There’s something rather nice about a thoughtfully designed dainty watch that also comes on an equally carefully designed bracelet. It does a lot too for an outfit, especially when dinner plans call for a little more effort. Chaumet’s Joséphine Aigrette Ref. W85845 makes a good case for these occasions, with its deep blue dial, a surround of sparkly diamonds and a steel bracelet that deserves its own recognition.

Chaumet Joséphine Aigrette Ref. W85845

The pear-shaped case is a familiar gene of the Joséphine collection, taking its cue from Empress Joséphine’s favorite diamond cut. Here, it gives the watch a rounded lower half that tapers to a point above the dial. At 27.3 x 20.22 mm and 7.55m thick, the stainless steel case keeps the form suitably compact. It’s protected by a curved sapphire crystal shaped according to its profile, while 62 brilliant-cut diamonds trace the bezel.

Inside that outline sits a deep blue sun-brushed dial. Blue is a signature color for Chaumet, and it sure makes a lovely backdrop for the polished sword hands and single brilliant-cut diamond marker at the 12 o’clock. There’s very little on the dial competing for space, a sensible choice for a watch this small.

The bracelet makes this watch even easier to pick. Its raised, pyramid-like facets give the narrow band a surprisingly sculptural and dynamic appearance, with angled surfaces that catch the light differently along its length. Chaumet officially describes the repeating forms as V shapes, echoing the collection’s aigrette motif and its links to tiaras and head ornaments. It creates a nice visual connection to the pointed case, and makes the whole package look carefully considered from end to end.

There’s also an aigrette set with 11 brilliant-cut diamonds at the tip of the bracelet, adding another small flourish at the point where the watch and bracelet meet. The openworked steel bracelet is engineered to wrap flexibly around the wrist without a buckle. Visually, it keeps the silhouette clean, allowing the metalwork and diamonds to carry on around the wrist.

The timekeeping is just as straightforward: a Swiss quartz movement displays the hours and minutes, with adjustments made through a corrector on the caseback. This setting mechanism also leaves the case outline free of a protruding crown.

It’s easy to picture Chaumet’s Joséphine Aigrette accompanying a dressier dinner fit, but I’d be also tempted to say it will look just as sophisticated with just a simple shirt on. The combination of blue, steel and diamonds does offer plenty of interest on its own, and the occasion can be as elaborate as you like.

Tech Specs: Chaumet Joséphine Aigrette Ref. W85845

Movement Swiss quartz caliber ETA E01.701
Functions Hours and minutes; time adjusted via a corrector on the caseback
Case 27.3 × 20.2 mm, 7.5 mm thick; stainless steel; bezel set with 62 brilliant-cut diamonds; curved sapphire crystal with antireflective treatment; water resistance to 30 meters
Dial Blue sun-brushed finish; polished sword-shaped hands; single brilliant-cut diamond marker at 12 o’clock
Bracelet Faceted stainless steel bangle bracelet with an aigrette set with 11 brilliant-cut diamonds
Price SGD11,800