ORNATUS is a German watch manufacturer for exclusive, hand engraved watches from Düsseldorf (Germany) for individuals of character, who value quality and tasteful extravagance.
The art of hand engraving which led to the creating of the first hand engraved watch dial was the foundation stone of ORNATUS. The name of the brand says it all.
The general philosophy of ORNATUS is to produce exquisite, hand crafted, ornated timepieces that adhere to the finest, traditional techniques in order to embellish the personality, of today`s discerning watch wearer. ORNATUS creates passionate timepieces, which personifies the vision of uniting time, art and jewelry in one unique symbiosis.
Watches exclusively made by hand for an individual customer is a luxury which only very few manufacturers can afford today. In times of computerized mass production ORNATUS watches make a different approach.
ORNATUS watches are built by hand to client´s personal taste, requirements and specifications. You can select the parts for your customized timepiece from ORNATUS large assortment of interchangeable components, like hand engraved dials and movements or let the company to manufacture the dial and engravings on the movement especially upon your request, thus allowing you to design your own individual watch.
Ornatus watches are equipped with hand engraved sterling silver dials characterized by the fact that the same dial varies in appearance in different lighting conditions and thereby achieve highly aesthetic effects which brings these watches to life.
Depending on the day time and the light conditions the shades of colours of an ORNATUS dial can vary from cool (bluish to white) silver to a warm golden colour and be complemented by the seductive sparkle of the pattern in the middle.
The special charm of the traditionally engraved dials and movements lies in the subtle distinction of details which communicate the experience of delight and a sense of passionate expression, brilliant technique, impressive precision everything united in an ORNATUS watch.
Manufacturing an ORNATUS watch requires creativity, time and pursuit of perfection to meet the high qualitative standards. When it comes to creating a masterpiece you have to pay attention to every single detail. The amount of handcraft involved in the production of the ORNATUS watches is very high.
From the very first sketch, that can be made upon the customers initial idea, through the feasibility and practicability of production to the actual engraving on the dial and movement it takes a gifted engraver many work hours to create an ORNATUS watch.
Dials
A large dial variety is available in sterling silver, marine, enamel and guilloche style. Hands are offered in black, white, nostalgic models or genuine blued steel hands sets. To fill the particular interests and wishes of customers, ORNATUS offers uniquely customized handcrafted dials in addition to the already available models.
Customers can request patterns and colours based on the broad range of ORNATUS engraving techniques shown in ORNATUS watches or just incorporate all their creative ideas in a new watch design. After the completion of the project the watch will be given the customer’s name and from then on will be listed under this name.
The customized ORNATUS watches are delivered in an exclusive travel leather box made by Buben&Zörweg together with a certificate with the watch name and specifications. Every certificate has a unique design based on the engravings of the watch and its colour scheme.
Movements
ORNATUS principally work with ETA 6497/6498 movements in different levels of decoration. On one hand these calibers proved to be very reliably and have become regarded as one of the best watch movements ever designed, for their ruggedness and accuracy. These movements are less complex and in spite of high quality are less expensive to purchase and maintain.
While for instance very complicated movements have to be send in to the manufacturer to get serviced or repaired which is not always possible in every region of the world and costs the customer not only lots of money but also lots of time, whereas these movements can be serviced and repaired for small money by almost every watchmaker everywhere in the world.
On the other hand these movements provide enough space, to have the freedom to engrave complex patterns and therefore fulfill the customer demands. This way, ORNATUS builds a truly fine and accurate mechanical watch that is customer-friendly and therefore able to accompany its owner for a lifetime.
Casing
The customer can choose from a variety of different cases available in polished steel, brushed steel, sand-blasted finish. The stainless steel case back has a large sapphire glass that offers full view of a normally hidden treasure, the beautifully finished movement and its beating heart.
It enables you to make the fascinating journey to the interior of a watch where you meet a gleaming microcosm consisting of many different mechanical components brought to life and embellished with sparkling engravings.
All engravings on the movement are made by hand. The finishing of the movements has been performed in harmony with the highest rules of the watch making art.
The main plate is decorated front and back with classical laborious pearl decor applied by hand so is the Pallet fork bridge. Every engraved movement comes with 24K yellow gold or rhodium plating.
The crown wheel is decorated with a two row-, the ratchet wheel is decorated with a three row original Glashütte sunray guilloche and both are plated with 24K yellow gold. The screws are thermally blued. Regulated with swan-neck fine adjustment and Glycudur balance with screws.
Prices
Prices starting as low as 2000€ for an ORNATUS Elegance line watch with a hand engraved, gold or rhodium plated sterling silver dial and goes up to 4500€ for an ORNATUS DeLuxe line watch fully customized from the engravings on the dial to the movement.
Technical details
ORNATUS DeLuxe Line
Movement
Swiss Made 6498-2 Mechanical movement with Swan neck regulator
Manual winding
17 jewels, Custom decorations, Blue screws and Gold or Rhodium plated finish
All Bridges with unique engraving decoration
Perlage on main plate, engraved and gold plated balance bridge, sun polished wheels
Incabloc anti-shock protection and Nivarox hairspring
Case
Material: Surgical grade German Stainless Steel “316L”
Diameter: 42mm, height 10.8mm
Different Surface finishes available
Sapphire Crystal with multi anti reflective coating on the inside
See-through Sapphire Crystal back
Water-resistance: 50 meters
Lug with: 22mm.
Engraved individual numbers
Dial
Solid 925 Sterling Silver dial
Engraved by hand with an extremely precise intricate design and subsequently gold- or rhodium-plated
Hands: Flame blued Breguet style hands
Strap
Handmade 22mm Genuine Alligator strap with ORNATUS buckle or optional deployment clasp
Packaging
Delivered in a luxury travel leather box made by Buben&Zörweg
ORNATUS Elegance Line
Movement
Swiss Made 6498-1 Mechanical movement
Manual winding
17 jewels, Blue screws
All Bridges decorated with Cotes de Geneve
Polished wheels
Incabloc anti-shock protection and Nivarox hairspring
Case
Material: Surgical grade German Stainless Steel “316L”
Diameter: 42mm, height 10.8mm
Different Surface finishes available
Sapphire Crystal with multi anti reflective coating on the inside
See-through Sapphire Crystal back
Water-resistance: 50 meters
Lug with: 22mm.
Engraved individual numbers
Dial
Solid 925 Sterling Silver dial
Engraved by hand with an extremely precise intricate design and subsequently gold- or rhodium-plated
Different hands available
Strap
Fine calfskin strap made or Russia leather with ORNATUS buckle or optional deployment clasp
Packaging
Delivered in a travel box.
Official website : http://ornatuswatches.com/
