Perrelet x The Dial Artist - Time For Art Edition

Perrelet is participating in the "Time for Art" charity auction in support of contemporary art with a unique piece from the Turbine collection, signed by the artist Chris Alexander, aka "The Dial Artist".

Following the success of the inaugural 2022 event, the New York-based Swiss Institute has announced the second "Time for Art" charity auction next winter, which will involve watch manufactures in raising funds for contemporary art. An initiative which Perrelet enthusiastically joined, given his affinity with the artistic universe. Indeed, since the creation of the Turbine collection in 2009, the brand has considered the dial of this line as a work of art in constant evolution: a blank canvas ready to receive countless motifs in ever-changing designs and colours, revealed by the whirling motion of the distinctive turbine.It was therefore natural for the prestigious Maison to embrace the New York charity's cause. And to make its own generous contribution in a special way, it chose to work with an artist specialising in the making of personalised dials: Chris Alexander, better known as The Dial Artist, who was entrusted with the creation of the exclusive timepiece to be offered to the Swiss Institute.

An artistic unique piece

The “Perrelet x The Dial Artist - Time for Art Edition” is an expression of the British artist's eclectic style, influenced by his childhood in South Africa, mixed with elements of Street/Urban Art, Pop-Culture, Astrology and Abstract Expressionism.

On the display of the watch, icons, inspired partly by graffiti and urban arts, stand out: stars, inscriptions, skulls, crosses, hearts, with green and turquoise luminescence. In this case, however, The Dial Artist did not limit himself to painting the dial. He also included the turbine blades in the composition, embellishing them with coloured segments and luminescent dots. Turning on themselves with the slightest movement of the wrist, the blades thus create multicoloured spirals which, in the absence of light, appear to contract or expand depending on the direction of rotation, generating captivating and mesmerising effects.

A unique technology

At the heart of the “Perrelet x The Dial Artist - Time for Art Edition” is the exclusive technology that gives the collection its name, the Turbine: a device patented by the Manufacture in 2009 and inspired by the aeronautical propulsion system. The Turbine is made up of 12 light yet sturdy anodised aluminium blades that rotate under the pressure of the wearer's arm movements.

When the turbine rotates, the spaces between the blades reveal the patterns depicted on the lower dial. This effect, which is playful and amusing, has led the Maison over time to develop illustrations of all kinds, whether related to figurative or abstract themes.

However, the fun and leisure aspect should not be misleading. Although the turbine does not have any practical function, but only an aesthetic one, it has a complex structure and has to be assembled with the utmost care. It requires extreme attention and precision, especially in the balancing of the blades: held in place by 5 tungsten micro-weights, they must rotate smoothly until they have exhausted their kinetic energy.

The perfect rotation of the Turbine is a testament to the expertise of Perrelet's master watchmakers, while its conception reflects the desire for innovation that has characterised the Manufacture since its founding back in 1777.

A remarkable aesthetics

The case of the “Perrelet x The Dial Artist - Time for Art Edition” echoes the lines of the Turbine EVO, the second-generation Turbine launched in 2019. Measuring 41 mm in diameter and 13.9 mm in thickness, it is made of black DLC grade 2 titanium with a matt finish. It features the collection's distinctive architecture: thin, smooth and slightly slanted bezel, fluted case middle and case back, crown also fluted, flared for easier grip and adorned with the logo. The signature triple lugs hook onto the black rubber strap, which is secured to the wrist by a black DLC titanium pin buckle, which also bears the P of the logo.

The dial, protected by a sapphire crystal glass, boasts a unique finish: the entire turbine is covered with a spray of tiny white dots, painted by the artist giving a micro-blasted effect, against which the rainbow segments of a spiral, combined with polka dots of various sizes in green Super-LumiNova®, stand out. The hour track is also decorated in the same style, with a mix of Arabic numerals and trapezoidal hour markers emitting blue lightwhile the black Super-LumiNova® hands glow green. The dial thus creates a magical and enchanting strobe effect in the dark.

The sapphire crystal porthole on the case back is personalised with the inscriptions“Perrelet x Time for Art 2024 - Unique Piece” and the number '01/01', underlining the uniqueness of this creation.

