SUCCESS

In the age of artificial intelligence algorithms and social media marketing campaigns, the luxury industry’s most compelling pivot is towards sincerity over spectacle. Today, the industry’s most respected houses are turning inward, reaffirming their allegiance to the handmade and the independently created. These are not commercial collaborations engineered for reach, but thoughtful acts of design and cultural investment. From artist residencies and craft prizes to architectural hubs and ongoing commissions that celebrate precious techniques and meticulous details. Whether through cloisonné bags, kite preservation, or miniature enamel dials, this return to substance signals a deeper shift — one where luxury is defined not by novelty, but by the quiet endurance of craft. Handmade treatments of leather goods and the championing of independent artists showcase the enduring value of the handmade in a digitised world.

LOEWE

For LOEWE, championing craft is part of the Maison’s ethos. The Spanish house continues to highlight independent artists and regional masters, using their works as not just inspiration but as creative collaboration. In January, the brand’s annual Chinese New Year capsule drew from the ancient court tradition of cloisonné. This centuries-old enamelling technique — recognised for its vivid colour, intricate wirework and painstaking precision — was reimagined through a partnership with Xiong Songtao, a third-generation cloisonné master and acclaimed Chinese artisan. Together, they crafted bespoke artworks including jewellery-like bags and intricate pendants, each imbued with folkloric snake motifs and auspicious clouds.

The collection was accompanied by a short film dubbed “Spring Awakening: Dance of the Snake”, a film that spotlighted Chinese contemporary dancer Xie Xin, traditional kite craftsman Zhang Xiaodong and shadow puppeteer Danno — offering a lyrical meditation on renewal and cultural inheritance.

Alongside this, LOEWE’s commitment to craftsmanship lives year-round through the LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize. Returning to Madrid in 2025, the prize drew over 4,600 submissions from 133 countries — a testament to its global resonance among artisans. The 30 shortlisted finalists work across mediums from ceramics to metalwork and their practices often blend heritage techniques with radical reinterpretation: basketry rendered in clay, loom-weaving expressed through metal, oral traditions given form in paper and lacquer. These are not fashion collaborators, but independent artists whose work exists outside commercial cycles, yet find a platform through LOEWE’s support. These two initiatives reflect the House’s ongoing commitment to amplifying independent voices, particularly those rooted in ancestral knowledge and artistic autonomy. Be it wearable artwork or a museum-grade sculpture, LOEWE continues to demonstrate that in luxury, real innovation often comes not only from futurism, but from honouring the past and championing those still practising it today.

Bottega Veneta

During Matthieu Blazy’s tenure, the Maison transformed into one of the industry’s most thoughtful platforms for artistic dialogue, embracing collaboration not as marketing garnish but as an integral part of its storytelling fabric. The brand’s recurring fanzine series is a case in point — not a glossy lookbook, but a limited-edition, tactile archive of visual narratives that span contemporary photography, architecture and personal memory. The fifth edition, released with the Winter ’24 collection, invited artists like Magnum’s Alec Soth, Amsterdam-based photographer Vytautas Kumza and Detroit collage artist Judy Bowman into Blazy’s world. From Utah’s alien landscapes to Detroit’s historic neighbourhoods, their works reimagine the brand’s garments as cultural artefacts — lived-in, stories and always in motion.

This commitment to intimacy and authorship continued in 2024’s Portraits of Fatherhood, a moving collaboration with artist Carrie Mae Weems and A$AP Rocky. Far from product placement, the project unfolded as a nuanced photographic exploration of contemporary Black fatherhood. In Weems’ signature monochrome-style photographs, the project echoes her early sociological works, while imbuing Rocky’s domestic moments with generational resonance.

Even Bottega’s flagship reopenings have become immersive expressions of artistry. The Paris store on Avenue Montaigne (redesigned by Blazy in 2023) included a front door featuring a one-of-a-kind glass handle by the Venice-based Japanese glass artist, Ritsue Mishima. While yes, it is a retail space, what also emerges from these initiatives is a brand that does not just wear culture but actively nurtures it.

