Pierre Kunz Retrograde G017 FHR GD

Big date, retrograde time-zone, day/night indicator.
97 hours and 20 minutes.

A wrist shot of my PK G017 FHR GD

The direct voyage from the earth to the moon described by Jules Verne remains a masterpiece featuring all the charm of the first steps towards an improbable achievement. Pierre Kunz has chosen this as his whimsical reference for the year 2007 with a play on graphic trends.

The story that inspired the voyage to the moon by NASA

He focuses on new designs and enlivens his dials with resolutely ground-breaking apertures, characters and patterns.

In a 44 mm or 41 mm diameter case, Pierre Kunz has placed a grande date at 6 o’clock. the innovative grande date is positioned behind an eye-shaped sector, which reveals the subtle mechanism of the two wheels through a tinted aperture.

Close up to show the 3 nazars and the omega sundial inspired design

Note: If you study the eye-shaped sector, there are actually 3 eyes. (1: Which is the blue tinted aperture, 2: the tenth numeric, 3: the single digit numeric). Also only for this tinted blue version, it reminds us of the turkish eye charm "nazar" which protects against the "evil eye".

The nazar design I was talking about

The sun-brushed dial, decorated simply with organic metal pointers, sets the solar or lunar mode.

A cleverly positioned sector at 11 o’clock shows daybreak in cartoon style and, when the sun sets, the moon with its thousand craters and metamorphosed stars makes its appearance on the scene.

The four-colour system permits a faithful reproduction of the original drawing by Pierre Kunz, highlighting the paradox between the technical aspect of watchmaking and the candid impression made by the sketch.

A time-zone inspired by sundials gives the dial a touch of sophistication. Once again, the outcome is a marvellously balanced, symmetrical and playful dial.

Note: It also resembles the Omega sign - (, , ) which in the New Testament book of Revelation, God is declared to be the "alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last". Therefore, I have this feeling that reminds me of being blessed by God.

A dial in constant motion and rich in complication. Pierre Kunz loves to play on his watchmaking art and creativity.

Technical references:
Fluted Empire-style case with a 41mm ø or 44mm ø in 18 carat white or 5N red gold and platinum. White, black and chocolate dial with brown, black or blue transparent zone.

Hands: blued, silvered or 5N gilded.
Functions: grande date at 6 o’clock, retrograde time-zone and day/night indicator at 11 o’clock.
Automatic movement. Pushpiece crown to facilitate setting the time-zone.
Water-resistance: 30 metres.
Power-reserve: 42 hours
Strap: matching in hand-stitched alligator skin.

** All technical write ups are from the Pierre Kunz website.

In summary, a watch which represents the spirit of challenge with a strong philosophical concept with the 18K white gold doing justice to a timeless complication. Listed Price: Est. $40K (not including the rising gold prices) ;)