Art Car · Collection
Racing cars entrusted to artists, and the pop art that made them famous. The Art Car collection retains a simple idea: colour is not to be diluted. Eight automatic watches, each in limited series, assembled by hand in Magny-en-Vexin.
The idea
Art Car is not a separate family. These are V3, V6, V7, V12, GF7 and T12 models from the catalogue, with the same round case milled from the solid and the same hand-assembly, in the workshop where Bernard Richards founded the manufacture in 1986.
What changes is the colour. It appears on the dial, is applied to the rehaut, the crown and the lugs, colours the springs of the shock absorbers and the perforations in the strap. On a black case as on polished stainless steel, it takes centre stage.
The gesture
The dial is created and printed in-house, on UV printing machines. The ink projection leaves it with a satin finish.
The lacquer is applied by hand: on the case, on the springs, on the crown. It produces a mirror effect that gleams beside the matt dial. On the GF7-38-SA, it is the numerals on the bezel and case back that are lacquer-painted.
Twelve dots
On the chapter ring of the V3, V6 and V7, twelve lacquer dots are applied one by one, without predetermined order. The shades vary from one watch to another: two pieces from the same series are not identical.
The visible springs also change hue: blue, orange and yellow on the V6-44-SA, yellow, blue and pink on the GF7-38-SA. On most models, the hands remain white and perforated, tips coated with Superluminova®, so that the time is read first.
Illustration: each application draws twelve colours at random.
On the wrist
The strap is hand-stitched, with different coloured thread and a knot at each stitch point. The perforations are multicoloured, in Alcantara® on the V6, in leather on the V3, V7, V12 and T12, in Hypalon® on the GF7.
It fastens with a lightened stainless-steel pin buckle. All watches in the collection are water-resistant to 100 metres and guaranteed for three years.
From 32 to 44 mm
The V3-32-N opens the collection at 32 mm, with an ETA 2671 calibre. The V7 and GF7, crown on the left, are 38 mm. The V6-44-SA, mounted on shock absorbers, house the ETA 2824-2, skeletonised by B.R.M Chronographes for the Squelette version.
The T12-44 and V12-44 Titane are automatic chronographs with Valjoux 7753, 46-hour power reserve.
In colour
The collection
The Art Car colour exists outside the case too: spare leather straps, Speed and Bolides straps, key rings and watch winders.
From 30 to 150 pieces depending on the model. Each watch is assembled by hand in our manufacture in Magny-en-Vexin, water-resistant to 100 metres and guaranteed for three years.
On the oscillating weight or the sapphire case-back.
Tracked shipment, in France and internationally.
In addition to the statutory warranty of conformity.
