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The Origin Of Legends – The Sketch Book Series (Part. 2)
This article is also available in French. Please click here.
Welcome to Part.2 of our special insight on the origins of some the world’s most amazing watches. If you missed Part.1 be sure to check it out here. Today we present to you the original sketches of two exceptional pieces; the DualTow by Christophe Claret and the Jules Audemars by Audemars Piguet. Looking at these images (the first set especially) it really is hard to believe just how superb the final results are!
However, as they say, the creative process isn’t always pretty but it’s the results that count.
Christophe Claret – The DualTow
©Christophe Claret
©Christophe Claret
©Christophe Claret
Audemars Piguet – Jules Audemars
©Audemars Piguet
©Audemars Piguet
©Audemars Piguet
In keeping with The Watch Lounge’s tradition of “Wow Watch Wednesday” the sketches to be published tomorrow in Part.3 of this multi-part series will be something a little out of the ordinary which we think you’re going to enjoy!
1 Excellent Comment | Filed under New This Week, Recommended Reading, Special Features
Esquisses – A l’origine des légendes (Deuxième partie)
Aujourd’hui nous présentons la deuxième partie de notre dossier consacré aux origines de quelques unes des plus belle montres. Si vous avez manqué la partie ici, vous pouvez la retrouver ici.
Aujourd’hui nous présentons les esquisses de deux pièces exceptionnelles, que sont la Dual Tow de Christophe Claret, et la Jules Audemars, d’Audemars Piguet. A la vue de ces esquisses, le résultat atteint par les pièces finies est époustouflant – mais peu importe la beauté du processus créatif, seul le résultat compte.
Christophe Claret – The DualTow
©Christophe Claret
©Christophe Claret
©Christophe Claret
Audemars Piguet – Jules Audemars
©Audemars Piguet
©Audemars Piguet
©Audemars Piguet
The Origin Of Legends – The Sketch Book Series (Part. 1)
This article is also available in French. Please click here.
If you’re anything like us than at on at least one occasion you’ve looked at the exceptional timepiece on your wrist and wondered where it all began. We think you’ll agree that watch-making is as much about practical application as it is about aesthetical beauty, with the best examples achieving a stunning blend of both. And so it is then that the design of a fine timepiece is almost, if not as important as the tiny engine that beats within it.
As we sometimes find ourselves fortunate enough to share the precious time of the world’s great watchmakers through the year, we had the tremendous opportunity on several occasions to see some of the very first sketches of their creations.
Some confessed they are very bad draftsmen while others told us that they were always innately skilled in the design of beautiful watches. Some never draw without proper pens and a clear space, while some express their creative mind on the corner of tablecloths, or even on post-its, with the very first pen they find sketching as fast as they can, before The Big Idea flies away (Editor’s note: For anyone who has been fortunate enough to dine with the exceptionally talented Roland Iten you will know all to well that he falls into the latter category, drawing the most amazing sketches all over any surface, including the table!)
Still, we recognize that there is only so much that can be said with words and so we are not going to write long paragraphs about all these beautiful sketches which, in the end, speak for themselves.
We won’t tell you that Ludovic Ballouard always has a notebook by his side, where he scribbles down ideas that only he can decipher; or that Jean-Claude Biver, as he draws, already has a rough idea of what the final product will look like; that Christophe Claret elucidated in just a few minutes the core essence of the amazing Dual Tow; that Jaeger Le Coultre draws sketches that are so perfect that they almost compete with automated software design.
Instead, we will just let you enjoy these beautiful pieces over the coming week. Make sure you check each day to discover where it all began and to learn just a little more about the timepieces you know and love (and maybe even some you’re meeting for the first time!)
Montblanc Metamorphosis
©Montblanc
©Montblanc
©Montblanc
©Montblanc
©Montblanc
Ludovic Ballouard – Upside Down Watch
©Ludovic Ballouard
©Ludovic Ballouard
©Ludovic Ballouard
©Ludovic Ballouard
©Wai Shan Lam
©Wai Shan Lam
Linde Werdelin – The One
©Linde Werdelin
©Linde Werdelin
Be sure to check back tomorrow as we bring you Part.2 of the Sketch Book Series!
Esquisses – A l’origine des légendes (Première partie)
Comme nous, vous avez dû vous demander au moins une fois, en regardant votre montre au poignet, comment elle était née. Vous serez d’accord avec nous que l’art horloger se joue autant sur la technicité que sur l’esthétique, et que les pièces les plus exceptionnelles sont celles qui arrivent à l’équilibre des deux. L’apparence d’une montre devient alors presque aussi important, si ce n’est aussi important, que le coeur qui l’anime.
Au fil du temps que nous passons avec d’innombrables et admirables maîtres horlogers, nous avons eu à de nombreuses reprises l’opportunité de voir les premières ébauches de leurs créations.
