Dahlia C1: A Masterpiece of Craftsmanship and Design

Alexandre Beauregard's Award-Winning Mechanical Watch

The Dahlia C1 watch, named after the flower that inspired its design, is the brainchild of Alexandre Beauregard. The designer's vision was to create a watch with a flying tourbillon, surrounded by a multitude of finely cut gemstones. The flower shape naturally imposed itself by its boldness and a natural repetitive pattern, adding poetic value to an extremely complex challenge in the actual gemcutting work.

What sets the Dahlia C1 apart from other watches is its meticulous attention to detail. Each gemstone petal on the dial is sculpted and polished by hand, each in a precise shape and size. The invisible mounting, specifically elaborated for the design, is underpinned by complex engineering, a real feat of technique and design that epitomises the values of traditional craftsmanship at the heart of Beauregard.

To achieve such precise gemcutting, Beauregard had to create new cutting techniques and tools. The stones are mechanically set, so the cut has to be precise to 2/100 mm. On the mechanical movement, the delicate open floral design of the bridges had to be realized by wire-cutting, since traditional milling was not precise or stable enough.

The watch features a central open-worked flower-shaped flying tourbillon cage surrounded by 48 hand polished gemstone petals. The case size is 38.8mm in diameter and 15.05mm in height. It uses a self-winding mechanical system known as a flying tourbillon, using body movement to wind itself. If taken off, it has a 72 hours power reserve.

The project started in 2012 and finished in November 2018. The Dahlia C1 watch was exhibited at the 2019 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Geneve, as well as Baselworld 2019. It was also a finalist at the Grand prix d'horlogerie de Genève (Switzerland) in November 2018. The watch was awarded Golden in A' Jewelry, Eyewear and Watch Design Award in 2020.

The Dahlia C1 is not just a watch, but a testament to the power of design, craftsmanship, and innovation. It is a reminder that in a world increasingly dominated by technology, there is still a place for the human touch, for the artist's hand, and for the timeless beauty of a well-crafted timepiece.