Phenomenal artist, all-around good guy, and FLATSIXES.com sponsor Nicolas Hunziker, has recently teamed up with B.R.M. Watches to create a series of art pieces that you can wear. The new Hunziker-B.R.M Art Watch was launched on the Friday of Rennsport Reunion V with a live unveiling at the Hunziker booth. We were there, and saw the two initial pieces before anyone else. Here’s the kicker, though; No two pieces will be alike. Each Hunziker-B.R.M. will be numbered 1 of 1, and will feature a bespoke, one-off, commissioned piece of art tailored to your own personal preference. You could have your very own immensely personalizable time piece with a unique Hunziker art piece on its face. Who wouldn’t want that?
Limited, at least in part, by the amount of time Nicolas has in a year, only 20 pieces will be produced. Each one painstakingly hand painted using a 3-strand squirrel-hair brush, viewed through a microscope. As time-intensive as these must be to make, Hunziker still manages to make them look absolutely fantastic. Both of the pre-production watches feature Nicolas’ two pride and joy cars, his 1968 911 Sports Purposes car affectionately dubbed “the White Mouse”, and his 1969 Lotus 51C racing car. For obvious reasons, both will be retained by Nicolas and will not be for sale.
When you order your Hunziker-B.R.M. you can expect to have the only one in the world. It will take approximately 90 days from beginning to end, and you’ll receive pieces of art throughout the project for your personal approval to be sure you’re satisfied with the design before the final painting work is completed. Everything he paints is just beautiful though, isn’t it? As for the watch itself, you can expect traditional B.R.M. quality and style. The Swiss movement is a work of art in and of itself, then you can have the dial, watch hands, and band customized to your taste as well.
The Touring model Hunziker-B.R.M. starts at $32,500, and goes up from there. Buyers can choose to have their watches crafted from steel, titanium, or rose gold, and bands can be either rubber or leather. If you want one, you’d better hurry. The first five 2016 production pieces were sold before the Rennsport Reunion weekend had ended! If you are interested, more information can be found at hunzikerbrmartwatch.com.
Full Press Release Below:
THE COLLECTION:
Created in partnership with professional automotive fine artist Nicolas Hunziker, BRM has translated the art of motorsports into one-of-a-kind, wearable luxury. Exclusively bespoke, the record-setting collaboration introduces the world’s first automotive fine art chronograph.The Hunziker-BRM Art Watch collection is accessible only by commission. Every handcrafted timepiece is designed around a hand-painted dial, often considered the “canvas,” and set within a dynamic BRM model, which serves as the “frame.”
Giving owners the opportunity to customize the artwork featured on their original dial, the watches are fully individualized, and clients can personalize each BRM machine to their specifications, selecting their preferred metals, gemstones, and colors.
Since every timepiece is completely unique to its owner, this collection is beyond limited. Each Hunziker-BRM Art Watch is a “one-of-one,” and only 20 commissioned timepieces will be made available annually.
THE COMMISSION PROCESS:
Aquiring a Hunziker-BRM Art Watch starts with a consultation with the artist, and correspondence can be conducted via phone, email or in person. Parameters such as inspiration and artwork for the painted dial, color specifications, and accompanying timepiece design may be discussed.Next, the artist will develop sketches based on the client’s preferences. Once the owner reviews and approves the concept, the dial will be painted by hand and sent to BRM for final assembly. To learn more, visit HunzikerBRMArtWatch.com for a step-by-step guide to the commission process and timeline.
THE PROTOTYPES:
Crafted in recognition of the artist’s personal connection to motorsports, the first prototypes from the Hunziker-BRM Art Watch collection are inspired by the fast lane lifestyle. However, commissioning owners have nearly unlimited options when it comes to the visual concept they choose for their timepiece, and collectors can fully individualize their artwork, whether selecting subject matter that reflects their racing spirit or an entirely unique theme. Go inside the bespoke concept and learn more about the available BRM models at HunzikerBRMArtWatch.com.THE ARTIST:
Professional automotive fine artist Nicolas Hunziker comes by his work honestly: He derives his eye for detail from his great-grandfather and grandfather, who were both classically trained painters. His father, a professional flautist, now devotes much of his time to his paintings and his collages. This makes Hunziker the fourth generation to pick up the family trade.It also doesn’t hurt that his granduncle was the motor racing Prince Bira of Siam, so Hunziker is no stranger to the history, adrenaline and petrol fumes of the sport. He trained at Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design, and he believes in keeping his work simple. His focus lies in vintage racing and his original acrylic on canvas paintings have been reprinted on everything from shoes to Kimi Räikkönen’s actual racing helmet.
His artwork has been blessed by Porsche AG and his creations are now official Porsche products. His paintings and giclées have also been given the official stamp of approval from the 24h Le Mans / ACO. Gulf Oil L.P. have awarded Hunziker with an official licensing agreement, while McLaren commissioned Hunziker to create eleven original paintings in celebration of their 50th Anniversary.
Hunziker and partner Heather Norwood formed Hunziker Design to produce apparel collections and wearable art to provide racing enthusiasts with exciting new ways to express themselves. A sister company in Europe has also been established and current clients include Porsche, McLaren, and many more.
[First two images ©2015 FlatSixes.com/Bradley C. Brownell, All Rights Reserved, All others provided by Heather Norwood/Hunziker Design]