Horological Meandering

With all the attention given to grand feu enamel dials, I sometimes wonder if we undervalue really well done lacquer dial decoration. 

The touches of red in the minute track numerals add just the right spice. On top of that (literally) the shapely applied numerals and jewel-like polished pyramidal indices add visual depth and textural contrast.

My wife's Dubey & Schaldenbrand Caprice 03 is hardly less impressive. No applied indices, but note the elegant text, the baroque linear decorative motifs, the depth of the black-outlined, domed-profile printed numerals. The power reserve indicator is a tour-de-force in and of itself. Note the way the gold printed indices punctuate the raised arch around the gauge and the extremely slender squiggly lines descending from said arch. The beveled edges of the twin date windows are another very nice touch. Perhaps not surprising, given the relative price points at their time of introduction, not all of the painted details are rendered as crisply as on the Roger Dubuis.

For something a little more modern, there's the Chopard L.U.C. Heritage Grand Cru. In keeping with contemporary aesthetics, the look is less elaborate, the printing more spare. However, the white lacquer again rivals fired enamel in its depth and sheen, and the printing is again domed in profile and crisply executed. Note in particular how the intermediate minute markers - and even the minuscule seconds markers - end just short of their tracks, while the five-minute and five-second markers intersect the tracks at both ends. Here too, a touch of red printing  brings some extra life to the composition.

I frankly would love to see more of this high-level lacquer work on the market, as an alternative to guilloché, stamped textures, or fired enamel. Does anyone else have examples to share?

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