How Five Individuals Came Together To Create A Trio Of Metiers D'art Timepieces

The story of how five individuals came together to create a trio of Metiers D'art timepieces.

- Lynette Koh

If you follow the local microbrand watch scene, you’ll know that there are numerous Singapore labels offering timepieces ranging from the dressy to the sporty. But what’s rarely seen is a metiers d’art watch – one featuring hand-executed, traditional decorative crafts and typically produced only by the biggest names in fine watchmaking.

Creating such a timepiece is a challenge that has been on the mind of watch collector and IT consultant Lim Yong Keong (YK) since he started his brand Feynman Timekeepers in 2018. While he spent the first two years building the main collection, currently with two all-occasion models – Feynman One and Feynman Cove – Lim had a goal of collaborating with Singaporean artisans, many of whom are talented but not very well-known, to create a work of haute horlogerie.

Project Coalesce sees five individuals coming together to create a trio of watches featuring elaborate enamelwork involving the application of coloured powdered glass to metal. Inspired by Peranakan tiles, the collection features three dial designs: Peony, Lotus and Peacock.

Besides Lim, enamellist Charlotte Hoe (CH), leather artisan Ng Shuyi (NS), watchmaker Alvin Sim (AS) and Peranakan beadwork artist Raymond Wong (RW) complete the team. In mid-May, just under a year after Hoe was roped in to work on the enamel dials, the first three Project Coalesce prototypes were completed.

Six pieces of each design will be produced, and the watches are likely to be launched in the third quarter of this year. In a group chat via Zoom, they share their journey so far.

HOW DID THE FIVE OF YOU COME TOGETHER?