New: Schaefer Companions Solune Grand Art Marqueterie

April 12, 2013

You re familiar with Max Bsser and his friends. The creations MB&F produces are incredible, wondrous, and imaginative, but theyre also out of reach for the majority of watch enthusiasts. Let me introduce you to Schaefer & Companions, a brand recently founded in Le Locle that positions itself as an artistic platform. Christophe Schaefer, the brand s founder, cultivates the conviction that 1 + 1 = 3, meaning that collaboration and the sharing of ideas among artists open new horizons. This vision is the foundation of this independent brand s originality. The three Schaefer & Companions Solune Grand Art Marqueterie creations presented here are made in collaboration with Sabine Aucoulon, who possesses a rare mastery of straw marquetry and embroidery, two skills she combines to create unique, poetic, and profoundly refined pieces. The watches have a distinct, artisanal look, and the price will surprise you.A brand that presents itself as a platform of artistic collaboration might sound a bit pretentious or abstract, but in the end, its the watches that matter. As you would expect, Schaefer & Companions doesnt produce wallflowers. Instead, the brands timepieces have a bold character. The Solune case, for instance, is a provoking, angular creation. Inspiration for its shape was drawn from the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras that celebrated art and free thought. The Solunes radiant bezel evokes the astral power of the Sun, a symbol of harmony, knowledge, and life. The bold, symmetrical architecture of the case reflects a sculptural vision. While the case is clearly a love-hate affair, it showcases the brands daring and artistry. This 43 11.4mm steel case has a 49.3mm lug-to-lug length and is relatively large for todays trends.Schaefer & Companions Solune Grand Art Marqueterie: Three watches with straw marquetry dialsWhen you explore the relatively new universe of Schaefer & Companions, you encounter various metiers dart. Theres enameling, marquetry, engraving, and micro-painting to enjoy. These are complex techniques that require skilled hands. The various artisanal crafts help elevate a watch into something more contemplative than usual. Each watch is a tribute to pure craftsmanship. To spread the word about the brand and its artisanal creations, Schaefer & Companions collaborated with QoQa. Created in 2005, this Swiss community-driven e-commerce platform offers a single, limited-time product each day at a special discounted price. For the exclusive QoQa launch, Sabine Aucoulon, an exceptional craftswoman who possesses a rare mastery of straw marquetry and embroidery, created three different dials with a solar motif. The special deal might be gone by the time you read this, but without that discount, the price is CHF 3,105.Navy blue, shiny silver, and golden yellowThree colors are/were available - Argent (S-GAMK0A-SOL-20A02), Bleu marine (S-GAMK3A-SOL-20A02), and Sable dore (S-GAMK5A-SOL-20A02). The pattern features a geometric design, creating a radiant interplay of reflections on the straw strands. With a sun-like case and bezel, the pattern acts as rays of sunshine - the yellow reference is very literal, while the other two are a bit more abstract.Every Solune Grand Art Marqueterie is handcrafted, making each watch a work of art for the wrist. The watch case, with its sculptural form, was designed by the founder himself. If you like faceted designs, such as Bvlgaris Octo Finissimo, this form will likely appeal to you. The many diamond-polished edges and microblasted surfaces create an outspoken look and reflect light dynamically.Beneath the sparkling straw artwork beats the top-grade ETA 2892-A2, a proven Swiss automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve, blued screws, perlage, and an average accuracy of 7 seconds per day. This movement powers the Astral hands, which are unique to the Solune. The hour and minute hands are finely faceted, partly brushed, and partly polished, while the running indicator is crafted as a small, seven-pointed star. Sable dore Argent Bleu marine Any thoughts about the Schaefer & Companions Solune Grand Art Marqueterie? Please share them in the comments section. And in case youre not into straw, check out the brands website to see watches with other artisanal dials.Watch specifications Brand Schaefer & Companions Model Solune Grand Art MarqueterieReference S-GAMK0A-SOL-20A02 (Argent) / S-GAMK3A-SOL-20A02 (Bleu marine) / S-GAMK5A-SOL-20A02 (Sable dore)Dial Dyed straw marquetry in silver, blue, or yellow, stainless steel flange with dot indexes, stainless steel hour and minute hands and small star-shaped running indicatorCase Material 904L stainless steelCase Dimensions 43mm (diameter) 49.3mm (lug-to-lug) 11.4mm (thickness)Crystal Double-domed sapphire with antireflective coating on both sidesCase Back 904L stainless steel and antireflective sapphire crystal, affixed with four screws Movement ETA 2892-A2 (Top): automatic with manual winding and hacking seconds, 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz frequency), 42-hour power reserve, 21 jewels, adjusted to 7 seconds per day, C?tes de Geneve, perlage, blued screwsWater Resistance 5 bar (50 meters)Strap Black apple leather (21/18mm) with polished and brushed 904L stainless steel pin buckleFunctions Time (hours, minutes) and running indicatorPrice CHF 3,105