When you hear the name Grace Kelly, what thoughts immediately spring to mind? Maybe you remember her as the highly-celebrated actress with such credits to her names as Mogambo and Dial M for Murder. Or perhaps you recall the fact that she suffered a sad an untimely death at the age of 52, but feel her undeniable beauty and spirit will live on. Whatever the picture your mind paints of this extraordinarily talented and admired woman, there is no doubt that Montblanc are proud to honour her name, creating a stunning collection of watches that reflect the grace and refined tastes of the European-American style icon that become Princess Grace of Monaco.
Montblanc, the Germany-based manufacturer widely known for its exquisite writing implements and white star logo, have excelled themselves and taken a unique and celebratory concept successfully through from design to quality finish. Grace Patricia Kelly married the Prince of Monaco, Prince Rainier III, in 1956, and was styled as Her Serene Highness – a fitting decoration, reflected in the inspired Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco. The delicate features of the pieces throughout the collection transverse one another, while retaining an aesthetically pleasing curvaceous form; a cambered sapphire envelopes the dial like a crystalline dome, reinforced by the elliptical flange.
With the diameter measuring a near-dainty 34mm, a concave back to fit the wearer’s wrist and a patented Montblanc colourless diamond on each winding button, the collection is inspired, and classically beautiful like the lady it immortalises.
Pétales de Rose motif
This is one of two haute joaillerie timepieces, and a true accomplishment in highly articulate gem-setting. The princess’s love affair with flowers and possession of an admirable rose garden has been duly noted here, with the contour of many a shapely rose petal closely supporting one another and spanning the entire length of the 18 carat white gold bracelet, replete with 605 brilliant-cut diamonds. The bezel itself houses 44 baguette-cut diamonds, and the mother of pearl dial, framed by a 130-diamond flange, features a scattering of diamond rose petal motifs that gracefully mimic the patterns in the bracelet.
Pétales Entrelacés motif
The rose petals appear again in the Pétales Entrelacés motif, acting as indices on the dial; a diamond nestling snugly within a red gold loop. Yet another feat of gemstone mastery, this watch – whose name means ‘Interlaced Petals’ – boasts a gleaming 18 carat red gold bracelet of tightly woven but mobile forms, upon which 576 diamonds sit and sparkle. The interlaced design can be seen again upon close inspection of the mother of pearl dial – again with a 130-diamond flange and 44 baguette-cut diamond bezel – with the fine engraved contours neatly echoing the bracelet’s motif.
The remainder of the collection comprises several limited editions and slightly more understated, everyday watches.
Limited Edition of Eight Timepieces
The Limited Edition of Eight Timepieces are decidedly different to the unique gem—studded editions in that they are secured to an alligator-leather strap, therefore considerably reducing the number of carats but still possessing an allure and elegance of their own. Each piece features 32 baguette-cut diamonds on the horns, together with 10 diamond indices and a rosy pink sapphire at 6 o’clock. A dazzling, hourglass-shaped arrangement of diamonds on the mother of pearl dial reaches from top to bottom, forming a glittering cascade that marries all the sparkling elements together.
Limited Edition of Twenty-Nine Timepieces
Each of the watches in the Limited Edition of Twenty-Nine Timepieces again use the soft, pure white alligator strap, creating a pleasing juxtaposition with the 18 carat red gold case studded with 40 diamonds. The indices are a combination of symmetrically placed red gold numbers and diamonds, with a drop-cut pink sapphire at 6 o’clock; interestingly, this sapphire forms the pinnacle of the subdial, a stunning necklace-shaped ring of 45 diamonds – a treasure that the princess would certainly approve of. A mother of pearl dial is encircled by a 130-diamond flange, which is in turn surrounded by a 126-diamond bezel, the gems filtering into single rows between the horns to form a perfect oval.
Red Gold Automatic
Continuing the distinctive shape and style of the collection is the Red Gold Automatic, a simply elegant 18 carat red gold addition featuring a mainspring that automatically winds with the wearer’s wrist movements. The mother of pearl dial is studded with 10 diamond indices, a sapphire rose petal at 6 o’clock and a practical date window at 3 o’clock, all crowned by a red-gold ‘12’. The case is shaped into a shimmering oval by its 126 diamonds, enclosing a multi-layered red gold flange, and is finished with a crisp white alligator strap.
Stainless Steel
This edition is Montblanc’s offering to those faithful admirers of the princess who prefer a more moderate price tag. This piece is sleek and smart with its smooth stainless steel case and alligator strap, and still bears some of the distinguishable features of the collection, such as the 130-diamond flange. Available with either red gold or rhodium plated numerals and hands, six of the indices are diamonds, with another five as red gold numerals and the remaining one – stealing the show – is the unmistakable pink sapphire teardrop at 6 o’clock. Two strap colours are available, depending on the model; pieces with red gold-plated hands and numerals come complete with white strap, while the piece with rhodium plated accents is finished with a black strap.
