EXCELLENCE MARQUETERIE

A limited release of only 99 pieces, the Excellence Marqueterie watch by Louis Erard features an intriguing métiers d’art dial surface, hand crafted using the artisan technique of wood marquetry giving it an incredibly detailed three dimensional aspect. Forming part of the company’s acclaimed Excellence series, the stunning Excellence Marqueterie by Louis Erard is presented in a beautifully finished contemporary stainless steel casing and the model has the added advantage of an élaboré grade Swiss self-winding calibre.

The stellar feature of the model is its hand-crafted dial, each of which will be made by Sainte-Croix based Bastien Chevalier, a master of miniature marquetry, with the façade bearing the signature of the artisan. Comprising of more than 70 tiny slivers of wood, with each piece individually cut in the direction of the wood grain by hand to a precision of one tenth of a millimetre, the artwork is created like a micro jigsaw. Rendered using a trio of perfectly colour toned blue-tinted tulip tree wood and contrasting grey-tinted willow burl, the individual pieces are sorted with extraordinary accuracy, before being with placed and glued to achieve the pattern, after which the entire surface is micro-sanded to achieve perfection.

The end result of this meticulous and painstaking work is a mesmerising motif which tricks one’s eye as it exhibits the illusion of a three dimensional cubed pattern on the solid dial surface. Allowing the artwork to remain uncluttered, the dial of Louis Erard’s Excellence Marqueterie is bereft of numerals and markers, and is equipped only with the company’s distinctive fir tree shape hour and minute hands which have a heat blued finish so that they complement the tones of the dial surface. At any step during the crafting process the entire motif can be rendered unusable due to the intricacy of the hand work, and the fact that such a detailed artisan dial can be offered at this price point speaks of the commitment to métiers d’art which Louis Erard demonstrate through their small series pieces.

The Louis Erard Excellence Marqueterie carries a rounded stainless steel case of 42mm diameter and 12.25mm height. The profile of the casing has been enhanced with a polished finish, and its neatly tucked in crown, curving lugs and trim bezel offer excellent proportions. Inside, and viewable through the sapphire crystal exhibition caseback, a modified Sellita SW261-1 self-winding movement features a semi-skeletonised Louis Erard oscillating weight, and it boasts a power reserve of thirty-eight hours, beating at a brisk 28’800 vib/h.

The Louis Erard Excellence Marqueterie comes presented on a dark blue grained calfskin leather strap, secured with a steel pin buckle. The edition is strictly limited to only 99 pieces.