Badollet – Ivresse $205,500 hen Badollet approached the well-regarded watch designer Eric Giroud, they asked him to design a unique luxury watch that would be as simple as possible. In the watch industry, simplicity is often tantamount to derivative design; however, Giroud wanted to design something that would be visually simple, but also distinct. Uniqueness is among the most important elements of interest when it comes to boutique high-end timepieces.
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The resulting watch was the Ivresse, a modern timepiece born from a brand with history going back to 1655. According to the company, the Badollet family name experienced an unbroken line of watchmakers, from Jean Badollet in the 17th century all the way to 1924, when the company was closed due to poor economic factors relating to the aftermath of the First World War. In 2006, Badollet was revived and c.2012 the Ivresse was released. According to Badollet, their signature complication is the tourbillon – a popular mechanical feature – that puts the oscillator assembly on a rotating cage that revolves around its own axis. Typically displayed on the dial-side of watches, the Ivresse opted for a more discreet presentation of the tourbillon. The mechanism was originally invented in the 18th century as a means of improving the accuracy of clocks and pocket watches, but in its modern interpretation it is more akin to a display of luxury mechanical art. “Hiding” a tourbillon on the rear of a watch means that only the owner can see it in operation. This stealthier placement of the tourbillon appeals to those collectors who want to own a high-end watch but do not want to be overt about its value. Often referred to as “stealth wealth”, luxuries of a more discreet nature are considered to be a direct response to the general public’s tendency to reject “showy” wealth. The tourbillon is large in diameter, with an infinity symbol on the cage, as a tribute to the persistent ongoing passage of time, which is the driving force of the universe. The movement inside the Ivresse is unique because, like the case, it is curved. Most movements are flat, given the nature of their flat components such as gears and springs, so the design and production of a curved movement is difficult. The Ivresse offers just the time, with hours and minutes, which are displayed in a minimalist yet legible fashion, in a round dial on an otherwise rectangular face. With the Ivresse watch, Badollet succeeded in creating a complicated yet outwardly simple design. The original Ivresse debuted with a deep blue face and matching alligator strap, while later models offered additional colours. Each piece has a solid platinum case. Badollet claims that no more than 50 Ivresse watches can be produced per year.
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The World’s Most Expensive Watches