Sunday, July 12, 2015

Promoting Time for Pollinators: Chaumet’s Attrape-moi si tu m’aimes Watch Collection



This summer my Colorado perennial garden and wildflower photography have happily pre-empted writing my blog posts.  However, Chaumet’s Attrape-moi si tu m’aimes Collection captivated me.  The collection’s namesake theme translates, “Catch Me … If you love me.”   I couldn’t resist showcasing its masterful craft-skills and jewel-set pollinator scenarios alongside my own snapshots.

This isn’t the first time I’ve highlighted haute joaillerie watches in conjunction with pollinators or gardens in my posts. Last year I wrote “Botanical Companions: J.G. Ballard and Chaumet,” July 2014; and Ulee's Gold, Time Transfigured: Franck Muller's Double Mystery Collection,” November 2014.  But it’s the first time that I’ve combined the two.

First to the French House of Chaumet.  Its Attrape watch collection was introduced in 2013.  On each timepiece, the dial becomes an ecosystem capricio, a “naturalist theatre in which diamonds and the most dazzling coloured stones, dotted here and there, act out their roles side by side.” Fanciful imagination interprets the interplay of bees, spiders, butterflies and dragonflies— pollinators all—through the artistry of enameling, guillochage, miniature painting, and engraving.  No question, these are luxury watches paying homage to seasonal propagations.

For the now, here are two Chaumet dials to enjoy. 

Rhodium plated white gold, diamonds, cornelian, agate, quartz and mother-of-pearl, 35mm diameter (Large size). http://www.chaumet.com/precious-watches-attrape-moi-si-tu-maimes-watch-w16188-38c









Rhodium plated white gold, diamonds, agate and mother-of-pearl, 35mm diameter (Large size). http://www.chaumet.com/precious-watches-attrape-moi-si-tu-maimes-watch-w16189-38d




For a much more comprehensive review of the collection read Maria Doulton’s February 2013 post, “Chaumet's new Attrape-moi jewellery watches.


Now, to a second Now, my personal companion photos.  Two Colorado wildflowers, the Fendler Groundsel and the Columbine are among my favorite pollinator haunts.  The Fendler Groundsel  has small yellow flowers about an inch across …nice size for a watch dial… and very narrow petals. It belongs to the sunflower family which attracts a wide range of pollinators including butterflies, bees and flies.

Fendler Groundsel. Teller County, Colorado, July 7, 2015. Note butterfly and fly pollinators.© Maryhelen Raciti-Jones


The Colorado Columbine, Colorado’s state flower is found along roadsides, on hillsides and can be cultivated in gardens.  It has showy, spurred blue and white flower petals.  It too is a pollinator favorite providing nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, native bees, and bumblebees.

 
Colorado Columbine. Teller County, CO. Perennial garden planting. July 7, 2015.  ©  Maryhelen Raciti-Jones

Finally, to my post's title -- promoting pollinators.

If you want to help sustain and expand the critical relationship between pollinators and garden plantings, consider becoming involved in the Pollinator Partnership.  

Although based in the US, it has North American and international ties.  One of its programs is S.H.A.R.E. (Simply Have Areas Reserved for the Environment) where you can find out how to plant for pollinators and then register your planted area on the pollinator S.H.A.R.E.map.I've done this for my Colorado perennial garden.

Take Chaumet’s Attrape-moi si tu m’aimes  as the impetus and craft your own tribute to pollinators and their worldwide plant propagation magic.

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