New themes for jewelry and watch designs

JAKARTA (JP): Clean, innovative and elegant are the themes of the jewelry and watch designs presented by Piaget, one of the world's leading jewelry and watchmakers, at its current exhibition at the Time boutique at Plaza Senayan.

Willy Henri Pfister, managing director of the Geneva-based Piaget, explained that the current international trend in jewelry and watch design was toward simpler styles.

"In the past, people loved to wear haute joaillerie, high jewelry, adorned with rows of diamonds and gemstones. The trend has changed," Pfister said.

Now, with people becoming more practical and mobile, they need something light and thin, yet elegant.

"Our clients are also younger than the previous years. They prefer contemporary designs to complicated and ornamented jewelry and watches," he added.

He said the company continued to look after its potential clients here in Jakarta and other big cities in Indonesia.

For this season, Piaget presents a series of men's and women's watches and a contemporary jewelry collection. The exhibition in Jakarta will run until March 19.

Miss Protocole is eminently feminine but it bears the Protocole style, which proclaims the independent spirit that is a reflection of modern women. The straps of the watch are interchangeable and come in leather, denim and gold bracelet.

Dancer Square is among the most popular women's watch around the world. The watch is made of 18 carat white gold with a blue dial and gold index with quartz movement.

The Dance Square is also made of yellow gold with a gold satin finished dial and diamond index with quartz movement.

Piaget also introduces Altiplano, its collection of sleek, sophisticated ultra-thin men's watches. With understated lines and the technical marvel of ultra-thin movement, Piaget's Caliber 430p-a thickness of 2.1 millimeters and diameter of 20.5 millimeter, these watches involve state-of-the-art technology.

Piaget also is showcasing its exquisite jewelry collection, including rings, necklaces and bracelets. Modern with clean lines, yet luxuriously radiant, the collection is both bold and feminine.

The Piaget d'or rings features vivid colors -- the deep blue of iolite, the luminous blue of topaz or the sparkling yellow of citrine. They are cut to form over 80 facets, and the hearts also exist in entirely diamond-paved versions.

No less exquisite are the vibrant hues of the bevel-shaped rings, which combine the gentle radiance of sapphire or fine stone with the refined brilliance of a diamond.

Crafted exclusively in 188 carat white gold, the rings embody the modern woman's duality of refined elegance.

Possession reveals an innovative side to its character. The ring within a ring takes on an unexpected dimension, becoming slimmer and wider. Seven round-cut diamonds in 18 carat yellow or white gold add a precious touch to the pure forms and clean lines.

The limelight collection includes an 18-carat white gold ring studded with 110 diamonds and 12 baguette-cut diamonds. The ring is boldly designed in a rectangular shape adorned with lines of diamonds.

A heart-shaped white gold pendant is another striking piece in the collection. The pendant is decorated with 367 diamonds (2.54 carats).

The collection also includes a flower pendant made of 18 carat white gold with 232 diamonds (1.52 carats), and a white gold bracelet with a striking design ornamented with 437 diamonds.

Despite the ongoing economic crisis, international jewelry and watch companies from Switzerland, France and the United States still find the Indonesian market lucrative.

"Indonesia has such a huge population and potential market that every jewelry company wants to tap this big opportunity," Pfister said. (raw)