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LOOKBOOK: Three ways to wear Baume & Mercier’s steel Petite Promesse LOOKBOOK: Three ways to wear Baume & Mercier’s steel Petite Promesse

LOOKBOOK: Three ways to wear Baume & Mercier’s steel Petite Promesse

Ceri David

petitepromesselookbook

Take a good look at the image below. What do you see? A ladies’ dress watch, right? That’s a fair point. When you have 44 brilliant-cut diamonds bracketing a mother-of-pearl dial, a teeny 22mm case and a wrap-around bracelet, it’s clear we’re not operating at the rough-and-ready end of the watch spectrum. But don’t be fooled into thinking the Baume & Mercier Petite Promesse is a one-trick pony. This is a versatile little gem. Here are just three ways to work it – though we guarantee there are countless more.

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Evening wear

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first, shall we? This watch performs very well in the presence of lace, clutch bags and Champagne. Meanwhile, thanks to a clever mechanism for setting the time using a tool that inserts into the caseback, there’s no crown on the side to disrupt the all-important silhouette, which is especially important after dark. This is elegance to a tee.

Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson having a lovely time in evening gowns. Image: eonline.com
Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson having a lovely time in evening gowns. Image: eonline.com

Biker chic

Weren’t expecting that, were you? But see, no woman worth her buttery-soft calfskin leather goes all-out butch when she does biker chic. (Exhibit 1: fresh white sneakers. Exhibit 2: lack of obvious guns and/or tyre irons.) A chunky timepiece would be overkill, while a subtle flash of steel and ice at the wrist is the perfect feminine touch. Also, study that slinky bracelet more closely, and ask yourself what it reminds you of. That’s right, a snake. Nothing fluffy about that.

Kate Bosworth, rocking a tough-girl look. Image: eonline.com
Kate Bosworth, rocking a tough-girl look. Image: eonline.com

Quirky florals

Mismatched patterns and colours aren’t leaving the style arena any time soon, and in that environment, only a watch with a touch of Alice will do. The face isn’t round, it’s elliptical, as if it’s been sat on ever so gently by the Mad Hatter. The strap circles the wrist not once but twice, just because it enjoys chasing its tail. And though it might sound like we’re talking in riddles, despite those eccentricities, the watch’s simplicity is what makes it the ideal match for a larger-than-life fashion palette.

Sarah-Jessica Parker, Queen of Quirk. Image: eonline.com
Sarah-Jessica Parker, Queen of Quirk. Image: eonline.com

Baume & Mercier Petite Promesse Australian pricing

Baume & Mercier Petite Promesse, stainless steel bracelet, $3990.