H. Stern, Diane von Furstenberg team on time

July 02, 2008

Diamond watches from H. Stern's "Sutra Watch Collection" by Diane von Furstenberg feature rock-shaped, multifaceted sapphire crystal faces set on 18-karat gold cases and adorned with a total of 101 stones weighing 0.71 carats.

By Catherine Dayrit

Basel, Switzerland—Iconic fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg first approached Roberto Stern, president and creative director of Brazilian jeweler H. Stern, in 2003, hoping to collaborate on jewelry.

Two years later, the Diane von Furstenberg by H. Stern collection was born, and today, the line is a worldwide success, having gained acclaim for its bold, glamorous shapes and modern styles.

Now, the duo is at it again: The "Sutra Watch Collection," a line of jeweled timepieces inspired by von Furstenberg, made its official debut at BaselWorld, held from April 3-10 in Basel, Switzerland.

Sport watches from the collection feature large, multifaceted sapphire crystal and stainless steel cases with triple-loop ostrich wrap straps.

Created for the modern woman on the go, the line is composed of nine watches in three styles: the "Pendant Watch" group, in which each watch resembles a talisman and dangles from a long gold chain adorned with a Tibetan love knot; the ultra-glamorous "Diamond Watch" group, with rock-shaped watch faces and a total of 101 diamonds each; and the more casual "Sutra Sport Watch" group, crafted for the effortlessly stylish, adventurous woman, and featuring a larger stainless steel case or a PVD-coated case and triple-loop ostrich watch straps.

H. Stern says the fact that the timepiece line directly evolved from one of its jewelry collections helps to strike the right balance between vision and tradition.

Sutra Watch Collection prices will range from $1,500 to $9,700. The line will be available in H. Stern and Diane von Furstenberg boutiques, as well as in select department stores and independent retail jewelry stores worldwide in September 2008.

E-mail: cdayrit@nationaljeweler.com

Editor's note:This article first appeared in the May 16, 2008, print edition of National Jeweler.