By Kristen Shirley
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2016 issue of Elite Traveler.
While watchmaking has always been a collaborative industry, founder Steven Holtzman takes this to new heights. He brings together groups of master watchmakers to develop new timepieces, allowing them to create pieces they could not have produced alone. This unique atelier has crafted some of the most complicated and interesting watches in recent history.
Chapter One
Peter Speake-Marin and Christophe Claret launched the first timepiece, or chapter, in 2008. It is a world-first combination of complications including monopusher column wheel chronograph, retrograde date, retrograde GMT, plus rolling bars showing moon phase and day.
$558,000 in 18k yellow gold, limited to 11 pieces. Available at Cellini in New York, Stephen Gindi, stephen@cellinijewelers.com, +1 212 751 9824, maitredutemps.com
Chapter Two
Drawing on his experience with Chapter One, Speake-Marin worked with Daniel Roth and created a brilliant Art Deco timepiece. Keeping the rollers, but making them instantaneous, the movement is even more efficient.
$98,800 in 18k red gold. Available at Cellini in New York, Stephen Gindi, stephen@cellinijewelers.com, +1 212 751 9824, maitredutemps.com
Chapter Three Reveal
Kari Voutilainen and Andreas Strehler designed a complicated, but beautifully elegant, watch thanks to innovative hidden panels. A click of a pusher opens or closes to reveal a second time zone and a day/night indicator, powered by the marque’s signature rollers.
$107,600 in 18k red gold. Available at Cellini in New York, Stephen Gindi, stephen@cellinijewelers.com, +1 212 751 9824, maitredutemps.com