Sure, I fortunately admit to having a weak point for Artisans de Genève and what the small model does to considerably ubiquitous big-brand grails. Similar to the roughed-up appeal of Phil Toledano’s Submariner added a country soul to an icon, ADG has a magic contact. The watch group will all the time be break up on modifying what many take into account lifetime-grail watches. However imagine me, the discreet appeal of the Artisans de Genève is highly effective, as we see within the Ciottolo Azzurro Challenge.
Taking a look at Instagram with the relentless barrage of rapper-worn diamond-festooned bling, I perceive the naysayers. To me, including 1,478 diamonds and sapphires to a Nautilus or a Rolex to makes it much less interesting than sporting a gold spacesuit to the workplace. However on the ateliers of Artisans de Genève, there’s a completely different mindset at play. And for me, the eye-opener was the Shades Of Blue, which I take into account a greater Daytona than Rolex ever made. This time, ADG has put pens to sketchbook paper for Andrea Pirlo and his Aquanaut.
The Aquanaut ref. 5167A — An sudden grail watch
Patek Philippe discontinued the metal Nautilus 5711 for a cause. The model’s greatest watches are suave, treasured steel difficult timepieces, and everyone is aware of it. That is additionally why the Aquanaut took a very long time to realize recognition. Neither this cool rubber-strapped sports activities watch nor the 5711 was once promoting for greater than retail, most languishing unsold at ADs (give me a time machine). A few of them have been, if the rumors are true, used as service watches to be lent out whereas a rose gold Nautilus or a QP was in for a spa remedy. Nowadays, that story is totally completely different. The workaday Aquanaut, as soon as dismissed because the Junior Nautilus, is now hotter than a Dubai seashore at midday.
The Ciottolo Azzurro Challenge — Pirlo’s informal Patek in blue and gold
This Aquanaut is the third piece of bespoke wrist-manship that the atelier has made for Andrea Pirlo, named within the press launch as “The Architect”. Pirlo’s colours of blue and gold have been used once more right here. He says, “For this new undertaking, I needed to maintain the codes we had developed collectively prior to now, the blue and rose gold, the skeletonized reduce, by adapting them to my Aquanaut. I’m a terrific lover of Patek Philippe and the Aquanaut mannequin, which jogs my memory of a pebble, the ocean, and freedom.”
The Aquanaut is probably the most relaxed imaginative and prescient of Patek Philippe’s horology. However within the Ciottolo Azzurro Challenge, it has been imbued with a extra formal vibe, regardless of its rubber strap oozing relaxed cool. The which means of “Ciottolo” is pebble, with the extreme darkish blue reminding Pirlo of pebbles on the seashore.
A skeletonized view turning the class up a notch or two
I do know it’s a pretend pas, but when any rubber-strapped sports activities watch is equally at dwelling with a go well with as a woolly knit, it’s the Aquanaut. This time, the brand new rubber strap was developed specifically by Rubber B, with no pebble (pun meant) being left unturned to seek out the suitable shade of darkish blue. And this meticulous course of is strictly why I’ve grown so keen on the Artisans de Genève. Since writing in regards to the “Rusty” Daytona, ADG’s tug at my heartstrings has remained.
The open-worked Aquanaut dial is leveled up from its already nitpick-perfect Patek origins, reworked with intense blue and rose gold indexes to deliver a delicate distinction to the anthracite motion. The Patek 324 caliber was skeletonized, and several other bespoke finishings have been utilized. From beveling to round graining, all finishes are hand-done, bringing depth, gentle, and that bespoke pop to the motion.
Would I give ADG a model new Patek to transform?
In a phrase, sure. The rose gold accents and arms work their magic to make this a really completely different Aquanaut. To be sincere, it’s now extra definitely worth the costs that Aquanauts fetch on the secondhand market and public sale scene. With its refined, beveled rose gold arms and hand-skeletonized gold rotor, what’s the end result? This Patek Philippe ref. 5167A is just a extra intricate proposal and, dare I say, a greater timepiece for it. If I had the funds, would I hand over a Patek to ADG so its artisans might work their magic?
If I had acquired an Aquanaut at retail worth, then the prices of ADG would, sarcastically, in all probability nonetheless be lower than the watch’s gray-market worth. What this atelier in Genève does is add rather more than mere personalization. The dialogue between the shopper and the inventive minds of the craftsmen will end in one thing distinctive, extra attention-grabbing, and higher completed than the unique. Oh, and I do love blue and gold, however that’s inappropriate.
Heresy or brilliance — what’s your verdict? Tell us within the feedback, Fratelli. This time, I’m enamored by the discreet appeal of Artisans de Genève, and it received’t be the primary time.
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