As Coco Chanel once famously said, “Elegance is refusal,” which would suggest a certain kind of minimalism. Chanel is also famous for draping herself in ropes of pearls, which would suggest a level of opulence. Which begs the question, can a watch be elegant and opulent at the same time?
The answer, for actor Jessica Chastain, is yes. Spotted at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival wearing Lanvin and her Piaget Dancer, the leading lady of The Martian is always a red carpet highlight. The actress wraps herself in sumptuous fabrics and the most luxurious of labels.
Piaget Dancer watch
Coincidentally (or not), that also describes the Dancer to a T. Launched in 1986, the design of this timepiece is not dainty. Chastain’s watch is solid 18k pink gold from bracelet to diamond encircled bezel. Its defining features include an ultra-thin case detailed with double gadroons (a type of fluting), a slightly arched sapphire crystal and dumbbell-shaped links for a nice, flexible fit.
These details alone make it a bold watch, but the Dancer is also beautiful. The slim 6.9 mm case, the clean, silvered dial and the simple baton indices provide a nice counter balance to the richness of the gold and diamonds.
And for ladies who love watch movements, the Dancer is just as nice on the inside.
With a 430P hand-wound mechanical movement, the Dancer is a precision machine that just happens to look pretty on the wrist. A sapphire case back lets its owner admire the mechanisms fine finishes, such as traditional circular Côtes de Genève, circular-grained main plate, beveled bridges and blued screws.
If we were to paraphrase Chanel, we would have to say that in Chastain’s case, elegance is confidence. She likes important clothing and accessories, but at the same time she’s self-assured enough to wear them very, very well.
