Working over the course of my career at Piaget, the challenge was to find a way to illustrate a rose, the Yves Piaget variety, while adding a touch of graphic modernity. It then fell to Rose Saneuil, a marquetry artisan and former student of the Boulle school, to create 18 pieces. It took her approximately 450 hours to complete this superb collection of Altiplano Marquetry in mother-of-pearl and wood.

The petals are hovered over by two silver-plated baton-type hands displaying the hours and minutes, driven by the ultra-thin manual 430P caliber housed in the 38mm diameter gem-set white gold case. Price: CHF 70,500.