Louis Erard Marqueterie de Paille: When Straw Becomes Art

There are few things more fascinating in watchmaking than discovering that an apparently familiar material can become something entirely unexpected. With its new Marqueterie de Paille, Louis Erard turns to one of the most ancient decorative crafts, transforming humble rye straw into an extraordinary dial where colour, texture and light become the defining elements of the watch.

Limited to just 25 pieces, the Louis Erard Marqueterie de Paille is the latest expression of the brand’s Métiers d’Art philosophy. Created in collaboration with Portuguese artist Bernardo d’Orey, each dial is entirely handcrafted and each is unique.

At first glance, the dial appears almost mineral in character. Its abstract composition, executed in layered shades of blue, suggests fragments of ice, with different sections catching and reflecting the light as the wrist moves. Only on closer inspection does the material reveal itself. It is straw.

The Art of Straw

Marqueterie de paille, or straw marquetry, is a rare decorative technique in which natural straw is opened, flattened and arranged by hand to create intricate surfaces. In Bernardo d’Orey’s hands, however, the traditional craft takes on a distinctly contemporary character.

For each Louis Erard dial, d’Orey begins with rye straw, carefully selecting sections for their colour, texture and natural reflections. The material is then prepared by hand before the composition begins. There are 28 individually composed zones within each dial. Each differs in shape, size and fibre direction, creating a surface that responds differently to changing light.

The precision required is remarkable. Working to tolerances of less than 0.1 millimetre, every element has to be positioned correctly from the outset. There is no opportunity for correction. The process takes approximately 12 hours of concentrated handwork, spread over several days.

“The watches I love most are the ones that never stop surprising me. You look at them once, then again, and every time you discover something new. That’s exactly what fascinated me about this watch. At first, you admire the dial. Only later do you begin to understand the craft behind it. That’s what makes this watch so special to me.” Manuel Emch, Managing Director, Louis Erard 

D’Orey describes the intensity of the process as being almost like working “in apnea”, stopping before fatigue can affect the precision of the eye.

The result is something that initially disguises its material identity. As the artist explains, his fascination lies in creating a texture where the viewer does not immediately realise that it is straw, but instead encounters something intriguing. That sense of discovery is central to the watch.

Broken Ice

The abstract dial is described as a “Broken Ice” composition, built from layered shades of blue. There is no conventional image to decipher and no literal representation. Instead, the dial is about movement, texture and reflection. Every one of its 28 sections contributes to the effect. The changing direction of the fibres means that light travels across the surface differently as the watch moves, giving the dial an almost animated quality.

It is a reminder that some of the most compelling watch dials do not simply display the time. They reward observation. From one angle the surface appears deep blue. From another, it catches the light with a subtle metallic quality. Move the watch again and the individual pieces of straw become more apparent. It is this continual transformation that makes the material so engaging.

Craftsmanship at the Centre

The Marqueterie de Paille belongs to Louis Erard’s Métiers d’Art approach, which brings together independent artisans and rare decorative crafts with the intention of making exceptional craftsmanship accessible to a wider audience. The philosophy is particularly appropriate here.

Straw is an unexpected material for a fine watch dial. It is natural, fragile and inherently variable. No two pieces of straw are identical, meaning that subtle differences in colour, fibre and reflection become part of the finished work rather than imperfections to be eliminated.

Consequently, while all 25 watches share the same artistic composition, each possesses its own character. This is where traditional craftsmanship meets contemporary watchmaking.

A Modern Louis Erard

The 39 mm polished stainless steel case provides a deliberately restrained frame for the dial. Its proportions allow the Marqueterie de Paille to remain the visual focus without making the watch feel overly formal. The rhodium-plated hands feature satin-finished upper surfaces and diamond-cut edges, providing a crisp contrast against the complex blue dial.

Inside is the automatic Sellita SW261-1 calibre, an elaboré grade movement beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour and providing approximately 38 hours of power reserve. Through the transparent black caseback, the movement is visible beneath a specially openworked oscillating weight bearing the Louis Erard symbol.

The watch is completed by a beige grained calf leather strap with tone-on-tone stitching and a black calf leather lining. Quick-release spring bars make changing the strap straightforward, while the polished stainless steel pin buckle echoes the case. The specifications are intentionally familiar. The dial is anything but.

The Beauty of the Unexpected

Louis Erard has built much of its modern identity around challenging convention, and the Marqueterie de Paille is a particularly compelling example. There is something wonderfully democratic about its material. Straw is among the simplest and most readily recognisable natural materials, yet through the hands of a skilled artisan it becomes an object of extraordinary refinement.

That transformation is what makes métiers d’art so fascinating. The watch does not attempt to disguise the fact that it has been made by hand. Instead, it celebrates the human decisions behind every detail. The selection of the straw. The direction of every fibre. The placement of each section. The patience required to work within fractions of a millimetre. Ultimately, the Marqueterie de Paille is less about making straw look precious than demonstrating that beauty can be found in unexpected places.

Limited to just 25 examples, each one signed by the natural variations of its material, this is a Louis Erard that asks to be looked at twice. Perhaps that is the greatest compliment that can be paid to a watch. The first glance reveals the beauty. The second reveals the craft.

Technical Specifications:

Louis Erard Marqueterie de Paille

Limited edition of 25 pieces

Reference 34248AA45.BVA158

39 mm polished stainless steel case

Handcrafted rye straw marquetry dial in a “Broken Ice” composition

Automatic Sellita SW261-1 calibre

Approximately 38 hours power reserve

Water resistance to 50 metres

CHF 4,500 excluding tax

For more information please visit Louis Erard