ANDERSEN Genève and Benjamin Chee Haute Horlogerie (BCHH) are thrilled to announce the release of the Celestial Voyager "Sunset over Cappadocia" Version 2, an exquisite evolution of the acclaimed edition launched in 2022 (sold out).
This new timepiece, limited to just 20 world timer wristwatches in two-tone cases of platinum and pink gold, continues to celebrate the enchanting landscapes of Turkey’s iconic Cappadocia region, through exceptional cloisonné enamel artistry. It is a homage to the wonder and freedom of travel, and to the perfection of the artisan’s craft.

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BACKGROUND

Following the success of the original Celestial Voyager “Sunset over Cappadocia" in 2022, ANDERSEN Genève and BCHH have once again collaborated to create a world time masterpiece with a decorative dial evoking the magical vistas of Cappadocia – famous for its dramatic rock formations, its underground cities, its ancient culture, and the hot air balloons that rise up spellbindingly each day.

Over the past four decades, ANDERSEN Geneve has become one of the foremost exponents of haute de gamme world time watches (displaying all 24 time zones simultaneously) in the classical tradition of Louis Cottier, the complication’s inventor. It is a competency that grew out of founder Svend Andersen’s work with Cottier-derived world timers in Patek Philippe’s Grand Complications workshop in the 1970s. Through multiple series and innovations, this beloved and elegant complication has become a cornerstone of ANDERSEN Genève's watchmaking.

In 2021, ANDERSEN Geneve launched its first Celestial Voyager watch with Benjamin Chee Haute Horlogerie (BCHH), inaugurating a partnership celebrating the ultimate expression of world timer watches with decorative cloisonné enamel dials – a traditional and highly coveted format in haute horlogerie.

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CELESTIAL VOYAGER “SUNSET OVER CAPPADOCIA”, VERSION 2

For the new iteration of the Celestial Voyager “Sunset over Cappadocia,” a fresh interpretation of the iconic sight of balloons drifting over the landscape is combined with a bi-colour case design. This design features a platinum case body with pink gold bezel and case-back—a first for the collection. ANDERSEN Genève has been offering bi-colour cases in past collections like “Orbita Lunae”, “Montre à Tact”, “Tempus Terra” among others.

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Dial design – cloisonné mastery

In cloisonné enamel, the enamel is held in place by microscopically thin strips of gold wire. These are bent and soldered to the dial to form compartments (cloisons) that are filled with powdered enamel, which is then fired in a kiln to fuse it into a smooth and vibrant surface.

In the Celestial Voyager “Sunset over Cappadocia” Version 2, this ancient artform has once again been deployed to stunning effect. A red-striped balloon, seen in the background in the earlier version of the watch, has now drifted to the front of the scene, while the landscape has gently shifted: four balloons, each uniquely patterned and coloured, soar over sloping rocky canyons, grassy plateaus and valleys, and the winding beauty of the Kizilirmak River, set against the ethereal pink light of early evening. The ground is rendered in rich tones of azure, royal blue, and turquoise, capturing the serene beauty of the landscape.

The dial's creation, conducted by master craftsmen in La Chaux de Fonds, involves over one meter of gold wire being applied to the dial, and a multitude of enamel colours, each applied and oven-fired individually. Since each colour requires a different melting temperature, dozens of firings in the oven are required – any mistake puts the entire dial at risk of warping or cracking. It is an exhaustive process requiring immense patience and experience, conducted at a level accessed only by very few watch brands.

This scene is surrounded once again by a city ring made from sparkling aventurine, on which “Cappadocia" is highlighted in pink gold, emphasizing the exclusivity of this edition.

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Case and Movement

For the first time, ANDERSEN Geneve and BCHH decided to encase this world-timer in a two-tone case combining platinum with pink gold. Surrounding the dial, the polished pink gold bezel compliments the warmth and charm of the captivating central scene. It is matched with hands that are also in pink gold.

The case design includes the distinctive ‘eagle’s wings’ lugs, a hallmark of ANDERSEN Genève and BCHH collaborations, that are made separately by hand and individually soldered to the body of the case, a traditional method that is rarely found in modern watchmaking.

On the reverse of the watch, the case-back outer ring is also made of warm rose gold. Inside it, the back ring around the movement is made of beautiful mother-of-pearl, adding further luxury and refinement. The winding rotor is made of 21K BlueGold – an ANDERSEN Genève speciality, and a material that is exceptionally difficult to work with. It is engraved with intricate, interlocking wave-form guilloché, echoing the design of the 2022 edition.

The slimline haute horlogerie movement exhibits a variety of hand-finishing techniques, including chamfering, Geneva stripes, snail decoration of wheels, mirror polishing of screws and even polishing of the teeth of the crown wheel. The complex world time module is made in-house by ANDERSEN Geneve watchmakers, and has been repeatedly refined over several years.

Despite the complex three-layered dial and complication module, the watch is just 10.1mm thick, maintaining its air of exceptional elegance.

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Exclusivity and Customization

As with all ANDERSEN Genève and BCHH creations, the Celestial Voyager "Sunset over Cappadocia" Version 2 is a highly exclusive piece. Only 20 pieces will be produced, each one customizable to the client’s specifications. This ensures that each watch is a unique heirloom, reflecting the personal preferences of its owner.

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ABOUT ANDERSEN GENÈVE

ANDERSEN Genève has been creating high-end timepieces for collectors around the world since 1980. Founded by Svend Andersen, a master watchmaker and co-founder of the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI), the brand is renowned for watches of significant complexity, innovation and beauty. It combines the rare skills of its master watchmakers, situated in its Geneva atelier overlooking the Rhone river, with an unparalleled network of Swiss artisanal specialists in every field of horological craft.

With almost all its output made to order in either customised or fully-bespoke commissions, it is among the most exclusive high-end watchmakers in the world, producing no more than 50 watches annually. In all, only around 1,500 ANDERSEN Geneve watches have been made in almost 45 years.

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ABOUT BENJAMIN CHEE HAUTE HORLOGERIE (BCHH)

Benjamin Chee is a watch collector, connoisseur and entrepreneur, who established BCHH as a flagship endeavour representing his ultimate passion for contemporary high-end watches. Benjamin has brought together top artisans worldwide, creating handcrafted timepieces for the most discerning and passionate clients. Heirloom masterpieces of horology, BCHH watches reflect centuries of artisan tradition.