WHILE fine watch-making has always relied on rubies to make movements that are both mechanically sound and beautiful to look at, Glashutte Original, in the latest rendition of its Lady Collection, opted to use this gem as the central theme of the model’s wardrobe. Available in only 50 pieces, the new Lady Serenade Special Edition wears 52 bright-red rubies on the bezel of its 36-millimeter steel case, each one marking a week in the course of a year. Matching this shimmering display is the ruby cabochon set atop the watch’s crown. Little wonder Glashutte Original is pitching this special Lady Serenade as “inspired by Valentine’s Day.”

The rubies are contrasted by the off-white mother-of-pearl dial, which received a bit more attention from Glashutte Original artisans because it’s quite thin, making it prone to break if handled clumsily. And, apparently, complicating the process is the application of the Roman numeral hour markers, which are decorated with eight brilliant-cut diamonds. Rounded hour and minute hands made of white gold, as well as a second hand whose counterweight is shaped in the infinity sign (indicating the eternal nature of true love, says Glashutte Original), complete the Lady Serenade’s dial ensemble.  Plus, a cherry red Louisiana alligator leather strap makes the watch an even bolder wrist statement. 

This special lady isn’t all looks, though; beneath the Lady Serenade’s shimmering red attire beats the in-house self-winding cal. 39-22, which spins at 28,000vph and has a power reserve of 40 hours. As a Glashuute Original movement, it is fitted with the swan-neck fine adjustment setup, something watchmakers in Glashutte have turned to since 1888. A key feature of this system is an adjustment screw fitted on the swan-neck spring that can alter the position of a regulator, changing the effective length of the balance spring. This allows for a precise regulation of the movement’s rate, in turn guaranteeing accuracy. All this, by the way, can be glimpsed through the watch’s sapphire crystal caseback.

So, yes, this lady in red is special outside and within.