Royal ASHOKA®
Masters of Diamonds, Backes & Strauss unveils the Royal ASHOKA® Collection, a new line of one-of-a-kind diamond watches bringing William Goldberg’s exceptional ASHOKA® diamonds to the world of haute horlogerie.
The inaugural piece from the collection which was unveiled during the World Presentation of Haute Horlogerie (October 2014 in Japan) is set with no fewer than 79 ASHOKA® cut diamonds, 131 Ideal Cut diamonds and two baguette cut diamonds - making a total of 212 diamonds. The total weight of diamonds used in the watch amounts to 24.08 carats.
Visitors were truly dazzled by this unique timepiece from Masters of Diamonds Backes & Strauss, which draws its inspiration from the legendary Ashoka the Great, benevolent ruler of India's Maurya dynasty during the third century BC.
From the depths of the Hindu Kush to the jungles of Bengal, Ashoka presided over an impressive empire - but, unlike many of his peers, he ruled with love, respect and compassion for his subjects having decided to turn his back on war and adopt Buddhism as his way of life. He spread the doctrine throughout Asia, establishing monuments to Gautama Buddha.
Many hundreds of years after his death in 232 BC, Ashoka's name was adopted for a 41.37 carat, D colour, internally flawless diamond which was pulled from an Indian mine and cut by an unknown craftsman of unrivalled skill. Such is its beauty, it has been credited with the ability to abolish sorrow and eradicate
pain. Inspired by the mystical 'Ashoka Diamond', William Goldberg, the legendary Manhattan diamond company, created an entirely new, unique and original cut called the 'ASHOKA®' that was granted its very own patent.
An elongated, antique cushion cut that captures light and disperses it with a fiery brilliance, the ASHOKA® can only be executed using diamonds that meet the Goldberg family's exacting specifications - and only Goldberg master craftsmen have the skill, experience and expertise to bring to life the ASHOKA® cut which has 62 displayed facets and rounded corners.
Backes & Strauss is proud to have created the Royal ASHOKA® Collection, a new line of one-of-a-kind timepieces which bring William Goldberg's exceptional ASHOKA® diamonds to the world of fine watchmaking for the very first time.
Royal Ashoka Pave
Royal.Ashoa.WG.Pave
Size: 21x16 mm
Movement: Quartz
Case: 18kt White Gold, 130 diamonds, 1.62cts
Dial: 234 diamonds, 0.21cts
Bracelet: 18kt White Gold, 79 Ashoka diamonds, 22.31cts & 2 baguette cut diamonds, 0.09cts
Crown: The Jewel in the Crown, 0.06cts
Display: Hours & Minutes
Total carats: 446 diamonds, different cut - 24.29cts
All round brilliant cut diamonds set on Backes & Strauss watches are Ideal Cut, unless stated otherwise.
Royal Ashoka
Royal.Ashoka.WG.Black
Size: 21x16 mm
Movement: Quartz
Case: 18kt White Gold, 130 diamonds, 1.62cts
Dial: Blue Mother-of-Pearl dial
Bracelet: 79 Ashoka diamonds, 22.31cts & 2 baguette cut diamonds, 0.09cts
Crown: The Jewel in the Crown, 0.06cts
Display: Hours & Minutes
Total carats: 212 diamonds, different cuts - 24.08cts
All round brilliant cut diamonds set on Backes & Strauss watches are Ideal Cut, unless stated otherwise.