Jay (Eire)
9292
What you are not getting is the process, the artistry behind the dials.
Apr 19, 2024,20:14 PM
I think you see that in person it changes your view.
Now whether one thinks it’s “worth it” or not that’s another matter; Patek’s rare handcrafts are all close on or exceeding $100,000.
Other brands maybe half that or less, the watch in the post above retailed originally for €27k and sold today at auction for $18k.
To me, by far the most impressive of the rare handcrafts is marquetry. Seeing it in person, seeing the artist create the dial just blew my mind. The pictures below show part of a demonstration of cutting the wood, the cut pieces themselves and then an example of the finished piece (I don’t think was a wristwatch, perhaps for a pocket watch given the size).
It’s like a crazy jigsaw, but you need to select and cut the pieces, and the colours. The individual pieces of wood are not painted afterwards, the colours you see are from the wood naturally or treated wood and each piece needs to be cut from a large sheet with the colour you need.
Finished product, 100 or more tiny pieces of wood.