Look Into My Face: A Spotlight on Textured Dials
Greetings from Outer Space: The Arnold & Son Luna Magna Platinum
This watch (Ref. 1LMAX.Z01A.C233C) from the Swiss manufacturer combines rock from an extraterrestrial meteorite and the mineral gemstone opal. is unusual combination becomes even more extraordinary because Arnold & Son coats the meteorite with a layer of sand-colored PVD and the opal with luminous material. is makes the main dial and the darkened part of the moon appear more elegant than naturally colored meteorites and enables the sub-dial for the time display as well as the bright side of the moon to glow in the dark. The three-dimensional processing of the meteorite to create the lunar sphere is also an example of horological craftsmanship.
The exclusive hand-wound Caliber A&S1021 ticks inside the 44-mm platinum case, which is 15.9-mm high to accommodate the 3-D moon. The movement builds up a 90-hour power reserve and is visible behind a sapphire crystal in the back of the case. Each of the 28 watches in this limited series has an alligator leather strap with a platinum folding clasp and is priced at $73,500.
To learn more, visit Arnold & Son, here.
Enamel Puzzle: The Rolex Day-Date 36
This new version of the classic Day-Date has a dial with brightly colored puzzle pieces, shows 31 emojis, such as a heart, where the date would ordinarily appear, and fills the day-of-the-week window with positive messages, such as Peace, Faith, Hope and Love. The jigsaw puzzle is crafted in champlevé enamel. To make it, an artisan must remove material from the dial until only the outline of each puzzle piece remains, then fills each section with colored enamel powder and finally fires the dial in a kiln. Variously colored sapphires serve as hour indexes.
The colorful, cheerful displays are powered by Rolex’s own automatic Caliber 3255, which has earned official chronometer certification from COSC. Each of these playful Day-Date watches has a rose-gold case and is priced at $57,900.
To learn more, visit Rolex, here.
The Watch to Match the Pants: The Speake-Marin Ripples Blue Jeans
They look a bit like Geneva waves that have forsaken the movement and taken up residence on the dial, but they are much more three dimensional than conventional Geneva waves. These broad, longitudinally incised tracks rise to narrow, significantly elevated edges that call to mind ocean waves. The artistry in the dial’s design is particularly evident where the elongated hour indexes break through the elevated crests of the waves. Another highlight is the off-center positioning of the seconds sub-dial, which is shifted toward the dial’s edge, where the blue disk blends harmoniously into the circle of hour indexes.
Each of the 60 timepieces in this new, denim-blue version of the Ripples Blue Jeans (Ref. 604015480) is powered by automatic manufacture Caliber SMA 03-T and is priced at $26,450.
To learn more, visit Speake-Marin, here.
This article was originally published in the Design 2024 print issue. To subscribe to WatchTime Magazine, click here.
