There’s no stopping the Tortue. This elegant creation is both original and 100% feminine – both qualities that are sufficiently rare to merit attention. This is not a men’s watch sprinkled with a few diamonds to make it look more feminine: it was designed for women, by a woman. In an ideal world this would not be at all remarkable, but it’s all too rare in watchmaking, and deserves to be more widely known.
Petite Tortue
The diameter is a diminutive 31 mm at its widest point. Its curves are gentle, including on the lugs, which merge seamlessly with the case, creating a smooth profile. The lustrous gold plating provides a clear contrast with the black strap. The cabochon set into the crown might seem a little too ornate to some, which is why Claude Meylan has made it optional. It may be a minor detail but it’s a clever idea, one that gives every customer the option to really make their Tortue Lady their own.
Checkerboard motif
The way the watch is constructed provides three areas for expression: the movement plate, the dial and the oscillating weight at 6 o’clock. They can share the same decoration, or they can all be treated differently, for a more unique result.
In the version presented today by Claude Meylan, all three elements share the same decoration: a checkerboard microsculpture in grey. Each square is individually engraved with lines that go in different directions, making each square different.
Shades of grey
It’s an intriguing and creative concept. Depending on the direction of the lines in each square, the light is reflected differently. One square might appear light grey and the adjacent one black, with every shade in between.
When seen from above under an even light source – which never happens in reality but can be seen in the catalogue – the Tortue Lady Damier is a uniform mouse grey. But once on the wrist, it transforms as if by magic into countless shades, from dark charcoal to a lustrous slate grey, and even deepest black where not a single photon escapes. It’s fun and expressive.
Skeleton Tortue
What this subtle composition showcases most skilfully is the ultimate aim of Claude Meylan’s creations: skeletonised movements, pared down to the essentials, whose architecture is highlighted by the interplay of light and shadow.
Each component is suspended in a void. The escapement at 9 o’clock performs an aerial ballet, anchored to a bridge that also supports the oscillating weight at 6 o’clock. As it floats, it winds the 2681 calibre with its 42 hours of power reserve. The proven ETA base movement has been utterly transformed by Claude Meylan to create this beautifully elegant and ethereal composition.
