In a strange coincidence of timing, in the same week that MB&F set off on their journey to create incredibly detailed engraved dial watches, Andreas Strehler has announced almost exactly the same thing. However, while MB&F are approaching their engraved dials through the concept of literature, Andreas Strehler’s inspiration comes from the natural world. It’s the Faune et Flore Unique Masterpiece Collection, putting the vibrant world of fauna and flora front and centre.
A major difference between MB&F and Andreas Strehler’s approach to their engraved series is that MB&F have already charted out the entire eight-piece series as a complete set. Andreas Strehler on the other hand are approaching each watch as a bespoke, unique piece made to the customer’s specification. This means that there’s theoretically no limit to how many watches will be produced in the Faune et Flore collection. In order to showcase the style of engraving and appropriate concepts for the collection, Andreas Strehler and his master engraver Roman Houdek have already crafted two example dials.
The first of the Faune et Flore examples and the only one of the two to actually be fitted to a watch so far, is the Jardin des Papillons (Garden of Butterflies). Papillons are Strehler’s signature motif, so it only makes sense for him to address this concept first. The skeletonised bridges of the rose gold dial show the animals and plant life you would expect to find in a butterfly house. There are a trio of butterflies alongside a lizard, cricket and snail, all relaxing amid the flowers.
One of the key features of the engraving that Strehler wanted to emphasise is that this is not a decorative dial placed atop the movement but actually forms part of the movement itself. That’s why you can see the exposed jewels integrated into the engraved scene adding dots of colour. The hour and minute hands also emerge organically from the design too, offset towards 3 o’clock.
Second of the Faune et Flore engraved dials is Étang des Koï (Koi Pond). As its name suggests it features an aquatic scene with a duo of koi fish swimming among some water-based plant life. The detail applied to each individual fish scale is mind boggling. Especially when you consider that the entire engraving has been done completely by hand in a process that takes 160-200 hours.
As a reminder, the Jardin des Papillons and Étang des Koï are simply examples of what is possible as part of the Andreas Strehler Faune et Flore Unique Masterpiece Collection. The actual watches for sale will be bespoke creations, which is why we don’t have details of dimensions and movement specs because presumably those can be modified based on customer request. What we do know is that prices start from CHF 165,000 (approx. £147,000) for a watch of equivalent detail and design to the examples shown here. If you had a spare 150k lying around, what animal would you like to see engraved?
Price and Specs:
More details at Andreas Strehler.
