TIME TRAVELS: Cinette Robert has had what you might call good timing, the kind marked by a distinct fanaticism well ahead of its, um, time. The only woman in a Swiss watch world of men, she toured the country in the 70s and bought up 6,000 mechanical movements, which were considered relics during the Japanese quartz invasion. A dozen years ago, she also bought a venerable company founded in 1946 called Dubey & Schaldenbrand, and moved it to her hometown, Les Ponts de Martel (population, 2000), near Neuchatel.

With a blend of whimsy and precision, D&S has cleverly housed Robert's collection of painstakingly created mechanisms in designs commensurate with the mechanisms' eras. That is, if one was made in the Art Deco era, the watch is Deco-inspired.

Pictured here, from left to right:

Lady Rainbow Limited Edition, Cintree curvex shaped case in 18K pink gold, set with 30 diamonds in a satin St. Germain band. There are 50 of them in the world. $11,950.

Aeorodyn Rainbow Limited Edition, polished 316L stainless steel, set with 56 diamonds, python band. 50 worldwide.  $9,950.

Coupe Stainless Steel Limited Edition, polished 316L stainless steel, Galuchat Royal Stingray Band, rhodium plated with Cotes de Geneve, blued steel screws. 360 worldwide. $5,950.

Coupe Rose Gold Limited Edition, Cintree curvex shaped case in 18K rose gold, set with 54 diamonds, Galuchat Royal Stingray Band. 60 worldwide. $27,950.

D&S's site. See the trance-inducing new Spiral Verso VIP here.

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Another luxury Swiss watch brand for the discriminating and whimsical taste is Aquanautic, which is water-resistant and features steel designs with interchangeable straps, bezels, and bands. 


Here, left, is the King Cuda Snow. To the right is the King Cuda, and, below, is the King Cuda Chrono. Prices vary from $2,860 for the King Cuda to $10,494 for the First Cuda with diamonds.

 

Both D&B and Aquanautic are available at the PK Time Group in New York.

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LET IT SNOW: Serious cold demands serious style --hatattack.com is on top of it.

For unparalleled cute coziness, we would point out to you the Trapper ($85) . . .

. . . the Faux-Fur Trapper ($75) . . .




. . . and the Beret ($36) . . .

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AN INTIMATE HOLIDAY

Photo by Marius Muresan

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a -- well, actually that couple upstairs was raising a bit of a ruckus ...

At figleaves.com
you'll find everything
naughty and nice.
Here's a small sampling . . .