Japanese lacquer painting dates back to 5000 BC - Japan's Jomon Period, which, like many Swiss watchmaking techniques (enamel, latticework and engraving), is almost lost in Japan. Today, with the help of the small Swiss watch industry, only a small number of skilled craftsmen devoted themselves to the heritage of this ancient, traditional craft. Some watch brands such as Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels and Chopard Chopard have all been drawn to this magical Asian art and collaborated with lacquer masters to create micro-dial dials. Paint products in Asia is quite popular. Initially, it was only used on daily necessities, to play a role in anti-corrosion. So you can find it on virtually anything, from bowls to tea pots to furniture, and its making technique is ever-changing, whether it be simple varnishes or shellac (made with insect secretions ), And real lacquer (a sap from the Rhus verniciiflua tree, also known as urushi tree). In the watch manufacturing industry, we use the paint, usually 莳 絵 maki-e paint. Dill 絵 literally means "spray map", metal powder spray is a sign. Usually paint is dry, the powder, platinum powder, silver powder or tin powder sprayed on it, the whole process will use a spray tank makizutsu and a spray brush kebo. There are many kinds of techniques of raisins, but the most important ones are three types: grind togidashi, takamaki-e and hira maki-e. The difference is that the last painting process. It is the last layer of paint coated on top of the metal powder, after a little grinding, so that the following metal spray map vaguely visible. High 莳 絵 can also be called convex 莳 絵, this technique is to mix paint and charcoal dust or clay powder, so that the outline of the projected design, great three-dimensional. Flat 莳 絵, as its name suggests, is the simplest form of lacquer, while pattern design is added later. Other forms exist, such as eggshells, gold leaf, abalone, or mother of pearl, which opens the door to those abstract designs. Vacheron Constantin's masterpiece Métiers d'Arts Vacheron Constantin's timer has been a cultural and cultural bridge between countries since 1755 when the brand was established. François Constantin himself was one of the first to practice the world and traveled the world; precisely it was because of him that manufacturing expertise was spread throughout the world. Today, Swiss artisans not only bridge the gap between brands and consumers, but also are the art collaborators of the renowned Zenith Zohiko workshop in Kyoto, Japan. "The values ​​and heritage of Vacheron Constantin, like the workshops at Xiang Yan and Vacheron Constantin, complement each other's success, especially when you come to the conclusion that the history of the top brands in craftsmanship and expertise of both brands adds up to more than 600 years." Christian Selmoni, head of brand product development, shared with us . La Symbolique des Laques, published in 2010, is the theme of the brand's first series, "Lao Dong San You" - Pine, Bamboo and Plum. They are three plants that greet the freezing cold and represent tough and strong, painted on three different dials with winter birds. The second series tells the world of water, with turtles, frogs, carp, lotus, hydrangeas and waterfalls. The new series of dial more decorative, more three-dimensional display of the art of CHANG Xuan Yan. The relatively dark dial of this series is due to a technique called hirameting, which is one of the steps of this technique before sprinkling a flat powder on the dial. The next step is to call momidashi polished, it is used to help capture light stone. Next is kakiwari, which shows the details of the plant's veins, bringing astonishing artistic effect. "Both collections have been very welcome and we are looking forward to the brand new work in 2012 as this will be the last resort; we have just finished the first production and are very optimistic about the prospects for the new work," Selmoni said. Chopard Chopard's masterpiece LUC XP Urushi In 2009, Chopard Chopard made a series of urushi paint timers for the Japanese market. This year, the brand presented us with a series of nine different pieces of ravioli in a thin and elegant gold case of 39.50 mm, while Kiichiro Masumura, the master of ravioli, was recently voted "live" by the Japanese government National treasure ") is the series of technical director. After the dial was designed, the lacquered and gilded finishes were done by Yamada Heiando, the official supplier of the Japanese royal family, Yamada Heiando. According to ancient Asian philosophy, different dials represent the five basic elements of the universe: gold, wood, water, fire and earth. Dials were dragon, phoenix, tiger, peacock, fish and animal (Kirin and basaltic) patterns, and the use of color and layered to make the dial more vivid. Van Cleef & Arpels's Midnight Midnight tour Van Cleef & Arpels always bring us surprises and innovations, just as his super dial Cadrans Extraordinaire series as we show the same. This French brand has a pool of skilled craftsmen around the world who can design their designs vividly. Midnight Extraordinary Midnight Extraordinary Japanese lacquer series (42 mm white Midnight case), have the honor to come to Japan lacquer master Hakase San Hakase San. With more and more companies and skilled craftsmen joining, paint has gradually become a fascinating new material for watchmaking. However, just as with all arts and crafts, the price of lacquer art has soared, which is not always understandable. The ingenuity of every dial, the rare craftsmen who know the recipe, and the amount of time spent on making a plate all play an important role in the final price. However, once consumers truly understand the story behind this dial, their understanding of this 7,000-year-old ancient art can bring their love of watchmaking to a whole new level and cherish the time itself.