The Making of Zadora Timepieces

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When the first timepieces made their appearance in 13th Century Europe, they were large public clocks. Accurate timekeeping remained the instrument of Church and State until the 16th Century when the personal timepiece evolved. These first personal clocks were drum-like objects worn around the neck, jewelry that told time.

These original concepts were revisited and their inspiration used to create a unique 21st Century timepiece. A Zadora Timepiece combines the historic drum-like design with an innovative read-out of time through the side of the case, thereby freeing the jewelry watch from centuries of dogma dictating that the flat uppermost surface should tell the time. By creating a cylindrical platform where the “dial” rotates, the “hand” remains fixed and the central portion of the case is transparent, the top of the watch can now be developed as a stage for Zadora’s one-of-a-kind jeweled objets d’arts.

All the elements of the watch have been worked to maximize their potential: the winding and setting crown carries a briolette cut diamond, the lugs are set with precious stones, and the actual time indicator located between the lugs is itself set with diamonds to mark the half hours. The hand wound movement, powered by a minimum reserve de marche of thirty-six hours, has been specially developed by a small team of artisans in the Swiss Jura.

The Making of Zadora Timepieces

All components including springs, wheels, bridges and more are designed, manufactured, chamfered, polished, decorated, assembled and mounted in house in Switzerland. Hidden components are decorated with perlage, a tiny circular engraving, and the bridges holding the movement in place are engraved with the delicate stripes of the Cotes de Geneve.

A small team working according to the highest standards of manufacturing means that only a handful of movements are created in a year. The process is a duly expensive one, and the result is a precious example of mechanical ingenuity that only a few fortunate individuals will be able to enjoy.

Zadora Ladybug Timepiece

Executed in textured 18kt yellow gold, this harbinger of Good Luck is micro pavé set with richly colored rubies and black diamond details with cabochon emerald eyes. 18kt yellow gold case.

Zadora Frog Prince Timepiece

Executed in textured 18kt yellow gold, the body is pavé set with tsavorites studded with blue sapphire cabochons with diamond feet details and ruby cabochon eyes. This royal amphibian proudly wears a diamond-encrusted crown. 18kt yellow gold case.

Zadora Sea Turtle Timepiece

This ancient symbol of wisdom is executed in textured 18kt yellow gold, with a pave set light brown diamond body and a minutely sculpted citrine shell and emerald cabochon eyes.18kt yellow gold case

Zadora Queen Bee Timepiece

Executed in textured 18kt yellow gold, the body is decorated with canary yellow diamonds, the wings encrusted with white diamonds, and ruby cabochon eyes. The bee wears a multi-gem encrusted crown and hovers over yellow and white diamond pave honey cells. 18kt yellow gold case.

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