Vincent Calabrese "Mona Lisa"

Model: Vincent Calabrese “Mona Lisa” (Les Philosophiques Collection)

Overview: The Vincent Calabrese “Mona Lisa” is one of the independent watchmaker’s most playful and provocative creations. At first glance, it appears to be a relatively traditional dress watch, but hidden within the dial is an unusual jumping-image complication. As each hour passes, the image displayed through the dial changes, progressively revealing "Mona Lisa". The result is a watch that treats the passage of time as both mechanical theatre and artistic expression. 

History: Introduced in 1991 as part of Vincent Calabrese’s “Les Philosophiques” collection, the Mona Lisa developed from his earlier Commedia concept. Calabrese created the series during a period when he was deliberately questioning conventional ideas of serious watchmaking, even choosing quartz as the foundation for the mechanism while adding his own jumping display complication. The Mona Lisa replaced the changing words and theatrical imagery of earlier concepts with a sequence of changing images, creating what Calabrese described as a cultural watch dedicated to women’s “liberation.”

Calabrese is one of the important figures of modern independent watchmaking, best known as the inventor of the movement architecture that became Corum's Golden Bridge and as a co-founder of the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI). The Mona Lisa represents the more humorous and philosophical side of his work: unconventional watchmaking created to provoke conversation rather than simply demonstrate technical complexity.

Specifications and Condition:

Overall: Great for age
Case: Great for age
Crystal: Clean
Dial: Minor spots
Movement: Excellent
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
Includes: Watch Only

Movement:

Quartz movement with Vincent Calabrese jumping-image mechanism
Changing image display activated with the passage of each hour
Modified complication conceived by Vincent Calabrese

Dimensions:

Approximately 35mm diameter
Approximately 8mm thickness
18mm lug width

Design Details:

Distinctive theatrical dial conceived by Vincent Calabrese
Changing “Mona Lisa” imagery throughout the hours
Jumping-image complication derived from the earlier Commedia concept
Traditional central hour, minute and seconds display juxtaposed against an unconventional complication
Classically proportioned dress-watch case

Closing Note: The Vincent Calabrese “Mona Lisa” is a wonderfully unconventional piece from one of the pioneers of modern independent watchmaking. Created in 1991, it captures Calabrese’s belief that horology could be humorous, provocative and philosophical rather than defined purely by traditional complications. Its changing imagery, unusual jumping mechanism and unmistakable personality make the Mona Lisa less a conventional wristwatch and more a piece of mechanical art from the formative years of contemporary independent watchmaking.