STERNENHIMMEL STARRY SKY (AVENTURINE DIAL)

From the hands of a young German watchmaker whose hand crafted creations are defined by their austere minimalism and immaculate execution, with its individually unique aventurine dial the Sternenhimmel by Felipe Pikullik is a piece of understated beauty.

Long before founding his own Berlin-based atelier which he established in 2017, the aspiring watchmaker had already envisioned the perfect watch. Put simply, and in his own words, “I searched for a watch that suits my vision, until I decided to build one myself”. Already renowned in the inner circle of collectors, who recognise that a fresh talent often matures quickly into a Master, his immaculately crafted timepieces are decorated with a refinement which belies his youthfulness, and have a desirability which is enhanced by the irresistible exclusivity of bespoke personalisation.

Presented in a rounded case of stainless steel, with contrasting brushed and polished surface finishings, the Sternenhimmel's unfussy styling, with its slender bezel, sculpted lugs and fluted crown combine to give the watch a classic appearance, while its 41mm width give it a contemporary feel.

Beneath its subtly convex sapphire crystal, the characteristics of the dark blue aventurine glass dial with its minuscule particles embedded randomly beneath its glossy surface realistically create the impression of a clear starry sky, which is where Sternenhimmel takes its name. The dauphine-style hour and minute hands are faceted and taper to fine pointed ends, and apart from a trio of diamonds spaced across the three, six and nine o'clock positions, and an unobtrusive cartouche engraved with the maker's name at the twelve, the dial is otherwise pure and uncluttered.

In contrast to the reserved simplicity of the dial side, a sapphire caseback reveals the elaborate intricacy of its hand skeletonised ZBH1 calibre, which is breathtaking in its beauty and in the meticulous attention devoted to the finishing of each surface and component.

Based on a hand-wound ETA 6497-1 pocket watch movement, the original mechanism has been entirely disassembled before being transformed into a haute horlogerie showcase for the watchmaker's prodigious talents. The ornate architecture of this classic movement is spectacular. Around every one of the pared back bridges, which are treated with a dark rhodium plating, flawless mirror polished anglage accentuates the sweeping curves, and contrasts superbly with their frosted surfaces and the contra-directional snailed swirls on the barrel cover and ratchet wheel. A little deeper in to the movement, the internal gear wheels are skeletonised and gold plated, as is the balance cock which is further embellished with an elaborately engraved pattern, in the style of traditional German watchmaking.

With each example manufactured by hand to the owner's specifications, the Sternenhimmel with skeletonised movement is an exceptional piece from another rising talent in the new generation of independent watchmakers, and is as individual a wristwatch as it is possible to imagine.