Inspired by the motion of the sea, Blancpain’s Métiers d’Art studio sought out a gem stone never before used by the manufacture. Known for its soothing and healing qualities, the semi-transparent volcanic rock known as silver obsidian was chosen as the base for The Great Wave, a new timepiece that combines the power and grandeur of nature with the beauty and subtlety of natural materials.
A variety of black obsidian, silver obsidian is a natural volcanic glass with a lustrous texture, which when held up to the light seems to glow from within. It is prized for its bright silvery inclusions and is formed when volcanic lava cools down very quickly after coming in contact with water. Indeed, the quick process of cooling makes it very shiny and smooth. And for those who are into healing crystals, silver obsidian is particularly known for its healing properties and is said to ward off all forms negative energy.
But it wasn’t for its new age qualities (although in the long run that may actually turn out to be a benefit) that silver obsidian was chosen for this project, it was selected for the way it looks. Chosen for its “mysterious” color speckled with “puffy, silvery clouds,” silver obsidian charmed the designers of the Métiers d’Art studio the moment they laid eyes on it, who immediately decided to use the gem as the base for their “great wave” applique.
Crafted in white gold patina, the design of the breaker wave applique itself was inspired by the The Great Wave Off Kanagawa Japanese woodblock print created by artist Hokusai. And went through a process of several phases before achieving the same sense of dynamic power as the woodblock.
The applique is first fixed to a Shakudō base (a gold and copper alloy that Blancpain first used in 2015 on the Shakudō Ganesh model) before being coated with a unique patina achieved by immersing it into a bath of rokushō salts. Once the patina has been applied, the Shakudō is removed. Finally, certain parts of the wave roller are polished to intensify the impression of a huge billowing wave. Only then is the engraving affixed to the Mexican silver obsidian. The result is an arresting display that looks more porthole than timepiece, from which a mysterious but powerful, billowing wave can be seen crashing down against an endless night sky of dark silver.
Unique and stunning to say the least, but being a product of haute horlogerie The Great Wave had to be distinguished not only by its distinctive aesthetic energy (which it has in abundance), but also by its technical merits. Which is why the Manufacture placed special emphasis on its movement as well. To wit: Blancpain modified the famous hand-wound 13R0 calibre to produce the 13R3A movement, the power reserve display of which appears on the bridge side and can be seen through the sapphire crystal caseback so as not to interfere with the visual impact of the applique.
The 13R3A movement is endowed with up to eight days of autonomy courtesy of a total of three series-coupled mainspring barrels that successively wind and unwind. The second barrel serves as a relay for the first, replenishing its energy to maintain its force, which is in turn wound by the third barrel.
Finally, this stunning exercise in horological art is held together by a double-stepped 42 mm case fashioned in platinum with water resistance rated up to 3 bar. And last but not least, The Great Wave is matched to a bespoke calfskin strap crafted by a Swiss artisan. Its storm gray color making it a perfect match for this dynamic timepiece.
