Origin Azur Limited Edition

The Limited Edition are delighted to announce its latest joint collaboration limited edition timepiece, this time in association with US-based Collective Horology, and another rising star in the independent watchmaking firmament with the superb Origin Azur by English watchmaker James Lamb.

A piece of exceptional beauty and quite remarkable attention to detail, the Origin Azur is a watch which encapsulates the traditional values of hand crafted artisanal watchmaking, which are a signature of James Lamb’s approach.

Except for the movement, which is a premium grade Swiss made Sellita mechanism, almost every other element is designed and manufactured individually by hand, including the case itself - a very rare feat today, and one which is made all the more impressive as its design, dimensions and critical tolerances have been worked out on paper, and without the use of contemporary high-tech CNC design aids.

The rounded case is crafted into a round band from a sheet of Argentium 935 silver, a silver alloy which is much less prone to tarnishing and also has a notably bright colour. Using only a lathe, heat and hand held tools, the metal is sculpted into shape, with the lugs then welded on before the painstaking processes of detailing its curved waist and hand finishing begins.

Measuring 39mm across and 9.75mm tall, the Origin case features a slim bezel and a flat sapphire crystal, beneath which the captivatingly beautiful dial, which is again manufactured in silver, and whose three dimensional geometric pattern is achieved by laser engraving, before receiving several coats of rich blue kiln-fired enamel to give the surface a beautiful glassy finish.

The hours, minutes and seconds are displayed on a decentralised white ceramic subdial, which is also manufactured in-house, and which features pad printed markings,, with arabic numerals, hour indices and a classic minutes track around the periphery. The blued steel hands are hand crafted into ornate lance-style pointers with tapering ends.

On the underside, a solid Argentium silver caseback features an elaborate laser engraved pattern, as well as the stamped hallmarks of the London Assay Office. Inside, the premium grade Swiss-made Sellita SW-210 manual winding movement beats at a brisk 28,800 vib/h and boasts a power reserve of at least 42 hours.

Presented on a hand stitched sustainable calfskin leather strap with pin buckle, production of the Origin Azur is limited to twelve pieces, six of which are available via The Limited Edition in the UK, with the other six examples through the US-based Collective Horology platform.

Read more on The Watch Press.