Singapore celebrates its 50th year of independence in 2015, which also happens to be the 50th year since Patek Philippe opened its first office on the island nation. A trio of Dome Clocks to commemorate Singapore’s Golden Jubilee have just been unveiled, each decorated from top to bottom in remarkably rich cloisonné enamel. Each of the three Dome Clocks is a one-off masterpiece featuring motifs inspired by Singapore and its culture, slated to go under the hammer to raise at least S$800,000 for local charities.

Patek Philippe Dome Clocks are rare – only a dozen or so are made a year – and valuable, retailing for at least six figures and selling for as much at auction. Launched in the 1950s and in production ever since, the Dome Clock is not as well known as Patek Philippe’s wristwatches, but still a quintessential Patek Philippe timepiece. Characterised by their cylindrical form and spherical top, Dome Clocks were solar powered until recently, when the switch was made to quartz movements, as found in this trio of clocks.

The “Tribute to Singapore’s Golden Jubilee” clocks are all unique pieces, made for Singapore’s 50th anniversary, an occasion also marked by several other watchmakers. Table clocks measuring 21.35cm high (about 8.4-inches), the clocks are covered in cloisonné enamel depicting motifs draw from Singapore culture and history. Each will be auctioned during a dinner on September 23, with the entirety of the proceeds going to various charity.

The most unusual, and also the most expensive, is Ref. 1677M “The Esplanade – Singapore” clock that depicts Singapore’s skyline as seen from Marina Bay. It stands out for its colours – dark blue and black are rare in enamel – as well as the decoration, a stylised skyline of Singapore on National Day, with fireworks lighting up the night sky. The blue-black of the sky is filled with a repeating triangular pattern that’s modelled on the roof of The Esplanade Theatres, another key feature of the Marina Bay skyline.

Practically the entire clock is enamelled, even the Breguet numerals on the chapter ring are black enamel. The enamel is painted over silver panels that form the body of the clock, with hand-engraving used to create the fireworks and details of the skyline. Silver leaf is found under certain sections of translucent enamel to create sparkle, most notably for the fireworks on the dome.

Most of the motif was created with cloisonné enamel, a technique that uses fine gold wire just 0.2mm wide to form cells which are then filled with enamel. Some 6.25 m of gold wire was required for the clock, which called for 20 colours of enamel. Each section of the clock required 11 trips to the oven to complete.

The artist’s signature

This clock was created by the enamel artist with the initials “YL”, as signed on its body. Bidding for the Ref. 1677M “The Esplanade – Singapore” starts at S$300,000. Proceeds from the sale of this clock will go to the Community Chest, a charity that funds social services in Singapore.

Each clock is priced according to the effort and skill required to finish it. Being marginally simpler, the Ref. 1675M “Farquhar Collection” starts at S$270,000. Also decorated in cloisonné enamel, the “Farquhar Collection” Dome Clock reproduces a watercolour from the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings.

A compilation of 477 drawings of plants and animals native to Singapore and Malacca, a port city in Malaysia, the Farquhar collection was commissioned by William Farquhar, colonial Singapore’s first Resident, a post equivalent to governor. It was painted by anonymous Chinese artists between 1819 and 1823, during Farquhar’s tenure as Resident.

The dial centre is decorated with radial guilloche then enamelled, while the Breguet numerals are black enamel

Donated to the Royal Asiatic Society in London after Farquhar left Singapore, the drawings were eventually acquired at auction and returned to Singapore by Goh Geok Khim, a local stockbroker. They were donated to the National Museum of Singapore, the recipient of the proceeds from the sale of this clock.

The Ref. 1675M “Farquhar Collection” uses 32.55 m of gold wire and 78 colours of enamel to reproduce the flora and fauna from the Farquhar collection. Between 8 to 14 firings were required for each section of the clock. The signature “JR” is visible on a corner of one of the body panels.

Artist’s initials “JR”

The third Dome Clock of the series is the Ref. 1665M “Peranakan Culture”, named after the descendants of the first Chinese settlers in British Malaya, which included Singapore, many in the 1400s to 1600s. These immigrants assimilated into the local Malay culture, adopting both language and custom; Peranakan in the Malay language meaning “descendant”.

