It is somewhat astonishing that in all the time we have been devoting to fine mechanical timepieces, we have never found the right moment to properly look at women's watches. It's almost as if we think women have no need to feel that time is on their side too. With a view to correcting this, we decided to pick out the finest of the fine gems that debuted at the recently concluded Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2009.

In this season of uncertainty, we have to find more to value in a watch than the carat count. It is no longer meet and right to simply drown a watch in diamonds and expect it to have value as a luxury product. Now more than ever, the true worth of traditional craftsmanship and the spirit of innovation come to the fore. After all, magnificent gems are never simply discovered.

Without exception, the beauty people perceive in precious stones lies in the art and craft of the jeweler. Every single jewel that finds its way into stores is the work of countless hours of labor, tradition, innovation and craftmanship. When the art of the jeweler meets the technical ingenuity of the watchmaker, masterpieces are born. Here then are five such watches, whose praises deserve to be sung.

No, this is not our lavishly crafted SIHH Special. That is a beast of an entirely different nation. Until then, this will have to serve as a teaser. Enjoy.