TAOS Pays Homage To Craftsmanship With Artistic Savile Row Tartan Dial

Young independent Swiss watch brand with a long and rich history thanks to its founders, TAOS pays homage to the timeless elegance and craftsmanship of tartan fabrics with its new “Savile Row,” unique series of just five watches  that seamlessly fuses the precision of fine watchmaking with the rich legacy of tartan. Named after London’s legendary street of bespoke tailoring, the watch reflects the craftsmanship and precision long associated with both Savile Row and the art of watchmaking. Every detail mirrors the meticulous nature of a tailor’s hands, cutting, stitching, and shaping fabric to perfection.

Born in the misty Highlands of Scotland, tartan is more than just a pattern; its an art thanks to its intricate motifs, formed by the precise interlacing of colored threads. Both classic and contemporary, tartan has transcended its origins, finding a home on haute couture runways and in the world of bespoke tailoring. Now, Taos recreates that allure on watch dials.

In fact, the creation of the “Savile Row” dial is a masterclass in Métiers d’Art. Using centuries-old enameling techniques, the artisans at Atelier Olivier Vaucher have recreated the woven depth of tartan fabric. The process involves multiple layers of transparent enamel applied over an opaque base, each one delicately fused with high-temperature firings exceeding 800°C.

Beneath the enamel, fine engravings evoke the interlacing threads of a woven textile, while miniature enamel-painted lines replicate the exacting structure of tartan’s warp and weft. The dial’s solid white gold base provides a luminous foundation, enhancing the depth and interplay of light across its intricate surface.

The result is a dial that captures the essence of tartan in a way never before seen in watchmaking. With its harmonious balance of structured pattern and fluid enamel work, “Savile Row” is both a tribute to tradition and creativity.

Beyond the dial of the 38mm 18-karat white gold watch, the Savile Row boasts a hand-finished mechanical movement (VOP318 developed exclusively by Télôs (La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland) for TAOS)with intricate engravings inspired by haute couture textiles. Its bridges are decorated in motifs such as “Entrelacs,” evoking quilted fabric, and “Drapé,” mimicking the graceful folds of draped silk.

Every component is meticulously finished, ensuring that the artistry of the exterior is matched by the sophistication of the mechanical heart within. The movement offers 72 hours of power reserve. The watch –created in a limited number of just five unique pieces – is finished with a hand-stitched alligator leather strap. It retails for CHF 140,000.

About TAOS Watches

Established in 2024 by Olivier Gaud in collaboration with Dominique and Olivier Vaucher, TAOS emerged from the desire to push the boundaries of craftsmanship beyond industry norms. With a commitment to producing only a handful of unique pieces each year, the brand embraces time not as a constraint but as a canvas for the extraordinary. The new Savile Row exemplifies that.

Each TAOS watch is crafted in Geneva by a team of 40 master artisans at Atelier Olivier Vaucher, an independent workshop renowned for its mastery of engraving, enameling, and miniature painting. Every timepiece is a symphony of skills, requiring over a thousand hours of work across more than 15 specialized disciplines. From sculpted metalwork to the delicate application of fondant enamel, each technique is executed with an uncompromising pursuit of excellence.

The tartan-patterned Savile Row watch is just one of three fabric-inspired motifs being unveiled by Taos for 2025.