Monochrome Watches
An online magazine dedicated to fine watches
Baselworld 2018

Schwarz Etienne “Ode au Printemps” Limited Edition Box Set

Tourbillons and bees alight on the dials of these delightful watches.

| By Xavier Markl | 3 min read |

At Baselworld 2018, Schwarz Etienne unveils a limited-edition box set of three watches, which showcase the brand’s watchmaking mastery and expertise in creative artisan crafts. It will be part of a series to celebrate the seasons (Ode aux saisons or Ode to seasons). Starting with spring (Ode au Printemps or Ode to spring), the first opus celebrates the awakening of life eloquently pictured with flowers and bees. The choice of the insect is not accidental as the coat of arms of La Chaux-de-Fonds, the city of Schwarz-Etienne, features a gold-colored hive surrounded by bees. The special edition also aims at raising awareness for their preservation and protection.

Tourbillon Petite Seconde Retrograde (PSR)

The Tourbillon PSR exposes its movement on the dial side with its micro-rotor and tourbillon incorporating a playful retrograde seconds display. The latter is constructed in a truly original fashion and is directly driven by a cam mounted on the tourbillon arbour. The tourbillon rotating in an unusual counterclockwise motion and the small seconds with its left to right ballet are hypnotic.

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Encased in pink gold, the dial showcases a golden honeycomb motif. The micro-rotor is dressed with a poppy crafted in coral and a hand-painted bee. The degree of finesse is remarkable. The hour and minute ring and the arched retrograde seconds indicator are both made from Tiger’s Eye.

The final touch is a hand-sewn brown alligator strap with red alligator stitching and lining, secured by a folding buckle.

Schwarz-Etienne – Ode au Printemps – Tourbillon PSR

  • Case: 44mm – pink gold – sapphire crystal – engraved case back with opening on the tourbillon – water-resistant to 50m
  • Movement: TSE122.00 – 30.40 x 7.05mm – mechanical with automatic winding (micro-rotor) – 72h power reserve – 28,800 vibrations/h – 40 jewels – off-centered indication of the hours and minutes, retrograde seconds – one-minute tourbillon
  • Strap:  alligator strap with alligator lining, folding buckle

Flying Tourbillon

The second watch of this exclusive set is another tourbillon. The dial is decorated with a rhodium-plated honeycomb motif and subtly decorated in blue agate. The dial side micro-rotor features a hand-painted white gold cornflower.

The 44mm case is rendered in white gold. Its back is engraved with gears with a round opening around the tourbillon. The leather strap is blue alligator with grey stitching and grey alligator lining.

Schwarz-Etienne – Ode au Printemps – Flying Tourbillon

  • Case: 44mm– white gold – sapphire crystal – engraved case back with opening on the tourbillon – water-resistant to 50m
  • Movement: TSE 121.00 – 30.40 x 6.35mm – mechanical with automatic winding (micro-rotor) – 3.5 days power reserve – 21,600 vibrations/h – 34 jewels – hours and minutes – one-minute flying tourbillon.
  • Strap: alligator strap with alligator lining, folding buckle

Roswell

The third piece is taken from the Roswell collection. The honeycomb motif is rendered in anthracite grey (black rhodium finish) contrasting with the 45mm rose gold case. The daisy-shaped micro-rotor with a nectar-gathering bee is finely hand-chiselled. For this version, the alligator strap is black with yellow stitching and saffron alligator lining.

Schwarz-Etienne – Ode au Printemps – Roswell

  • Case: 45mm – pink gold – sapphire crystal – engraved case back – water-resistant to 50m
  • Movement: ISE 100.00 – 30.40 x 6.30mm – mechanical with automatic winding (micro-rotor) – 4 days power reserve – 21,600 vibrations/h – 36 jewels – hours, minutes and small seconds.
  • Strap: alligator strap with alligator lining, folding buckle

These three watches come in an exclusive presentation case. This special ‘Ode to Spring’ edition is limited to just 10 sets and retails for CHF 275,000. For more information, visit www.schwarz-etienne.com.

https://monochrome.website-lab.nl/schwarz-etienne-ode-au-printemps-limited-edition-box-set/

1 response

  1. These are lovely, precious, interesting and about as far from daily wear as a watch can be, but I love them for this honesty and would certainly enjoy wearing them a few times a year. I think the size is appropriate to the intention of the watch and love the high horology calibres and obvious craftsmanship. Together, they are a very impressive collection that makes me wish I had enough wealth to wear them with as much whimsy as they embody.

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