The latest member of Harry Winston Premier Collection is the fabulous Premier Shinde Automatic 36mm model which is a tribute to Ambaji V. Shinde, one of the world’s most talented jewelry designers whom the famous watchmaker met in 1955 during a trip to Bombay. Harry Winston was struck by his jewellery design skills and Mr. Shinde became the iconic designer of the watchmaking house of Harry Winston. This cooperation lasted for many years.
Harry Winston launches three new timepieces paying tribute to Mr. Shinde and his style which was based on the tradition of temple sculpture. These newcomers are inspired by two of his necklace designs, including the famed “Star of the Desert” and a tiara. The original jewelry designs have been captured and depicted on the dial of each of these three novelties.
The pattern is rendered in a special gold engraving technique and its dial is completely relief-engraved, whilst a fine 24-carat thread which measures only 0.4 millimeter is used for a filigree-style decoration which consists of spirally twisted fibers.
The dials are created by using the Grand Feu enamel technique, in which a deep black vitreous enamel is fired at extremely high temperatures between 800 and 900°C. They are set with marquise-cut stones and, depending on the model, their numbers vary from one to eight.
Harry Winston Premier Shinde Automatic 36mm is housed in 18-karat rose gold case which measures 36mm in diameter and 8.4mm in thickness. The case is constructed to resist water pressure up to 30 meters (about 100 feet). The case of the new Premier Shinde model is encrusted with 57 sparkling brilliant-cut diamonds (approximately 2.32 carats).
The beating heart of the watch is the in-house manufactured caliber HW2008 mechanical automatic movement with a silicon balance-spring that is capable to provide no less than 72 hours of power reserve. The 28 jewels movement features a traditional Côtes de Genève motif, rhodium plating, and circular graining. The mechanism consists of 186 components and has the oscillating rate of 28,800 alternations per hour (4 Hz). From the rear, the sapphire case back provides a view of the impeccable movement.
The new Premier Shinde Automatic 36mm timepiece is attached to black alligator leather strap, fitted with a white gold buckle set with 17 brilliant-cut diamonds (weighing 0.15 carats).
Total weight of diamonds for each model of the new feminine Premier model is 77 brilliant-cut diamonds (approximately 2.55 carats).
The exceptional watch that celebrates Mr. Ambaji V. Shinde is produced in the limited quantity of only 50 pieces. Mr. Shinde has achieved worldwide fame while working for the House of Harry Winston until 2001 when he retired at the age of 83. He died in Manhattan two years later, in 2003.
