Unveiled several years ago but modestly refreshed for Baselworld 2014, the Vincent Calabrese Régulus Flying Tourbillon has been reduced to the bare minimum in both components and size. As a result the movement floats serenely in the centre of the transparent case, with no visible attachments.

The bridges and base plate of the movement are made of solid gold, with Calabrese’s signature flying tourbillon at nine o’clock. A notable detail is the bird-shaped tourbillon cage, which is similar to that found in Blancpain tourbillons as those were also designed by Calabrese.

Displayed regulator style, the time is indicated with the minutes in the centre and the hours on the sub-dial at three. Time setting and winding are done via the crown mounted on the back of the movement, directly underneath the barrel. The case is entirely clear sapphire, with a diameter of 36 mm. The Régulus Flying Tourbillon starts at 180,000 Swiss francs, or about US$203,000. But this version with a sapphire case as shown retails for 225,000 Swiss francs, equivalent to about US$253,000. They can be ordered direct from Vincent Calabrese.

Calabrese was one of the co-founders of the AHCI in 1985, and though he is not as widely known as he once was, Calabrese is amongst the most talented independent watchmakers of his generation. He now works for Corum, for whom he created the Golden Bridge in 1980.  Vincent Calabrese can be reached via his website.

Miniature enamel painting is a rare skill even amongst independent artisans, and rarer still inside a watch factory. With its enamel workshop, situated in a small building away from the massive main manufacture, led by the talented Miklos Merczel, Jaeger-LeCoultre is probably the only watch brand which can boast of doing miniature enamel painting in-house.

The basics of miniature enamel painting are easy to understand: enamel paints are used to create a tiny picture, often a portrait, on an enamel base. But the painting is done by hand and requires an inordinate amount of nimble brushwork, done with an extraordinarily fine brush comprising a single hair.  The paints are typically metal oxides, which are fired in an oven to fuse them to the enamel base. Once completed, the painting is then covered with a layer of clear enamel to give it a glossy appearance.

Though the metier d’art craze of recent years often emphasises the brilliant colours and patterns of flinque enamel (with deep blue being a particular favourite) and other elaborate decoration, miniature enamel painting is no less demanding a technique.  First unveiled about a decade ago, the Grande Reverso Enamel shown here is part of a 12 piece set, each decorated a sign of the Zodiac depicted in the Art Nouveau style that is a house favourite at JLC.

This Reverso is enamel front and back. Made from white grand feu enamel, the dial is subtly accented with a blue railway minute track which matches the blued steel hands. Both the power reserve and seconds sub-dial are slightly recessed, an unusual feature for an enamel dial.

This particular watch depicts Libra, with its symbol of scales. And the motif also includes the Greek symbols for Libra and Venus, which is the ruling celestial body for Libra.

The miniature enamel painting is set into the yellow gold case, replete with subtle details. The details of the painting, colour, shading and texture, are so fine that they need to be savoured slowly.

The Grande Reverso Enamel uses the XGT case, the largest of the standard Reverso sizes. It retails for S$137,000, or about US$109,000.