At Backes & Strauss, the world’s oldest diamond company, we are passionate about cutting and polishing exceptional diamonds to perfection. Our bejewelled watches, all hand crafted in Switzerland, are inspired by the architectural elegance of 19th century London, where the story of Backes & Strauss began. For over two centuries, Backes & Strauss has constantly looked forward, pioneering new diamond cutting techniques and enthralling connoisseurs with its compelling designs. Today, Backes & Strauss is part of the Franck Muller group, a Swiss watchmaking group daring to imagine the future of precision Swiss watchmaking. Our partnership is a meeting of masters, resulting in masterpieces of horology in every detail. Introduction
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At Backes & Strauss, the world’s oldest diamond company, we are passionate about cutting and polishing exceptional diamonds to perfection.
Our bejewelled watches, all hand crafted in Switzerland, are inspired by the architectural elegance of 19th century London, where the story of Backes & Strauss began.
For over two centuries, Backes & Strauss has constantly looked forward, pioneering new diamond cutting techniques and enthralling connoisseurs with its compelling designs.
Today, Backes & Strauss is part of the Franck Muller group, a Swiss watchmaking group daring to imagine the future of precision Swiss watchmaking. Our partnership is a meeting of masters, resulting in masterpieces of horology in every detail.
Introduction
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Content
The Collections - The Regent Collection - The Berkeley Collection - The Piccadilly Collection - The Victoria Collection - The Renaissance Collection38 / 43 - The Baguette Collection44 / 53 - The Royal Collection
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16 / 21
22 / 25
26 / 29
30 / 33
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History & Heritage
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Since 1789, the diamond expertise of Backes & Strauss has spanned the globe. Archives dating from the 19th century show orders for Backes & Strauss jewels which adorned European royalty.
The collaboration between Backes & Strauss and the work shops of expert Swiss watchmaker Franck Muller, has produced a collection of unerringly elegant, intricate fine timepieces, embelished with diamonds, custom cut into unique shapes, polished and then hand set to perfection.
History & HeritageFour Backes & Strauss watch collections reflect the company’s London origins – The Berkeley, The Piccadilly, The Regent and Victoria. Crafted in a choice of 18 carat white or rose gold and set with diamonds, these are watches inspired by the smooth symmetry and grandeur of London’s Regency architecture, in particular the work of 18th century landscape architect William Kent and the architect John Nash for the Prince Regent. In the Victoria collection an intertwined heart motif alludes to Queen Victoria’s everlasting love for her husband Albert.
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Every round, brilliant diamond used at Backes & Strauss is an Ideal Cut diamond, designed to emanate optimum fire and brilliance. The perfect symmetry and proportions of an Ideal Cut diamond ensure that the light entering the stone refracts internally from 57 precisely placed facets and travels out through the top of the diamond, creating a mesmerising sparkle.
We work with only the highest specification diamonds. Every diamond at Backes & Strauss is a D, E or F colour and internally flawless with only a very, very slight inclusion.
Masters of diamonds
*Arrows pattern viewed from top
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*Patterns visible through a "Hearts and Arrows viewer"
Perfect SymmetryThe most beautiful objects in nature and in art possess symmetry, and so it is with beautifully cut diamonds.
The ultimate test of Backes & Strauss expertise in diamond cutting is the Hearts and Arrows motif. Hearts and Arrows diamonds are the most brilliant and magnificent Ideal Cut diamonds.
During hundreds of hours of meticulous planning, precision cutting and hand polishing by Backes & Strauss diamond experts, a natural stone makes the way from its rough form to a final polished brilliant diamond often losing up to 60 per cent of its original weight in the process.
Every Backes & Strauss watch comes with its own Hearts and Arrows viewer, a testament to our dedication to perfection.
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Backes & Strauss and The Franck Muller Group are masters of the art and science of their respective crafts. While Backes & Strauss is occupied with light and Franck Muller is concerned with time, both share a devotion to mathematical precision.
The dial and case of a Backes & Strauss watch reflects the geometric symmetry of the Ideal Cut. Within the beating heart of the watch, the elaborately crafted movements convey a jewel-like beauty,
The result of this meeting of masters is a collection of timepieces so intricate, they are veritable masterpieces both inside and out.
Meeting of Masters
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ON PHOTOPiccadilly Second Retrograde
Combining a brilliance for horology and a passion for diamonds, Backes & Strauss is the ultimate diamond watch company.
