ABOUT FACE

Rolex’s dials have long been a calling card of their collections, thus the brand puts a considerable amount of effort into making sure that each one is always made perfect

-  DANIEL GOH

How often do we miss what is right under our noses? In the case of a wristwatch, the dial of a watch is perhaps its most lookedat component and yet not many of us actually stop to consider the amount of work that goes into its creation. We wax lyrical about the complicated nature of movements, and the craftsmanship that went into the finishing of the components but rarely does the conversation ever steer towards the sublime beauty of the dial.

Fortunately, Rolex is a brand that cares deeply about the creation of its dials. And for good reason. Not only are the silhouettes of their watches immediately recognisable, but their dials are also iconic enough to be identified from a quick glance. Just a glimpse of the curved aperture on a Day-Date's dial or the iconic 3, 6 and 9 on an Explorer and one already knows the provenance that sits on the wrist. They place so much emphasis on the creation of their dials that its process has been given a special name -art cardranier. In Rolex's dedicated facilities in the Chêne-Bourg district of Geneva, there are around 500 people who dedicate their time exclusively to the art of dial-making.

IMPETUS OF IMAGINATION

Each new dial from Rolex often starts as a brief from General Management. Oftentimes it comes quite unexpectedly and from there designers will take to the drawing board to make initial sketches of what the dial should look like. Designing a dial has to follow the same fundamental principles that guide any work of art. Through their artistic exploration, they continuously work towards keeping the balance and harmony of shapes, volumes, colours and surfaces.