BaselWorld 2015: Chamber of Wonders – Part 3, the New World | Girard Perregaux

BaselWorld 2015: Chamber of Wonders – Part 3, the New World

From the beginnings of modern cartography, 142 drawings of maps are attributed to Sebastian Münster (1488-1552), a German scholar who moved to Basel following his conversion to Protestantism. His work, Novus Orbis, resembled an encouragement to exploratory voyages, was included in his major work, Cosmographia Universalis, a richly illustrated and detailed cartographic collection.

The New World dial is made of small fragments of stone. A mosaic using stone marquetry, blending different type of stones into a colorful New World map! These stone fragments are manual carved and polished down to a thickness of 0.50 mm.

Finished, this stone dial gives you a feeling of a map used by an explorer setting out for his “grand voyage”!

This is the most colorful of the three dials and also the one that takes to longest time to make.

On the wrist… You are ready to set sails!

Best

Blomman

BaselWorld 2015: Chamber of Wonders – Review and Live Shots

By: blomman Mr Blue : March 31st, 2015-00:01

Friends, This year many of the major brands released very artistic watches with beautiful motifs on the dial and so did Girard-Perregaux as well! What differentiate the trilogy from GP this year is most of all the material chosen for each dial. These watc...

BaselWorld 2015: Chamber of Wonders – Part 1, the Pearl of Wonders

By: blomman Mr Blue : March 31st, 2015-00:03

The motif is based on a map drawn by the historian Ibn al-Wardi who lived in the first half of the fifteenth century. Inspired by the theories of Ptolemy, the Greco-Egyptian astronomer and astrologist who lived in Alexandria at the beginning of the 2nd ce...

That ( the use of Papyrus ) is an original idea. A quite challenging process.

By: amanico : March 31st, 2015-00:07

Thanks for all these précisions, Blomman. I didn't get all these informations when these watches wre unveiled. Best, Nicolas

Very challenging!

By: blomman Mr Blue : March 31st, 2015-10:50

And very original indeed! :) Love their approach here, to map style with material! Best Blomman

That makes me want to see it in the real! [nt]

By: amanico : March 31st, 2015-12:26

BaselWorld 2015: Chamber of Wonders – Part 2, the Terrestrial map

By: blomman Mr Blue : March 31st, 2015-00:06

The motif for the Terrestrial map is inspired by the work of Italian Jesuit, Matteo Ricci. A theologian, philosopher, mathematician, cosmologist and astronomer, this priest took part in his congregation’s missions in Asia. Landing in Macao in 1582, he spe...

I guess this one is tough to take in picture. But your static shots are pretty convincing.

By: amanico : March 31st, 2015-00:10

What about the depth of the dial, in the real? Best, Nicolas

Yes, the most tricky of the three....

By: blomman Mr Blue : March 31st, 2015-10:52

Good depth, even if painted on a almost flat surface, the depth is good! Not as good as the Pearl or the new world - there you have actual level differences. Best Blomman

To embrace as the two others, but together they make a fantastic set, IMO. Best Blomman

BaselWorld 2015: Chamber of Wonders – Part 4, Summary and thoughts

By: blomman Mr Blue : March 31st, 2015-00:11

Friends, When I first saw these Chamber of Wonders watches I was blown away! I love the art work, the different styles, and the travel through time! :) From Egypt to China… From China to America… And back again! :) A big part of my fascination with these ...

Here we agree. The Papyrus has the most appealing chromatic combination.

By: amanico : March 31st, 2015-00:15

I am quite intrigued with the apparent coldness and " intellectuality " of the white jade, too. A pity you cannot get them separately. I would have also liked a white metal version. The white jade would have been to cold, but it would have worked very wel...

You and your white metal.... ;)

By: blomman Mr Blue : March 31st, 2015-10:56

Here I think the Pink Gold makes a better match! Of course, a fresh approach would have been to make three different - YG, PG, WG... Best Blomman

The WG would have been awesome with that one. [nt]

By: amanico : March 31st, 2015-12:25

Can't argue here :)

By: Ares501 - Mr Green : March 31st, 2015-09:10

Papyrus is absolute favorite Prepare to be boarded! :) Sincerely Damjan

Once again.....

By: blomman Mr Blue : March 31st, 2015-10:56

Blue is the color of love! :) Best Blomman

Indeed so ;) [nt]

By: Ares501 - Mr Green : March 31st, 2015-13:53

Choice of pearls.. Intellectual & artisan exercise.. Purely hypothetical guess ..

By: hs111 : March 31st, 2015-23:36

.. my humble personal choice would be the Jade, the middle one.. closely , very closely followed by the captivating first, pearl of an ancient world - But it's already nice to see them on your nice pics, and let one's thoughts wander.. around the ancient ...

Girard Perregaux