Ville de Genève
Case : 2N 18K solid yellow gold set with 399 Top Wesselton diamonds, sapphire crystal case-back Diameter : 39mm Movement : mechanical hand-wound (in-house made, 55h power reserve), made of gold and set with 12 diamonds, protected by several patents and featuring Renaissance-inspired decoration Functions : hours, minutes, seconds, secret service indicator a 12 o’clock Dial : gold and Grand Feu enamel encrusted with diamonds, blued hands Water resistance : 30m Strap : hand-sewn rolled-edge alligator leather with alligator lining, 2N 18K solid gold pin buckle set with 143 diamonds Limited edition : 1/1 unique piece
The Swiss town often referred to as “Calvin’s city” is an exhaustible source of inspiration for watchmakers. Doubtless as a provocative nod to Calvinism that aspired to eliminate external signs of wealth, the founder of the Julien Coudray brand has adorned this one-of-a-kind
Ville de Genève watch with 570 rare and perfectly-cut white Top Wesselton diamonds, including the movement which is set with 12 diamonds. The latter, as well as the surrounding dial and case, are almost exclusively carved from a kilogram of 2N 18-carat gold. The solid gold dial is topped by domed cartouches in traditional Grand Feu enamelling, around a third of which are also encrusted with diamonds. The resplendent coat-of-arms of the city of Geneva appears in the centre, immortalised by a Grand Feu enamel miniature painting using the ancestral “point by point” technique developed by Petitot in the 17
th century. Transparency, depth and radiant colours all stem from the unpredictable fusion of enamel and determine the unique nature of each dial. While the seconds hand sweeping over them is entirely blued, only the angles of the hours and minutes hands are thus adorned. This extraordinary concern for details permeates every intricate detail of the hand-engraved and decorated calibre that has earned a number of patents. Mechanical complexity and artistic sophistication converge after four long years, when the enamelled service indicator shaped like a golden drop of oil appears at 12 o’clock – embodying a degree of patience that only great collectors will appreciate in full.