Arsène Lippens Artigiano Marks the Return of the Italy-Inspired Textile-Dial Collection
Leading the collection with a neo-vintage mechanical watch featuring a textile dial inspired by Tuscany, this trio of new watches was developed in collaboration between Swiss watchmakers and Italian textile artisans.
By Sébastien Aeberli
Design, Content & Social Media
Based in Geneva, Arsène Lippens positions watchmaking as a bridge between disciplines, where materials, cultures, and artisanal expertise converge into a single object. Thus, it is only fitting that the brand’s new Artigiano collection (“artigiano” meaning “artisan” in Italian) reflects this approach through an unexpected focus on textiles reinterpreted for contemporary Swiss watchmaking.
Rather than treating craftsmanship as a supporting element, the collection elevates it as the central idea by partnering with textile artisans from Italy’s Lake Como region, who could contribute materials rooted in centuries of fabric tradition. Meanwhile, the brand’s watchmakers brought Swiss technical precision and horological structure to the project. The result is a watch where the dial becomes the protagonist rather than an accessory.
Debuting with three textile interpretations, each dial in the Artigiano collection translates to a distinct Italian landscape into woven material: The Como model expresses Lake Como through deep denim blues; the Chianti variant explores Tuscan earth tones in a cotton-bamboo blend; and, lastly, the Portofino iteration reflects the luminous greens and blues of the Ligurian coast.
Together, the trio establishes a unified language where geography, material, and craftsmanship intersect.
Key Highlights
• Textile dial engineered specifically for horological use with multi-layer resin stabilization
• Hand-wound Sellita SW210-1b mechanical movement with 45-hour power reserve
• Neo-vintage 37.5mm proportions with refined case finishing architecture
• Each dial is structurally unique due to textile weave variability
• Limited 2026 production of 50 pieces worldwide
A Family Archive Reworked into Modern Watch Design
An independent watchmaker based in Geneva, Arsène Lippens is built on the idea that watchmaking can act as a connector between crafts rather than a closed discipline. The brand name pays tribute to Arsène Lippens, the grandfather of co-founder Dries Lippens, whose vintage watch collection served as the aesthetic starting point for the Artigiano project.
Rather than directly referencing historical designs, the collection reinterprets the proportions and emotional language of these inherited timepieces through contemporary materials and artisanal processes. The result is a neo-vintage approach that feels rooted in tradition without replicating it.
The Italian influence comes from co-founder Alberto Boccaletti, whose heritage informed the collaboration with textile artisans from the Lake Como region. Combined with Swiss watchmaking, this creates a structured dialogue between textile culture and horological precision, positioning craftsmanship itself as the Artigiano collection’s central narrative.
A Dial That Behaves Like Fabric, Not Print
Defined by its textile dials, the design approach across the Artigiano collection’s trio of new models – Como, Chianti, and Portofino – remains consistent: atmosphere translated through material rather than literal color reproduction.
First, the Como (Ref. 0599-C) expresses the calm depth of Lake Como through denim sourced from the region, resulting in a deep blue dial with subtle textile texture and visual density.
Next, the Chianti (Ref. 0599-CH) explores warmer, earthier tones inspired by Tuscany, achieved through a complex weave of beige, burgundy, blue, anthracite, and grey fibers that create shifting brown-like impressions without any brown thread.
And last but not least, the Portofino (Ref. 0599-P) introduces a brighter, more coastal interpretation, reflecting the turquoise greens and luminous blues of the Ligurian Riviera through a cotton-bamboo blend with a lighter, more fluid visual character.
Across all three versions, the dials behave less like printed surfaces and more like living textiles. Light, angle, and distance continuously alter their appearance, reinforcing the idea that each watch carries its own visual identity even within the same reference family.
The development of these dials required a dedicated technical process combining textile preservation with horological durability. A multi-layer resin treatment stabilizes the material from the reverse side, while a controlled surface spray preserves its natural texture. A deionization process eliminates static behavior before the textile is mounted on a brass base, ensuring long-term stability without compromising the fabric’s visual authenticity.
Because each textile weave is inherently variable, no two dials are identical. This unpredictability becomes a defining feature of the collection, positioning each piece as a unique interpretation of the same design language.
Classic Proportions, Layered Finishing
The watch is housed in a 37.5mm stainless steel case with a 9.9mm profile, proportioned to sit within the classic dress-watch category while maintaining a modern wrist presence.
The case architecture is defined by a double-stepped bezel that alternates between brushed and polished surfaces. This finishing language continues across the entire watch: brushed case flanks, polished bezel planes, and a sculpted interplay of textures that echo the complexity of the dial.
The crown introduces additional detailing, featuring brushed teeth, a sandblasted base, and a polished Arsène Lippens signature logo. While the caseback is closed, it nonetheless extends the visual identity with circular brushing, polished facets, and sandblasted transitions across its twelve-sided form.
A domed sapphire crystal with internal and external anti-reflective coating ensures clarity while preserving the depth of the textile surface beneath. The watch is completed with an Alcantara strap (in dark blue for the Como, brown for the Chianti, and gray for the Portofino).
Precision Hidden Behind Restraint
Inside the Artigiano collection is the Sellita SW210-1b, a manually wound Swiss mechanical calibre selected for its reliability and traditional architecture. The movement offers approximately 45 hours of power reserve and displays central hours and minutes within a deliberately restrained layout.
The manual-winding format is integral to the concept. It reinforces a slower, more tactile interaction with the watch, aligning with the collection’s artisanal ethos. The daily winding gesture becomes part of the ownership experience, echoing traditional mechanical watch practices.
The horological execution is overseen by Martial Cuendet, the brand’s in-house watchmaker with more than 35 years of experience. His role ensures that the integration of unconventional materials does not compromise structural integrity, precision, or long-term stability.
A Quiet Direction for Independent Watchmaking
Designed in Geneva and crafted in Switzerland, the Artigiano collection reflects a broader shift in independent watchmaking toward material-driven storytelling. Rather than relying on complications or aggressive design language, the collection explores how texture, fabrication, and cultural exchange can define a timepiece.
In its return for 2026, the collection positions itself at the intersection of Swiss horological discipline and Italian textile heritage, reinforcing the idea that modern watchmaking innovation can emerge as much from craft collaboration as from mechanical advancement.
For more information, please visit the Arsène Lippens website.
Price & Specifications
• Case Size: 37.5mm
• Thickness: 9.9mm
• Movement: Sellita SW210-1b, manual-winding mechanical movement
• Power Reserve: Approximately 45 hours
• Materials: 316L stainless steel case, Italian textile dial, Alcantara strap
• Water Resistance: 50 meters (5 ATM)
• Price: $1,381