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Photo: Beauregard
Beauregard’s founder Alexandre Beauregard makes no bones about his all-consuming passion for captivating gems and his penchant for nature. Even though the Geneva-based maison was only founded in 2018, it has already enthralled the world with high jewellery masterpieces defined by voluptuous gems blooming as flowers on dials.
We adore the fact that each of these creations is an ode to the beauty of a specific stone, elevating what’s commonly regarded as ornamental or semi-precious varieties such as topaz, onyx, amethyst and even phosphosiderite — mostly sidelined in watchmaking — to dazzling works of lapidary art.
Beauregard’s Dahlia watch with mother-of-pearl petals, and Lili watch with onyx petals, were both shortlisted for the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve awards in 2018 and 2020 respectively (Photo: Beauregard)
Quite a few of the timepieces identify the regions of origin renowned for their top-quality rocks. Iranian turquoise, Mediterranean red coral, pink coral from the Japanese sea… You get the idea. All of them are also one-off, made-to-order pieces, which means that the manufacture is able to source from places with extremely limited production. Even so, only 5 per cent of Beauregard’s best material end up being used due to the stringent selection process.
Included in the Jardin d’Hiver box set are Lili Bouton watches decorated with, from left to right, Peruvian amethyst, Australian chrysoprase, Brazilian yellow opal, and Arizona topaz (Photo: Beauregard)
The gemstones are precision-carved and hand-polished into glowing cabochon petals, which are then tension-set onto dials. So vivid and magnificent the result is, that the brand’s floral-themed collections, the Dahlia, Lili and Lili Bouton, were put into contention for the prestigious annual Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Geneve (GPHG) awards in 2018, 2020 and 2023 respectively.
Fanciers of the Lili Bouton would be thrilled to know that Beauregard’s newly launched Jardin d’Hiver (Winter Garden in French) box set features six of these highly exclusive watches in a bespoke leather-clad case. The collection flaunts an extraordinary bouquet of gemstones: fire opal and Fanta opal from the Chiapas caves of Mexico, yellow opal from Brazil, Australian chrysoprase, Arizona topaz, and Peruvian amethyst. However, only six sets will be made, with one ready every year from 2024 onwards.
The six watches will presented in a luxurious leather-clad case that is made in Geneva (Photo: Beauregard)
The crown jewels are the two versions crafted with the exotic Mexican opals, which are making their debut at the maison, and will be used solely for the Jardin d’Hiver. Chosen for their exceptional colour and rarity, these opals still maintain a vibrant, intense, and deep hue after being finely cut — which is not the case for most other gemstones.
Nestled in a 33mm rose gold case, the Lili Bouton is adorned with a total of 33 gem petals and 124 flawless diamonds, and powered by an ETA quartz movement. While the timepiece is designed by its founder, who lives in Montreal, with the sculpting of the stones also performed in the same city in the maison’s atelier, it is otherwise entirely crafted and assembled in Switzerland.
