Some of the most beautiful moments in the world of watches can’t be planned. They happen naturally when craftsmanship, creativity, and community come together. Last weekend at Hands on Horology in London was exactly that kind of moment.
Among the many highlights of the event was a special collaboration with the talented dial artist Chris Alexander, also known as @thedialartist. The organizers had invited him to create a series of hand-painted dials live during the event. We had already provided the organizers with a selection of Heinrich dials in advance, knowing that they would be part of this artistic initiative.

Although we knew the dials were going to be painted, it’s a completely different experience to actually hold the finished pieces in our hands later on.

During the event, a couple stopped by our booth and brought along two of the artist’s creations. They had won the painted Heinrich watch faces and proudly showed them to us. It was our first chance to see the finished works of art up close, and we were immediately impressed by the results. They were also kind enough to share photos and videos of the creative process with us.

As a watch brand, we spend countless hours perfecting every detail of a dial, from surface textures and colors to the way light plays on it. We take these familiar fundamentals and reinterpret them creatively through Chris Experiencing them anew gave us a completely different perspective. The dials still bore Heinrich’s unmistakable signature, yet had also become works of art in their own right.

As Hands on Horology was drawing to a close, we were visited by Chris once again at our booth with an unexpected and extremely generous gesture. He presented us with two additional hand-painted Heinrich dials as a gift. These unique pieces will be displayed in our showroom in Stuttgart, where visitors can experience a different interpretation of a Heinrich dial at the intersection of watchmaking and art.

Events like Hands on Horology are about much more than just watches. They bring together manufacturers, collectors, artists, and enthusiasts who collectively shape the vibrant culture of the independent watchmaking scene. The conversations, ideas, and shared appreciation that emerge at such gatherings are often just as significant as the timepieces on display.

Seeing our watch faces through Chris's eyes was one of those special moments.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to him for his creativity, as well as to the organizers of Hands on Horology for this wonderful idea of bringing watchmaking and art together in this way.