The 1.4-Inch Watch Dial That Packs 147 Diamonds

Klaus Schmidt · 2026-11-04

Roger Dubuis has never been shy about leaning into a good story. This time, the maison returns to Arthurian legend, and the result is a feminine creation inspired by Viviane — the Lady of the Lake herself. Delicate on the surface, protective underneath. That tension is the whole point. So how do you translate a myth into a timepiece? Apparently, through the hawthorn. ### A Case That Wears Like Jewelry Let's start with the numbers, because they matter here. The case measures 36 mm — roughly 1.4 inches across — and it's carved from rose gold with a shape that reads more like a jewel than a watch. That's deliberate. On the wrist, it sits somewhere between a bracelet and a sculpture, which is exactly the space Roger Dubuis seems to be aiming for. And then there's the dial. It's fully three-dimensional, which is a big deal in a case this compact. You're not looking at a flat surface with stones glued on. You're looking at depth. ### What's Actually on the Dial The decoration is where this piece earns its keep: - 147 diamonds, set across the three-dimensional dial - White mother-of-pearl flowers shaped to echo the hawthorn blossom - Red sapphire berries scattered among the blooms That last detail is the one that stuck with me. The red sapphires give the whole composition a pulse. Without them, you'd have a lovely but quiet floral dial. With them, it feels alive — like the hawthorn is actually growing. ### Why the Hawthorn? Here's where the storytelling gets interesting. In Arthurian legend, Viviane is the figure who raises Lancelot and eventually seals Merlin beneath a rock. She's nurturing and dangerous at once. The hawthorn carries the same duality — beautiful spring blossoms wrapped around thorns. > "Delicate yet protective" isn't just marketing language here. It's the design brief. That's why the mother-of-pearl flowers and the sapphire berries work together rather than competing. Softness and edge, in the same frame. ### Who This Is Really For If you're shopping for a traditional everyday watch, this probably isn't it. But if you're drawn to pieces that function as wearable art — something you'd reach for the way you'd reach for a statement necklace — the Lady of the Lake Hawthorn Edition makes a strong case for itself. A few things worth considering before you fall in love: - The 36 mm case suits smaller to medium wrists especially well - Diamond-set three-dimensional dials need careful servicing, so factor that into long-term ownership - Rose gold with red sapphires is a bold palette — try it on in person if you can ### The Bottom Line Roger Dubuis keeps building on its Arthurian thread, and this feminine chapter is one of the more cohesive entries. It doesn't just borrow a legend for the name. The hawthorn, the thorns, the protective beauty — it's all there in the dial, if you know where to look. Whether that story resonates with you is personal. But as a piece of craftsmanship, the Lady of the Lake Hawthorn Edition is hard to ignore.