The Four Seasons have always played a fundamental role in the inspiration of Vincent Bérard. Now, a quartet of special edition timepieces continues the seasonal theme while introducing a new line to Vincent Berard’s Fuseau de l’Infini collection—Talismane.
Talismane is a timepiece and lucky charm in one. It is a strapless, chainless watch that fits perfectly into the palm of your hand or any pocket. The Four Seasons edition consists of four individual timepieces that measure 42 mm and represent spring, summer, autumn and winter through their rich, hand- adornment.
Cases and dials are produced completely in massive green, yellow, red or white gold, and covered with a matching lacquer on which the motifs of the season stand out in varying colors and precious stones. The same precious stones – emeralds, yellow sapphires, rubies and blue sapphires – form the hour indexes to which the spindle-shaped hands in blackened gold point. In addition, a precious stone adorns the winding button. The balance bridge above the concentric mysterious balance in the 3 o’clock position adopts the form of the key motif of the respective season. A double, bell-shaped waste strip opens from the center of the dial to reside against the dials of the small seconds display, the moon phase and the weekday. The last of these, made of fitting gold, represents the stylized initials of the English weekdays in a script that recalls cuneiform or runic.
The double opening in the dial’s center also permits insight into the inner life of the watch. Here, Vincent Berard’s achievement in the high art of decoration is evident. For the first time, metal inlays of fine steel waste strips are set into recesses of the wheels, where they create a play of contrasts between matte, polished and glossed surfaces.
The steps of the spindle-shaped bridges on the movement type VB441 are decorated according to their unique seasonal themes. Each of these small “seasonal universes” is created through meticulous engraving and lacquering of the bridges. They are revealed by pressing the timepiece’s case-spring, which opens the case back to unveil a sapphire glass cover over the movement. Additionally, two integrated eyepieces reveal the small dorsal seconds display and the power reserve display.
Talismane 4S Printemps is devoted to the flower motif, and emerald blossoms decorate the green gold case, dial and tip of the winding button. The balance bridge is designed in the form of a flower, while the bridges are also decorated with blooms.
Related
Talismane 4S Eté radiates the bright, silky gloss of a sunny harvest. The form of the balance bridge is inspired by the radiance of the sun, and yellow sapphires adorn the mountings while the housing is enlivened by golden swallows in flight.
Talismane 4S Automne features a red gold case that is blanketed in a carpet of red leaves. Rubies radiate like fire on indexes, the winding button and case. The leaf motif repeats on the side of the dial where the balance bridge is visible, and also engraved and lacquered onto the bridges on the side of the case back.
Talismane 4S Hiver lets blue sapphires glitter like a pattern of frost on its white gold case. The rigid crystal structure of a snowflake serves as the balance bridge, and the delicate shape is finely engraved into the rhodium-plated gold of the bridges.
Technical data
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Model
Talismane 1 Quatre Saisons – Collection Unique (spring, summer, autumn, winter)
Clockwork movement
Mechanism with complication, hand-wound, hand-stamped, engine turned and angled, calibre VB441, 21,600 vibrations/hour. Winding button in 9 o’clock position, mysterious screw balance and Breguet balance in 3 o’clock position. Step-shaped bridges, hand engraved and lacquered, motif and color to match the season.
Functions and complications
On the side of the dial
Hour, minute, small second hand, moon phase, weekday, mysterious balance.
On the side of the casing back
10-day power reserve, small dorsal second hand.
Casing
Spring: Massive green gold 750 (18K), lacquered in lime green, hand decorated with emeralds.
Summer: Massive yellow gold 750 (18K), lacquered in champagne color, hand decorated with yellow sapphire.
Autumn: Massive red gold 750 (18K), lacquered in pastel colors, hand decorated with rubies.
Winter: Massive white gold 750 (18K), lacquered in ice blue, hand decorated with blue sapphire
Diameter — 42 mm
Thickness — 13 mm
Curved, profile-ground and anti-reflective sapphire glass permits a view of the mysterious balance.
Back in anti-reflective sapphire glass with cover in massive gold 750 (18 K), lacquered in the color of the casing, penetrated by two sapphire glass eyepieces, featuring engravings all around, with the hands for the power reserve and the small dorsal second hand.
Dial
From three elements, all in massive gold 750 (18K) in the color of the season, lacquered to match the casing. Basic dial with decorated hands from the same precious stones and in the same color tone as the casing, with two bell-shaped openings that restrict the specific displays. Small second hand, weekdays, moon phase, mysterious balance. Offset dial for the weekdays and additional dial beneath the balance bridge. Interrupted hand and moon from blackened massive gold 750 (18K).
Total weight of the precious stones
Spring: emeralds1,35 k
Summer: yellow sapphires 1,25 k
Autumn: rubies 1,6 k
Winter: blue sapphires 2,15 k
Vincent Berard is featured in Elite Traveler’s THE OFFICIAL WATCH BUYER’S GUIDE 2009/2010.
www.vincentberard.ch