At Backes & Strauss, diamonds are fundamental to the design of our watches. Each diamond is selected, cut and polished to perfection and positioned on a watch to maximise its fire.
All Backes & Strauss watches are entirely crafted in the Geneva work shops of Franck Muller Watchland. Renowned for its spirit of innovation and technical excellence, Franck Muller produces all its watch components in-house.
The making of aMasterpiece
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Sizes:Regent: 36 x 43 mm, 40 x 47 mm and 44 x 52 mmPiccadilly: 37 mm, 40 mm and 45 mmBerkeley: 37 mm, 40 mm and 43 mm
Dial:Set with Ideal-Cut diamonds and12 baguette-cut sapphires, white mother-of-pearl
Cases:Set with two rows of Ideal-Cut diamondsOr with baguette-cut diamonds
Movement: Automatic movement
ON PHOTORegent Blue VelvetPiccadilly Red Rose
Red Rose Collection
Blue Velvet Collection
Sizes:Regent: 36 x 43 mm, 40 x 47 mm and 44 x 52 mmPiccadilly: 37 mm, 40 mm and 45 mmBerkeley: 37 mm, 40 mm and 43 mm
Dial:Set with Ideal-Cut diamonds and12 baguette-cut rubies, white mother-of-pearl
Cases:Set with two rows of Ideal-Cut diamondsOr with baguette-cut diamonds
Movement :Automatic movement
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The Backes & Strauss Signature «The Jewel in the crown»
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The Jewel in the CrownEvery Backes & Strauss watch has at least one diamond hand set into the crown. This jewel in the crown is our signature. It is designed to resemble the pavillion, or base, of a diamond.
Perfection is in the detailAs masters of diamonds, Backes & Strauss has created a watch dial inspired by the craft of diamond setting. Numerals and indexes are polished and set by hand, echoing the diamonds on each Backes & Strauss timepiece. On an inner circle on the watch dial indicating the seconds, small pyramids suggest the shape of polished diamonds.
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ON PHOTORegent 40 x 47 mm
Two rows of Ideal-Cut diamondsRose gold bracelet
RE.4047.MA.D2R.RG.WRR.GS
ON PHOTOBerkeley 40 mmThree rows of Ideal-Cut diamondsBY.40.MA.D3R.WG.WWR
ON PHOTOPiccadilly 40 mm – Diamond exterior dial
Two rows of Ideal-Cut diamondsPC.40.MA.D2R.RG.DEXT.BLR
The Collections
ON PHOTORegent 40 x 47 mm White Gold
Full set CaseRE4047MAD2RFULL.WG.WWA
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The Regent collection takes as its starting point the architecture of John Nash, who in 1811 was commissioned by the Prince Regent to design a huge swathe of London, then known as Marylebone Park. The classical proportions of Nash’s work across London, from Regent Street, to Regent’s Park and St James’s Park, are found in the sweeping curves and bold symmetry of the Backes & Strauss Regent collection.
The Regent Collection
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ON PHOTORegent 44 x 52 mm chocolate dial
set with one row of Ideal-Cut diamondsRE.4452.MA.D1R.RG.CHRR
The Regent Collection
Sizes:28 x 33 mm32 x 38 mm36 x 43 mm40 x 47 mm44 x 52 mm
Case:18-Carat rose gold or white gold case with no diamond or set with one row,two rows, three rows of Ideal-Cut diamonds or with baguette-cut diamonds
Dial:Moonphase dial set with 17 Ideal-Cut diamonds – 0.115 carat, hand-polishedNumerals and Indexes
Movement:Automatic movement with Big Date at 12 o’clock and Moon Phase
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ON PHOTORegent Beau Brummell set with two rowsof Ideal-Cut diamondsRE.4047.MA.D2R.BB.TIT.DDR
Limited Edition of 50 pieces
Regent Beau Brummell
Size:40 x 47 mm
Case:Titanium case set with 2 rows of Ideal-Cut diamonds 140 diamonds - 4.40 carats
Dial:Blue numerals and indexes set with 206 ldeal-Cut diamonds – 0.66 carat
Movement:Automatic movement - Rotor with platinum segment. Date between 4 and 5 o’clock
Total carats:2 rows: 347 Ideal Cut White diamonds – 5.15 carats
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ON PHOTOBerkeley 40 mm
White Gold - One RowBY.40.MA.D1R.WG.WWR
ON PHOTOBerkeley 29 mmWhite Gold - Two RowsBY.29.QZ.D2R.WG.WWR
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The Berkeley collection takes inspiration from one of London’s great squares, with its spacious, leafy garden in the centre of bustling Mayfair. Originally laid out in the 18th century by Palladian master and landscape architect William Kent, Berkeley Square’s picturesque plane trees were planted in 1789, the year Backes & Strauss began trading. Berkeley Square has since become a famously romantic spot, featuring in the 1970s love song A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.
