The Queen’s youthful profile graces the dial of an enamel watch created by Backes & Strauss to commemorate the monarch’s 90th birthday.
It’s one of two pieces the company has produced to celebrate the Queen. The second will be unveiled at a special event in October in Japan.
‘The Princess Elizabeth’ has a gold dial hand-engraved by Backes & Strauss’s master engraver and enamelled using the ‘grand feu’ technique. The process uses English Blythe enamel applied over various layers at 900 C. The temperature is rigorously controlled to achieve a royal purple hue, a skill for which the enameller requires decades of experience to perfect.
The 37-mm watch bracelet is set with 136 diamonds (18.57 ctw), while the case features 28 diamonds (3.95 ctw). A .09-carat ideal-cut diamond is set in the crown. It features ‘XC’—the Roman numeral for 90—at twelve o’ clock.
