Halloween Horology- Memento Mori

Skulls motifs have only risen in popularity I recent years. Thanks to Damien Hurst’s diamond encrusted skull art and Alexander McQueen skull print scarfs, the skull is stretching a fashion moment into a permanent micro-trend.

 Damien Hurst's Swarovski encrusted skull

I have seen several skull themed watches on the market but none so impressive as this offering from Scottish Designer and Creative Consultant Fiona Kruger.

Designed around the themes of time and mortality and reminiscent of Mexican sugar skulls, Kruger’s Momento Mori skull watch is as haunting as it is beautifully crafted.

The highly detailed timepiece features a 3 layer dial and a high quality Technotime movement, which can be seen through the artfully cut layers. I originally saw this watch featured in an article in The Jewellery Editor, a go-to place for the more exotic and luxurious watches coming to market.

I’d love to get my hands on a sample, figuring out the different layers of this lovingly crafted piece. This isn't just a watch, this is a work of art.

Happy Halloween everyone.

Halloween Horology- Chaumet Attrape-moi…si tu m’aimes’

I’m unashamed to admit it but I adore Halloween. If I lived In America, where this type of Halloween adoration is socially acceptable, I’d be going to work of the 31^st in my skeleton onesie, trick or treating at the weekend and unashamedly consuming every pumpkin flavoured product available. 

 Sadly, being a stuff upper-lipped Brit, I have confined myself to making spooky biscuits and perusing the finest Halloween themed watches on offer.

From the premium end of the market comes Chaumet’s  Montre  Precieuse ‘Attrape-moi…si tu m’aimes’. This rhodium plated, white gold watch  is set with  64 brilliant cut diamonds  in and around the dial, with 12 polished pink gold  indexes set  in the bezel. Instead of hands a pink gold spider and stone encrusted bee tell the time by chasing each other around the dial, their movement dictated by a Swiss self-winding movement that is exclusive to Chaumet. I can't find an exact price for these models but i'm sure it's worth more that a few pumpkin spiced lattes.

There are two other spiders web motif versions, further encrusted with bees and flowers. Pure unadulterated spidery luxury. To view the whole collection, visit Chaumet's website.

These ethereal pieces would not look out of place at a Halloween ball, worn with a pitch black gown to highlight the brilliance of the diamonds and richly fabricated straps.

Certainly too lovely for sitting at home in a skeleton onesie eating spooky biscuits.

 Recipe available upon request :)

High (Street) Horology- Nixon Monarch

“We make the little shit better”

Just like their watches, Nixon’s attitude is big, bold and expressive. Described as affordable timepieces that tell a story along with the time, their watches certainly project the no-bullshit, take-me-as-I-am attitude that is the Nixon ethos.

The newest model to their ladies watch range, The Monarch, certainly lives up to this attitude. Described as “a statement of power and prestige….like an elegant set of brass knuckles”, the geometric lines and rich colour palette certainly make this a stand out timepiece. Like the Michael Kors range, Nixon are all about the boyfriend style watches, but where Kors is glamour and subtlety, Nixon is bolshie and unapologetic in it’s size. 

This models is all about the lines: faceted applied indices, custom moulded hands, heavily faceted bezel, faceted cut bracelet links.

The most interesting feature however has to be the constructed crown guard/lug which is finished in acetate, unbalancing the otherwise all gold case. 

 Available in white and gold, gun green and rose, the model that packs the biggest punch is the gold and tortoishell version. At £245 this feels like excellent value for such a detailed piece and another one to add to my Christmas list.

Pantone Breakfast

Anyone who works is design knows Pantone. It is a universal colour measurement tool that I know my team would be lost without. Whatever the language barrier, everyone understands a Pantone reference. There is something comforting and solid about that.

 

I’m also a big fan of the brand itself and the ever growing range of merchandise that is available. This year I bought the Pantone Sweet Treat Engagement Calendar which sits next to my 520C coffee mug and my lovely boyfriend tracked down the 2013 colour of the year (FYI it’s 17-5641 Emerald) nail varnish too. 

 Pantone Engagement Diary. Delicious.

I’m a little obsessed, which is why I was delighted to find these bobbing around on Pintrest yesterday. I can’t trace the source, somewhere in France but I can't get a link unfortunately. Nevertheless I love the simplicity of the images and the link with delicious flavours and natural colouring. I wish my breakfast looked so appealing.

My favourite is the 7507C featuring white chocolate and bananas and the 222C that looks like a red velvet cupcake.

In a world where everything is open to interpretation, It's good to know that the colours that brighten my day belong to a universal system, neat and uniformed. I don't know any other creative tool that is so regimented and measured. I find it very comforting. I clearly have a touch of OCD. And now I want bananas on toast.