The art of watch making as opposed to the art of making watches
I am confident that we all agree that that making mechanical watches is an art as well as a precise science. What I would like to discuss is the artistry of watches especially when a dial is transformed into a canvas for a painter.
I recently challenged WatchCrunchers to chose a gift watch for Valentine’s Day and @Fieldwalker, Alan won with a watch by Van Clef and Arpel which had a clever complication to bring two lovers to the middle of a bridge for a kiss twice each day. What really surprised me was the beautifully painted decoration of the rest of the dial, so much that I looked further into the brand to see what other watches with attractive art they make.
Van Clef and Arpel’s website give some description of the many methods of hand enamel work that they do in order to create stunning time pieces like the Charmes Coccinelle Feerique watch.
A favorite Swiss brand of mine, Jacquet Droz is famous for their automatons, engraving and enamel artistry. Their Les Ateliers D' Art collection never fails to wow me.
Chopard’s Happy Sport diamond watch features gems set in gold with a mineral dial graced with multi-dimensional marquetry inlays that makes it a veritable work of art.
Vacheron Constantin Les Royaumes Aquatiques Les Cabinotiers Tourbillon – Sea Horse uses four métiers d’art techniques.
What do you think of a trip to the archives to recreate The Reine De Naples 8955, a watch Abraham-Louis Breguet conceived specially for the Queen of Naples. This thematic dial is hand carved out of natural seashell.
Many layers of enamel and protective finish are applied to create this JLC Master Grand Tourbillon Enamel.
What do you think is the best art watch or which brand has the best artists? Do you like these watches better than divers and field watches?
My name is Rich and I am building a collection of unique complications. I know it sounds more like the way you start a watch museum and not a personal collection. So far I have a Tourbillion, Retrogra...
Just extraordinary! This is in a different category altogether than dive watches and field watches. It's a bit like comparing jazz to rock music. They're both great, but one is a completely different thing trying to do something completely different.
I was amazed by this watch by Faberge which features a peacock which slowly expands its feathers over the course of an hour. Not exactly artwork like you're talking about, but a fascinating complication. Sorry for the less than stellar photography.
Thanks for the shout out! Yes - I went deep into the art from Van Clef and J Droz collections last year, obsessing and amazed at the art they create in a watch. While not a watch...the Van Clef bird fountain from last years watches and wonders is epic.
I also love the Jocob and Co Octopus tourbillion options
My closest thing to an artwork watch - in that it's hand painted and literally polished with an artists thumb - is my Kurono Mori. Traditional urushii items are pricey owing to no machine being able to do it as nice.
Just extraordinary! This is in a different category altogether than dive watches and field watches. It's a bit like comparing jazz to rock music. They're both great, but one is a completely different thing trying to do something completely different.
I was amazed by this watch by Faberge which features a peacock which slowly expands its feathers over the course of an hour. Not exactly artwork like you're talking about, but a fascinating complication. Sorry for the less than stellar photography.
That Faberge watch is incredible. What I like is that Faberge is known for their incredible gem settings and that is what they have done. The mother of pearl on the dial always impresses me. My reference to field watches and divers is due to a problem I am having. I have totally lost my ability to see any reason to like such utilitarian watches as divers and field watches. They all look the same to me and while I respect the brands ability to make them, they have no appeal. I like dress watches, interesting complications and art watches.