Ladies watch / Quartz watches / Swiss Watches
Pierre Balmain, a French fashion house that was established more than fifty years ago and since then grew extremely popular among celebrities of both European and North American origin, will soon expand its collection of watches with a new Balmain Opera Round timekeeper, which is powered by a simple, but reliable Swiss made quartz movement. What strikes me the most is that, while selling pretty much expensive clothing and perfume, the French brand doesn’t ask too much for its timekeepers: most of them are below the €500 range.
I don’t really know who is their contractor, but the French fashion house certainly has a competent industrial designer among its staff: the new watch, while simple and unpretentious, leaves an impression of understated elegance and even refinement (at least on these promotional images that we have recently obtained.)
Their press release doesn’t give us a lot of info, but it is clear that the watch will be available in a number of versions (both in polished stainless steel and rose gold PVD-treated steel,) those including models with plain or diamonds-set bezels, different sorts of dials and different straps.
Of course, the most visually appealing among those is the version, which is pictured below.
As you can see on the image, the Balmain Opera Round is presented in a mid-sized stainless steel body that measures approximately 30 millimeters in diameter: a sizing that will fit most wrists. There will be less expensive models with plain steel fixed bezels, although the one on this particular model is set with 60 Wesselton diamonds that together tip the scales at 0.3 carats.
Its silvered dial seems to be satin-finished and decorated with arabesque motif and thus serves as a good background for the pair of dauphine-shaped hours and minutes hands that seem to be crafted from polished steel.
Although the brand plans to sell them below the €1000 range, the watch, which is going to be officially presented during the Baselworld 2012 show, looks extremely elegant and will be a perfect match even for an expensive evening dress.
Presented on a black satin strap, it is attached to a wrist with a steel folding clasp, which makes putting this device on and off especially comfortable.
A very nice choice for a young lady who doesn’t care much about movements and all and simply wants an elegant accessory that would match her purse.
See also: Cartier Tank Folle Ladies Hand-Wound Timepiece
Photos: Balmain
Balmain Opera Round Quartz ladies watch specification
Price: TBD
Movement: Quartz, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: No data
Movement frequency: N/A
Movement decoration: N/A
Functions: Hours, minutes
Power reserve: A couple of years
Case material: Stainless steel
Bezel material: Matches case, set with 60 Wesselton diamonds
Crown material: Matches case
Case shape: Round
Bezel shape: Round
Case size: 30.00 mm
Case height: No data
Lug width: No data
Dial: Silvered, flowers motif in the center
Numerals: None
Hour markers: Applied, baton-shaped
Hands: Dauphine-shaped, polished
Water resistance: 50 meters
Strap: Black or white satin strap with steel folding clasp
Crystal: Sapphire
Case back: Solid