In 2023, Bottega Veneta presented Bottega for Bottegas for the third consecutive year — an initiative that celebrates and gives global visibility to small artisanal workshops around the world. True to its name (with bottega translating to “workshop”), the project spotlights makers who produce small runs of handmade items, each realised with exceptional craftsmanship and creative intent. As one of the most prominent “bottegas” in the world, Bottega Veneta uses its platform to elevate others: the first edition focused on Italian workshops; the second highlighted international artisans inspired by Italian culture. 2023 saw the programme turn its lens to four remarkable bottegas whose distinct crafts empower imagination and foster cultural continuity. Liu Wenhui, for preserving Chinese woodwork heritage through modular building blocks inspired by ancient architecture. Taiwanese artist Cheng Tsung Feng dedication to studying endangered craft cultures, transforming forgotten techniques into sculptural artworks. In Korea, third-generation artisan Kitai Rhee is the last of his kind still making traditional Bangpae Yeon kites using hanji paper and bamboo, while also mentoring the next generation through his kite preservation association.

Prada Foudation (Fondazione Prada)

Since its inception in 1993, the Prada Group’s Fondazione Prada has commissioned and co-developed projects with independent artists who are given full curatorial control and space to experiment. From Francesco Vezzoli reimagining Italian pop culture in “TV 70”, to Luc Tuymans staging eerie dialogues between Baroque paintings and contemporary works in “Sanguine”, each collaboration reflects the foundation’s ethos, which is “to provoke rather than polish”. Its Milan headquarters — an expansive 19,000m² complex designed by Rem Koolhaas’s OMA — hosts rotating commissions like “Atlas”, featuring juxtapositions between artists such as Jeff Koons and Carla Accardi.

Meanwhile, Osservatorio, its photography outpost inside Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, supports emerging image-makers and thinkers. Projects like Training Humans by Kate Crawford and Trevor Paglen questioned data ethics and surveillance, showing how contemporary photography can be reframed through socio-political critique. What makes Fondazione Prada stand out is its combination of both exhibiting and empowering. Artists become curators, collaborators and even theorists are invited to stretch across disciplines, from neuroscience to immersive VR (Carne y Arena by Alejandro G. Iñárritu). In doing so, Prada demonstrates how a luxury brand can go beyond funding to truly invest in the cultural impact of independent thought.

Chanel’s le19M

Bridging the edge of Paris’s 19th arrondissement and Aubervilliers, le19M is Chanel’s modern cathedral to craft — an architectural and cultural space devoted to preserving and transmitting artisanal savoir-faire. Conceived by architect Rudy Ricciotti and spanning 25,500m², the space brings together workshops, a gallery and a school under one sweeping canopy. The name is rich in symbolism: “19” references the site’s location and Gabrielle Chanel’s favourite number, while the “M” stands for Mode (fashion), Mains (hands), Métiers d’art (crafts), Maisons (houses), and Manufactures. More than just a showcase, le19M is home to nearly 700 artisans working across a constellation of Chanel-owned ateliers — including Lesage, Lemarié, Atelier Montex, Maison Michel, Massaro and more. These expert hands produce embroidery, feathers, pleating, millinery and jewellery that power some of fashion’s most refined collections, from Chanel’s own Métiers d’art line to the creative experiments of independent designers in residence.

