Soleos is the contraction of two names, the merging of two divinities belonging to two different mythologies. First, Sol, the Roman god embodying the sun, its dazzling brightness and warmth. And second, Eos, the Greek goddess of the dawn, who sets off each morning on her chariot to open the gates of the sky to the sun. But for Emile Chouriet, Soleos is above all a timepiece where the sun seems to send out its dazzling rays.
This year, the sun has literally turned into the star of the night, adopting silver reflections similar to the moon’s across the face of the new Soleos.
So the watch face, which is still filled with rays starting from the centre and extending outwards to the chapter ring, has been painstakingly grooved. A fairly complex operation when you realise
the how fine the disc is. Each of the resulting geometric grooves is then sanded, setting up an interplay of contrasts between the silver grey and the steel grey.
This starry face captures light in order to reflect it again. So as not to interfere with the brightness of the watch face, the central hour, minute and second hands have been discreetly coated in silver, while the metal-bevelled date window has a special shape to blend into this light-filled decor.
The 40 mm case made of steel houses the EC9316 automatic calibre powering the hours, minutes, seconds in the centre and date at 3 o’clock. Soleos is mounted on a steel links on three rows or black calfskin with alligator scales bracelet.
