Too Rare to be Labelled a Trend

Carol Besler, reporting for the New York Times, delves into the artistry, attention to detail, and quandaries of crafting stone dials for watches.

At Groh + Ripp, there are strict handling protocols and the workshop must be spotless. "It's rare that you can eat from the floor in a workshop, but in ours, you can," Ms. Ripp said. "It's very important to work clean, because any small piece of dirt could scratch the surface. You need specialized training from the beginning of the process to the end."

Stone-dialled watches are a treat to own as well as to work on, but absolutely require an extra level of care. The unique pleasure of getting to work on one, complemented by a measured dose of healthy trepidation, is almost on par with that of enamelled timepieces.