Artisans de Genève: Redefining the Role of Bespoke Timepieces

With the advent of quartz watches and, more recently, smartwatches, the modern role of a mechanical bespoke watch has evolved to be one of self-expression, appreciation for expert craftsmanship, and the marking of life’s significant events.

Brands work tirelessly each year to develop compelling timepieces that push the envelope on design and functionality to fulfill these roles, however, for a collector looking for something truly unique, the total customization of a bespoke watch is the highest form of self-expression.

Since its founding in 2005, Artisans de Genève has taken on the challenge of elevating the world’s most desirable timepieces from Patek Philippe and Rolex into unique works of art by extensively customizing timepieces on a project basis from their workshop in Geneva.

Each Artisans de Genève project begins with a design phase lasting 6-8 weeks where Artisans de Genève consults with the client to discuss their inspirations and start ideating ways their unique watch will express their personality. These projects fall into one of two categories:

• ● “Challenge X” series pieces, which are collaboration pieces with celebrities such as Spike Lee and Juan Pablo Montoya, produced in a limited edition of 50 pieces

• “Client’s Challenges” models, whereby a client shares their passions with the brand as a starting point for a challenge to create something unique.

After the design phase, prototype components are created and tested for both performance and the aesthetic requirements of the project. In some cases, this stage can last a long time, for example in the case of the “Rusty”, Artisans de Genève experimented with aging dials in the Azores, ultimately offering the client a dial with 10 weeks of humidity exposure for the dial to achieve the desired patina effect.

It is worth noting that the customization possible from Artisans de Genève is not limited to just case and dial work, but extends to the movement where hand-finished skeletonization and modification such as conversion of a movement from automatic to manual winding.

Following the prototype stage, the watches are assembled and quality tested, ensuring they meet both the requirements of the client and the standards of the original manufacturer.

The end-to-end process and execution of Artisans de Genève’s timepieces ensure that each watch is both a fine work of art and a piece of pure self-expression for the wearer. With over 30 projects completed by the brand, Artisans de Genève has been pushing the limits of design for the last 18 years and continues to do so with each release.

If you want a unique piece from Artisans de Genève for your collection, including the 50-piece limited Montoya Challenge currently in stock, Vintage Grail is happy to arrange a viewing at our Manila or Hong Kong location. At the time of writing, the Artisans de Genève “Rusty” and “Zinal Challenge” pieces are available. Contact us today for more information.