The world of watchmaking is one of the most intricate disciplines out there. From the pure technicality of it, to the history, heritage and handcraft, it’s like a poetic marriage between art and mathematics or physics, engineering and design. Yet, like many traditional crafts throughout history, horology is rapidly declining in prevalence on a global scale, threatened by digitisation and mass production. Kudos to Cartier, because the storied jewellery and, of course, watchmaking house is coming to the rescue.
Enter The King’s Foundation and Cartier: Decorative Métiers d’Art in Watchmaking. Announced mid last week, the partnership will last for three years with the goal of bringing up the next generation of specialist artisans within the world of watches, and was born from a collective belief in the undeniable importance of preserving “rare artistry crafts”. Bursary-funded and fully immersive, the postgraduate programme will be based at The King’s Foundation’s headquarters, Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland (where pupils will also stay) with residential experiences served up at Cartier’s Maison des Métiers d’Art in Switzerland. It will incorporate five months of formal training and two months of project work with an emphasis on “specialist areas of savoir-faire including enamelling techniques such as champlevé and grisaille and marquetry.” Throughout, students will receive mentorship from expert tutors and master craftspeople from both organisations, ensuring that those admitted are guided by some of the most skilled hands in contemporary horology.
The Kings Foundation – the charitable vehicle founded by King Charles III to safeguard heritage skills and sustainable craftsmanship – has opened the fellowship up to “UK-based jewellery and watchmaking graduates or emerging designers in the first three years of running their business who wish to add to their technical expertise”.
Applications will open April 27 via The King’s Foundation website, with the premiere cohort slated to present their work in a culminative exhibition during spring 2027.
Photography courtesy of Cartier.
