Graff GyroGraff Watches: When a Jeweler Makes Highly Complicated Watches
When it comes to the world of fine jewelry , the possibilities are endless. Considering the immense variety of metals, stones and techniques available to designers, the only limit is the designers' creativity.
Graff: a breath of fresh air in the world of fine watchmaking
Of course, some luxury jewelry styles tend to stick around, so much so that some pieces look the same. This is completely natural; popular styles are imitated as trends change. However, if you look at all the timepieces that are created by a brand throughout the year, you will see that the brands give free rein to their inventiveness.
Alongside the essential engagement rings, matching earrings and pendants, brands create jewelry lines of astonishing richness. Nature, the animal world, architecture, history and even the universe are among the sources of inspiration. In the big houses , they even make personalized jewelry. Collaborations with companies, artists and designers also allow them to offer their customers original new products.
And even when you feel you can't wear a creation, you can still admire it when the work has been done well. This is particularly the case with Graff watches , some of which are absolutely crazy, but all of which are exceptional. For those who appreciate aesthetics as much as mechanics, the GyroGraff collection is definitely worth a look. Not only is it a marvel of engineering, but also a stylistic symphony created with stones.
Graff has created many versions of the GyroGraff, which have pushed the limits of the craftsmen's abilities.
GyroGraff Multi-Axis Moon Phase Watch
The imposing 2-axis tourbillon that can be seen at 6:30 or 5 o'clock (depending on the model) is the first thing that catches the eye when admiring a Gyrograff . The tourbillon rotates on 2 axes. When the wearer's wrist moves, the double axis ensures that the tourbillon constantly changes position in order to compensate for positioning errors. These mechanisms are extremely delicate, and therefore difficult to manufacture.
The second thing that catches the eye is the moon phase that is located on the dial at 10 o'clock or 7:30 depending on the model. The moon that is housed in an orifice faithfully reproduces the phases of the moon, making a complete rotation every 29.5 days.
The hands are offset on the dial. Depending on the GyroGraff watch model, the movement is partly visible from the back… or not. Which is natural when you know the nature of Graff. After all, it is first and foremost a high jewelry house. It is therefore normal that its watches focus on aesthetics and stones rather than technique.
Graff Watches: Jewelry Expertise in All Its Splendour
The vast majority of Gyrograff watches highlight the immense talent of Graff's artisans. The finest techniques are used:
- Cutting-edge crimping
- Hand engraving
- Miniature painting
- Cloisonné
- Wood-fired oven-baked email
- Paved dials
- Stone marquetry
Most GyroGraff watches use several of these techniques depending on the theme. For example, the GyroGraff World collection brings together watches that use laser or hand engraving and wood-fired enamel for the By Day versions, cloisonné and wood-fired enamel with gold speckle for the By Night versions.
As for the GyroGraff Universe timepiece collection, the dial features a miniature painting of swirling galaxies with the universe as a backdrop. The galaxies were painted with a brush that has only one hair in order to achieve this fine detail. Thanks to the presence of aventurine, the painting shines with 1000 lights.
This expertise can also be seen in the miniature painting on the dial of the GyroGraff Drive , inspired by the early days of motor racing. On a completely different theme, the GyroGraff China explores many themes (temples, the Great Wall of China, etc.) from the Middle Kingdom using multiple techniques. You need a magnifying glass to admire the incredible mastery of the artists who create these watchmaking masterpieces .
But the Graff brand's primary skill is working with stone, and more specifically with diamonds . This expertise is particularly visible in the GyroGraff Endangered Species collection, which honors 4 endangered animal species. Each of them is magnificently represented thanks to metal marquetry and magnificent set stones.
The animals, namely the gorilla, the elephant, the panda and the tiger, cover at least 2/3 of the dial. The animals are represented using polished or matt rhodium-plated white gold plates, custom-cut diamonds (as well as cognac-coloured sapphires for the tiger) and micro-blasted black pavés. The whole, which looks furiously like a cubist portrait, is supported by an aventurine base, one of the flagship materials of GyroGraff watches.
GyroGraff luxury watches: a daring style
The style of these Graff watches is daring. It wonderfully exploits geometry and stonework to create these real animal puzzles. Each animal head is composed of 112 to 139 elements. The GyroGrass Endangered Species are a perfect luxury watch choice for people who appreciate finesse and stylistic boldness.
Graff may be a house specializing in luxury jewelry , but its watchmaking division is growing by leaps and bounds. The timepieces in the GyroGraff collection are proof that the house is far from playing a secondary role in fine watchmaking. Graff's specific know-how and the creativity of its designers result in original products that will only broaden the choice of lovers of fine watches .
