Engineers Sylvie Villa and Mark Miehlbradt of Wire Art gave old microchip-bonding machines a new purpose: wiring a watch dial in pure gold.
Louis Erard introduces Fil d’Or, made with Wire Art and limited to 99 pieces. It joins the Noirmont Métiers d’Art collection in a 39mm stainless steel case.
On a black lacquered dial, 2,320 threads of 24K gold form the brand’s cube motif, and 3,660 solder points define the chapter ring and hour markers. Each thread is 25 microns thick, three times thinner than a human hair. One is placed every three seconds, and each dial takes 45 minutes.
Manuel Emch asked the pair to make their technique accessible, starting from a simple shape: a cube. “Being recognized not just as suppliers, but as partners, as artisans, that changes everything,” say Miehlbradt and Villa.
Only pure gold, the pair say, is soft enough for such precision, yet it still holds its shape once set. One thread, then another, until the cube pattern is complete.
The Basics
Brand: Louis Erard
Model: Fil d’Or Louis Erard x Wire Art
Reference: 34248AA52.BVA158
Diameter: 39mm
Thickness: 12.82mm
Case material: Polished stainless steel
Dial: Black lacquer with 2,320 threads of 24K hardened gold and 3,660 solder points; cube pattern, hour markers and chapter ring in 24K gold; made by Wire Art Switzerland, Sainte-Croix
Water resistance: 5 bars (50m)
Strap: Beige grained calf leather, 20/18mm; polished stainless steel pin buckle; quick-release spring bars
Limited edition: 99 pieces
The Movement
Calibre: Sellita SW261-1, automatic
Functions: Hours, minutes
Winding: Automatic; openworked rotor with the Louis Erard symbol
Power reserve: Approx. 38 hours
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4Hz)
Jewels: 31
Images courtesy of Louis Erard.