At the Baselworld 2011 trade show that gathers the most serious brands from around the globe, the Swiss brand Mira -the one that dates its origins back to 1896, but, regretfully, is not particularly known to the general public- will proudly reveal its new Fee Celeste (ref. M107RBK) model with its dial featuring a beautifully executed Swan motif in 18-karat rose gold and white mother of pearl.
Dial
Yes, while Mira is one of the stars in the constellation of Cetus, the person responsible for this model wisely decided that placing a sea monster on the dial would not be a particularly good idea and used a more graceful creature as a source of their inspiration.
As you can see in the pictures, the elegant bird is fashioned out of aventurine, rose mother-of-pearl, and 84 diamonds totaling about 0.26 carats, and is drifting on a black mother-of-pearl sky, embracing its long neck with an off-centered regulator hour display at 12 o’clock.
Right above its, well, tail at 6 o’clock, is placed a retrograde minute counter.
With its hand the size of a speck of dust, the indicator is not particularly legible, but the legibility doesn’t seem to be the point of this watch. It was designed to impress and it does its duty with pride.
Case & Movement
The Fee Celeste is powered by an unspecified automatic movement, which is placed inside an oversized stainless steel case 43 mm in diameter and is hidden behind a solid case back cover, so there is no way to tell about the origin of the mechanism: it could be the usual ETA 2824 with a complication module, but it also could be something more exclusive from a third-party specialist.
Its rose gold bezel is set with 80 diamonds totaling 1 carat, while the horns and the crown are set with four topazes and a solitaire respectively.
It is nice to note, by the way, that the case is not yet another generic job with some extra decoration. As you can see, its lugs are attractively decorated with some semi-(?) precious stones, and the way it is alternatively polished and brushed somehow tells me that there was a great deal of love put into making this timekeeper.
The setting crown with its deep notches, too, looks unique and is also comfortable to use.
Perhaps, my only worry here is that the case may be way too large for an average woman even despite the current trend of making oversized timekeepers.
The timekeeper’s solid case back is adorned with mother-of-pearl and is engraved with one more swan motif.
It should look nice combined with an evening dress, I suppose.
At a list price of just below $13,000 US dollars (local taxes not included,) the Fee Celeste looks a bit overpriced, but if you can afford one, it could be a fine addition to any collection.
See also: Patek Philippe Calatrava 4897 R for Ladies
Photos: Mira Watches
Mira Fee Celeste M107RBK specification
Price: $12,700 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic
Functions: Hours, retrograde minutes
Case: Stainless steel
Bezel: Rose gold
Shape: Round
Size: 43.00 mm
Dial: Black mother of pearl and aventurine
Numerals: Arabic
Hands: Gold
Water resistance: 50 meters
Strap: Orange crocodile leather with a folding clasp set with a solitaire
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Solid, engraved