Chopard Happy Diamonds

Chopard designer Ronald Kurowski found the idea for the Happy Diamonds in sunlight sparkling on a waterfall during a walk in the Black Forest. The line followed in 1976. This vintage Chopard Happy Diamonds, reference 20/3957, is built around that same idea of diamonds moving freely across the dial. Each stone sits in a small gold mount with a bevelled base, so it can turn and glide without marking the surface beneath it. The light shifts with every movement of the wrist, and that play of light is the entire purpose of the design.

This example dates from the 1980s and carries the idea in a 24mm case of 18k yellow gold. The champagne dial and baton hands give the floating diamonds a warm ground. Because the dial's tone echoes the yellow gold of the case, the diamonds become the brightest points on the face. A quartz movement makes it an easy watch to wear every day, from the office to an evening out.

The case shows minor signs of wear consistent with regular use. The watch is worn on a leather strap fastened with a gold-tone Chopard pin buckle bearing the C logo. A new Chopard leather strap has been fitted since the photographs were taken, so the strap pictured is the previous one, and it is included as well. The watch is delivered with its box.