Fabulous Fabrications: TAOS Presents a Trio of Watches Inspired by Couture Fashion

May 9, 2025

By Sarah Jordan

4 min read

Occasionally, beautiful timepieces demonstrating exceptional Métiers d'Art will land on our virtual desks and result in a round-robin series of emails. In the hours after we received insights into the emerging Swiss brand TAOS, almost the entire team had seen the fabric-inspired dials of its latest creations, and we all agreed that an article was necessary! Let's take a closer look at the three timepieces that required more than 3,000 hours of craftsmanship to bring to life. The only difficulty will be in choosing your favourite…

TAOS was founded in 2024 by Olivier and Dominique Vaucher and Olivier Gaud. The former are the married couple behind Atelier Olivier Vaucher, which brings together 40 artisans across 15 disciplines to create works of art for leading watch brands. The atelier's specialisms include Grand Feu enamelling, engraving, miniature painting, mosaic, and gem-setting, to name a few. When the pair met Genevan watchmaker Olivier Gaud, the idea of TAOS – a brand that prioritises sophisticated, understated elegance, richly decorated mechanical movements, and unique dials – was born and began to take shape. 

Olivier Vaucher, Olivier Gaud, and Dominique Vaucher of TAOS

Olivier Vaucher, Olivier Gaud, and Dominique Vaucher of TAOS

Now, we are seeing the remarkable results of this collaboration in three unique timepieces: Savile Row, Dentelle and Sequins, which draw inspiration from haute couture fabrics. Part of the ethos of TAOS is taking plenty of time, enjoying the process of craftsmanship and engaging with every line, layer and detail of a watch so that it becomes more than just a device for pinpointing the hours and minutes. This is savoir-faire pushed to its limits but also enjoyed to its limits, which is lovely to see. 

For 2025, TAOS draws inspiration from the universe of fabrics and haute couture, reinterpreting iconic patterns and translating the essence of weaving, embroidery, and embellishment onto dials of unprecedented complexity

Hand-painting the dial of the TAOS Sequins watch

Hand-painting the dial of the TAOS Sequins watch

Hand-engraving parts of the self-winding VOP318 calibre movement for a TAOS Métiers d'Art timepiece

Hand-engraving parts of the self-winding VOP318 calibre movement for a TAOS Métiers d'Art timepiece

Creating the intricate dial of the TAOS Savile Row watch

Creating the intricate dial of the TAOS Savile Row watch

The raised hand-engraved dial that forms the backdrop for the TAOS Sequins watch

The raised hand-engraved dial that forms the backdrop for the TAOS Sequins watch

Hand-painted elements bring the texture of tartan to life in the TAOS Savile Row watch

Hand-painted elements bring the texture of tartan to life in the TAOS Savile Row watch

The first creation – Savile Row – pays homage to the language of tartan and its important history in the Highlands of Scotland. As the brand explains: "Each shade, each intersection evokes Scotland's untamed landscapes, from windswept moors to winding rivers carving deep valleys. Both rigorous and fluid, this fabric has graced haute couture runways, embodying a perfect balance between tradition and modernity." Here, we see the Savile Row interpretation of tartan through the lens of formal tailoring, captured through engraving, multi-layered enamel, miniature painting, and graphic patterns in a palette of blue hues. 

Here, the artisans at Atelier Olivier Vaucher used a rare technique – fondant – to fuse approximately 20 layers of enamel to create a dimensional woven appearance. 

TAOS Savile Row timepiece with tartan-inspired engraving, multi-layered enamel, miniature painting, and the fondant technique to create a dimensional woven appearance

Next, there's the Dentelle timepiece, which recognises the precious Swiss laces of Saint Gall. Lacemaking is all about patience, dexterity and experience as an art form, which is incredibly similar to the universe of Métiers d'Art and watchmaking in general. This one-of-a-kind timepiece utilises hand-engraving, enamel, and an extremely fine silver paillon mesh to recreate the texture of lace on the dial, which is accentuated with matte and glossy finishes and translucent and opaque colouration for maximum believability. The addition of diamonds across the bezel and lugs and the soft grey leather strap really enhance the femininity in the piece, making this the most obvious candidate for female collectors. 

TAOS Dentelle timepiece inspired by Swiss lace with hand-engraving, enamel and a fine silver paillon mesh to recreate the texture of fabric

The TAOS Dentelle timepiece features diamonds across the bezel and lugs and a soft grey leather strap to enhance its feminine aesthetic

The TAOS Dentelle timepiece features diamonds across the bezel and lugs and a soft grey leather strap to enhance its feminine aesthetic

A closer look at the dial of the TAOS Dentelle timepiece with an appearance inspired by the precious Swiss laces of Saint Gall

A closer look at the dial of the TAOS Dentelle timepiece with an appearance inspired by the precious Swiss laces of Saint Gall

Finally, there's the Sequins watch that shimmers in the light. It starts with a palette of deep red, berry pinks and rose gold, as well as a smattering of diamonds on the lugs. The concept centres on the history of sequins as a method of adorning monarchs and dignitaries, ensuring their garments shine in candlelight and attract attention. Here, we can see a subtly floral pattern created through raised hand engraving, translucent enamelling, and sculpted reliefs in the shape of flowers in bloom decorated with diamonds. 