The Berkeley Collection
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ON PHOTOBerkeley 40 mm Exterior-set dial
set with two rows of Ideal-Cut diamondsBY.40.MA.D2R.DEXT.BLR
Dials:WhiteBlackChocolateBluePurpleDiamond Exterior with mother-of-pearl interior dialDiamond interior with mother-of-pearl exterior dial
Numerals:Roman or arabic numerals
Leather strap:28 colours available ingloss or matt finishes
BY.40.MA.D2R.RG.WRRØ 40 mmRose gold2 rows of diamondsWhite dial
BY.37.MA.D2R.DK.STPVD.BWAØ 37 mmSteel with black PVD2 rows of diamondsBlack dial
BY.33.MA.D2R.RG.BRRØ 33 mmRose gold2 rows of diamondsBlack dial
BY.29.QZ.D1R.WG.WWAØ 29 mmWhite gold1 row of diamondsWhite dial
BY.43.MA.D2R.WG.WWRØ 43 mmWhite gold2 rows of diamondsWhite dial
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ON PHOTOPiccadilly 45 mm
Rose Gold - One RowPC45MAD1R.RG.WRR
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The Piccadilly collection is inspired by John Nash’s grand circular junction, Piccadilly Circus, the epicentre of London ever since it was built in 1819. Originally named Regent Circus South, Nash created Piccadilly Circus to complement Oxford Circus, then known as Regent Circus North, which was located at the other end of the sweeping street Nash had designed, Regent Street. Piccadilly Circus also linked Nash’s dramatic vision, which was the height of modern fashion with the neighbourhood of Piccadilly, the bastion of traditional style. This elegant confluence of old and new lies at the heart of the Backes & Strauss Piccadilly collection.
Dials:WhiteBlackChocolateBluePurpleDiamond Exterior with mother-of-pearl interior dialDiamond interior with mother-of-pearl exterior dial
Numerals:Roman or arabic numerals
Leather strap:28 colours available ingloss or matt finishes
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PC.45.MA.D2R.WG.WWAØ 45 mmWhite gold2 rows of diamondsWhite dial
PC.40.MA.D2R.WG.DINTØ 40 mmWhite gold2 rows of diamondsDiamond interior dial with mother-of-pearl
PC.37.MA.D1R.RG.WRRØ 37 mmRose gold1 row of diamondsWhite dial
PC.33.QZ.D1R.RG.BRAØ 33 mmRose gold1 row of diamondsBlack dial
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Victoria Blue Heart 18-carat white gold case191 diamonds – 1.68 carats25 blue sapphires – 0.275 carat
Quartz movement
Benefit to the work ofThe United Nations
Blue Heart Campaignagainst Human Trafficking
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Drawn from the Backes & Strauss archives, a 19th century brooch with two linked hearts was the starting point for today’s Backes & Strauss sumptuous Victoria diamond watches. Those linked hearts are now fully intertwined and they have become their own motif, repeated again and again in a circle of everlasting love, like that of Queen Victoria for her husband Albert. She was so smitten with him, she proposed the second time they met.
