Kaitiaki
Kaitiaki
Kaitiaki
Kaitiaki
Kaitiaki
Kaitiaki
Kaitiaki
Kaitiaki

This is all packaged together in our new signature case.

Kaitiaki

Archived
3200

Guardian, steward, trustee.

The design is to remind us how we are only guardians of the ocean and all that surrounds it. We are morally and spiritually bound to nurture and protect the environment and its wildlife for future generations.

This motif features a manta ray as its central figure — with the face of Tangaroa, God of Sea and Water.

On either side of Tangaroa are the endangered albatross and red-billed gull.

The sides of the lugs feature manaia offering protection to these seabirds, and the tops feature the face of Tangaroa.

Kaitiaki is the first Moana Pacific Waterman to be included in our exclusive Art Collection. Each piece is individually hand-engraved by Christchurch, New Zealand artist Andrew Biggs. And each feature painstaking levels of detail in their motifs.

Case Dimensions: 42mm x 51mm lug-to-lug, 22mm lug width, 13mm tall (excl. crystal)

Material: 316L stainless steel case, crown, and buckles. Fine brushed finishing throughout.

Bezel: Ceramic (matte finish), engraved and fully lumed (Swiss Super-LumiNova® Old Radium).

Dial: Sandwich construction with Swiss Super-LumiNova® Old Radium lume; fully brushed hands with Super-LumiNova® Old Radium lume.

Water-resistance: 500m/1650ft water resistance. Viton gasket used on case back.

Movement: ETA Caliber 2824-2, Reserve 38 hours.

Crystal: Sapphire (high domed), AR coating.

Crown: Screw down, raised Magrette shield logo.

Straps: Textured rubber (black).

Limited: 10 pieces*

Price: $3200.00 (plus $65.00 shipping)

Note: Free shipping within New Zealand

Engraved Timepieces

Like all artistic endeavours, the subject matter is open to artistic interpretation by the artist creating the design. This was true of ancient cultures as it is today.

Perhaps the biggest difference is that today we have far more research material and a wider sphere of influence to call upon than the ancients did. But both share the same common theme that has been carried on for a millennia of artisans of all cultures, and that is to create objects of outstanding beauty that can have practical and/or spiritual meaning to the society they live in.

Hand engraving is a highly refined and skilled art that has changed little in the last few centuries. The artisan cuts lines in the metal using small, sharp, steel hand tools called 'gravers' that are forced along by hand or a slight hammering action. To do this the engraver must develop an affinity with the metal they are working on whether it be steel, copper, brass or precious metals like silver and gold.

Today's engravers have the benefit of better magnification like microscopes so the work can be incredibly fine. They also have better steel gravers as some of the metals to be engraved like stainless steel are extremely tough to cut through.

Andrew Biggs - Metal Engraver for Magrette

Andrew Biggs at work.

First the design is roughly drawn out with pencil and paper and increasingly refined until the final design is reached. After that it can be drawn straight to the metal or transferred by various means to the item to be engraved. The main lines are then cut into the surface.

For more high end and sophisticated work, the background is then relived which involves the cutting away of the background to below the surface level. The background is then textured in some way to make a contrast between the surface design and the background. This texturing is an integral part of the overall design of the engraving and has to be balanced in harmony with the overall design. Too much background dominates and too little will overcrowd the work.

Finally the shading, or detail cuts are made. These tend to be lighter than the main cuts and add shadows and contrast to the overall design. It is at this stage that the personality of the work shines through. Quite often the engraver will just make it up as they go along and it is only then that they get to see the real beauty of the metal and design that lies within the engraver's imagination.

Read about our engraver, Andrew Biggs.

See more in Engraved Timepieces

Related Products

Leoncino Wheke
5250.00
Leoncino Creation
2650.00
Leoncino Tiki
1885.00

Your cart

TOTAL
USD $0.00
Shipping and discount codes are added at checkout.
Checkout