It’s not easy to stand out in today’s world.
And, with all the watch companies out there, it’s more important than ever to be different. It’s not enough to make a “me too” product.
But to just be something different isn’t enough, that difference has to be organic, natural and logical.
And that’s where Dolce & Gabbana comes in.
Founded in 1985 by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, Dolce & Gabbana has grown into a fashion powerhouse that has its hands in just about every segment.
Employing 3,150 employees throughout the world, Dolce & Gabbana has had watches for many years, but until this year, the watches have only been sold in its own boutiques.
To draw (what will be significant) attention and to herald the opening up of its watches to retailers around the world, Dolce & Gabbana has created four one-of-a-kind timepieces.
Revolution got an exclusive early look at these incredible watches, pieces that perfectly translate the outstanding vision of Dolce & Gabbana.
Taking inspiration from Sicilian Baroque artwork and decoration (Dolce was born in Sicily), these pieces are eye-catchingly hand finished and decorated, like the house’s jewelry; but true watchmaking lies within, thanks to Dolce & Gabbana’s collaboration with Switzerland’s master watchmaker Pierre Favre.
The Piece Unique Watches
Dolce & Gabbana’s unique interpretation of watchmaking is a continuation of the Italian duo’s distinctive and inimitable approach to fashion design. Credited with being the inventors of the Mediterranean style, Dolce & Gabbana never cease to find inspiration in their Italian heritage, constantly mixing different periods of history, fabrics, colors and embellishments to stunning effect.
“We have always been fascinated by watches, because on top of their function of measuring time, there can be distinctive elements about the personality of who is wearing them,” says Domenico Dolce. “In the last years we have worked to grow the quality of the products and the brand level, that’s why we believe that watches are key to complete our concept of the total look.”
Their new collection of four pièce unique timepieces pursues this same level of creativity, bringing a new aesthetic vision to the world of horology. Dolce and Gabbana were intimately involved with these pieces, having input through the design and production process.
Inspired by four operas by famous Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, the pieces are named Otello, Nabucco, Macbeth and Don Carlo. Each is powered by a bespoke movement created or renovated by Favre, features surprises in decoration and in watchmaking, and comes in its own individual restored antique presentation box.
Otello
The Otello timepiece is powered by a completely restored vintage manual winding mechanical movement from the early 20th century, the movement is completely engraved by Italian artisans. A winged lion and a torch, which are made visible from both sides, support the mother-of-pearl dial, which features refined Roman numerals.
The bezel, a clear reference to the Baroque style, houses the watch as if it was enclosed in a glass case and features lavish hand-engraved details, including the winged lion of Venice and lanterns that are common on piers in this amazing city. To make this watch, master goldsmiths and engravers worked intensely for more than seven months to fully express the Dolce & Gabbana brand heritage.
Nabucco
Verdi’s Nabucco opera is dedicated to the Archangel Michael, so the figure of the Archangel dominates the entire case. Carefully sculpted by hand by a skilled goldsmith and then engraved, the figure blends with the watch bezel, embracing the shape and even concealing the first markers.
The dial features magnificent engravings and enamel markers that have been exquisitely crafted by hand with a complex rounded effect. A window at six o’clock reveals the tourbillon, whose bridge is engraved with the Dolce & Gabbana logo, the creation of which significantly challenged the delicate micro-mechanical balance required for proper operation.
The movement, only partially visible, is entirely composed of engraved bridges, and only the sun-shaped rotor appears in all its glory through the small glass on the back.
The case, which required over six months of painstaking work, is the perfect combination of mechanical engineering and the creative talent of Dolce & Gabbana’s master goldsmiths and engravers.
Macbeth
This Tourbillon Monopusher Chronograph features a handmade and fully engraved dial with second and minute counters, and a power reserve indicator, showcasing the ample 100 hours of power reserve. A window at six o’clock reveals the spinning tourbillon.
The case and bracelet are milled and decorated with engravings of Arabic and Roman numerals, forming an abstract design that is meant to represent the relativity of time. The glass on the back lets one admire the delicate embellishments on the bridges. Dolce & Gabbana’s master goldsmiths and engravers worked for more than eight months on this watch.
Don Carlo
The beautiful jade dial of the Don Carlo is slightly hidden from view by a delicate gold open-worked cover, adorned with hand-cut emeralds, inspired by wrought iron gates in traditional Sicilian homes. Once you open the watch, you can see the markers and gold decorations float on the dial that have been patiently carved from a single piece of lustrous jade, and the engravings on the stone were only possible thanks to the use of a high-tech laser that doesn’t damage the jade.
A window at six o’clock reveals the tourbillon, and a slide, embellished with an emerald, on the side of the case activates the minute repeater, so it’s possible to discover the time even with the cover closed.
The Dolce & Gabbana Watch Collection
These four unique pieces have been created specially to wow the watch world (mission accomplished!) and celebrate Dolce & Gabbana opening up their watch collections to other retail operations and a larger public that may have never stepped inside a Dolce & Gabbana boutique before. Although obviously not quite as elaborate as the unique pieces, the designs of the Dolce & Gabbana core collection are as equally eye-catching in their own artistic way.
The Dolce & Gabbana core collection of watches includes an even mix of both men’s and women’s timepieces whose creative inspiration comes directly from Dolce and Gabbana themselves, before the brand’s horological team translates the vision into a reality.
There are four collections for men—DG7 +, DG7, DG Gems and DS5—and four for women—Sofia, DG7, DG7 Gems and DG7 Tapered. All the DG7 collections feature a round-shaped case with elegant lugs that slide delicately over the rim of the bezel in an ergonomically pleasing way. A combination of highly polished parts and brushed surfaces also highlight this unique feature. The extensive mix of dials and materials offers a broad range of styles and designs—from colored PVD-coated gold cases, to large gemstones set on the dial, semi-precious stone dials, and galvanized ruthenium dials—the possibilities are boundless.
The second case design is to be found in the DS5 Collection, a COSC-certified chronograph crafted in gold with a black PVD coating for a sophisticated, yet sporty look.
Specially for the ladies, Dolce & Gabbana is also offering a mini square timepiece on a satin strap with a sapphire crystal that has been faceted like a diamond, reflecting the light onto the pastel colored dials to maximum effect.
All the gems used in Dolce & Gabbana’s collections are sourced directly from the mines to ensure traceability, and each owner will receive a free revision of his or her watch before the two-year warranty expires—details that are set to seduce the consumer even further.
The Future
If you don’t know Dolce & Gabbana, you can be forgiven for thinking that this company is like any other Italian fashion company. But that is too simple a definition for a company that prides itself on revolutionizing everything it does. And that continues in watchmaking as well, as Dolce & Gabbana is now poised to be a force in the watch industry.
Dolce & Gabbana will be exhibiting at the Three Kings Hotel, (8 Blumenrain, 4001 Basel) during the Baselworld watch fair for anyone curious to discover more.
