Fabergé has partnered with the Gemfields Foundation to launch the new Altruist Wilderness Limited Edition Elephant Watch. Inspired by the ‘Big Five’ of Africa, and limited to just five numbered pieces per design, this stunning timepiece will help to support a portfolio of wildlife conservation projects in sub-Saharan Africa, with 25% of the retail price of each watch sold to be donated to the Gemfields Foundation.
Part of the aptly named Fabergé Altruist collection, in support of the Gemfields Foundation, this limited-edition watch pays homage to one of the most iconic wild animals in Africa: the elephant. Fabergé master craftsman André Martinez – a specialist in miniaturist artistic painting on watch dials – has meticulously hand-painted each dial to depict this wondrous animal. This creation features a miniature painting of an elephant, painstakingly applied by hand to a mother-of-pearl dial with lacquers of exceptional quality.
An 18k rose gold case perfectly complements the dial, with a bespoke caseback on each watch set with five responsibly sourced Gemfields Zambian emeralds. Emeralds are said to symbolise hope, growth, life, fertility and peace. Each caseback is individually engraved with its piece number to illustrate that these are one-of-a-kind, collectable creations.
This creation represents the perfect marriage of art and watchmaking and features a Vaucher Manufacture self-winding movement. Designed, manufactured, and assembled in traditional fashion, the calibres make use of an oscillating weight decorated in the Fabergé style. To highlight the precious and rare character of this movement, it is produced in 22k gold.
After a decade of directly funding projects in Zambia and Mozambique, Gemfields has created the Gemfields Foundation, a charitable arm to upscale these activations. Gemfields Limited funds the project overheads, and where the group has a presence, boots on the ground are offered free of charge to bring projects to life. As a result, donations received are directed in full to realise projects that yield positive impact. The UK-registered charity operates with two objectives: alleviating poverty in local communities and assisting wildlife conservation efforts. Proceeds from Fabergé’s Altruist Wilderness watches will provide vital funds for conservation and protection of wildlife and natural habitats, preserving what is left of Africa’s great wildernesses.
As a unique memento, Fabergé is pleased to include a complimentary watercolour painting of the chosen watch dial hand-painted by André Martinez alongside each watch purchased. This is a keepsake to treasure forever, or to gift to someone special.
