Most people in the watch industry would consider horology one part business, one part technology and one part fine art. It’s always exciting to see watch brands collaborate with artists to create truly original pieces. Below are a few of many watchmakers that have used art as an inspiration or their work has served as an inspiration to an artist.
Jaeger-LeCoultre and Van Gogh
Enamelling at Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre, Photo Johann Sauty
An undisputed style icon, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso was revived at this year’s SIHH and continues to wow the watch world through 2016. The watchmaker presents the second series of the Reverso watch in tribute to Vincent van Gogh in conjunction with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
The watch used in the series is the Reverso á Eclipse watch featuring an enameled miniature of the self-portrait as a painter on the dial. The reversible watch features a platinum case equipped with the in-house Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 849, which lends itself perfectly for one of the rarest fine art traditions, miniature enamel painting.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso à Eclipse watch, Selfportrait as a painter, Photo Lex Beers Fotografie Alexander
This idea came from Dutch boutique, Gassan. The company mainly focuses on diamond cutting and diamond retail and has several stores across the Netherlands. In 2014, Gassan and Jaeger-LeCoultre opened a boutique in Amsterdam together. Although Gassan was a key part of this, Jaeger-LeCoultre has a reputation of inventive watchmaking and using skills seen at few manufacturers.
The watch is a limited edition of four and can be admired at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.