This April, la Galerie du 19M — its public-facing gallery — presents Ornementa, a large-scale participatory exhibition designed to immerse visitors in the processes behind a monumental new work: a 15-by-8-metre curtain created for the reopening of the Grand Palais in June 2025. The piece — developed in collaboration with Studio MTX and le19M’s resident houses — reflects the collective spirit and material poetry of contemporary craftsmanship. True to its ethos of transmission, Ornementa invites everyone from schoolchildren, families and design enthusiasts to engage directly with raw materials and hand techniques — embroidering, pleating, gilding and constructing ornamental elements in parallel to the atelier’s own creation of a second monumental curtain. One of the most playful moments comes courtesy of LA CAGE — the experimental design duo and 2024 Hyères Festival finalists — who will lead a charm-making workshop that reimagines adornment for the next generation. Since opening in 2022, le19M has positioned itself as more than a refuge for endangered techniques — it is a laboratory of innovation rooted in heritage, and proof that when luxury invests in legacy, it shapes culture, not just clothing.

Fondation d’entreprise Hermès

Since 2010, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès has granted visual artists carte blanche to explore the Maison’s métiers through its “Artists’ Residencies” programme. Taking place within Hermès’ leather, crystal, silk and silver workshops, these residencies spark unexpected collaborations between contemporary artists and master craftspeople — giving rise to original works that straddle art and exceptional savoir-faire. Artists begin their residency by immersing themselves in the vocabulary, tools and gestures of the workshop. With feasibility studies and mentorship guiding their process, each artist ultimately produces two works: one retained by the artist and another for the Foundation’s collection and travelling exhibitions.

Curated by Gaël Charbau, exhibitions like Condensation (Palais de Tokyo, 2013) and Les Mains sans sommeil (2017) have offered glimpses into these intimate, cross-disciplinary experiments. A 2021–2022 trilogy of shows — Formes du transfer — marked a decade of residencies, simultaneously staged in Paris, Tokyo and Seoul. To date, dozens of artists — from Bianca Argimon and Oliver Beer to Sébastien Gouju and Linda Sanchez — have passed through Hermès workshops across France, including the Cristallerie Saint-Louis and the leather ateliers of Pantin, Nontron and Belley. Their residencies have been documented in Cahiers de Résidence monographs co-published with Actes Sud.

The programme also owes its richness to the guidance of renowned mentors, such as Jean-Michel Alberola, Giuseppe Penone and, more recently, Gaël Charbau. In 2024, a new creative cycle began under curator Emmanuelle Luciani, conceived as Past–Present–Future. This two-year programme sees artists Jenna Kaës and Mounir Ayache in residence for 2024, with Salomé Chatriot and Jacopo Pagin set to follow in 2025. The cycle will culminate in a publication co-edited by Loose Joints and the Fondation, mapping the dialogue between contemporary art and living craftsmanship in an age of transformation.

Patek Philippe’s Rare Handcrafts 2025 Exhibition

Patek Philippe’s Rare Handcrafts 2025 exhibition is a masterclass in the art of ornamentation. Hosted at the brand’s historic Rue du Rhône salon, the annual showcase highlights the work of specialised artisans — some of the last in their fields — across 78 unique timepieces, including dome clocks, pocket watches and wristwatches. The exhibition puts a spotlight on métiers such as miniature enamel painting, wood marquetry, hand guilloché and engraving. These techniques are not decorative additions but require years of training and an extremely high level of precision.

For example, miniature enamel painters use single-hair brushes under a magnifying lens, building scenes layer by layer, with each layer fired at high temperatures to fix the colours. The process is fragile, time-consuming, and almost impossible to replicate at scale. In the wood marquetry pieces, hundreds of tiny wood fragments — some less than half a millimetre thick — are cut and assembled like puzzles to create detailed landscapes and animals. Ref. 5089G-126 “Leopard in the Savannah” uses more than 200 pieces of rare wood to depict a natural scene with tonal variation that mimics brushstrokes.

Other pieces revive techniques such as paillonné enamel, where thin gold leaves are embedded beneath translucent enamel, and grisaille, a monochrome method using white enamel on black to create light and shadow. One dome clock — Ref. 20073M “Châteaux de la Loire” — uses these methods to depict architectural scenes in exacting detail. The point of the exhibition is not just to show off rare skills — it is to keep them alive. Each timepiece is the result of close collaboration between designers, watchmakers and artisans. In an industry that often moves toward automation and production volume, Patek Philippe continues to invest in craft that cannot be rushed or reproduced.

