Backes & Strauss London are famous for their luxury diamond watches inspired by London’s Regency period and the designs of the Prince Regent’s architect John Nash with the style and wit of Beau Brummell.

The brand now presents a new model in the aptly-named Regent collection that is limited to 60 pieces, in celebration of the diamond jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Backes & Strauss Regent Diamond Jubilee

This limited-edition collection features hand-set diamonds on an 18-carat white-gold case, the side of which is engraved “1952-2012”. The back of the watch piece is open and covered by a sapphire crystal that reveals the decorated Swiss movement, which is engraved with a year from Queen Elizabeth II’s reign as the serial number.

One element on the dial that is sure to make the watch a valuable collector’s piece in the future is the Queen’s Cypher at 6 o’clock, which Backes & Strauss have received permission to use from the Lord Chamberlain’s Office in Buckingham Palace.

Purple may be this year’s must have fashion colour, but the royal purple dial on this model, with its background of lacquered English roses surrounded by diamond-set Roman numerals (including a special LX (60) in diamonds at 12 o’clock) has a long tradition, with royal purple having first been used as a colour name in English in 1661. The matching alligator skin strap is also in royal purple and is completed with an 18-carat white-gold diamond-set buckle.

Backes & Strauss’ signature is one ideal cut diamond hand set into the crown, “The Jewel in the Crown”. As with all Backes & Strauss pieces only the best diamonds are used, Ideal Cut Round Brilliant, Colour Collection (F+) and Clarity: Clean (Flawless/VVS+).

The collection will be available from 2nd June 2012, the official date of Queen Elizabeth II’s jubilee celebration.