Switzerland's masters of watch personalization, Artisans De Genève's latest creation, la “Grand Bleu,” sees the iconic Rolex Deepsea undergo a stunning transformation inspired by Luc Besson's 1978 "Le Grand Bleu."
Sometimes, the chosen point of reference or inspiration for a creative project is just as beautiful or considered as the final product it inspired. Everyone from art directors to photographers, filmmakers, and fashion designers pulls from a rich tapestry of visual references, experiences, and memories to create pieces symbolic of their history.
This is explicitly true to the latest personalization project undertaken by Artisans De Genève. When a client came to the Swiss team, passionate about the beauty of the ocean, and more specifically, the French Cinéma du look movie, titled "The Big Blue" in English, his Rolex Deepsea watch made for the perfect canvas.
A perfect pairing in more than name alone, the client's request was to maintain the watch's iconic nautical look and shape while elevating it with a deep emphasis on the ocean's deep blue hues. Naturally, la “Grand Bleu” was the perfect title for the project.
Each watch component was carefully considered – from the recutting of the openwork dial adorned with diamond indexes to the addition of a sapphire crystal date disk and the development of a vulcanized rubber strap in an exclusive "Majestic Blue" hue.
From start to finish, this project was no small undertaken, with hundreds of hours (the date wheel alone taking 60 hours) of meticulous craft required to achieve the final finish – and what a finish it is.
It's worth noting that despite the base product used, ADG has no affiliation with Rolex, and this is purely a personalization project.
For those feeling inspired by la “Grand Bleu” to create their own unique piece, Artisans De Genève offers its services online. However, it's currently operating at capacity, and as such, a waitlist has is in place.
