For the love of…
HEART-SHAPED MOTIFS, SPLASHES OF RED AND CUPID WITH HIS BOW AND ARROW ARE JUST SOME OF THE INSPIRATIONS PUT FORWARD BY WATCH AND JEWELLERY MANUFACTURERS IN THEIR INTERPRETATION OF ROMANCE, FINDS VEYOLEEN MEHROTRA

LOST IN THOUGHT: ACTRESS LIZHURLEY WEARING THECARTIER LOVE BRACELET

There is probably no other day in the year that epitomises romantic love as much as St. Valentine’s Day. Celebrated on February 14 by lovers around the world, the day is marked with an exchange of gifts usually in the form of cards, flowers and candy. Over the years, this expression of love has extended to include jewellery and therefore even timepieces. In fact, watchmakers and jewellers draw ample inspiration from this day and what it represents.






THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE
Shades of red, a smattering of hearts and Cupid with his ubiquitous bow and arrow are just some of the commonly used symbols. Sylvie Rumo, Director of Communication and Marketing for Roger Dubuis remarks, “For Valentine’s Day, love can be expressed by adding some very emotional symbols such as the heart. In fact, the heart is often used in our watches and jewellery as a ‘love’

“Love is invisible and the more invisible it is, the stronger it becomes. That’s why we don’t require the obvious symbols of love, although we try to relate to them on very special occasions like St. Valentine’s Day.”

icon.” Their Excalibur range features a timepiece with two curvaceous hearts at the centre of the dial surrounded by Roman numerals and a diamond-encrusted rose gold bezel. A black leather strap adds amuted touch to this remarkable version of romance. Despite its bejewelled appearance, the watch continues to befunctional, with legible hour markers and second hands. Rumo adds, “More than the collection, it is the heart symbol that is popular and makes the Roger Dubuis watches dedicated to St. Valentine’s Day very recognisable.”

But when it comes to hearts, Chopard’s Happy Sport ‘Happy You and Me’ watch makes the most eloquent appeal with its pink mother-of-pearl dial featuring two ‘dancing’ hearts in rubies and diamonds. In comparison, the Hublot Valentine Day’s Big Bang watch, with its red bracelet, is evocative of passion, yet understated in appearance. Forsaking hearts and floral motifs, Hublot combines red gold, red rubber and glittering diamonds to exude warmth and intimacy. While speaking about the timepiece, Jean-Claude Biver, CEO, Hublot says, “Love is invisible and the more invisible it is, the stronger it becomes. That’s why we don’t require the obvious symbols of love, although we try to relate to them on very special occasions like St. Valentine’s Day.”

This sentiment is echoed by Rumo who feels that an emotion can beexpressed through shape, colour or material. She describes, “For instance, the colour red clearly conveys passion. A nice watch can easily translate such a sentiment without the aid of a ‘love symbol’ on it.”

In fact, a similar philosophy guides the Cartier LOVE collection. Almost 30 years ago, Cartier translated the language of love into a bracelet featuring a modern screw motif that soon established itself as a universal symbol of love in jewellery. Patrick Normand, MD, Cartier Middle East further elucidates, “The act of wearing the LOVE bracelet and locking it on made a statement without saying a word. Today, the LOVE collection, which consists of bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings and even watches, is symbolic of passion, and an emotion—the link between two friends, the bond between two lovers, and the commitment between ‘Her and Him’.”

ALL THAT GLITTERS…

‘Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend’—a song made famous by Marilyn Monroe in the film Gentleman Prefer Blondes—probably explains jewellers’ fascination with this multi-faceted stone. In most of the inspired collections, a regular feature is the heart, highlighted by a splash of diamonds—a playful interpretation of this romantic day. This light-

CHARMED: CHOPARD’S HAPPY AMORE LINE CONVEYS A SENSE OF PLAYFUL ROMANCE WITH ITS DELICATELY CRAFTED ROSE GOLD PENDANT