ReviewCarl F. Bucherer Alacria Swan: Hands-on with 1,300 white diamonds

“The French are glad to die for love.
They delight in fighting duels
But I prefer a man who lives
And gives expensive jewels.
A kiss on the hand
May be quite continental,
But diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”

-Marilyn Monroe - Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend

“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”. Are they?

Before you answer that, first let that thought sink in for a moment. Prior to writing this article, I was leaning towards an “Ehhh… Maybe. Maybe Not” sort of an answer. However, one will not dare to second-guess this statement once you lay your eyes on the Carl F. Bucherer Alacria Swan. I have always contemplated the question of owning diamonds and really believing the words coming out of Marilyn Monroe’s mouth, while she is waltzing around in a bright pink dress, surrounded by well-dressed men holding diamond-studded ribbons, singing how “diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”

But, one look at the Alacria Swan and all my inhibitions went flying out the window. I guess this is what a watch like the Alacria Swan will do. Convert a borderline non-believer into a hard-core, frantically saving money (secretly knowing that it will take a long time), diamond-drooling believer! A watch that takes a whopping 22 months to design and create, no wonder, Carl F. Bucherer has manufactured only 88 pieces of this sparkling timepiece. A perfect amalgamation of a woman’s love for diamonds and Carl F. Bucherer’s passion for time.

Before I bore you with the intricate details of how far I have succeeded in saving for this masterpiece, let me give you a quick review of the magnificently elegant Alacria Swan.

1,300 diamonds set intricately in sertissage

As mentioned before, the first thing you notice about the Alacria Swan are the diamonds. The watch is encrusted with over 1300 white diamonds. Each and every diamond encrusted on the watch is of the finest quality with the highest standard of manufacturing. Using a rare technique called Sertissage (snow-setting), wherein the diamonds are set side by side to completely cover the metal, the craftsmen scrupulously select each and every diamond shape and size. This ensures a seamless blend of the diamonds incorporated in the most ambitious of designs and arrangements.

A one-of-a-kind watch, the Alacria Swan is a true manifestation of beauty, elegance and downright expert craftsmanship. The 18 k white gold watch contains 348 diamonds on the case, 137 on the dial, 844 on the bracelet and a big one on the crown. Clearly, that’s more diamonds set together than one’s ever heard of or seen before.

While all the diamonds used on the watch are of the highest quality, what is most alluring is the fact that each and every diamond has been scrupulously set by hand one at a time. One could just imagine the amount of expertise required to set the diamonds with such precision and finesse. The Alacria Swan is an extraordinary watch that is a clear reflection of the expert craftsmanship and watch-making ability available at Carl F. Bucherer. It shines with such brilliance and elegance, quintessentially attesting Carl F. Bucherer’s proficiency at the art of jewellery-making.

The inspiration behind the ‘Swan’

It is a well-known fact that people, especially women, have always been fascinated by the brilliance of jewels and diamonds. We form a kind of relationship with jewels and diamonds that eventually transforms into an extension of our self and our personality. Carl F. Bucherer’s Alacria Swan, however, is so much more than a jewel and distinctly greater than a teller of time.” The watch is inspired by one too many aspects of the brand and the city where its roots lie.

The watch represents a tribute to the heritage of Carl F. Bucherer, the family, the firm and the city of Lucerne. A city also called “Switzerland in miniature”, Lucerne is surrounded by the picturesque mountains that appeal to numerous tourists from all over the world. The diamonds on the Swan sparkle with the same beauty as the glistening waters of Lake Lucerne. An expression of unsurpassable feminine grace, the Alacria Swan embodies the exquisiteness and splendour of a woman.The Alacria Swan is an integral part of the feminine “Alacria” collection where the name is a tribute to the founding Bucherer family. The Alacria Swan is also symbolic of the snow-white swans that are a fundamental part of Switzerland’s Lake Lucerne. The watch symbolises the pure and virtuous nature of a swan and its curved form represents the beautiful curves of the Swan.  It illustrates the strength and grace of a swan, when in flight and as a swimmer. The watch is allegorical of a swan ready to take flight, defying the laws of gravity and breaking free.

The breath-taking beauty of the Alacria Swan stirs the wearer, transcending her to a time of magical allurement that will stay in her heart forever. Once taken by the magnetic beauty of the Alacria Swan, you will forever stay faithful to this masterpiece. A valuable companion, the Alacria Swan also narrates the story of re-birth and rejuvenation of the swan and the brand itself.

When every part amalgams to make a perfect whole

Before I first saw this watch, I was half-expecting it to be a ‘bit much’. To be honest, I was pleasantly disappointed. Even with the massive amount of diamonds encrusted on the watch, the Alacria Swan is elegantly designed with a feminine grace. The diamonds are placed in such a way that they emit a subtle glow making the watch elegantly stylish, irrespective of the fact that it houses more than 1,300 diamonds.

The sparkling timepiece also sits perfectly on your wrist with the delicately designed 18k white gold bracelet that wraps around your slender wrist perfectly. While you may presume the watch to be too delicate to handle or even adorn, you are in for a surprise! In spite of the immense number of diamonds present on the watch, the timepiece is pretty sturdy. Fitted with a quartz movement, the diamond-studded watch dial indicates hours and minutes. All that one needs and wants a watch to do!

The world’s most luxurious piece of haute horlogerie

The Alacria Swan is a splendid example of expert craftsmanship created by the traditional art of jewellery. A perfect beauty to adore and witness, Carl F. Bucherer Alacria Swan is limited to just 88 pieces. One look is all it takes to induce a reaction so profound of magical surrealism, creating a world of immense love and timeless beauty.

Carl F. Bucherer has time and again produced watches that are not just technically innovative but are aesthetically perfect timepieces. A brand that is always “one step ahead of the times”, the Alacria Swan embodies this vision perfectly. And with the Swan on your wrist, we do hope you ladies are prepared to handle the constant admiration coming your way!

With only a single piece in India, the Swan is available exclusively at Ethos Watch Boutiques.