The First Lady Jewellery Automatic by Vulcain is a women’s watch set with a cascade of blue sapphires and green tsavorites that look as if they are tumbling down from the sky and filling the dial. It’s like a static version of the Chopard “Happy Diamonds” idea. The jewels extend onto the bright steel bezel and even the crown is set with a few tiny gems.

The case is in 316L stainless steel, in the vertical oval shape that is a favourite theme for women’s watches, 32.1 mm wide, 37.6 mm high and 9.2 mm thick. The dial is rhodium-plated, and the only other features on it, in addition to the gem-setting, are the skeleton hands, the Vulcain logo, and an oversize numeral 12. The jewels comprise 51 sapphires and 49 tsavorites on the case, 123 sapphires and 59 tsavorites on the dial, and a blue cabochon on the crown. Total weight of jewels is 3.8 carats. The overall colour scheme coordinates with the pearl-blue python strap, which has a steel pin buckle. Water resistance is the standard 3 bar/30 metres.

First Lady movement

The First Lady is powered by a self-winding mechanical movement, visible through the sapphire caseback, with a nicely-decorated oscillating weight. The Vulcain V-63 calibre runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hertz), and has a power reserve of 52 hours. 25 jewels and 93 components. At a guess I would say that it’s based on the La Joux-Perret LJP 8121 MP with date function removed.

Price and reference

The Vulcain First Lady Jewellery Automatic is a limited edition of 10 pieces, reference 63S164S83.BAP439. Price 19,150 Swiss francs.