Fondation Louis Vuitton

When the Fondation Louis Vuitton opened its doors in Paris in 2014, it marked more than just the unveiling of a Frank Gehry-designed architectural landmark — it signalled a deepening of LVMH’s role as a cultural investor. As the world’s largest luxury conglomerate, LVMH could have easily turned the Fondation into a marketing showpiece. Instead, it made a conscious decision to position the space as a serious artistic institution, with programming and curatorial direction that are deliberately decoupled from product launches, seasonal campaigns or celebrity-driven buzz.

Over the past decade, the Fondation has curated an ambitious calendar of exhibitions that balance international prestige with academic rigour. Its showcases include retrospectives of modern titans like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Mark Rothko, as well as deep dives into lesser-known yet critically significant figures such as Charlotte Perriand and Simon Hantaï — artists whose legacies demand contextual framing rather than commercial co-option. In doing so, the Fondation plays a role more akin to that of a national museum than a branded pavilion.

More than just an exhibition space, the Fondation serves as a platform for critical engagement. Artist talks, film screenings, concerts, and debates run in parallel to its exhibitions, often made freely available to the public online. Its education programmes are extensive, targeting school groups, young creatives and future collectors with initiatives that foster curiosity, critical thinking and cross-cultural appreciation. These efforts extend the Fondation’s relevance beyond the art world, embedding it into the social and intellectual fabric of Parisian life. For LVMH, the Fondation Louis Vuitton is not simply a display of cultural capital, but a long-game strategy in brand positioning. It reinforces the conglomerates credibility as a steward of cultural heritage.

FENDI’s Hand in Hand Initiative

FENDI’s “Hand in Hand” initiative celebrates the intersection of design and regional craftsmanship. Launched in 2020, the project invites artisans from across Italy — and beyond — to reinterpret the Maison’s legendary Baguette bag through the lens of their own cultural techniques. Each limited-edition creation becomes a one-of-a-kind objet d’art, featuring a stamped inside pocket bearing the artisan’s name and location, alongside the distinctive gold “FENDI Hand in Hand” logo. Originally conceived as a tribute to Italy’s regional artistry — from Sardinian filigree to Florentine leather mosaic — the project has since expanded globally, partnering with independent ateliers in the United States, Japan, China, Scotland and Madagascar. In 2024, the Baguette’s journey continues in Korea and Australia, forging connections between FENDI’s Roman heritage and time-honoured local traditions.

In Korea, FENDI collaborated with Kim Eun-young, a master of maedeup — a traditional knotting technique dating back to the Joseon Dynasty. Inspired by the sunset over Munsuam Hermitage in Goseong, the silk threads are hand-dyed in sequence to create a cloud-like palette of natural hues. The bag prominently features mangsu — ornamental tassels once reserved for royal ceremonial dress — crafted using traditional knotting patterns such as straight, cross, wave and tree motifs. In Australia, FENDI worked with textile artist Natalie Miller, whose vibrant woven works are crafted from hand-dyed Australian Merino wool. Sourced from a farm in Tasmania and processed at the historic Nundle Woollen Mill in New South Wales, the wool carries a legacy of softness and sustainability. Miller’s Baguette reflects the earthy textures and colours of the Southern Highlands, blending artisanal weaving with the spirit of the land. The result is a grounded, tactile work that redefines the luxury handbag as a canvas for cultural storytelling. With “Hand in Hand”, FENDI continues to champion craftsmanship not as a marketing tool, but as a living design dialogue — one rooted in continuity and collaboration.

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The evolution of timekeepers is often viewed through the lens of technical ingenuity, yet something equally significant lies beneath their function: their profound connection to humanity’s journey of development and creativity. From the invention of the minute repeater to highlight the hours in an age before electricity to the perpetual calendar’s elegant solution for leap years, horological complications arose as responses to necessity. Each one, a mirror of its era, reflects the challenges and aspirations of its time.

