The egg and its shape in the history of watchmaking
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The shape of the egg has been present in horology since the 16th century. © Roman Catholic Church of Geneva
Christened “the Egg,” this pocket watch, property of the Patek Philippe museum, boasts deadbeat seconds and a new way of displaying the time. © Patek Philippe Museum
“The Egg” was completed in London between 1745 and 1750 by watchmakers Benjamin Gray and Justin Vulliamy. © Patek Philippe Museum
Fabergé’s Moon Phase Clock Egg is powered by an eight-day, double barrel mechanical movement by Paul Gerber. Every day at noon, “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy sounds from a musical movement hidden in the pedestal. © Paul Gerber/Fabergé
Expressed in grand feu blue enamel, Ulysse Nardin’s Egg of the Tsars Kremlin housed one wristwatch limited to 30 numbered pieces. © Ulysse Nardin
This time in white, the Egg of the Tsars Imperial St. Petersburg housed another limited edition wristwatch (30 pieces): the Maxi Marine Chronometer in platinum. © Ulysse Nardin
Beautiful work totaling 4.25 ct of diamonds. © Ulysse Nardin
Launched in 2002, Breguet’s Queen of Naples line rapidly found its audience, which is exclusively feminine. © Breguet
The Queen of Naples 8958 Cammea boasts a splendid dial tediously hand-carved from a shell. © Breguet
The Minerva Mystérieuse Tourbillon presented in 2005. © Ornatus-Mundi
Montblanc’s Tourbillon Bi-Cylindrique, an evolution of the Minerva Mystérieuse Tourbillon, was revealed in January at the SIHH. It contains a double cylindrical balance spring. © Montblanc
The Ultramarinum Marine by Horus, a unique piece, is another example of a recent egg-shaped case. © Horus
Thanks to its opulent structure, the resemblance to an egg was stronger on Ladoire’s early work such as the Rolling Guardian Time. © Ladoire
The Rolling Guardian Time designed by Lionel Ladoire interprets the ovoid shape, which became a signature element for the brand. © Ladoire
Almost as if emerging from a science fiction film, Hublot’s egg-shaped MP-02 Key of Time debuted at Baselworld 2011. © Hublot
The caliber of the Christophe Colomb remains permanently horizontal and a sphere has been created with the saphir glasses to let it move freely. © Zenith
A profile view of the Christophe Colomb. © Zenith
