What do you get when you embed art into the art of watchmaking?
Now You See It
Geneva-based watchmaker Laurent Ferrier recently established a long-term partnership with Meissen Italia, a subsidiary of the venerable German porcelain maker, to create limited-edition timepieces. The pictured beauty is one such object, as apparent from the highly-detailed, evening sky-motif, porcelain dial. And when you’re not feeling too flashy, play with the pusher to put into work a device that pivots the dial’s two opaque crystals a full 240O similar to a fan opening to reveal a second hand-decorated dial to turn on the ‘shutter’ and give you a snug indoor feel.
Beauty in Colors
The Dior Christal collection is a tribute to Christian Dior’s talents as a colorist. The watchmaker house decided to use the sapphire crystal, from which watch glasses are usually made, as a decorative element. Fashioned into the shape of pyramids and tinted with the brand’s emblematic colors, it decorates the bracelet and the bezel with an artistic touch.
Made to Soar
The naturally artsy dial pictured here belongs to a variant of a Santos-Dumont large model watch from the Cartier d’Art collection from Cartier. The collection showcases the rare jewelry-making techniques of enameling, engraving, and wood and mother-of-pearl marquetry. The majestic dial is an 18K white gold, high-relief, hand-engraved and champlevé enamel hawk motif complemented by rhodiumized steel sword-shaped hands. The best kind of art is handcrafted, and this piece is definitely a wonder to behold.
Sentiment for Artistry
Eight of the new watches from Russian-born, Germany-based watchmaker Alexander Shorokhoff introduced at Baselword earlier this year are additions to his Avantgarde line, a series inspired by artists, poets, and writers of the 20th century.
Pictured here is the new Watch Dandy for men. While the sweeping silver appliqué laid over a carbon fiber-resembling face does emanate a vaguely eastern feel, it’s those lines in combination with the mix of gold and silver that gives it a more art deco look than anything.