Piecé Unique
The dial of Kees Engelbarts' latest watch depicts a scene, inspired by a Tsuba with a Hawk and Sparrow, from Hamano Masanobu, circa 1836 (late EDO period in Japan). A Tsuba is the hand guard mounted on a Japanese sword. These Tsuba eventually became elaborate pieces of art - far beyond their practical use.
The case, in platinum, measures 49mm x 16mm. It has double AR-coated sapphire crystals. There is a protrusion at the 5 o'clock position to accommodate the main-spring barrel.
Movement is the Swiss manual-wind NOS A. Schild caliber AS690 with 17 jewels, 18,000 vph and a power reserve of 8 days. Pusher at 2 o'clock position for time-setting. The screws are hand-polished, beveled and heat-blued. The movement has been decorated with Mokume gane of white gold and silver in a star-like shape.
On the hand-made dial, the hawk is made of red gold, the branch is made of Mokume gane of pink gold/shakudo. The leafs are in green gold and the little sparrow is made of bronze. The smallest details are also in various materials, like the eye of the hawk that is in yellow gold with a silver center. The eye of the sparrow is also in yellow gold. The hawk's feet are in yellow-gold and the claws made of silver. The base plate, on which the scene is mounted, is white-gold/silver Mokume gane and has been treated with nitric acid. This acid will attack the silver and leave the white-gold unharmed and this accentuates the vertical shape structure and creates a relief. Finally, the hands are in heat-blued steel.
It comes on a black alligator leather strap with an interior black shark leather finisha and a platinum buckle.
Thanks.