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.
