While it was announced at Time to Watches in the spring, the debut production timepiece from Schaefer & Companions is finally available to order. It’s the Schaefer & Companions Solune. Honestly, we’re just using that fact as an excuse to talk about this stunning timepiece, which is available in two styles, the Grand Art or the Medallion Enamel.
What both models share is an intricately shaped steel case crafted from the high grade 904L allow, which features increased corrosion and heat resistance compared to more common alloys. It’s sharp and angular, designed to conjure images of stars and celestial bodies, which the 12 point bezel certainly does with ease. As do the unusual facets of the pointed lugs. The case itself measures a broad 43mm in diameter but it remains nice and wearable thanks to a thickness of 11.4mm, so while it’s undeniably large, it’s still able to slip beneath a cuff when needed.
Where the two watches differ dramatically are the dials. Starting with the Schaefer & Companions Solune Grand Art, it features a full enamel dial in ice blue depicting the cracks and fissures of ice in the Antarctic Sea. While ice and glaciers are a common thematic trope in watchmaking this is one of the most detailed and intricate renditions of the substance I have ever seen. It’s produced by master enameller Fabienne Remmonay, who delicately enamels each surface of some crumpled silver foil.
Second in the collection is the Solune Medallion Enamel. Rather than a full enamel dial, this one displays multiple techniques by featuring just a small disc (aka medallion) of enamel in the 6 o’clock position. The rest of the display features a lovely, engraved pattern that Schaefer & Companions call Eclipse. One of the key elements of this launch is that it’s made to order and as such there are a number of customisation options and due to the Eclipse dial with medallion, there are a wider range of options for this model compared to the Grand Art. Specifically the dial can be black, blue or white.
Other elements of customisation that are available include a black coating on the case and a choice of star-shaped open-worked rotor or a hand-painted disc rotor. While we’re thinking about that rotor, it’s attached to the ETA 2892-A2 automatic movement with 42-hour power reserve. It’s the top grade version of the movement with an accuracy of +/-7 seconds per day.
Due to the custom elements and the Metiers d’Art aspects of the enamel, engraving and hand-painting that you might select, the watch is understandably not all that accessible. But by the same margin, it’s also not as pricy as you might expect given those same elements. The Schaefer & Companions Solune Grand Art is £4,897 and the Medallion Enamel is £3,391. Compare that to a Vacheron Constantin that displays similar techniques (albeit typically in gold with an in-house movement) and the Schaefer & Companions feels like excellent value. And as noted, they’re finally available to order at long last.
Price and Specs:
Infinity dial with 12mm enamel medallion at 6 o'clock (Medallion)
More details at Schaefer & Companions.
