The functionality of watches has long been surpassed by other methods of time keeping. This is not to take away from the value of the watch but rather to highlight the artistic merits that have overtaken the functional ones. Watch brands are investing heavily in designing new concepts that transform timepieces into pieces of art. Here we take a look at artistically designed watches that commemorate travellers, explorers and the faraway lands that they have visited.
Sarcar Carrousel's 60th Anniversary collection, named Carrousel World, pays tribute to its founder Carlo Sarzano's travels around the world, using a special micropainting method. Each painting on the Carrousel dial represents one of five global monuments from the five continents of the world.
'This kind of art has to be learned as a child. You have to grow up with it, training your body, training your eyes. The Russian artist works without a microscope, relying only on the precision of her eyes. She can work only for a few hours each day when the light is best and begins to paint only when she has managed to lower her heart rate to 35 beats a minute,' said Maya Koenig, Sarcar Carrousel's chief executive. 'This is because her hands must be steady beyond a regular person's ability. Her technique is mysterious but she can only paint using this method for a number of years, as this method takes a toll on her body.'
The end result is a unique timepiece, as each dial is an individual piece of fine art. The watches in the collection feature The Great Wall, Venice, The Statue of Liberty, Sydney Opera House and the Pyramids of Egypt.
'We have been working together with the artist to be sure to select places that can be well represented on the dials,' Koenig said.
'Our customers are always looking for the same: to be different. These are people who already have a watch collection and now they are looking for something different - something unique. Miniature painting and marquetry works give us individual pieces so no two will be the same.'