Masters of timepiece customization, Swiss atelier Artisans de Genève, continues to impress horological circles with its most recent personalization challenge, the “Honey Pearl” Project. This latest project is a new take on the Pearl Project, a challenge that included adding skeletonization and Haute Horlogerie touches to the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711. For the new “Honey Pearl” Project, the base provided by the client is an 18k rose gold Nautilus 5711/1R. According to the client, known by the initials, M.T.A., “What I like the most in a timepiece is the aesthetic, the allure, the curves. I imagined my personalization with a technical look embodied by a skeleton movement that would add an intense touch.”
Artisans de Genève’s client identified the desired color scheme and materials to be used in this customization. Choosing blue for the dial, combined with the existing rose gold case, bezel, and bracelet, the end result is a harmonious balance with the graphic lines of the skeleton movement. Where the “Honey Pearl” Project departs from the original watch is with a new color scheme and new dial design, as well as a transparent caseback. The original dial of the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1R was replaced by a blue chapter ring, leaving an unobstructed view of the movement. The ring features newly-designed and manufactured 18k rose gold hour applied markers filled with luminous material. The client chose the beveled and satin-brushed hands. The seconds hand features a red accent throughout the bottom half of it.
Much of the work done by Artisans de Genève on the “Honey Pearl” Project is visible on the movement. Using the caliber 26-330 SC of the original watch, the atelier has entirely skeletonized the automatic movement, with most of the parts carved with impressive precision and attention to detail. All the parts have been painstakingly cut, satin-finished, and delicately beveled by hand. The caseback shows an original circular-grained surface on the bridges and the original gold rotor was also finely skeletonized and beveled by hand. Both the client and Artisans de Genève decided to retain the original blend of the satin-brush and mirror polish finish but with more contrast thanks to an anthracite treatment on the bridges and plates.
For more on Artisans de Genève, check out The Maggiore Challenge.
DISCLAIMER: Artisans de Genève is an independent company specialized in the personalization of timepieces. We are not affiliated with Patek Philippe nor authorized by them to intervene on their products for any reason whatsoever. This personalization was ordered by a customer, who owns a Patek Philippe timepiece, for his private use. It is an example of our know-how and the personalization services we offer at our customers’ request.