The in-house manufacture calibre

The transparent case-back reveals the mechanical self-winding movement: the P-331-MH calibre, designed and manufactured in-house. With a 42-hour power reserve and a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour), it is renowned for its precision and reliability.  These characteristics are confirmed by the COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres) and Chronofiable® certifications, which have subjected it to rigorous testing protocols to verify its performance.

It is finished with the utmost care, in keeping with the standards of the finest Swiss watchmaking: the mainplate is decorated with colimaçon, the bridges with circular-graining finish, the oscillating weight is open-worked, rhodium-plated, brushed and personalised with the Perrelet logo.

Availability

The “Perrelet x The Dial Artist -Time for Art Edition”, comes in a premium box with travel pouch, is a one-off piece, signed and certified by the artist, created exclusively for the Swiss Institute’s Time for Art charity auction. It will be auctioned by Phillips Auctioneers as part of the“The New York Watch Auction: XI”, to be held in New York on 7 and 8 December 2024, with a price estimate between USD 5,000 and USD 10,000.

About The Dial Artist

Chris Alexander, known as The Dial Artist, is a British artist based in Scotland. Chris draws his creative inspiration from his childhood memories growing up in the colourful rainbow nation of South Africa, Street/Urban Art, Pop-Culture, Astrology and Abstract Expressionism. The Dial Artist is his creative platform to seamlessly blend his experience and passions with his love for Horology.

After graduating from Gray’s School of Art in Scotland with a Masters in Design, Chris built upon his experience gained in the academic and creative industries to found “The Dial Artist” in 2017. With over 20 years of experience in the creative industries Chris spent years experimenting with a vast range of paints, lacquers and techniques, honing his skills. Chris has established himself in the global watch community for his abstract dials adorned with bursts of colour. Utilising the dial as a canvas, his highly sought-after style blurs the lines between contemporary art and horology whilst inadvertently creating a constant moving gallery of his work - art that moves you and moves with you.

Chris firmly believes that each unique artwork is a collaborative triad of Client, Artist and Watch. The most successful creations are those based on the client’s passions, Chris’ unique style and working with the dial not against it.

Technical specifications

Perrelet x The Dial Artist - Time For Art Edition

Reference: A4067/S2

Unique, one-off piece

Case

• Material: Grade 2 titanium with black DLC coating
• Diameter: 41 mm
• Thickness: 13.90 mm
• Flat bezel
• Fluted case band
• Prominent crown with Perrelet logo
• Sapphire crystal glass with double anti-reflective treatment on dial
• Inscriptions on the sapphire crystal glass case back: Perrelet x Time for Art 2024 Unique Piece, number 01/01
• Water-resistant to 10 Atm/100 m /328 ft

Dial and hands

• Dial painted by the British artist Chris Alexander, aka “The Dial Artist”
• Turbine Technology
• Lower dial depicted with icons, inspired partly by graffiti and urban arts: stars, inscriptions , skulls, crosses, hearts, with green and turquoise luminescence
• 12 blade turbine in black anodised aluminium with five tungsten counterweights underneath , adorned with a spray of tiny white dots, rainbow segments of a spiral, combined with polka dots emit ting green glow in the dark
• Matt black hour track with a spray of white tiny dots, applied Arabic numerals mixed with indices, filled with white Super LumiNova® emitting blue light
• Black central hour and minute hands filled with Super-LumiNova®, emitting green glow
• Black central seconds hand

Movement

• In-house manufacture self winding calibre P 331 MH, Chronofiable® and COSC certified
• Frequency: 28'800 vph (4 Hz)
• Number of jewels: 25
• Power reserve (fully wound): 42 hours
• Bridges: rhodium plated, circular graining decoration
• Open-worked oscillating weight on ball bearings, rhodium plated, personalised with Perrelet logo

Functions/Indications

• Hours, minutes and seconds

Strap and buckle

• Black rubber strap with black DLC coated titanium pin buckle , embellished with the Perrelet logo
• Premium box including travel pouch and certificate of authenticity signed by the artist

MSRP

• Up for auction
• Estimate USD 5'000 - 10'000

For more information, please visit perrelet.com