But watches are also adept storytellers, chronicling our collective journey through culture, visual art, and architecture. As canvases for creativity, they immortalise humanity’s greatest achievements—whether capturing the splendour of Venetian landmarks, the emotional resonance of Van Gogh’s brushstrokes, or the daring asymmetry of Baroque design. They transcend mere utility, becoming cultural artefacts that celebrate the richness of our shared heritage.

Exploring the intersection of watchmaking and art, architecture, and cultural heritage reveals a truth: these timepieces are not just functional objects or status symbols. They are vessels for narrative, weaving a connection between the wearer and a broader tapestry of human ingenuity. They preserve artistic techniques, architectural triumphs, and cultural milestones in tangible and timeless forms, ensuring that the past continues to inspire the present.

At their core, these timepieces are celebrations of human ingenuity. They reflect our ability to create beauty, tell stories, and leave behind legacies that transcend time. They matter not only as watches but as living testaments to the enduring power of creativity and the artistry of human achievement. Through these cultural journeys, horology becomes much more than the measure of hours—it becomes the measure of our humanity.

UPHOLDING TRADITIONS

In a world increasingly shaped by technology and mass production, Patek Philippe’s Rare Handcrafts series offers a steadfast tribute to tradition. These timepieces are less about precision or luxury than they are cultural artefacts, capturing the essence of human creativity through techniques that have been passed down for generations. They reflect the journeys that connect us to our shared past, blending horological mastery with the rich tapestry of art and culture.

At the heart of the Rare Handcrafts series is Patek Philippe’s dedication to preserving métiers d’art, the traditional decorative crafts that elevate watchmaking into an art form. Cloisonné enamel, one of the most intricate techniques, uses fine wires to separate vibrant enamel colours, creating miniature masterpieces on the dial. The process requires intense precision, with every layer fired in a kiln to achieve the desired depth and luminescence.

Marquetry takes a different route, piecing together tiny slivers of wood into intricate mosaics, each design telling its own story. It’s a technique that requires both patience and an artistic eye, imbuing the dial with a texture and warmth that feels alive. Then there’s engraving—done entirely by hand—that transforms metal surfaces into canvases for cultural and historical narratives. These techniques aren’t just decorative; they are the mediums through which stories are told, preserving the essence of artistry from one generation to the next.

What makes the Rare Handcrafts series truly remarkable is its ability to take inspiration from a wide array of cultures and histories, turning each watch into a visual journey. A recent piece featuring an enamelled map of the Silk Road stands out as a prime example. It’s a celebration of centuries of cross-cultural exchange, with its delicate cartography paying homage to the trade routes that connected the East and West. Wearing it is akin to carrying a piece of history on your wrist, a reminder of the ingenuity and ambition that shaped the modern world.

Other timepieces draw from equally rich sources: pastoral Swiss landscapes captured in glowing enamel; Ottoman-inspired geometric designs; or the fluid curves of Arabic calligraphy. Each watch transcends its function as a timekeeper to become a narrative, an exploration of global heritage rendered in miniature. Patek Philippe’s commitment to the Rare Handcrafts series goes beyond creating beautiful objects; it’s about ensuring that traditional craftsmanship continues to thrive in the modern age. In the maison’s ateliers, artisans dedicate countless hours to perfecting techniques that are increasingly endangered in the fast-paced world of horology. But this isn’t preservation for its own sake; Patek Philippe innovates within these traditional crafts, finding ways to make them relevant for today’s collectors. The Rare Handcrafts series ensures that these age-old skills remain vibrant, valued, and appreciated.

To wear a Rare Handcrafts watch is to step into a larger story. It’s a connection to centuries of artistry and cultural exploration, distilled into a single object that lives on the wrist. These timekeepers aren’t just about where we are now; they’re about where we’ve been and the creative legacies we carry forward. In reminding the world that true luxury lies not in opulence but in the preservation of culture, the celebration of human ingenuity, and the stories that make us who we are, we are also reminded that they are the measure of our shared journey through history and artistry.

