7040/250G-011

Stone flowers This unique piece in white gold reproduces in miniature painting on enamel the “Florentine mosaic” technique, with which artisans, particularly those of Italy, produced highly accomplished naturalistic decorations in hardstone. Its floral composition draws inspiration from a seventeenth-century table conserved in Florence. The enameller began by preparing the dial with a background of black Grand Feu enamel. He then applied from 2 to 3 coats of grisaille enamel, which served as a base for his decor of flowers. Working with a palette of 16 enamel colors, he built up his picture, which faithfully reproduces the effect of stone marquetry, introducing small deft markings that suggest the minerals’ natural inclusions. He perfected his masterpiece with 9 finishing coats of flux, a transparent enamel, lending an extraordinary sense of depth to his design. The dial called for a formidable total of about 25 firings at a temperature of approximately 750°C. The bezel is set with 168 diamonds (~0.82 ct). “Alpha”-type hands in white gold with a stamped decoration indicate the time. An alligator leather strap in shiny turquoise green, secured by a prong buckle in white gold set with 26 diamonds (~0.19 ct) takes up the color palette of the dial. The Officer-style case in white gold with straight lugs houses the caliber R 27 PS self-winding movement with minute repeater. The refined architecture and the painstaking finishing touches lavished on this Grand Complication may be admired through a sapphire crystal back (interchangeable with a solid back in white gold).