Edition story

One of the first projects of the newly created brand was inspired by Karel Ruzicka who came forward with the idea to manufacture a truly exclusive watch, strictly limited to only 12 pieces, which along with other artifacts was to honor the 100th anniversary of the Paris autumn exhibition "Salon d'Automne Paris 1912". There, for the first time, Frantisek Kupka presented to the public his abstract paintings "Amorpha - Fugue in Two Colors" and "Amorpha - Warm Chromatics", both which represented a revolution in art form.

Due to latest work and development by Martin Broz in the area of functional extensions of watch movements, it was decided at the very beginning to use a movement with retrograde hands; their endings move along circular lines that intersect at two points, and the positions of these two intersections are slightly tilted in the direction of the hands. This solution is very avant-garde, but experience has shown that the users’ eye and brain easily adapt, even to this non-standard form of time display. Finally, the reading of the time becomes the same routine as in the case of the classical solution.

Because there was not much time for realization, Mr. Prokop and Mr. Ruzicka approached Jiri Lammel – a significant connoisseur of art, collector of Kupka's paintings, Director of Museum Kampa, and one of the top graphics – in order to create a design of the dial. His involvement alone was absolute evidence that a flawless dial would be designed, undeniably referring to Frantisek Kupka, to the period of his work, as well as to utmost watchmaking standards and culture.

Regarding the design of the case, Mr. Prokop turned to Michal Jelinek, an old colleague from the time of the establishment of the design studio Creative Services s.r.o., who in the meantime had turned into an internationally acclaimed guru in computer design.

Autumn Salon in Paris 1912 – the paintings presented there – their philosophy – their importance for the development of visual arts – all this was the main inspiration for this limited edition. It is indeed not an easy task to imprint the content, or better yet the spirit, of all these keywords into the design of a watch. Even more since any superficial aspects of the design were rejected beforehand.

The first and fundamental purpose of the entire project was to discover a functional way to celebrate the anniversary of "abstract revolution". Nevertheless, it is a fundamental fact that in case of this watch the construction of the movement was adapted to the design of the dial and to the entire message; not vice versa. This was primarily a task for Martin Broz. By accepting this approach to the design of their own watch, Prokop & Broz have proven that their vision of producing a significantly customized and solitary watch does not remain only at the level of testimonies. Jiri Lammel’s aim was to capture the characteristics of abstraction; in such a manner that is compatible with what is perceived as valuable also in the field of sophisticated horology.

The design of the case gave only a minimum of possibilities for adaption to the given subject; the only way was a retro style with a dynamic hint. The designers were inspired by the shapes of pocket watches from the beginning of the last century; in particular, the crown is almost identical with the originals back then. The hands also reflect a first dynamic element of eccentricity and curves. The decent black box – made of solid wood, coated with a "piano"-deep-gloss lacquer, and bearing in matte the signature of Frantisek Kupka – contains in addition to the watch also other artifacts.

Karel Ruzicka - initiator of the limited series

Karel Ruzicka is one of those who could never identify himself with the arbitrariness of the Communists in Czechoslovakia. Finally, in the eighties he immigrated to Canada; all at a very high price; he had to start from scratch. After many years, Mr. Ruzicka finally got to fulfill his dream. As a musician he started repairing rare musical instruments. This work gradually grew into being his main job. Nearby Toronto, he opened a shop for rare musical instruments and lectured on their history and construction. He restored many rare instruments for players of leading North American orchestras and collaborated with the best musicians in North America, primarily in the field of jazz and classical music. Currently, he works with today’s top musicians, he organizes and co-organizes besides musical events also exhibitions, concerts, and cultural events in Czech Republic as well as abroad.

Karel Ruzicka is one of those who could never identify himself with the arbitrariness of the Communists in Czechoslovakia. Finally, in the eighties he immigrated to Canada; all at a very high price; he had to start from scratch. After many years, Mr. Ruzicka finally got to fulfill his dream. As a musician he started repairing rare musical instruments. This work gradually grew into being his main job. Nearby Toronto, he opened a shop for rare musical instruments and lectured on their history and construction. He restored many rare instruments for players of leading North American orchestras and collaborated with the best musicians in North America, primarily in the field of jazz and classical music. Currently, he works with today’s top musicians, he organizes and co-organizes besides musical events also exhibitions, concerts, and cultural events in Czech Republic as well as abroad.

Michal Jelinek

n 1997, Michal Jelinek stood at a Benzina gas station on the highway near Mlada Boleslav and hitchhiked. In his bag he had nothing but a pad and a pencil, without which today he still does not make a single step. Already at that time he had the dream to achieve a break through in the field of creation of conceptual design. The path to the profession that brought him fame among foreign professionals, he built stubbornly with diligence and self-discipline. The first impulses, which helped him to streamline his visions and energy, he gained in the drawing and sketching courses of Professor Stanislav Kovar, and later in the courses of Professor Stefan Klein at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava. There already he focused on industrial design, specializing in automotive applications. However, at that time he worked also in the design department of Skoda Auto where he initially designed equipment, and gradually worked his way up to the position of chief of department of computer design. He never stopped drawing, not even in his leisure time. If one went with him for a beer, he still kept scribbling on something. When he had not his sketchbook at hand, he used a beer coaster. It was therefore not surprising when later he began to sketch also on his computer monitor. Accordinly, Mr. Jelinek became a part in a groundbreaking new technique in conceptual design work, and in that very field he was the best. Today, among computer designers he is known as a guru and his conceptual designs are successful worldwide. In most European and American automobile companies he has many friends, but also many duties.

Mr. Cigler was born on 21 April 1929 in Vsetin and was a student at the Masaryk grammar school from 1940 to 1948. After graduating from the industrial glass school in Novy Bor (1948-1951), he was a student of Profesor J. Kaplicky (1951-1957) at the Academy VSUP. From 1965 until 1979 he was director at the studio “Glass in Architecture” at the University of Fine Arts in Bratislava.

Mr. Cigler significantly influenced the characteristics and development of glass in the Czech and the Slovak Republic. In his work he focuses on objects created from polished, optical glass; designing of illumination and jewelry; spatial objects; and compositions for architecture. Today, he is one of the most important, living artists worldwide.