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Lot Essay
The present unique version of the Maîtres du Temps Chapter Three Reveal represents an extraordinary meeting of contemporary art and independent high watchmaking. Conceived by two of the most accomplished watchmakers of their generation, Kari Voutilainen and Andreas Strehler, the watch is distinguished by a magnificent miniature enamel dial reproducing Jasper Johns' celebrated 1959 painting 'Figure 8', meticulously hand-painted by the renowned miniature artist André Martinez. To preserve the integrity of the artwork, this unique commission dispenses with the conventional date and running seconds displays found on the standard model. Even the moon-phase indication has been reimagined: rather than revealing the lunar cycle, the aperture gradually uncovers André Martinez's signature over the course of its 29½-day rotation.
The watch's most ingenious feature is activated by a discreet pusher integrated into the crown. At the touch of a button, two concealed panels gracefully retract to reveal a second time-zone display and a day/night indicator, both presented on Maîtres du Temps' signature rotating rollers, themselves hand-painted by André Martinez. The sophisticated mechanism governing the seamless opening and closing of these hidden shutters is an exceptional feat of micromechanical engineering, perfectly illustrating the innovative spirit of the project.
The collaboration between Kari Voutilainen and Andreas Strehler proved particularly inspired, with each master contributing his own area of expertise. Voutilainen conceived the complete movement architecture and applied the exceptional hand-finishing that has become synonymous with his creations. Significantly, the Chapter Three Reveal marked the first entirely original calibre he developed for another manufacture. Andreas Strehler was responsible for integrating the movement, complications, and case while engineering the remarkably complex Reveal mechanism, one of the most original display systems created in contemporary watchmaking.
Maîtres du Temps
Founded in 2005 by Steven Holtzman, Maîtres du Temps was established to celebrate the talents of the world's foremost independent watchmakers by bringing them together to create collaborative timepieces. Each collection is designated as a Chapter, highlighting the individual masters responsible for its conception. Chapter One, introduced in 2008, united Christophe Claret, Roger Dubuis, and Peter Speake-Marin, while Chapter Two followed in 2009 through the collaboration of Peter Speake-Marin, Roger Dubuis, and Daniel Roth. Introduced in 2012, Chapter Three was entrusted to Kari Voutilainen and Andreas Strehler, resulting in one of the most technically inventive and artistically compelling creations of the series.
Jasper Johns (b. 1930)
Widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of the post-war era, Jasper Johns transformed contemporary art through his exploration of familiar symbols including flags, targets, maps, letters, and numerals. Bridging Abstract Expressionism, Neo-Dada, and the emergence of Pop Art, his work challenged conventional distinctions between representation and abstraction. Throughout his career, Johns' paintings have achieved some of the highest prices ever realised for works by a living artist, cementing his status as one of the defining figures of twentieth-century American art. The reproduction of Figure 8 on the present timepiece elevates this unique creation beyond horology, uniting exceptional mechanical innovation with one of the most celebrated artistic visions of the modern era.
The watch's most ingenious feature is activated by a discreet pusher integrated into the crown. At the touch of a button, two concealed panels gracefully retract to reveal a second time-zone display and a day/night indicator, both presented on Maîtres du Temps' signature rotating rollers, themselves hand-painted by André Martinez. The sophisticated mechanism governing the seamless opening and closing of these hidden shutters is an exceptional feat of micromechanical engineering, perfectly illustrating the innovative spirit of the project.
The collaboration between Kari Voutilainen and Andreas Strehler proved particularly inspired, with each master contributing his own area of expertise. Voutilainen conceived the complete movement architecture and applied the exceptional hand-finishing that has become synonymous with his creations. Significantly, the Chapter Three Reveal marked the first entirely original calibre he developed for another manufacture. Andreas Strehler was responsible for integrating the movement, complications, and case while engineering the remarkably complex Reveal mechanism, one of the most original display systems created in contemporary watchmaking.
Maîtres du Temps
Founded in 2005 by Steven Holtzman, Maîtres du Temps was established to celebrate the talents of the world's foremost independent watchmakers by bringing them together to create collaborative timepieces. Each collection is designated as a Chapter, highlighting the individual masters responsible for its conception. Chapter One, introduced in 2008, united Christophe Claret, Roger Dubuis, and Peter Speake-Marin, while Chapter Two followed in 2009 through the collaboration of Peter Speake-Marin, Roger Dubuis, and Daniel Roth. Introduced in 2012, Chapter Three was entrusted to Kari Voutilainen and Andreas Strehler, resulting in one of the most technically inventive and artistically compelling creations of the series.
Jasper Johns (b. 1930)
Widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of the post-war era, Jasper Johns transformed contemporary art through his exploration of familiar symbols including flags, targets, maps, letters, and numerals. Bridging Abstract Expressionism, Neo-Dada, and the emergence of Pop Art, his work challenged conventional distinctions between representation and abstraction. Throughout his career, Johns' paintings have achieved some of the highest prices ever realised for works by a living artist, cementing his status as one of the defining figures of twentieth-century American art. The reproduction of Figure 8 on the present timepiece elevates this unique creation beyond horology, uniting exceptional mechanical innovation with one of the most celebrated artistic visions of the modern era.