Introducing the New J.N. Shapiro Infinity Series Pure Davidson & Licht Edition
The up-and-coming indie watch brand’s signature hand-guilloché Infinity Weave dial has now been paired with a rose gold chapter ring and a transparent caseback.
By Henri Lee
Contributor
In early August 2024, I visited the J.N. Shapiro workshop in Los Angeles on behalf of Watchonista. During the visit, I witnessed the final Infinity Series piece being prepared for delivery.
This inaugural collection of approximately 100 watches featured hand-guilloché dials and a range of case materials, including tantalum. It firmly put Josh Shapiro and his eponymous brand on the map of up-and-coming independent watchmakers. The intricate Infinity Weave pattern has since become the defining signature of the American brand founded in 2018.
At the time, Josh and his team were beginning to focus fully on the newly announced Resurgence, a high-end model powered by an in-house movement. Fast forward to today, early examples of the Resurgence have been delivered to clients since 2025, with the pace expected to increase in 2026. These handcrafted timepieces are priced from $79,500 to $94,500, depending on case material.
As Josh Shapiro’s following continued to grow, many collectors missed the more accessible Infinity Series. That wish was answered in June 2025 with the release of the Infinity Series Pure, which added a new chapter to the original collection. Due to limited production, the Pure was released in just 36 pieces, available in two dial configurations.
As we enter a new year, J.N. Shapiro has announced a new edition of the Infinity Series Pure, specially designed for Davidson & Licht to celebrate the retailer’s 110th anniversary. Established in 1916, Davidson & Licht has long been a go-to destination in the San Francisco Bay Area for lovers of Rolex, Tudor, IWC, and Cartier, among others.
With the grand reopening of its Walnut Creek flagship store, a full floor is now dedicated to leading independent brands and their artisanal craft. These include Andersen Genève, Armin Strom, Christiaan van der Klaauw, Czapek, Ludovic Ballouard, Ressence, Gagà Laboratorio, and now, J.N. Shapiro.
Dial of Infinity Weave
The new Infinity Series Pure features the iconic hand-guilloché dial with the brand’s signature Infinity Weave in the seconds sub-dial. The intricate basket weave within a basket weave pushes the boundaries of traditional guilloché. It stands out as unmistakable, unadulterated Shapiro.
The Infinity Weave pattern was invented by Josh after many rounds of trial and error. He developed it on his straight-line machine using custom pattern bars. Executing the pattern demands steady hands, patience, and intense concentration, as a single mistake means starting over from the beginning. So, while Josh has trained all of his watchmakers in engine turning, he alone executes the Infinity Weave sub-dial.
As you can see in the image below, three distinct guilloché patterns appear on the blackened zirconium dial: The central area shows a basket weave; the seconds sub-dial carries the Infinity Weave; and the outer portion is decorated with a wave-like barleycorn pattern.
The first two were engraved using straight-line machines, while the barleycorn guilloché was created on a rose engine with the pattern encoded in a rosette. Completing a single dial typically requires a week of work.
Equally striking are the circularly grained chapter ring, sub-dial ring, and curved logo plate, all crafted in rose gold. The engraved logo, Arabic numerals, and minute and second dots are rendered in black, with the sculpted three-dimensional rose gold hands are another J.N. Shapiro signature.
The contrast between the rose gold elements and the charcoal grey dial gives the watch an elegant and classic appearance. The light on the dial changes as the watch moves.
A Transparent Caseback
Turning the watch over reveals a pleasant surprise: a transparent caseback. The first two Pure models featured a closed caseback with guilloché decoration and an infinity symbol. That choice was influenced by Josh’s collaboration with Naoya Hida & Co., in which the caseback was guilloché-engraved by Josh.
With this new edition, the movement is now visible, allowing a close-up view of the La Joux-Perret Caliber F200 that was previously hidden.
At first glance, we can see that it is a manually wound movement with twin barrels and finely executed Geneva stripes. The grey rhodium finish pairs well with the dial side. The mainplate features a prominent J.N. Shapiro logo and a single large Infinity Weave engraving that echoes the guilloché work on the dial.
The 3 Hz movement offers a long power reserve of 90 hours and an ultra-thin construction. This helps keep the Pure slim, with overall dimensions of 37mm by 8.8mm. The movement is rated for an accuracy of +/- 7 seconds per day.
Three Rare Pieces
The Davidson & Licht Edition of the Pure will be offered in an initial run of three pieces, priced at $27,000. One piece has already been completed, with the remaining two expected to be finished by March. Given the brand’s very low total production volume, this special edition represents a rare opportunity to own a signature creation by America’s leading independent watchmaker.
This is welcome news, especially for Northern California watch enthusiasts. Davidson & Licht’s entry into the independent watch space brings broader access to some of today’s most respected independent brands. The special edition by J.N. Shapiro is just the beginning, with additional collaborations in the works.
For more information on the J.N. Shapiro Infinity Series Pure Davidson & Licht Edition, please visit the Davidson & Licht website.