First Look Louis Erard Unveils the Limited Edition “Fil d’Or”

Louis Erard introduces the Fil d’Or Limited Edition, created in partnership with Wire Art Atelier, a meeting of traditional watchmaking and avant-garde craftsmanship. Following the recent showcase of a hand-engraved case, the focus now shifts to the dial, where artistry and cutting-edge technology merge. Skilled hands have employed innovative tools adapted from the world of electronics to produce a dial that is not printed but meticulously woven, transforming the timepiece into a true work of art.

Its design, composed of anachronistic cubes, recalls the 3D checkerboard motif of Louis Erard’s hand-guilloché dial of 2021 and the miniature wood marquetry of 2023. Bold and original, it is a statement of the brand’s mission: to highlight rare crafts and make them accessible without compromising authenticity or value. In total, the dial incorporates an astonishing 229,680 gold threads.

Founded in 2017 by engineers Sylvie Villa and Mark Miehlbradt, Wire Art Switzerland is based in Sainte-Croix, the historic cradle of Swiss micromechanics. From their restored family farmhouse, they reinvent obsolete wire-bonding machines once destined for silence. These machines, originally designed for microelectronics, now find new purpose: weaving 24K gold wire into intricate patterns. Their patented process transforms micro-soldering into a new form of decorative art, combining engineering precision with creative expression.

The case is crafted from polished stainless steel, measuring 39 mm in diameter with a lug-to-lug span of 45.9 mm for perfectly balanced proportions. With a thickness of 12.82 mm, it features a three-piece construction, protected by a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides. The transparent caseback reveals the movement and is engraved with “WIRE ART EDITION 1 of 99,” highlighting its exclusivity. Water-resistant to 50 meters, the case is completed with Louis Erard’s signature fir tree crown.

The dial is where the magic happens. Woven with pure 24K gold thread, just 25 microns thick, three times thinner than a human hair, it represents a patented technique that reimagines a bonding machine as an instrument of art. The motif is the Louis Erard cube: a chevron pattern that creates a mesmerizing trompe-l’œil effect. The process moves from sketch to digital code, from lacquered brass to sculpted gold. The result is a dial alive with reflections and deceptive depth.

On a black lacquered background, 2,320 gold threads form the cube pattern, while 3,660 solder points trace the chapter ring, hour markers, and highlight key edges. Each thread is pulled, placed, and soldered individually, under binocular magnification, with a rate of one wire every three seconds, a feat requiring 45 minutes of painstaking precision. The baseplate is laser-engraved with micro-cavities, later filled with gold via electroplating. Every connection is micro-soldered, calibrated to the nearest micron, where technology and human mastery converge.

The hands are sword-shaped, rhodium-plated, satin-brushed on the surface, and diamond-polished along the edges, further enhancing the watch’s refined aesthetic.

At its heart beats the Sellita SW266-1 caliber, a reliable Swiss automatic movement widely used by the brand. Measuring 25.60 mm in diameter and 5.60 mm thick, it operates at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz) and offers a power reserve of 38 hours. The movement is finely decorated and paired with a specially designed openworked oscillating weight.

Completing the watch is a beige grained calf leather strap with tone-on-tone stitching and a black calf leather lining, secured with a polished stainless steel pin buckle. Quick-release spring bars ensure effortless strap changes.

Developed in collaboration with Wire Art, the Louis Erard Fil d’Or Limited Edition is available in just 99 pieces, priced at CHF 4,500 (approximately AED 24,800).

For more information visit Louis Erard’s official website.