Red Rocker

by Rachael Palacios

Most people might not be aware that Ron Wood’s talent extends beyond the strings to painting.  Having studied at Ealing Art College in London, Wood never ceased producing his artwork, even after he took up rock music. He paints portraits of the Rolling Stones and other rock and jazz musicians as well as landscapes, and has a respectable exhibition record at various museums and art galleries around the world. 
It is easy to understand why creative minds think alike. Bérard’s approach to watchmaking, while satisfying the necessary technical know-how, is artistic in nature in that it draws inspiration from shapes, light and concepts (see International Watch, January 2010, pages 72-76.)
Bérard’s wristwatch takes its cues from Bérard’s Quatre Saisons carriage clocks and he has dubbed it with the invented name Luvorene. The word is an anagram for Révolune: rêve meaning dream and lune meaning moon. It is also a play on revolution. Wood so loved Bérard’s Luvorene I model he commissioned one in his favorite color.
The round gold red watchcase bulges out at three o’clock, a shape that took its form from Bérard contemplating the columns at the Strasbourg Cathedral.  The domed case has a red guilloché dial, open worked at three o’clock to reveal the oscillating balance with screws and Breguet overcoil balance spring.  Note the absence of the escapement and the lever-wheel.  The large crown had to be reconfigured and placed at 9 o’clock.  Driving this red-hot timepiece features Berard’s unusual manual wind Caliber VB 441 hand finished and decorated movement.
The back of the case features an anti-reflective sapphire crystal revealing six spindle-shaped movement bridges taking a staircase form.  A protective red gold covering snaps over the crystal, offering porthole views of the power-reserve indicator and small seconds indices.