Sartory Billard × Revolution SB05 ‘Uchū’
Sartory Billard × Revolution SB05 ‘Uchū’
Case Size
38.5mm, 45.5mm lug to lug
Movement Type
Manual winding
Case Thickness
8.5mm
WATCH DETAILS
Sartory Billard × Revolution SB05 ‘Uchū’
Our second collaboration with Sartory Billard is a tribute to classical handcrafts — more specifically, the art of Maki-e, a traditional Japanese decorative technique of imprinting design motifs in translucent lacquer. For 'Uchū', the esteemed master artisan Tatsuya Todo, who goes by his artisan name Kosetsu, handcrafted each dial using using fragments of natural mother-of-pearl, hand cut or crushed, sorted out, and then individually applied onto a layer of urushi. This specific process is called raden, where 'ra' refers to shell and 'den', inlaid. After preparing the shell fragments, he begins to work on the dial plate, setting it with a charcoal mixture so that the first layer of urushi will adhere properly. Next, he picks up one tiny piece of shell and places it onto the lacquer, one after another, until he has formed a complete picture — one made up of thousands of shimmering shell fragments, each dancing with the light while reflecting a dazzling purplish-blue brilliance.
The Maki-e centre and seconds subdial is only one part of the picture. A circlet of sparkling blue aventurine chapter ring frames Kosetsu's artwork, creating a lovely depth of field and enriching the dial with an almost three-dimensional quality.
Inside, the piece is powered by a hand-wound La Joux-Perret calibre packed with a staggering 90 hours of power reserve, making it one of the best-performing industrial movements on the market. The limited edition of 10 pieces truly encapsulates the beauty of traditional métiers d’art through a modern lens.
Limited edition of 10 pieces
Country of Manufacture
France
Case Material
Titanium
Case Size
38.5mm, 45.5mm lug to lug
Case Thickness
8.5mm
Dial Color
Maki-e and raden central section and subdial, with aventurine chapter ring; pad-printed copper-toned hour markers
Caliber
La Joux-Perret caliber 7380
Movement Type
Manual winding
Water Resistance
5 ATM
Power Reserve
90-hour
Bracelet / Strap Material
Electric blue leather; titanium pin buckle
MAKI-E CRAFT
The traditional Japanese decorative technique of Maki-e is showcased front and centre here. Crafted by the master artisan Tatsuya Todo, who goes by the artisan name 'Kosetsu', the fragmented centre and seconds subdial found on Uchü starts with hand-cutting or crushing natural mother-of-pearl, sorting, then individually applying the fragments onto a layer of urushi, a prized Japanese lacquer. Each dial consists of thousands of shimmering shell fragments, each dancing with the light while reflecting a dazzling purplish-blue brilliance.
SHIMMEIRING AVENTURINE
The Maki-e dial is only one part of the picture. Combined with a circlet of sparkling blue aventurine, the incandescent combination of Maki-e and raden gains an fabulous cosmic beauty, as if it were a mystical time portal suspended in the midst of an infinite universe. Framing Kosetsu-san’s artwork with blue aventurine glass also creates a lovely depth-of-field, enriching the dial with an almost three-dimensional quality.
SPACE-AGE LIGHTWEIGHT
The full titanium build of Uchü translates into an ultra-lightweight wearing experience that parallels its cosmic theme. Offering a fully polished concave bezel, the watch continues with satin brushed lugs and case middle, converging into polished bevels. Likewise, the crown is satin brushed with polished accents highlighting the Sartory Billard emblem.
MODERNITY MEETS MÉTIERS D’ART
The incredible dial truly rewards repeated observation. The multipart dial construction is slightly recessed against the aventurine chapter ring, with both components further distinguished with the help of brushed metal rings. For the sake of legibility as much as aesthetics, the overarching blue color palette is complemented with rose gold-coated hour and minute hands constructed in two parts, with a striking juxtaposition between the frosted steel base and high polish gold.