Chopard presents the new Ice Cube secret watch

The latest addition to the Ice Cube collection is a new secret watch, resembling a cascade of ice cubes dipped in gold and diamonds which seems to have naturally crystallised to form a tactile cuff that exudes glamour while feeling as comfortable as a second skin. It is already a dazzling piece, the fruit of Chopard’s unparalleled craftsmanship, but it even enshrines magic. By pressing a button, one of the cubes opens with a soft click to reveal a hidden watch dial nestled within. This masterpiece of jewellery and watchmaking expertise is at the heart of the ‘Sculpted by Light’ campaign in which the Maison’s international ambassador Bella Hadid showcases the brilliance of the Ice Cube collection.

Reinventing an iconic design

Almost 30 years after the first Ice Cube watch, the collection welcomes a secret watch perfectly summing up its transformations over time and Chopard’s unmatched expertise in watchmaking and jewellery techniques. Breaking away from the repetition of identical cubes typical of previous creations, Chopard’s workshops, for the first time, introduce cubes of varied sizes and heights that nonetheless retain the sharp, sleek edges that are the signature of the collection. This subtle new creation takes the visual expression of the collection to new heights by lending the design a sense of harmonious randomness that creates a compelling visual dynamism.

Beauty through technical excellence

The Ice Cube secret watch is not just a beautiful piece of jewellery to behold but also a technological marvel. The cubes are meticulously screwed onto a frame that is assembled in a puzzle-like fashion to ensure the flowing articulation of the bracelet, the soft feel on the skin and the abundance of shimmering reflections.

The watch is adorned with 36 princess-cut diamonds totalling 8.54 carats, adding brilliance. Known for its luminosity, the princess-cut offers the elegance of a square shape with the unique light of a brilliant-cut diamond.

The Ice Cube secret watch is a remarkable technical achievement that required 800 hours of rigorous work. The timepiece was entirely handcrafted in Chopard’s workshops through a process that began with a three-dimensional wax model to perfect the proportions, followed by a silver model to test the flexibility of the bracelet’s articulated mechanism.

Each of the 102 cubes – representing a total of 1,300 crafted facets – is individually polished three times, moving from a coarse grain to a finer grain and finally using paper paste to achieve an extraordinary sheen that gives the watch a radiant finish.

“Once again, I’m amazed by the ingenuity of our workshop, which continuously turns my most ambitious ideas into reality. I envisioned a bold, oversized cuff made entirely of golden ice cubes, but with one essential requirement: it had to be supple, because to me, comfort is the ultimate luxury. Our expert Artisans embraced the challenge, creating not only a striking piece of jewellery but also discreetly incorporating a miniature watch within”, comments Caroline Scheufele, Chopard’s Co-President and Artistic Director.

Technical Details

Secret watch in ethical 18-carat rose gold. White dial concealed under a hinged cover in ethical 18-carat rose gold, gilded hands. Bracelet in ethical 18-carat rose gold, set with 36 princess-cut diamonds (8.54 carats). Quartz movement. Ref. 104272-5001

Photos: ©Federal-Studio and Chopard