Brightly coloured Peranakan porcelain, much of which was produced in the Chinese porcelain capital of Jingdezhen, provides the inspiration for the “Peranakan Culture” Dome Clock. The clock is finished in blue-green enamel that’s the same shade as found on many Peranakan porcelain objects.

Though the colour and motif is recognisably Peranakan, it is not a replica of Peranakan motifs. Instead of the peony that is traditional in Peranakan ware, the Dome Clock is decorated with roses, a flower also found on other Patek Philippe enamelled clocks.

Some 28 m of gold wire was used to form the Peranakan motif, depicted with 14 colours of enamel. Each panel of the clock had to be fired seven to eight times to set. Created by the same artisan responsible for the Esplanade Dome Clock, The “Peranakan Culture” Dome Clock starts at S$250,000. Its sale price will be donated to the Peranakan Museum.

Each Dome Clock is a one-off creation, delivered in a fitted presentation box along with a large leather folder detailing the clock and its creation.

Their sale will take place on September 23 in Singapore. Rather than accepting bids via phone and fax, only attendees at the dinner are allowed to bid in person, because company President Thierry Stern wants the clocks to go to bidders who are both Singaporeans and Patek Philippe collectors.

Urwerk’s official entry into the world of ladies’ watches, the UR-106 Lotus combines Urwerk’s signature satellite hour display with a sleek, feminine case set with diamonds as well as a moon phase disc made of lapis lazuli.

Famous for its masculine timepieces with avant-garde time displays, Urwerk has for the first time created a wristwatch for ladies. The UR-106 Lotus tells the time with a wandering hours, a mechanism first used in the watch that made Urwerk famous, the UR-103.  In contrast to the aggressively styled cases typical of Urwerk – the UR-210 “Full Metal Jacket” being a good example – the UR-106 Lotus has gently curved lines, with diamonds set in a semi-circle around the crystal and on the crown. Notwithstanding the case decor, what really catches the eye is the detail inside the satellite hours mechanism. Available in two finishes – polished steel or black coated steel – the Lotus is limited to 11 pieces in each guise. The self-winding movement uses the Zenith Elite as a base, with the satellite hours time display mechanism built on top of it. While the UR-106 tells the time in a similar manner to the UR-105, and even uses the same Zenith base movement, the movements are completely different. 

The UR-106 has three satellite discs that travel around the dial (the UR-105 has four), showing the hours and pointing to the minutes on the track across the lower edge of the watch. Just above the minute track is a moon phase display, with the disc made of lapis lazuli. Seemingly a solid circle, the moon itself is actually a maze motif inspired by the hedge mazes found in European palaces, with a tiny flower at its centre.

All the details of the mechanism really stand out on the steel Lotus; the black coated model allows few details to stand out. Made of ARCAP, an alloy with high tensile strength and corrosion resistance, the plate covering the hour carrousel is finished with a brushed finish featuring a large grain. 

It is particularly striking, and the same finish is found on each of the hour satellites as well as the carrousel that carries them. The same coarse brushed finish is also used for the minute track. That paradoxical industrial yet refined aesthetic is enhanced by the circular milled pattern on the base plate below. 

Another intriguing detail is the minuscule bridge of the minute track that runs from the 20 to 40 minute mark, suspended above the cut-out for the moon phase. It’s a remarkably delicate feature, standing in contrast to the large components of the satellite display.

The diamonds set on the case flow in a circle from one corner of the case to the other, terminating at the bolt that holds the two halves of the case together. Another two bolts sit on either side of the crown, which is also set with diamonds. 

While the front of the watch is steel, the rear is titanium with a sandblasted finished. The centre of the back features a recessed motif that’s a stylised centre of a lotus flower, which will be where the limited edition number will be engraved. And designed specifically for ladies is the slide on the case back that raises the crown. This allows the time to be set without having to pull the crown, a task that might chip a delicately painted nail.

The UR-106 Lotus measures 35mm in diameter and 49.4mm from top to bottom, with a case height of 14.45mm. It’s the smallest Urwerk in the current collection, but not by a large margin. In fact, its dimensions are only just smaller than those of the UR-103.

Available later in the year, the UR-106 Lotus costs SFr85,000 before taxes.