Julien Coudray 1518 : Timeless flower

Pétales d’Automne
Case : 18K white gold, sapphire back Diameter : 39mm Movement : mechanical hand-wound (patented Julien Coudray calibre, 55h power reserve) Functions : hours, minutes, seconds, service indicator Dial : 13 domed gold cartouches with Grand Feu enamel and “point by point” painting, two-tone grey and blue-angled hour and minute hands, blued seconds hand Water resistance : 50m Strap : rolled-edge hand-sewn alligator leather, alligator leather lining, engraved pin buckle in solid 18K Pd125 gold One-of-a-kind creation

Like most of the unique creations by Julien Coudray 1518, this Pétales d’Automne model from the Florale Collection belonging to the Manufactura 1528 line is entirely (95%) crafted from one kilogramme of 18K Pd125 gold – to the exclusion of any lacquers or chemical processes – forming its case, buckle, dial, crown and movement. The hand decorations and engravings on the latter may be admired through the sapphire case-back. Visual pleasure combines here with the pleasure derived by the owner of this highly exclusive timepiece from the fact that it features some of the ten patents registered by the brand over the past few years. Among them, only the enamelled service indicator at 12 o’clock is immediately visible, in the shape of a dewdrop at the centre of a timeless flower born from the fusion of Grand Feu enamel. The petals cover 12 of the 13 domed gold cartouches distinguished by traditional white Grand Feu enamel, along with motifs and hour-markers painted according to the “point by point” technique devised by Petitot in the 17th century. The Founder of Julien Coudray 1518, Fabien Lamarche, has deliberately learned, passed on and given a new lease on life to a number of skills teetering on the brink of oblivion. Wearing this floral creation contributes to perpetuating them.


Brice Lechevalier is editor-in-chief of GMT and Skippers, which he co-founded in 2000 and 2001 respectively. He has also been CEO of WorldTempus since it joined the GMT Publishing stable, of which he is director and joint shareholder. In 2012 he created the Geneva Watch Tour, and he has been an advisor to the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève since 2011. Also closely involved in sailing, he has published the magazine of the Société Nautique de Genève since 2003, and was one of the founders of the SUI Sailing Awards in 2009 and the Concours d’Elégance for motor boats at the Cannes Yachting Festival in 2015.

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