What We Know
For all the conversations about what to do when a dial is damaged, possibly fit for restoration, or a watch needs some repair, I don’t recall many examples of watches with dials that come pre-repaired. That’s essentially what Arsène Lippens has launched: a watch inspired by the Japanese craft of Sashiko, which artfully patches and repairs textiles (largely denim) to extend their lives and turn them into something beautiful. In collaboration with Pey van der Wel, a Dutch artist who runs SASHIKODENIM, the brand’s new limited edition of 10 pieces is the second in its “Threads of Time” series celebrating textile crafts.
The watch is a relatively straightforward release as an entire package: a 37.5mm by 9.9mm 316L stainless steel case housing a manually wound Sellita SW210-1b movement with a 48-hour power reserve. The case is water-resistant to 50 meters, with a solid caseback and a box dome anti-reflective crystal on the front side. The thickness largely comes from the depth required for the dial, which is the star of the show.
The dial is made of denim, with 12 individual hour markers hand-stitched one thread wide through the dial, with a cross-hatch at 3, 6, 9, and 12. Of course, none of these dials are the same, and you could argue that some, including the one shown here, might not be perfectly aligned to the hour marker. But so be it. The watch celebrates a centuries-old handcraft and its beautifully imperfect nature. Of course, the watch comes with a denim strap with a pin buckle, but with a 20mm lug width, it should be easy enough to throw on something else in your strap pile if you aren’t a fan. But this is a denim watch, so you probably like denim if you’re buying it.
The watches come in at a price of CHF 1,900 and are limited to 10 numbered pieces. They go on sale on October 9 at 9am EDT, and are only available for 48 hours or until they sell out.
What We Think
Sometimes the Instagram algorithm strikes gold. Maybe it’s because I follow denim brands and Sashiko accounts, along with copious watch posters, but I didn’t know how spot-on it would be when it recommended this watch. After a trip to Japan a few years ago, I shared the art of Sashiko with my mom who, in addition to her knitting, cross-stitching, quilting, rug hooking, and even weaving, decided to make Sashiko yet another textile craft that she needed to get into. So far, I have two Sashiko pillows sitting on my bed, with another one in the works. I’m actively trying to get a nice thick pair of jeans from Japan to wear out so I can start having my mom patch them. I even have a boro tapestry hanging in the entryway of my apartment.
All this to say, I think the craft is something beautiful. This watch is subtle, and there’s not necessarily a ton going on to talk about. The stitched dial is something that I can’t recall seeing before, and certainly references the Japanese craft without being too distracting. Sashiko works best at scale, with patterns showing up over patched areas, and with the contrast of the multiple hues of denim that it’s usually done on. This lacks that kind of experience, but there’s only so much you can do in a small dial, so I think it works well, and it’s one of the more charming dials I’ve seen this year.
The Basics
Brand: Arsène Lippens
Model: Artigiano “Sashiko Denim”
Reference Number: 0599-SD
Diameter: 37.5mm
Thickness: 9.9mm
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
Dial Color: Denim dial
Indexes: 12 white hour markers, hand-stitched
Lume: None
Water Resistance: 50m
Strap/Bracelet: Denim strap with pin buckle clasp
The Movement
Caliber: Sellita SW210-1b
Functions: Hours and minutes
Power Reserve: 48 hours
Winding: Manual
Chronometer Certified: No
Additional Details: Closed caseback with circular satin, polished, and sandblasted finishing
Pricing & Availability
Price: CHF 1,900
Availability: October 9 at 3:00 pm CET, available for 48 hours or until sold out
Limited Edition: Yes, 10 numbered editions
For more, click here.
