Annual masterpiece: Hermès collectible pocket watch

Hermès wood marquetry Arceau "Puzzle" pocket watch

Contemporary wood marquetry master Jerome Bouttecon carefully selected three different types of wood from his collection of over 1200 precious woods: chestnut, maple, and walnut, a work that took more than a month to complete.

The master carefully cut the three different coloured woods into 47 small pieces based on the famous Hermès "Puzzle" silk scarf design, without using any glue. The white gold rose part is made of white gold leaf. The front dial is engraved with a radial Guilloche pattern in gold, protected by a layer of transparent enamel.

Contemporary wood marquetry master Jerome Bouttecon carefully selected three different types of wood from his collection of over 1200 precious woods: chestnut, maple, and walnut, a work that took more than a month to complete.

The master craftsman meticulously cut three different colours of wood into 47 small pieces based on Hermès's renowned puzzle silk scarf design. The ivory white base was carved from natural chestnut wood, the dark brown sections from various shapes of natural walnut wood, and the lilac pieces from dyed maple wood.

Under the skilled hands of the master, all 47 differently shaped small wooden pieces were carved, assembled, polished, and coated with a protective finish without using a single drop of glue. This not only perfectly captures the essence of the puzzle scarf but also showcases the exquisite natural grain of the wood, telling a profound story of nature and time.

Hermès wood marquetry Arceau "Puzzle" pocket watch

Wood marquetry is an ancient decorative technique originating in ancient Egypt more than 4000 years ago. During the Renaissance, this craft flourished in Italy and France. In the 18-19 century, the French royal family at the time held this technique in extremely high regard, employing wood marquetry to decorate almost all palaces and royal furniture. A French royal decree designated wood marquetry as a royal decorative art.