ART ON THE WRIST

Few maisons in haute horology have embraced the arts and culture as deeply as Vacheron Constantin. Since its founding in 1755, the brand has consistently aligned itself with the creative worlds of craftsmanship, design, and fine art, ensuring that each timepiece is not merely functional but a celebration of human ingenuity. This commitment has seen Vacheron Constantin champion métiers d’art — traditional decorative techniques such as enamelling, engraving, and guilloché — while collaborating with cultural institutions to preserve and reinterpret artistic heritage.

Over the centuries, Vacheron Constantin has produced watches that are both cultural artefacts and technical marvels. Its involvement with the decorative arts became a defining characteristic in the 19th century, as bespoke commissions for royalty and nobility frequently incorporated intricate miniatures, floral engravings, and guilloché patterns. This legacy continued into the 20th century, with landmark creations such as the 1977 Métiers d’Art collection, which celebrated decorative traditions in watchmaking. By the 21st century, Vacheron Constantin had cemented its position as a custodian of artistic excellence with its ongoing Métiers d’Art series, which regularly features intricate dials inspired by architecture, literature, and cultural iconography.

This storied history of engaging with culture and the creative arts finds its latest expression in the maison’s partnership with New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) through the A Masterpiece on Your Wrist programme. First unveiled in 2022, this initiative invites collectors to explore the intersection of fine art and horology, translating masterpieces from MoMA’s collection into miniature artworks on the dial. For 2024, the spotlight turns to two iconic painters: Vincent van Gogh and Winslow Homer.

Through the delicate techniques of miniature painting and cloisonné enamelling, Vacheron Constantin reimagines Van Gogh’s The Starry Night and Homer’s Breezing Up (A Fair Wind) in breathtaking detail. The swirling skies and vivid landscapes of Van Gogh’s work are captured with a precision that evokes his expressive brushstrokes. At the same time, Homer’s maritime scenes—redolent of movement and light—are rendered with an almost photographic clarity. These are not simple reproductions; each timepiece serves as a deeply considered tribute to the artist’s vision, distilled into a dial no larger than a few centimetres.

Such creations are only possible through Vacheron Constantin’s mastery of métiers d’art. Enamelling, in particular, demands extraordinary patience and technical expertise, requiring hours of meticulous work to layer colours and textures while maintaining the vibrancy of the original. The result is a collection that unites fine art with haute horology, blending the timeless appeal of both disciplines.

What makes the A Masterpiece on Your Wrist programme so compelling is its ability to transform iconic works of art into intimate, wearable forms. By immortalising these masterpieces on the wrist, Vacheron Constantin offers collectors a way to engage with cultural history on a profoundly personal level. It’s a celebration not just of fine watchmaking but of humanity’s capacity for creativity, ensuring that the beauty and stories of these works endure in a way that is both tangible and timeless.

POP CULTURE MEETS HOROLOGY

Few watch brands have navigated the intersection of heritage and modernity as deftly as Audemars Piguet. Under the leadership of its recently outgoing CEO François-Henry Bennahmias, the Royal Oak evolved from an icon of horology into a global cultural touchstone, one that mirrors the journey of contemporary luxury itself. The Royal Oak’s ability to traverse time and trends, while remaining true to its roots, exemplifies the idea of a cultural journey — blending tradition with an ever-evolving dialogue that captures the essence of its era.

Bennahmias’ tenure, which saw Audemars Piguet’s revenues soar, was marked by his deep understanding that relevance is as important as exclusivity. By forging partnerships with figures and entities that shaped the modern zeitgeist—from Australian fashion designer Tamara Ralph to Marvel Comics—he ensured that the Royal Oak was more than a timepiece; it became a symbol of the times. Each collaboration was a waypoint in the Royal Oak’s journey, connecting it to a broader narrative of art, culture, and modern identity.

