It seems like there is an endless list of luxury Swiss watchmakers that produce superior timepieces out there, and now there is yet another amazing watch from one of those companies. This time it’s Christophe Claret taking charge with their brand new timepiece that they unveiled last week at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, a convention for luxury watchmakers to display their latest creations. Christophe Claret has named the watch the “Aventicum” and it is rich in Roman influences.
While it may seems strange for a Swiss company to make a Roman inspired watch, it’s actually not that strange as the Romans conquered parts of Switzerland during the first century BC. Their main city in Switzerland was known as Aventicum which is now known as present-day Avenches. So it makes sense why they chose to make a Roman inspired watch, and also Christophe Claret has had a fascination for Roman history and the city of Aventicum.
The most impressive feature of the Aventicum timepiece is the floating, holographic image of the ancient Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. The image is based off of a gold bust that was uncovered back in 1939. The projection is achieved with the use of two parabolic mirrors that display the image which are known as a mirascope. The watch also features Roman numerals to indicate the time.
On the back of the watch we find a window into the watch’s inner-workings. The most notable feature on the back are the five Roman chariots that move and act as the watch’s winding mechanism. A Latin phrase also appears on the back that translates into “perform every act in life as though it were your last”. Two versions of this watch will be produced: one made from red gold and titanium and one made from white gold and titanium. The watches will costs $56,300 and $60,900 respectively, and the company is only producing 68 units in red gold and 38 units in white. So if you want a watch fit for a Roman emperor, look no further.
Photos from Christophe Claret
