With limited edition and one-off watches as the core of its production, small independent Swiss watch brand Kerbedanz regularly turns out masterpieces that are geared for collectors around the world. Such is the case with the brand’s unusual Tribute To collection of watches. The concept is to pay homage to a particular country or even city, and versions have included a Tribute to the United States, Russia, the United Arabic Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Now Kerbedanz expands the series and pays homage to the largest state in America: Texas.
The series from Kerbedanz, which only produces timepieces in solid gold or titanium, was such a success around the world, that the brand has created a homage series for several countries and continues to expand that. However, it also has begun developing further niche collections, including a tribute to certain US states, with Tribute to Texas watch being first.
An automatic 18-karat solid white gold timepiece that retails for about $39,000, the newest Texas watch is comes in a variety of styles – each one unique and different, and each showcasing the talent and ingenuity of the brand’s designer. The case back is hand engraved and can be personalized. The watches are being offered exclusively for sale via Texas retailer, Bachendorf.
There are 14 limited edition watches, or, if one prefers, a special edition can be custom made for about $45,000. Entirely designed and developed in house by Kerbedanz, the Texas watches that are personalized can recall any thing one wants to pay tribute to, including a football team or a ranch (such as the watch with the hat and Indian arrow through it).
Because Texas is called the Lone Star state, some of the watches feature different renditions of the star on the dial. Another one also pays tribute to the cowboys of Texas, with the state image in the background of the dial and a cowboy on a bronco horse in the center. Another version depicts a bright yellow rose (indicative of the state’s flower: the yellow rose of Texas) in the background with pearlized revolvers crossing one another on top of the rose petals. Texas is known for being a gun-toting western state. One version features all of the Texas symbols on it (the red, white and blue colors of the flag, the state shape, cattle head and hors, gun and even cowboy boots and hat—with the single star also on the dial.
Each Tribute to Texas watch offers hours and minutes indications only – enabling the dial to speak volumes. The relatively affordable price makes the watch an attractive purchase for oil barons and cattle ranchers who have made their legacy in the Lone Star state.
The Tribute to the United States watches – which were the first to make their debut in the Tribute to … series -- feature the Northern Hemisphere map on the dial with the United States (including Alaska) crafted in 18-karat pink gold. At 12:00 the American Eagle spreads its wings. The dial also carriers the name of four of the most famous and important presidents in American history – those Presidents that are carved into the Mount Rushmore National Memorial (Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt). The case back features the four presidents’ sculptures carved directly into it.
Each watch houses the mechanical KRB-03 caliber with 120 hours of power reserve. The 46mm watch offers hours and minutes and features a sapphire crystal and caseback with anti-reflective treatment to avoid glare. The dial of the Tribute to the USA watch features a white gold bas-relief. Water resistant to 30 meters, it is being created in a limited edition of just 50 pieces.
