Ice Ice Baby: Chopard Revives Its Ice Cube Collection with a Stunningly Modern Secret Watch
The Maison’s newest ambassador, Bella Hadid, headlines the campaign for this feminine and diamond-clad model.
By Cait Bazemore
Contributor
Secret watches date back centuries, allowing wearers to discreetly check the time via an object that appears as merely a piece of jewelry. The style became widely popularized in the early 19th century, during which many prominent brands produced their own variations.
Unsurprisingly, Chopard is one such brand with a longstanding history of secret watches, combining the Scheufele family’s expertise in both jewelry and watchmaking.
The Maison has been designing these pieces up until the past few decades, with its Ice Cube line first debuting in the late 1990s. As the name suggests, this series features an aesthetic consisting of cubes arranged in various grid patterns across both the case and bracelet using a combination of metals, diamonds, and other stones.
Now, Chopard has revived the Ice Cube collection with a new reference that pays homage to the original collection. Meet the Ice Cube Secret Watch!
Fire and Ice
In November, during Dubai Watch Week, Chopard tapped brand ambassador Bella Hadid to help unveil the latest addition to its ladies’ lineup: the all-new limited edition Ice Cube secret watch.
Hadid is no stranger to the world of watches, having previously served as an ambassador for TAG Heuer before joining Chopard just a few months ago. The beautiful desert oasis presented the perfect backdrop for the young supermodel to show off Chopard’s latest design and campaign.
A Secret Watch for the Modern Era
As is the case with many features of luxury watches today, we no longer need secret watches to adhere to strict societal standards that require the discreet checking of the time. Instead, Chopard has created a contemporary secret watch that’s simply beautiful to wear.
Historically, Chopard’s Ice Cube collection featured a more uniform design with identical cubes. For this latest incarnation, the Maison has – for the first time – introduced cubes of varying sizes and heights.
So, while the new Ice Cube retains the distinctly sharp, sleek, and angular makeup seen throughout the collection, it also offers a more dynamic look and feel, thanks to the added visual interest.
Form and Function in Perfect Harmony
Chopard’s new design is not just a pretty face. The new cube construction also keeps comfort and wearability in mind, with a meticulous creation process requiring 800 hours of work from the brand’s master craftsmen.
To retain a feel that seamlessly melts and drapes over the wrist, the artisans at Chopard have screwed each of the 102 cubes onto a frame that’s assembled in a puzzle-like fashion to ensure the flowing articulation of the bracelet. The result is both a soft feel on the skin and an abundance of shimmering reflections from the 36 princess-cut diamonds totaling 8.54 carats.
Of course, the showpiece of the Ice Cube is the hidden secret watch tucked front and center. With the push of a button, one of the cubes magically pops open to reveal the watch within. This tiny timepiece is powered by a quartz movement.
Pricing & Availability
Chopard’s new Ice Cube secret watch is a boutique exclusive produced in a limited run and with price available upon request. For more information, head over to the brand’s website.