It’s all about the dial- L'Artisan "Eye of the Tiger"

We can safely say that stone dials are here to stay. These beautiful ornamental pieces were on high demand through the 60’s and 70s within brands like Piaget, Rolex and even Cartier. The stone dials not only represented status but their difficulty in manufacturing proved that only the best could produce them. Unfortunately, they were another collateral victim of the quartz crisis and by the 90’s it was not considered popular anymore, a lost art.

Fast forward and we have the microbrand explosion, it has brought many offerings that a while ago was considered impossible to buy. We ae glad to say that because of the endless search for differentiation, stone dial can be now considered ‘’accessible’’.

We have seen many stone dial from different brands like Timex, Baltic and even H. Moser and Cie., there is something special about this watches that the so called ‘’normal’’ dials cannot offer. Depending on the stone, there is a uniqueness associated with the watch that cannot be quantified, but the main question is what makes a great stone dial? Is it the shade? Or the pattern? Whatever it is, it’s addictive.

One of the brands that caught my attention was L'Artisan d'Horlogerie (LADH). The Belgium based brand is focused on bringing unique custom pieces with reliable Seiko movements. Doesn’t sound groundbreaking but when you start looking at their permanent collection, you will find yourself immerse in a catalogue that scream minimalism and elegance, less is more.

We are lucky to have a Tiger’s Eye variety which has also been custom engraved, and the impressions are outstanding, it doesn’t disappoint from any angle. Join us to discover this one-of-a-kind watch that could potentially bring you lots of good moments. Let’s begin.

The specifications

I can consider myself lucky when it comes on wearing a new watch, not everything fits me well but most watches that I try, work for me. The Tiger’s eye variety from LADH wears like a charm. The ultra-thin construction at 9mm is outstanding and it really disappears on the wrist. The 38mm in diameter of the case is quite good too, might wear closer to 39mm but it works as it leaves the dial breathe with ease.

The dial is where the party is, the gemstone is hard to describe and special to experience. It looks a lot like lacquered wood with a layer of honey on top, its beautiful. One of the high points of a stone dial is the uniqueness, each one of them have their own pattern and can vary quite a bit. The one that we have could be said that is divided in 3 parts: a wavy layer on top with a clear ‘’horizon’’ in the middle and then a darker part on the bottom, I cannot stop staring at it. It is also worth highlighting that LADH is a very approachable brand, they will show you several dials to make you comfortable with the pattern you want to choose, talking about a luxury service.

Coming back to the dial, the sword hands look sharp and balanced well with the dial, you can find the logo at 12 which I must admit is very good looking. It is all very minimalistic, no lume, no date, just a work of art to admire.

The macro shots were something that helped me to capture the essence of the dial, how intricate it is and how good a stone looks compared to a painted dial, the stone one it is just perfect.

The watch is using the NH35 movement, a workhorse that keeps the watch ticking and approachable from a price point, more on that later. Our only minor complain is that the watch has a ghost date but again, a hole on the dial for date will ruin it for me and because the watch is so thin, we can give this tiny detail a pass. Plus, we are here for the overall composition and not for the technical prowess.

On the wrist

With those spot-on measurements, the Eye of the Tiger adapts very good to my 6.25-inch wrist. It wears flat and the domed sapphire crystal counters the thinness of the watch very well. The lug to lug is circa 47mm which I can handle, we enjoy the different transitions on the finishing on the case, from the polished bezel to the brushed mid body, all look sportier than the average dress watch, it is easy to wear.

The watch also comes with a beige suede strap. This was one of the key selling points for me, it makes the watch look warmer. Usually, Tiger’s eye dials are paired with a gold cases to avoid the strong contrast from cold steel, but with the supplied strap the dial, the combination is appreciated. The strap itself is well made and soft to at the touch, I’ve tried with different colours, but I couldn’t beat the original look, its perfect as it is.

I wore the Eye of the Tiger mostly at the office, and it did create a buzz. Everyone was asking me what I was wearing, is not loud but it does create a conversation, at the end that what we watch nerds want. It goes very well with casual attire, is refined but is not only a dress watch, but it could also be very sporty if needed, sport chic. 

Legibility is quite good, the way that the hands are polished make them easy to distinguish from the dial. Of course that without any markers the accuracy when setting the watch can become an exercise itself, but again we are here to admire, if you need to know the exact time by the second, there are plenty alternatives but not as stylish.

Conclusions

What LADH has done here is to democratize the stone dials, something that doesn’t require years of savings, this point is a good segway to the price. The Eye of the Tiger is prices at 595 EUR, that is outstanding value for something truly unique that provides a magical experience.

Today, with the improvement of manufacturing techniques and more accessible prices to precious stones, many microbrands can offer these types of watches avoiding the risk of going outside their price bracket. But the key differentiator for LADH is that they are more approachable, you can have an actual conversation with the owner, talk about other watches and enjoy the process in the meantime. It never feels like a commercial transaction, it feels more like a discovery chat to understand a new category of watches.

We are keen to see what the brands comes with in the next few months, they never stop, and I believe they will be a force to be recon.

For more information, please visit https://artisanwatch.be/products/lartisan-eye-of-the-tiger

Technical Specifications

Case: Artisan Maison, 38mm, Ultra-Thin (9mm)

Crystal: Domed Sapphire

Dial: Tiger Eye Stone

Strap: Suede, Beige

The L'Artisan Tiger Eye comes in an elegantly designed box, offering a complete luxury experience. It also includes a 2-year mechanical warranty.