The Victoria Collection
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The Victoria Snowdrop The Victoria Rose Case :212 hand set natural intense pink diamonds weighing 1.98 carats,surround a rose pink mother-of-pearl dial
Buckle:24 natural pink diamonds weighing 0.22 carat form aheart buckle
Total carat:236 diamondsweighing 2.20 carats Quartz movement
Case:212 hand set white diamonds weighing 1.89 carats surround a White mother-of-pearl dial
Buckle:24 natural white diamonds weighing 0.21 carat form aheart buckle
Total carat:236 Ideal-cut diamondsweighing 2.10 carats Quartz movement
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The Victoria Jonquil The Victoria Sunflower Case:180 natural intense canary yellow diamonds weighing 1.79 caratsOne row of 32 natural champagne diamonds 0.37caratsurround a brown or yellow mother-of-pearl dial
Case:212 hand set natural fancy canary yellow diamonds weighing2.16 carats, surround a yellowmother-of-pearl dial
Buckle 24 natural fancy yellow diamonds of 0.22 carat form a heart buckle
Total carat:236 diamondsweighing 2.38 carats Quartz movement
ON PHOTOPiccadilly Renaissance 40 mm
set with two rows of Ideal-Cut diamondsPC.40.MM.D2R.RG.WRR
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Renaissance at Backes & Strauss is a special range of ultra thin timepieces, each a mere 6.1mm in depth. Renaissance takes its design cues from the Piccadilly and Regent collections with an array of women’s and men’s styles, with and without diamonds, incorporating movements just 2.5mm thin. The decorated inner workings of all Renaissance at Backes & Strauss watches are visible through the transparent sapphire crystal caseback
The Renaissance Collection
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ON PHOTOPiccadilly Renaissance 33 mm
set with two rows of Ideal-Cut diamondsPC.33.MM.D2R.WG.BLWR
The Piccadilly Renaissance Collection
Sizes:33 mm40 mm
Gold:Available in rose goldand white gold
Setting:Two rows (33 mm and 40 mm)Three rows (40 mm)
Dial Colours:WhiteBlackChocolateBlueRoyal Purple
Numerals:Roman numerals
Leather strap:28 colours available ingloss or matt finishes
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ON PHOTORegent Renaissance 32 x 38 mm
set with two rows of Ideal-Cut diamondsRE.3238.MM.D2R.RG.WRR
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The Regent Renaissance Collection
Sizes:28 x 33 mm32 x 38 mm36 x 43 mm40 x 47 mm
Gold:Available in rose goldAnd white gold
Setting:Two rows
Dial Colours:WhiteBlackChocolateBlueRoyal Purple
Numerals:Roman numerals
Leather strap:28 colours availablein gloss or matt finishes
ON PHOTORegent 44 x 52 mm
set with baguette cut diamondsRE4452MABAG.RG.CHRR
ON PHOTORegent 44 x 52 mm
set with baguette cut diamondsRE4452MABAG.RG.WRA
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The Baguette Collection
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ON PHOTORegent Baguette 44 x 52 mm
RE.4452.MA.BAG.WG.WWR
Regent Baguette Size:36 x 43 mm, 40 x 47 mm and 44 x 52 mm
Dial:Dial available in different colours with roman or arabic numerals
Case:18-carat white gold or rose gold case set with one row of baguette-cut diamonds
Movement:Automatic Movement - Open back with sapphire glassHand engraved and decorated movement
Total carats:36 x 43 mm: 61 diamonds – 6.58 carats40 x 47 mm: 65 diamonds – 8.94 carats44 x 52 mm: 65 diamonds – 11.13 carats
ON PHOTOBerkeley Baguette 40 mm
BY.40.MA.BAG.RG.WRR
Berkeley Baguette Size:33 mm and 40 mm
Dial:Dial available in different colours with roman or arabic numerals
Case :18-carat white gold or rose gold case set with one row of baguette-cut diamonds
Movement:Automatic Movement - Open back with sapphire glassHand engraved and decorated movement
Regent Monarch Available in 18-carat white gold & rose goldAvailable in size 36 x 43 mm, 40 x 47 mm & 44 x 52mm
Total Carats:36 x 43 mm - 749 Ideal-cut diamonds - 6.57 carats40 x 47 mm - 1 060 Ideal-cut diamonds - 7.04 carats44 x 52 mm - 1 092 Ideal-cut diamonds - 8.48 carats
Automatic movement
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Berkeley Monarch Available in 18-carat white gold & rose goldAvailable in size 37 mm, 40 mm & 43 mm
Total Carats:37 mm - 973 Ideal-cut diamonds - 5.46 carats40 mm - 1 041 Ideal-cut diamonds - 6.77 carats43 mm - 1 026 Ideal-cut diamonds - 9.40 carats
Automatic movement
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ON PHOTORegent Fancy CanaryPiece Unique
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www.backesandstrauss.com
London :Backes & Strauss London
113A Jermyn Street - MayfairLondon SW1Y 6HJ -United Kingdom