Dior

A revolutionary fashion designer who popularised haute couture on a globally unprecedented scale, Christian Dior - the progenitor of the “New Look” movement - needs no introduction. His untimely passing (in 1957) puts him outside the scope of the Dior Maison’s watchmaking activities - which only began in earnest two decades later.

Despite this, since the late 1990s, Dior’s top brass have made a concerted effort to fold watchmaking into broader fashion-related activities. Former Creative Director John Galliano (1997-2011) is credited with designing the brand’s first men’s watch, the Chiffre Rouge, in 2004.

Today, the creation of Maison’s timepieces falls within the broader remit of the jewelry department - headed by acclaimed designer Victoire de Castellane, the mastermind behind the whimsical new Gem Dior collection.

Primarily known as one of the most legendary fashion houses of the 20th century, even in watches, Dior is an outlier amongst its contemporaries. The Maison launched its first wristwatch (made under license) in 1975 and, for the last two decades, has operated a dedicated watchmaking studio - Les Ateliers Horologers Dior - in La-Chaux-de-Fonds.

In stark contrast to many fashion brands, the Dior watchmaking studio enjoys a close ongoing relationship with the brand’s clothing designers on Avenue Montaigne. Today, the bulk of the label’s most sophisticated offerings are jewelry watches: including unique Haute Joaillerie, La D de Dior, and the Grand Bal - a design in which the watch’s oscillating mass is placed on the dial.

Christal Tourbillon, La D de Dior, Dior Grand Soir, Chiffre Rouge, Grand Bal de Printemps