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Ollivier Savéo Skull

A few years ago I made the really tough decision to stop painting. Although I had sold a few pieces and am still represented by a prestigious gallery, I had to concede the art world is a precarious industry. As my pictures are hyper realistic they take an enormous amount of time and effort. This was mainly due to the medium I use (oil paints) and the labour intensive layering technique. When I speak with independent watchmakers I can sympathise with them because they face very similar challenges. Even to get a prototype watch manufactured can be a lengthy and expensive process.

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About six months ago (at Baselworld) I had a very pleasant meeting with Ollivier Savelli. Interestingly he has spent most of his career as a jeweler and has worked for many renowned companies. He informed me that he had always been interested in watchmaking and horology in general. Therefore he had made the exceptionally bold decision to establish his own label called Ollivier Savéo. What impressed me the most was his passion for design and his eclectic train of thought. Certainly his timepieces are unique and express a broad range of ideas. They may not cater to everyone’s tastes or budget but are very distinctive.

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In our meeting I tried on a couple of Ollivier Savéo timepieces called Petroleum and Skull. Back in May I wrote an in depth review of the Petroleum highlighting its numerous qualities. The Skull is similar sized and has luxurious 18-karat pink gold case measuring 44mm x 41mm x 14mm. It is definitely smaller than I prefer to wear but should appeal to large variety of male and female buyers. Generally the watch felt lightweight and sat comfortably on my wrist. For that reason I would recommend it for most occasions with the obvious exception of extreme sports.

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Visually the Skull has a much more traditional appearance than the more contemporary Petroleum. Certainly I would say that is a bad thing because buyers have completely different tastes. This timepiece also showcases Ollivier Savelli’s talents in the jewelry industry. What makes this watch so appealing is the finally sculptured (seemly suspended) three-dimensional engraved 18-karat gold skull dial. This exquisite characteristic works in perfect harmony with the sapphire and gold case. Other features include delicate hour/minute hands and articulated gold lugs. Overall the composition is very refined and the finishing is first rate.

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At the heart of the watch is a self-winding movement sourced from Swiss manufacturer Selita. The Calibre SW300 comprises 26-jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. In my previous review of the Petroleum I commented on the quality of this mechanism for a watch of this price. In response Ollivier Savelli mentioned that he is now looking at more sophisticated alternatives. Certainly I feel that will make his beautiful timepieces even more exclusive. Functionally the Skull features hours, minutes and is water resistant to a depth of 30 metres.

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The Skull is limited to only 33 pieces and has a black Louisiana alligator strap with matching double folding 18-karat pink gold clasp.

For more information about Ollivier Savéo visit the company’s website: http://ollivier-saveo.ch

 

 

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