The new 'Arcade' belongs to the skelettonized repeater timepieces from NIVREL’s ‘Edition Pièce Unique‘. Just like its sister models, the Arcade reveals the view into the repeater mechanism. Also, the important parts of the movement are hand-engraved and fine finished. The bridges are skelettonized, engraved and – depending on the version – partly covered with diamonds.
All versions of the Répétition Squelette are an homage to some of the oldest craftmenships in Germany and Europe: The arts of engraving and engine-turning. The craft of engine turning has its origins in the craft of wood turning. Out of this, watchmakers of the 18th and 19th centuries developed so-called engine turning machines with which, for example, first guilloche dials were made. Back in these days, also the craft of engraving had already been of high importance for the watch industry as well.
Today, however, only a few specialists can be found who still master these old crafts. NIVREL makes theses old techniques come alive in the 'Répétition Squelette' models. In these watches, no less than three different kinds of skelettonizations and engravings can be found: The bridges and blanks are hand-engraved and hand-skelettonized. The prominent star wheel above the center of the movement (it covers the hour indication of the repeater mechanism) is also hand-engraved. The hour wheels and minute wheels of the repeater are finished with a NIVREL specialty: a very unique guilloche called 'beam and waves'.
The alignement of the single design patterns on the different parts was created in order to generate a lasting excitement for the observer.
The case of the new NIVREL Arcade version has been upgraded by a special finishing as well. The sides of the 18 ct. rose gold and white gold cases are engraved with Celtic ornaments and the NIVREL logo. After engraving, the sides are filled up and polished with a purple, semi-transparent cold enimal laque. This working step results in a wonderful play of colours that provides a precious counterpart to the brilliance of the gold material.
Referring to celtic ornaments is a tribute to the history of NIVREL and of the Saarland – NIVREL’s home state. The Saarland and the bordering regions are affected by Celtic history. One of the most famous and beautiful discoveries in middle Europe is a grave of a Celtic princess (the grave of Reinheim, appr. 400 B.C.). The grave was discovered in 1954 and contained the jewel dress of the princess, consisting of a necklace, two arm rings and finger rings made out of gold. The Kraemer jewelry store – NIVREL’s origin, was instructed to restore and copy these Celtic jewelleries for the Saarland Museum of Protohistory. Therefore, the goldsmiths had to familiarize themselves with techniques from the early days. This knowledge has been passed on to every new generation of goldsmiths and is still used today when restoring old or producing new jewelry.
