At Baselworld 2016, the "Ode à la Semaine" collection, which paid homage to the craft of the Métiers d’Art and illustrated the days of the week, was presented. At Baselworld 2018, Schwarz Etienne unveils this time the "Ode au Printemps" (Ode to Spring) collection. This first edition of “Odes aux Saisons”, explores the fascinating world of bees. These insects are celebrated in each of the three expertly-crafted and unique timepieces. The association is not purely accidental. Bees, closely associated to literature and philosophy, are represented in the coat of arms of La Chaux-de-Fonds, the Swiss city where Schwarz Etienne resides.
Tourbillon Petite Seconde Rétrograde (PSR)
The first element of this collection is the Tourbillon Petite Seconde Rétrograde (PSR). Since its launch at Baselworld 2017, this creation has been revisited and reinterpreted by its master creators, who have worked tirelessly to carve the environment of the insect it honours. The dial has been reconfigured to resemble a honeycomb, the micro-rotor dressed with a poppy crafted in fine strips of coral and it comes adorned, naturally, with a hand painted bee. Maintaining its pledge to provide only the finest stones on its timepieces, Schwarz Etienne integrates a tiger’s eye on the hour and seconds counter. A fine gemstone famed for its protective values, the tiger’s eye is revered for its soothing honey-brown tone which plays against the transparency of the hour discs and the Petite Seconde Rétrograde.
Already recognised as a core item of Schwarz Etienne La Chaux-de-Fonds collection, the Tourbillon Petite Seconde Rétrograde (PSR) comes with its own entirely in-house produced Irreversible TSE 122.00 movement with its micro-rotor at 9 o’clock, tourbillon visible at 1 o’clock and small second retrograde at 11 o’clock. Its power reserve is 72 hours. A rose gold case, comprising a hive-inspired engraved background, and a hand-sewn brown alligator strap with red alligator stitching and lining complete this timepiece.
La Chaux-de-Fonds Flying Tourbillon
The Flying Tourbillon, with a dial decorated in rhodium-plated honeycomb, is the second timepiece of this alluring collection. Immediately visible is its distinctive mass wheel featuring a hand painted white gold cornflower. Subtly decorated in blue agate, the ratchet illuminates the turning hour.
In a similar manner to the aforementioned Tourbillon Petite Seconde Rétrograde (PSR), the Flying Tourbillon also belongs to the La Chaux-de-Fonds collection and in this instance comes in white gold and equipped with the TSE 121.00 movement - micro-rotor at 9 o’clock and power reserve of 72 hours. A matte blue alligator strap with grey stitching and a light grey matte alligator lining complete this charming variant.
Roswell
Enriching and completing the edition is the Roswell. In gaining its anthracite appearance, the cells have undergone black rhodium treatment. The daisy-shaped white gold mass wheel is entirely hand-chiselled. This meticulous work of cutting, engraving and miniature painting creates an environment for the bee to reveal its transparent trompe-l’oeil wings. The dial and ratchet have been decorated to create a honey-coloured kevlar texture in slight contrast to the rose gold case.
The Irreversible movement (ISE) of the Roswell model originates from the first automatic movement created, and fully manufactured, by Schwarz Etienne – the ASE. The latter has been inverted creating a new dimension in terms of design and allowing the collector to appreciate the complications on the dial side: the off-centre micro-rotor, the small second shifted to 11 o’clock, the exhaust bridge and the balance at 1 o’clock as well as an extended power reserve of more than 86 hours. A black alligator strap with yellow stitching and a saffron alligator lining comes to dress the work.
A tribute to bees
The engravers have carved their magic on the back of the two tourbillon pieces showcasing the cells of the hive on which the bees are foraging on, while on the back of the Roswell, a famous calling quote from Albert Einstein appears: “If the bee disappeared off the face of the Earth, man would only have four years left to live.” By honouring this vital insect through its new collection, Schwarz Etienne takes on Einstein’s message interpreting it to the modern day to raise awareness about the current dangers posed by the threat of bee extinction. Keystone of many ecosystems, bees provide humankind with invaluable services.
As part of its commitment to participating in projects close to its values, such as raising awareness about the importance of environmental life and to support its local region, Schwarz Etienne has agreed to donate a percentage of the price of each gift-box sold to a beekeeper based in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The owner of each collection will have the opportunity to follow the evolution of a hive assigned to Schwarz Etienne by receiving photos of their progress through the different seasons of the year. This commitment from Schwarz Etienne, in direct support of the cause represented by the threat of bee extinction, will last for five years. The collector will also receive a kilogramme jar of honey per year, produced by the bees of the Schwarz Etienne hive.
The “Ode aux Printemps” edition combines innovation and creativity, while emphasising the precision, careful attention to detail and industrious teamwork exhibited by bees. A working philosophy equally dear to Schwarz Etienne. The three timepieces are housed at the base of a mysterious and innovative presentation setting.
