ORIGIN – WATER

A superbly executed timepiece which is crafted using a high level of hand finishing techniques, the Origin watch by James Lamb exhibits a magnificent pairing of a meticulously handmade silver case and an excellent champlevé enamel and ceramic dial arrangement. An outstanding demonstration of an atelier-crafted timepiece, the watch also enjoys the advantage of a premium Swiss mechanical manual wind movement.

An engineer turned watchmaker, who has earned accreditation from the British Horological Institute, for James Lamb the unveiling of this, his first collection of wristwatches is the fulfilment of a personal dream, and one which demonstrates his skilful precision-work and keen eye for finely detailed design. Forming part of the Origin Elements series are The Air, Water, Fire, and Earth, defined by its one-of-a-kind artisanal aesthetics and exquisite craftsmanship. Thematic of its title, the watch captures the ethereal characteristics of this essential element to superb effect.

Unusually, the watch case, crown and dial blank of the watch is handcrafted by the watchmaker himself. Working in his atelier, furnished with mostly traditional tools, James forges, forms and finishes each piece until perfection is achieved.

Argentium silver is the choice of the maker, offering exceptional tarnish-resistant characteristics, ensuring that the watch will have a housing that will retain brightness and durability. The individuality of every piece lends the owner the opportunity for a bespoke case sizing, ranging in 0.25mm increments from 37.75mm to 39.5mm. Exhibiting a graceful form the rounded case has a classical aesthetic, with flowing lugs and a perfectly proportioned winding crown.

The dial of the watch is outstanding, and is demanding of the skills of a trio of craftsmen; James, who designed the concept and who makes each dial blank himself; a fellow artisan, who renders the engraving and the artwork, and an enameler who has spent more than 40 years mastering the techniques required to work with this frangible material in order to produce a surface of unparalleled beauty. The time is displayed on a pristine white ceramic dial, positioned off-centre and featuring exquisite blued steel hands, and a traditional minute track, markers and arabic numerals. Surrounding it, champléve enamel is meticulously worked, and its delicate wispy subtleties represent the air's ultra-fine nature, which gives life to our world.

Housed within this elegant, yet modern watch case, a Swiss made SW210-1 hand-wound calibre by Sellita beats at 28’800 vph, and features a power reserve of 42 hours. Finished with traditionally decorated bridges and blued screws, each calibre will be finely regulated and tested in 5 positions before it leaves the James Lamb atelier to ensure accuracy.

The solid caseback of the Origin series watch is crafted from heavy gauge Argentium silver and it has been decorated with a design representative of the thematic styling codes of the watch. Each piece will be individually numbered, Notably, James has shunned the use of screw heads on the case back, preferring a pressure fit example, a more demanding option for the watchmaker, considering the additional machining and finishing tolerances involved.

A timepiece which exhibits flawless craftsmanship throughout, the Origin watch by James Lamb forms part of this talented English watchmaker’s debut collection, the Origin Series, of which a total of just 50 pieces will be made. The model’s desirability is further enhanced by its one-of-a-kind characteristics and the opportunity for a bespoke watch case size tailored to suit each client's individual requirements. Each Origin watch comes presented on a hand-made Nubuck leather strap secured with a pin buckle.

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