In June 2024, Chang Qu visited the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva and was captivated by a Ferdinand Berthoud and Jean Martin marine chronometer from 1804 with two-tone guilloché and other finishing, plus a prominent central seconds hand. Back in the 1800s, the central second hand was key to quick, precise navigation, so it played an integral role in the watch’s function. Here, Mineroci has leveraged it (and its finishing) for aesthetic purposes.
For starters, the watch has an interesting mix of guilloché on the time-telling dial (with blued hands) and brushing on the ring around it, plus a contrasting grained finishing on the main plate at the front. There is also a power reserve indicator in a recess on that dial. As I said, it’s a prototype, but it looks quite nice.
Mark Kauzlarich
2026-04-03 13:00:00