Summary
A recent social media post by gallerist Easy Otobar captured acclaimed American artist George Condo wearing what appears to be a piece-unique Audemars Piguet timepiece, showcasing a remarkable convergence of contemporary art and Haute Horlogerie. The watch is widely speculated to be a custom-made Code 11.59 Tourbillon, a high-complication model that naturally aligns with a commission of this stature. Given Audemars Piguet’s history of cultural partnerships, this timepiece highlights the brand’s willingness to allow its most iconic watches to serve as a canvas, though no official collaboration has been announced.
The custom watch is presumed to be a one-off model and its design is directly inspired by Condo’s emblematic artistic language. Condo is a highly influential American painter known for a unique form of pastiche that blends references from Cubism, Surrealism, and Pop Art to create fragmented and captivating portraits. The watch’s dial is dominated by a bedazzled and sculptural design of the artist’s name, with each letter either encrusted in diamonds or crafted from precious gemstones. A noteworthy highlight is the letter “O,” which is presented in a design that visually resembles Earth.
The letters spelling “Condo” are placed asymmetrically and irregularly across the dial, somewhat encircling the large tourbillon that dominates the lower sector. This composition is set against an aventurine sky backdrop, complete with three-dimensional bead-blasted clouds. Further contributing to the unusual design, the hour and minute hands emulate the look of metal screws, while Arabic numerals placed on the outer ring of the dial are rendered in a childlike font that echoes the piece’s playfully kooky aesthetic. This melding of artistic chaos with horological precision transforms the timepiece into a miniature, wearable work of art.
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