Certains nous ont avoué être de très mauvais dessinateurs. Certains ont toujours été doués pou cet art de l’ébauche. Certains ont besoin d’un endroit dégagé et d’un stylo bien précis, alors que d’autres se contentent d’un coin de table voire de post-its, armés du premier crayon qu’ils trouvent. Aussi vite que possible, ils couchent sur papier La Grande Idée, avant qu’elle ne s’envole à jamais. (ndlr : pour ceux qui ont eu le plaisir de partager un diner avec Roland Iten, vous n’êtes pas sans savoir que ce dernier appartient plutôt à la dernière catégorie, dessinant des ébauches à couper le souffle sur tout ce qu’il trouve, y compris la table !).
Nous n’allons pas longuement disserter sur toutes ces magnifiques épreuves, lesquelles, en fin de compte, parlent d’elles-mêmes.
Par exemple, nous ne vous dirons pas que Ludovic Ballouard a toujours un carnet à ses côtés, sur lequel il jette à la volée un certain nombre d’idées qu’il est à peu près le seul à pouvoir déchiffrer. Que Jean-Claude Biver, lorsqu’il dessine, a déjà en tête, à peu de choses près, le produit tel qu’il le voudrait une fois réalisé. Que Christophe Claret n’a eu besoin que de quelques minutes pour dessiner l’essence de l’incroyable Dual Tow. Que Jaeger-LeCoultre se livre à des ébauches si parfaitement maitrisées qu’elles rivalisent de précision avec des réalisations logicielles.
Nous vous laisserons simplement admirer ces magnifiques esquisses. Restez en ligne dans les prochains jours pour découvrir ces ébauches et en savoir un peu plus sur ces pièces (et même si vous les découvrez dans ces colonnes !).
Montblanc Metamorphosis
©Montblanc
©Montblanc
©Montblanc
©Montblanc
©Montblanc
Ludovic Ballouard – Upside Down Watch
©Ludovic Ballouard
©Ludovic Ballouard
©Ludovic Ballouard
©Ludovic Ballouard
©Wai Shan Lam
©Wai Shan Lam
Linde Werdelin – The One
©Linde Werdelin
©Linde Werdelin
Special Preview: Fellows & Sons Watch Auction Featuring Some Rare Timepieces
Auctions and vintage watches in general are typically not an area we are well versed in, and so often we prefer to leave the topic to our far more enlightened friends over at Hodinkee.com. However, recently we became privy to some exclusive news that has not yet been formally announced to the public and so we felt the need to share it with you. Whilst it won’t appeal to all our readers, we know that we have at least one Rolex fan here on The Watch Lounge and so if nothing else, this is for him.
So What’s The News?
The upcoming auction presented by the UK-based auction house, Fellows & Sons, of course! The auction is scheduled for the 5th of July and will include a number of exceptional second-hand timepieces from well-known brands such as Patek Philippe, Breitling, Cartier, Omega and of course Rolex. The full catalog is available to view on-line here, and we highly recommend you check it out.
Of special note for us are a couple of very well-known vintage Rolex timepieces which we think are sure to generate some buzz amongst collectors and enthusiasts alike. First is a 1973 Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Explorer II superlative chronometer, with an estimate of between £8,000 and £12,000.
Although it’s probably not widely known outside of collector circles this particular model was often unofficially referred to as the Steve McQueen Explorer, which was in fact rather misleading (click here to read why). Still, misconception or not, this misnomer did cause the value of these Explorers to sky-rocket and they are still very popular with collector’s today, meaning that it may just increase in value as time goes on and so could possibly be construed as “a good investment.” (Just in case you needed a reason to buy it.)
Rolex had originally designed the watch specifically for adventurers and cave explorers, introducing more complex distinctions such as a 24 hour fixed bezel. This stainless steel 1655 model, with black matt dial and luminescent markers, is also one of the few Rolex watches which can also be used as a compass making it one of the first ultimate precision time pieces.
However, don’t put away you cheque book again just yet, as also up for auction is this superb and not to mention quite rare 1977 Rolex Comex (Compagnie Maritime d’Expertise) Diver Superlative Chronometer with an estimate of £20,000 – £30,000.
This special version of the 1665 Rolex Sea-Dweller model was created for the French commercial diving company after they experienced a technical problem with a previous model . This very special watch is suitable for some of the greatest sea beds with a depth rating of 2000 feet and was (and still is) highly regarded for its unique Triplock crown which protects the movement. Another one sure to be a big hit with collectors the iconic ‘COMEX’ logo is displayed prominently on the dial.
The Final Word
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a novice enthusiast the Fellows & Sons watch auction is sure to have something for you. So don’t delay, check out their on-line catalog now and start making your list of all the pieces you want to add to your collection! No matter where you are in the world the excellent people at Fellows will ensure that you can participate in the auction and will not be disadvantaged in any way by distance. And don’t forget, as the saying goes, you have to be in it to win it!
Happy bidding and good luck!
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Latest Comments
- Nick Orloff: Beautiful piece, regrettably a little (?) out of my price range. I’d love to...
- Olivier Muller: Thanks, BMW
Stay tuned ! - Jack: Looks like a really nice watch for the price!