Against the gilded backdrop of the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, Chopard reintroduces one of its most poetic creations: the Alta Moda collection. First unveiled in 1984 at the Salon Montres et Bijoux de Genève, the jewellery watch returns in a new interpretation shaped by the Maison’s exceptional savoir-faire and the couture sensibility of Caroline Scheufele.
More than a watch, Alta Moda is conceived as an object of adornment where horology, high jewellery and fashion meet in effortless harmony. Feminine and unapologetically expressive, it transforms timekeeping into an extension of personal style.
At the heart of the design is silk taffeta, sculpted into an oversized butterfly bow that wraps dramatically around the wrist. Here, fabric is not merely decorative; it becomes the bracelet itself, bringing softness, movement and theatrical volume to the piece. Nestled seamlessly within the folds sits the timepiece, like a hidden jewel woven into couture.
The silk ribbon mirrors fabrics used throughout Caroline’s Couture collections, unveiled annually during Cannes since 2023, reinforcing the natural dialogue between Chopard’s worlds of fashion and fine jewellery. Alta Moda feels less like an accessory and more like a continuation of the couture silhouette itself.
“Alta Moda was born from my mother’s instinct in the 1980s,” says Scheufele. “Revisiting this quintessentially feminine creation, imagined by a woman for women, felt entirely natural.”
Delicate in scale yet undeniably luminous, the 24 mm case is crafted from 18-carat ethical white gold and pavé-set with brilliant-cut diamonds totalling 5.50 carats. A mother-of-pearl dial introduces an ethereal glow, echoing the lustre and fluidity of silk. Completing the design is a removable diamond-set clasp, allowing the taffeta bow to be interchanged according to mood, occasion or ensemble.
Crafted within Chopard’s ateliers, Alta Moda continues the Maison’s legacy of jewellery-first watchmaking, sitting comfortably alongside icons such as L’Heure du Diamant while introducing a softer, more tactile dimension through fabric and couture detailing.
Throughout her Haute Joaillerie collections, Caroline Scheufele has consistently explored the sensuality of textiles, translating lace, embroidery and silk into precious stones and gold. With Alta Moda, that exploration becomes tangible: couture itself embraces the wrist.
As the fourth Caroline’s Couture collection debuts in Cannes, Alta Moda arrives as a reminder that true icons never disappear. They simply return, more relevant and captivating than ever.