Watch manufacturers across the globe commit their craft to create wearable technology that remains both air-tight and water-resistant. This ethos of resistance dates back to 1926 with the pioneering Rolex Oyster case, setting a robust precedent for future watchmakers. Today, even the most delicate of dress watches demonstrate some resistance to the elements, hence protecting their intricate mechanisms. However, a select group of brands have ventured into rather uncharted territory: filling watch cases with oil. This unusual practice is not only alluring but serves key functional purposes as well.
While visiting the Jaeger-LeCoultre boutique on Madison Avenue, an unexpected discovery was made - a tray of enamel Reversos with beautifully painted scenes on their casebacks. Rendering intricate details of the miniature figures was a paintbrush that only had a single bristle, as thin as a strand of human hair. A quick exploration revealed that a standard paintbrush has thousands of bristles, making the finding more surprising. It was a tool reduced to its most basic, unprocessed form, yet this rudimentary paintbrush was able to provide the utmost precision.