Masterminds in freezing time, Berd Vay’e offers an exclusive look into the secret inner-workings of watchmaking through its show-stopping, limited edition sculptures.
Included in its 2019 novelties is its newest creation – “Passage Through Time” – a captivating sculpture inspired by the hourglass shape.
Within “Passage Through Time” the horological heritage of vintage timepieces is frozen in time alongside the seemingly floating watch components. Each and every gear, barrel, wheel, spring, escapement wheel, pinion, bridge, and hands are storied. Components are restored, polished and meticulously positioned, balanced in precious, crystal clear shatter-resistant Lucite®.
“Passage Through Time” is offered in two sizes: small and large. The smaller sculpture is a limited edition collector’s piece of 999 pieces. Each individual small sculpture contains between 1,000 – 1,500 watch parts, weighing 4.2 lbs. and measures approximately 10 in. in height x 5 in. in width. The retail value is $2900 USD.
The large “Passage Through Time” sculpture is also a limited edition collector’s piece of 999 pieces. Each individual large sculpture contains between 1,500-2,000 watch parts, weighing 13.4 lbs. and measures approximately 15 in. in height x 7 in. in width. The retail value of the large sculpture is $5900 USD.
The founders of Berd Vay’e scour the globe, fueled by a shared passion to collect antique watches and clocks.
The personal quests spill into the professional work, amassing 50-100-year-old treasures from the watch industry’s most acclaimed manufacturers. Recent treasures include collectible backwind pocket watches, to remnants of 1900s Americana in the form of stop clocks once belonging to railroad conductors. The designers painstakingly disassemble broken collectibles, restoring the integrity of each and every component by immortalizing them in art. These acquisitions power the combined creativity of Berd Vay’e.
Once deconstructed, the timepieces and parts are then painstakingly reimagined over one month of design work to expose the tremendous intricacies and human ingenuity involved in fine watchmaking. Each and every gear, barrel, wheel, spring, escapement wheel, pinion, bridge, and hands are storied. The vast majority of the components are of Swiss origin. Each part is individually and carefully reviewed similar to the process of selecting and grading the most precious diamonds.
Components are restored, polished and meticulously positioned, balanced in precious, crystal clear shatter resistant Lucite®. The artisans place the components with a highly controlled method, ensuring a total balance of size and colour within the piece. Each sculpture then begins an arduous process of repeatedly placing components in layers of Lucite® and then baking in highly pressurized 1,000° Oracle ovens.
Each Berd Vay’e piece is cast with 8-10 layers over a 24 hour period. The sculpture is then baked, carefully protecting it from the formation of air bubbles or imperfections thus resulting in a seamless, crystal clear sculpture. The cooled Lucite® is shatter resistant, having heralded from its early use on submarines and helicopters. Each sculpture is then shaped and polished by hand, requiring relentless attention from multiple artisans to complete every one-of-a-kind piece. This process forever preserves the history in watchmaking through reinvention. The result is a visual effect of gears floating in the air, allowing collectors to have a 360-degree appreciation for details that are normally hidden behind watch dials.
Every Berd Vay’e limited edition sculpture is presented in a polished mahogany case, lined in satin. Each piece is numbered and features accompanying gloves and a .925 silver plaque a designed to depict a jewel from a mechanical watch gear. A Certificate of Authenticity bearing the sculpture’s production number is included.
Berd Vay’e sculptures are available from authorized dealers worldwide, including Govberg, Tourneau, London Jewelers, Westime, and Cellini in the US, along with many more.
For press inquiries, please contact Caitlin Shockley at The Creative: +1.646.584.2707 or caitlin@thecreativenyc.com
About Berd Vay’e
Berd Vay’e is the brainchild of two dynamic individuals with decades of experience in the fine watch and jewelry industry. The pair combined a shared fascination which began at a young age with watchmaking and the harmony in which watch components work together to inspire art lovers and watch collectors alike from around the world. These two artisans have sourced and continue to source thousands of vintage watches and watch components from around the globe with the final goal of preserving their venerable history in precious Lucite®. They passionately seek out new design inspiration from the world of horology. The name “Berd Vay’e” represents a culmination of syllables from the designer’s names, an homage to their each of their personal passions for horology itself.
www.berdvaye.com
IG: @berdvaye
