BASELNEWS 2011A watch of royal elegance: Chopard Imperiale
With its new Imperiale line, Chopard achieved the feat of enshrining the quintessence of style and elegance within a watch. This reinterpretation of the brand’s famous 1990s model, now available in 28mm or Two-Tone versions, draws inspiration from refined, dynamic and natural women with strong personalities who appreciate the discreet luxury of extremely beautiful objects.
Beneath its understated appearance, the Imperiale conceals a wealth of rare and precious details. Many of them, such as the typical lug covers, have been entirely redesigned. The splendours of the imperial age are expressed through this sculptural timepiece. The delicately engraved mother-of-pearl dial base evokes the embroidered cushions on which monarchs used to place their insignia. It is encircled by Roman numerals representing resolutely “imperial” symbols marking off the hours. The finely curved hands are reminiscent of tapered daggers used by sovereigns in combat, while the lotus-shaped crown is fitted on a case middle with pure, uncluttered sides enhancing the ethereally light and luminous appeal of this model. In an ultimate touch of refinement, the lugs resembling antique columns are adorned with tiny amethyst briolette-cut cabochons for the rose gold versions and blue sapphires for the white gold models. The delicate royal purple shade of the stones echoes the colour of the transfers on the watch dial as well as the Chopard signature.
Imperiale radiates an aura of timeless chic embodying a subtle alliance between simplicity and majesty, sophistication and sensuality. It appears in a variety of interpretations appealing to the most demanding woman to accompany them on all occasions.