Schaefer & Companions, an independent Swiss watchmaking Maison, has collaborated with contemporary new media artist MOTOMICHI and métiers d'art artisan André Martinez to create the Solune Grand Art MOTOMICHI – Red Eyes Edition.
The one-of-a-kind Schaefer & Companions timepiece translates the artist's iconic animated Red Eyes — originally conceived as large-scale building projections — into a micro-painted dial. For the watch's design, each eye is individually hand-painted and enhanced with Super-LumiNova, which causes the eyes to glow in the dark while the black dial and case recede. This makes for a nocturnal identity that mirrors the ephemeral quality of digital projection in a permanent, mechanical form.
There is only one Solune Grand Art MOTOMICHI – Red Eyes Edition available and it retails for €4,800, taxes included.
Image Credit: Schaefer & Companions
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Artist-led Watchmaking
- Independent maisons are turning limited-edition timepieces into collectible art objects that merge horology with contemporary visual culture.
- Luminous Micro-art Dials
- Glow-enhanced hand-painted details create new sensory value in luxury products by shifting their appearance across light conditions.
- Digital-to-analog Collectibles
- Creative concepts from projection, animation, and new media are gaining permanence through handcrafted physical formats with scarcity-driven appeal.
Where This Applies
- Luxury Watches
- Boutique watchmakers can differentiate through rare artistic collaborations that emphasize craftsmanship, narrative, and exclusivity.
- Contemporary Art
- New media artists are finding expanded commercial relevance as their visual languages move into premium functional objects.
- Luxury Retail
- Highly limited collaborative products offer retailers distinctive storytelling assets for affluent consumers seeking culturally resonant collectibles.
