June 2004 Timepieces/New Products Jewelry Time New beauties for the new season From diamonds to crystals to finely woven gold, the newest timepieces for women emphasize the jewelry beneath the timekeeping. Here’s a selection of introductions. – by Michael Thompson Tissot’s new Rapunzel is equipped with an extensible bracelet of finely braided gold threads. One model is yellow gold; another is yellow, white and pink gold; a third version, a baguette model, has two braids. The case, hands and hour markers are 18k. Tissot, Weehawken, NJ; (800) 284-7768, www.tissot.ch. Gucci redesigned its “G” watch this year. Available in two sizes, it’s sold with a brushed or polished steel link bracelet or a rubber or leather strap. Gucci, New York City; (212) 379-8489. The Aire Traveler II is an automatic GMT watch featuring two rows of VVS1 diamonds. The Swiss timepiece is new to the Chris Aire Collection. Aire, a Gemological Institute of America-trained gemologist, has been making diamond jewelry for celebrities since 1996. This model is $9,950 retail. 2 Awesome International, Los Angeles, CA; (213) 688-0900, www.2awesomeint.com. Donatella Versace designed this Faubourg de Paris watch with characteristic Versace symbols. It comes in steel or yellow goldplate (10 microns) with a cambered mineral crystal. The dial is available in blue, pink or white mother-of-pearl. The bracelet is curved with articulated links decorated in Greek key style. Versace, New York City; (212) 813-0190. Auguste Reymond’s newest women’s model, Gala, is made of steel with a yellow gold PVD coating and features 42 bezel-set CZs. The barrel-shaped case is topped with a sapphire crystal; the dial is silvered. Also made without the CZs. Auguste Reymond, Lake Dallas, TX; (940) 484-4976, www.augustereymond.ch. This Bill Blass Metropolitan has 36 diamonds on a high-polish case with PVD-plated gold accents. The strap is polished galuchat (stingray); the dial is mother-of-pearl. Suggested retail, $995. Bill Blass, Brooklyn, NY; (800) 222-9899. Daniel Mink’s new Tonneau Femme has 58 diamonds in an undulating steel case with a mother-of-pearl dial and a choice of three crocodile strap hues. Suggested retail, $4,995. Daniel Mink, Allenhurst, NJ; (800) 221-6465, www.danielmink.com.