What unites all three timepieces is their 18k gold cases and the open case backs, which reveal a beautifully decorated self-winding VOP318 calibre movement inspired by weaving, quilting and draped fabrics (requiring more than 150 hours of hand engraving). This feat of mechanics, which has an impressive 72-hour power reserve, was developed by Swiss movement specialists Télôs under the direction of Olivier Gaud.

TAOS Sequins timepiece with a raised hand-engraved dial, translucent enamelling, and sculpted reliefs in the shape of flowers

So, what do you make of these TAOS fabric-inspired masterpieces? Personally, I am drawn to the incredible textures of the Savile Row creation, which looks like it should have the slightly scratchy feel of wool despite being entirely painted. It will be exciting to see what TAOS does next, especially considering the depths of its experience and the limitless potential of unlimited time.   

A Century of Sparkle: Celebrating 100 Years of Art Deco at GemGenève

continue reading

Naked Attraction: The Best High Jewellery of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival 

Here’s a rundown of some of the best Cannes jewellery looks from the 78th annual festival (May 13-24), including the likes of Dakota Johnson, Angelina Jolie, and Natalie Portman, who all make striking jewellery the star of their ensembles

by Sarah Jordan

In Conversation: Discussing Paraiba — The Legacy of a Color with Vogue Singapore

The conversation encouraged both myself and Kevin Ferreira, my co-author, to recall exactly why we wrote Paraiba: The Legacy of a Color, and I am pleased to share more with you below

by Katerina Perez

Semi-Precious vs Precious Gemstones: Why the Old Labels No Longer Work

I can’t count the number of times I’ve asked myself: what really sets so-called precious and semi-precious stonesapart? Is it their rarity? Colour? Durability? Value? Or is it simply tradition—an outdated hierarchy we’ve inherited without question

by Katerina Perez

Larger than Life: New Mineral Masterpieces and Global Adventures with Margot McKinney 

Let’s take a closer look at the pieces and places that have helped to shape the Margot McKinney brand over the last 12 months, including the rather sensational Marina, Aurora and Bloem necklaces

by Katerina Perez

Male Adornment: The Evolution of Men’s Jewellery from the 1400s Until Today

Men's jewellery is often overlooked, yet its history is both rich and cyclical. Over the past six centuries, the popularity of male adornments has fluctuated, reflecting shifts in fashion, status, and cultural values. Here, Amanda Triossi examines the reasons behind male jewellery, along with its periods of abundance and decline.

by Amanda Triossi

Perfect Proposal: The Top 10 Engagement Ring Mistakes to Avoid 

The moment you start thinking about proposing, everything shifts. Ordinary things become significant: dinner out, a walk in the park, a glance at their jewellery box. And then comes "the ring": a symbol of love, yes, but also a silent spokesperson for everything you feel and hope for. No pressure, right?

by Claire Roberts

Couture Show 2025: The Top 10 Debutants Heading to Las Vegas 

The much anticipated Couture Show will return to Wynn Las Vegas from June 4-8, 2025, shining a spotlight on established design talent, new creatives, and international brands that are vying for attention on the global stage. Just like in previous years, I am focusing my attention on the debutants

by Katerina Perez

Designing the Future: Revealing the Winners of the Katerina Perez x Osmium Institute Design Contest

What a ride it has been, witnessing such pure creative energy and original thinking, especially with a material as rare and futuristic as osmium

by Katerina Perez

New Icons: The Latest Collections by Italian Micromosaic Master SICIS 

I was presented with two striking new collections – Icon and Colibrì – that offer different interpretations of the SICIS aesthetic. Below, I want to give you a closer look at these capsule suites and tell you more about the inspirations behind them

by Katerina Perez

Fabulous Fabrications: TAOS Presents a Trio of Watches Inspired by Couture Fashion

Occasionally, beautiful timepieces demonstrating exceptional Métiers d’Art will land on our virtual desks and result in a round-robin series of emails. In the hours after we received insights into the emerging Swiss brand TAOS, almost the entire team had seen the fabric-inspired dials of its latest creations, and we all agreed that an article was […]

by Sarah Jordan

A Century of Sparkle: Celebrating 100 Years of Art Deco at GemGenève

From May 8-11, 2025, visitors to GemGenève can immerse themselves in a showcase of antique and modern jewellery while also experiencing the innovative spirit of the 1920s and 1930s through a photographic lens. Here, I'd like to tell you more about this creative collaboration and introduce you to the brands taking part…

by Katerina Perez

Tailored Perfection: The Best Jewellery Looks of the Met Gala 2025

Not since 2003 has a Met Gala theme focused exclusively on menswear, so we had high hopes for this year’s attendees demonstrating the best of tailored suiting adorned with high jewels. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best ensembles of the evening…

by Sarah Jordan

Latest Stories

Add articles and images to your favourites. Just

Reinventing Royalty:The European-Inspired Luxury Behind Isabel Gemology

I started 2025 with a series of articles titled ‘Jeweller of the Month’ to highlight the true talent among niche designers in the jewellery industry. For May, it is Isabel Delgado, the founder of Isabel Gemology, who I would like to shine the spotlight on.

by Katerina Perez

Jewels Katerina Perez Loves

Continue Reading

Writing Adventures:Co-Authoring the Book

Paraiba: The Legacy of a Color

by Katerina Perez

Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox

Style Guide

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.