The recent collaboration with contemporary artist Kaws is only the latest chapter in the Royal Oak’s ongoing exploration of cultural connections. Kaws’ Companion figure, synonymous with street art and global pop culture, brings an ephemeral, playful energy to the Royal Oak, transforming it into a wearable dialogue between high art and modern culture. The collaboration underscores the watch’s adaptability, turning its iconic design into a canvas for new artistic narratives.

This is far from the Royal Oak’s first foray into cultural partnerships. In 2005, a collaboration with Jay-Z marked a bold step into the world of music, creating a Royal Oak Offshore that married haute horology with the dynamic energy of hip-hop. The Marvel x Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon “Black Panther” watch similarly expanded the Royal Oak’s reach, introducing a new audience to the technical and artistic possibilities of watchmaking. Each partnership reflects a deliberate choice to connect with different cultural spheres, ensuring the Royal Oak remains a part of the collective journey through modern creativity.

At the heart of the Royal Oak’s enduring relevance is its ability to embrace change without losing sight of its origins. The octagonal bezel, exposed screws, and integrated bracelet—Gerald Genta’s revolutionary 1972 design—remain untouched, even as the Royal Oak explores new materials like ceramic and titanium, bold colours, and intricate skeletonisation. These evolutions reflect not just technical progress but also the willingness to journey into uncharted territories of design and collaboration.

The Kaws collaboration, for example, reimagines the Royal Oak as a statement of artistic exploration. It’s a watch that captures the essence of travel—not in the literal sense, but as a journey through ideas, cultural movements, and artistic expression. This duality—anchored in heritage yet open to reinvention—is what makes the Royal Oak a symbol of progress and tradition.

The Royal Oak’s ascent is, in many ways, a reflection of the broader shifts in how luxury is perceived. Where exclusivity was once defined by tradition and opulence, it now encompasses cultural relevance and the ability to adapt. Audemars Piguet has positioned the Royal Oak as a compass for this changing landscape, using its collaborations to map a journey that spans art, music, and pop culture.

ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE

Watches and architecture share more in common than one might think. Both disciplines demand precision, innovation, and an eye for proportion. Over the years, watchmakers have frequently looked to architecture for inspiration, translating the grandeur of historic landmarks and design philosophies into wearable forms. Two prime examples – Jaeger-LeCoultre’s recently unveiled Reverso Tribute Enamel “Venice Series” and Gerald Charles’ Masterlink series – showcase how architecture’s influence on horology can be both reverential and innovative.

The Reverso, originally designed in 1931 for polo players who wanted to protect their watch faces during matches, has long been a canvas for artistic expression. Its Art Deco lines lend themselves beautifully to architectural homage, and the Venice Series takes this to new heights. The Reverso enamelled casebacks depict Venetian landmarks such as the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica. The cloisonné enamelling technique used here—requiring delicate metal wires to outline shapes, which are then filled with layers of coloured enamel—is a nod to Venice’s own history as a centre of glass and mosaic artistry. Each piece takes dozens of hours to complete, and only the most skilled artisans in the Vallée de Joux atelier can execute it to the exacting standards Jaeger-LeCoultre demands.

The resulting timepieces are more than tributes; they are bridges to Venice’s heritage. By wearing one, you carry the romance and elegance of the floating city, distilled into a few centimetres of luminous enamel. It’s a fitting companion to the Reverso’s already storied history, reinforcing its position as a true horological storyteller.

It’s fascinating how these watches showcase how architecture can inform and elevate watch design, and they are hardly the only ones to do so. In translating the spirit of those structures into objects of daily wear, these timekeepers proffer the idea that architecture isn’t just something to be admired but to be carried, worn, and experienced, turning the act of checking the time into a journey through the annals of history and design.

This story was first seen on WOW #76 Spring 2025 Issue

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