Artisans De Geneve, the bespoke watch atelier based in Switzerland, has crafted a unique timepiece for Italian professional footballer Gianluigi Buffon. The timepiece chosen for this project was a Rolex 126300 Datejust owned by Gigi.
One of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, Gigi Buffon wanted a timepiece to express a singularity that distinguishes him. Therefore, the brand opted for a single hand configuration. Furthermore, Blue and red are the two colors that best embody the great soccer player, who now plays as a goalkeeper for the Serie B club Parma.
For Gigi’s project, Artisans De Geneve created and developed a bi-material dial for the first time to tell the time from 5 minutes to another 5 minutes while letting the skeletonized and hand-decorated movement show through.
Entirely hand-machined from a block of stainless steel, the bezel is adorned with a handmade «clous de Paris» guilloche pattern, a nod to Gigi’s career. The mono- hand is entirely hand-beveled, flame-blued, and backed by a hand-painted red tip. The custom machining on the watch’s edges gives the illusion of a wave, giving light and softness.
The base timepiece featured the Caliber 3235. For the Gigi Heure Solitaire unique piece, the watchmakers of Artisans De Geneve modified this movement by skeletonising. They also reworked on every single element: sandblasted and beveled plate, and polished blocked balance bridge.
It should be noted that the Rolex Cal. 3235 is a self-winding movement, and the Atelier modified it into a manual-winding skeleton calibre.
The fluted steel case-back of the Artisans De Geneve X Gianluigi Buffon Heure Solitaire watch is fitted with a sapphire glass allowing the owner to admire the view of the calibre, which provides a power reserve of 72 hours when fully wound.
Technical details
Model: Artisans De Geneve X Gianluigi Buffon
Base: Rolex® 126300
Bezel: Clous de Paris finishing
Dial: Sapphire blue PVD
Hand: Single hand, flame-blued, red tip
Movement: 3235 modified skeleton, sandblasted, file-polishing.
Manual winding, 72 hours of power reserve. Balance bridge beveled by hand, black polishing
Case: Machined
Case-back: Sapphire
Disclaimer: This timepiece was personalized by Artisans de Genève, which is not affiliated or authorized by ROLEX SA. This customization option is available solely for private individuals who own a Rolex® and only for their private use.