Jewellery & Watch News
In line with World Animal Day 2021, Fabergé has collaborated with the Gemfields Foundation to launch the new Altruist Wilderness Limited Edition watch collection. The five designs, all inspired by the “Big Five” of Africa are limited to just 5 pieces each and feature breathtaking hand-painted dials and extraordinary 22 carat gold movements.
The Fabergé Altruist watch collection has always been home to some of the brand’s most resolutely elegant and timeless designs, frequently opting for hand-engraved guilloche enamel dials, alligator leather straps and 18 carat gold cases. Aptly included in the Altruist collection, the new Fabergé Altruist Wilderness Limited Edition watches offer the same opulent aesthetic as it’s predecessors but with a whole new level of detail with every design hand-painted by Fabergé master craftsman André Martinez. Each design will also help to support a portfolio of wildlife conservation projects in sub-Saharan Africa, with 25% of the retail price of each watch sold to be donated to the Gemfields Foundation.
“This partnership with the Gemfields Foundation is very close to our hearts. While helping to support wildlife conservation in Africa, the new Altruist Wilderness watches also embrace our core values; craftsmanship, ingenuity and the ‘Art of Colour’. Through the hand-painting of each dial, our master craftsman André Martinez has translated our passion and emotion into this special project. The simplicity of the Altruist case design allows for the vibrant and iconic ‘Big Five’ animals to take centre stage. All the finer details – from the five Gemfields Zambian emeralds set on the caseback, to the Vaucher Manufacture self-winding movement – are highlighted in a way that is unique to Fabergé.” - Fabergé’s Timepieces Director, Aurélie Picaud.
Fabergé have one of the greatest teams of in-house designers we know of with master craftsmen like André Martinez leading the way in luxury watch design. He has meticulously hand-painted each and every dial of the Altruist Wilderness Limited Editions to depict one of the wonderous ‘Big Five’ animals of Africa including the lion, elephant, leopard, rhinoceros and cape buffalo. The creation is ultimately a miniature painting painstakingly applied by hand to a mother of pearl dial for an exceptional finish. The process of such a painting is not to be underestimated with the lacquers having to meet high manufacturing standards, including resistance to UV rays and being environmentally friendly, biodegradable and non-toxic.
Beautifully complimenting the hand-painted dial of each Fabergé Altruist Wilderness Limited Edition is an 18 carat rose gold case measuring in at 41mm in diameter and fitted with domed sapphire crystal glass on both the front and case back. The case back is no ordinary exhibition design showing off the movement within, but it is also set with five responsibly sourced Gemfields Zambian emeralds. Emeralds are believed to symbolise hope, growth and peace, a message perfectly suited to the message of the commemorative limited edition watches.
The 30 metre water resistant Fabergé Altruist Wilderness Limited Edition watches continue to impress with a Vaucher Manufacture self-winding movement housed within. As we mentioned, it’s immaculate construction can be spotted behind the exhibition glass back including some of the 193 components, 28 jewels and 22 carat rose gold oscillating rotor. The movement also promises a power reserve of 50 hours and a frequency of 21,600vph assisting in the effortless precision of the rose gold plated dauphine-shaped hands for the hours and minutes. Each Fabergé Altruist Wilderness watch is completed by a brown Alcantara leather strap and an 18 carat rose gold pin buckle.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Fabergé Altruist Wilderness Limited Edition collection and order one for yourself, head over to the C W Sellors website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or message us at sales@cwsellors.com.
