy and reality. Seen on the dial of the one off creation is a golden wheat, in itself a popular symbol of fertility and wealth. In the ancient times, this is the emblem of the Egyptian god Osiris, also believed to have created it. This is usually depicted in art galleries for its positive attributes and golden colors associated with the Sun. Finally, Epure Blé d’été reinterprets this into a contemporary creation so that the Epure Blé d’été for Only Watch 2017 showcases wheat as an aleggory of the jewelry vision: a celebration of the happiest moments of life.
Now going back to the watch, it is by all means a symbol of beauty, of life itself. It is adorned with what possibly could be the most valuable materials on earth. At 41 mm case diameter, the watch falls on the dressy side of things. The white gold case also features Double Gadroons and Cabochon Signature of the Maison Boucheron in white Gold 750/18K and diamonds. The exhibition caseback has a sapphire crystal showcasing the movement within. There are also engravings at the caseback: “Boucheron,” “Je ne Sonne que les Heures Heureuses,” and “Pièce Unique.” The crown is subtle completing the elegant form of the luxurious case.
On the watch face, simplicity is overtaken by the elaborate craftsmanship of the brand. There are no hour markers here but a beautiful picture. Of course a die hard minimalist will love the dial with a very strong emphasis on aesthetics. The Métier d’art dial shows two wheat ears in white gold sculpted and engraved in volume over the mother-of-pearl. The grains are arranged in clockwise direction on the left side and are at different levels of height to have a 3D feel. They are also paved with snow-setting diamonds.
Inside the beautiful case is Girard-Perregaux Manufacture calibre, GP4000. This self-winding mechanical movement features hour and minute functions. It beats at 4Hz and offers up to 40 hours of power reserve. Turn to the caseback and one will see the brand’s personalized touches such as the Côtes de Genève crossed with a brushed pattern, blue-tinted screws and open worked oscillating weight in the form of Boucheron’s mark.
The Epure Blé d’été watch wears on a beige Alligator strap with large square scales with folded edges. It also features a pin buckle in white gold 18 K/750 and set with diamonds. Price estimate is between 26,000 USD to 31,000 USD.
Moreover, the lucky buyer also gets an experience bonus. The Maison Boucheron offers a unique experience during the Cannes 2018 Film Festival. The buyer gets to stay at the Majestic and discover the new Boucheron high jewelry collection in preview. The first jeweler of Place Vendome is pleased to open the doors of the most famous International Film Festival.
