subject: Dior Christal 42mm Collections - Bring the Light In [print this page] Dior Christal 42mm Collections - Bring the Light In
The French word Dior combines the meaning "god " and "gold". That's why gold, the most shining and brightest colour, has become the brand's signature. In 1947, when the whole world was still under the shadow of WWII, Dior has brought their first couture collection which broke the haze of the fashion scene and overtrew public's taste that time through its design that highlighted female figure. Just like the twilight after long darkness, this so called "New Look" tide led a wave of elegant and luxurious flair in 1950s. In 1975, Dior built up their own wristwatch brand and have exerted their influence in horology since then.
Dior Christal Tourbillon
In BaselWorld this year, the unique-piece Dior Christal Tourbillon was the undisputed superstar in the booth of Dior. What could make the exquisite diamonds full-paved on the bezel and bracelet just to play the role as backdrop? The leading actors are those first-class rubies in almost pigeon blood colour. The gemstones, as heard, came from an abandoned mine in Thailand. The son of the mine's owner sold all rubies mined from it to Dior and Dior used all these rubies on this single piece.The 66 rubies with total weight of 8.05g are set on the bezel and bracelet alternately. While the price has a list price in excess of 10 million dollars, it had no short of admirerss who wanted to bring this exquisite timepiece home. With a 42mm white gold case, the dial is composed of red sapphire. The dial's transparency and layer have created an exclusive cadence of lights. On it are superluminova-tipped white gold hours and minutes hands as well as brand logo in white at 9 o'clock. The rim of the skeletoned central part is adorned with batuette diamonds. A pyramid cut ruby which dances along with the one-minute tourbillon carriage's rotation is placed at 6 o'clock. The piece houses a manual-winding movement with 19 jewels, 21,600 vph and 80-hour power reserve.
Dior Christal 42mm Automatic Black with Diamonds
In fact, the first Christal Tourbillon was unveiled in last year after years of reserch and development. The inaugural piece also boasts a 42mm white gold case, on which IF VVS baguette diamonds with a total weight of 15.82 caratsa are emplyed. The really highlight rests on the baguette or pyramid cut black sapphire that sprinkle on the case, bezel and bracelet. The layout is the same as the aforementioned model except a smoky gray sapphire cystal is used on dial as well as the movement's bridge and main plate. The sapphire employed were professionally processed for an enhanced durability and robustness to withstand the operation of the mechanics. The 43 exquisite diamonds on the round track of the skeletoned part are secret-set which makes the diamonds look like floating on the movement. Along with a pyramid cut black sapphire crystal on top centre, the one-minute tourbillon carriage stays at 6 o'clock. Adopting the same movement as the red ruby version, this Christal Tourbillon is limited to 10 pieces.
First launched in 2005, Dior Christal is the series dedicated to Christian Dior. Substituting the delicated personality of previous creations with a stylish flair, the new Christal 42mm Automatic Black-Diamonds is a stainless steel piece whose fluted bezel is decorated with VS white diamonds and limpid black sapphire crystals in their own orderlines. On the black lacquer dial, the outer ring is composed of shinig diamonds and the inner ring is occupied by Arabic numerals as well as bar-shaped hour indexes. A small date aperture stays between 4 and 5 o'clock, while the brand logo in white stands below 12 o'clock. The small central part of the dial has diamonds rimmed and adorned inside. The hours and minutes hands of sweep seconds hands are polished and luminous. The bracelet is tri-link which has extended middle and slim sides that all are adorned with pyramid cut black sapphire crystal. Powered by ETA 2824 self-winding movement, it has 42-hour power reserve and is water resistant to 50m.
Dior Christal 42mm Automatic Black Plain Version
For the plain version of Christal 42mm Automatic Black without diamonds, its bezel is featured by sets of black sapphire as well as stainless steel bar shaped hour indexes. Three are also minute markers for the first 20 minutes. Dot minute indexes insted of diamonds stands on the outer ring of the black lacquer dial. Except that white rimmed small central dial is engraved with pyramid pattern, the layout is the same as the diamond-set model. Through the screw-in transparent sapphire caseback bearing metallic grey Dior Christal inscription, the black lacquered rotor of the movement is displayed. Along with stainless steel bracelet adorned with pyramid cut black sapphires in the middle link, it is also equipped with an ETA 2824 movement.
