Thehe Métiers d’Art Les Aérostiers collection was introduced at SIHH 2018. It is inspired by five historical baloon flights made in France in the 18th century. In this collection hand-engraved and micro-sculpted gold hot-air balloons are depicted against a translucent plique-à-jour enamel background, while hours, minutes, day and date are displayed to the beat of calibre 2460 G4/1. Each of the versions is a limited edition of five pieces.Métiers d’Art Les Aérostiers reference 7610U/000G-B244 is inspired by a balloon flight made in 1783 in Versailles, France. This “aerostatic experiment” carried a sheep, a rooster and a duck on board. Their survival would testify to the sufficiency of oxygen at a given altitude. Engraved in white gold, the basket and its floating ropes, having been slightly damaged by the landing, are perfectly visible beneath the opulent 5N gold balloon.
