Louis Erard: Marqueterie de Paille Turns Straw Into Art

At Geneva Watch Days 2026, Louis Erard unveils a new Métiers d’Art creation that merges centuries-old straw marquetry with the art of watchmaking. The Marqueterie de Paille, a limited edition of 25 pieces, features an abstract dial meticulously crafted by Bernardo d’Orey. The Portuguese artist transforms rye straw into a layered composition, showcasing shades of blue. Each dial demands approximately twelve hours of skilled handwork, spread over several days. The uniqueness of each piece stems from the inherent variations in color, texture, and fiber orientation of the straw. Consequently, no two dials are identical, resulting in a surface that continuously shifts its appearance as it interacts with light.

The dial begins with carefully selected rye straws, from which d’Orey hand-chooses sections based on their color, texture, and natural reflections. These straws are then opened, flattened, and prepared before being meticulously assembled into 28 individually composed zones. Each section of the dial has a unique shape, size, and fiber direction. The elements are positioned with tolerances of less than 0.1 millimeter, leaving virtually no room for correction once the composition is assembled. The resulting “Broken Ice” pattern creates an abstract surface in layered shades of blue. Unlike a static visual display, the dial changes with the movement of the watch on the wrist. The different orientations of the straw fibers produce shifting reflections, creating a dynamic visual background for the hour and minute hands. 

The artistic dial is housed in a polished stainless-steel case measuring 39mm in diameter, with a lug-to-lug length of 45.9mm and a thickness of 12.82mm. A domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides protects the dial, while the transparent black caseback provides a view of the movement.

Power comes from the automatic Sellita SW261-1, which operates at 4 Hz, or 28,800 vibrations per hour and provides approximately 38 hours of power reserve. The specially openworked oscillating weight with a black-lacquered Louis Erard symbol can be admired through the exhibition caseback. Completing the watch is a beige grained calfskin strap with tone-on-tone stitching, a black calfskin lining and a polished stainless-steel pin buckle. Quick-release spring bars allow the strap to be changed without tools. Pricing is marked at CHF4,500 before tax or approximately $5,540 when converted to USD.