Meet TAOS, a new Brand Entirely Dedicated to Metiers d’Art

At MONOCHROME, we are always delighted to discover and present new watchmaking projects. Founded by renowned Geneva-based dial maker, Atelier Olivier Vaucher, and watchmaker Olivier Gaud, TAOS emerges as a new independent watchmaking brand dedicated to métiers d’art and artistic crafts. Each of their watches is one-of-a-kind. The brand debuts with an inaugural collection of 7 unique pieces.

If the name “Atelier Olivier Vaucher” doesn’t immediately resonate with a broad audience, it stands as one of the prominent suppliers of artistic dials. Established in 1978 in Geneva, this company, spearheaded by Olivier and Dominique Vaucher, operates behind the scenes for some of the most prestigious names in the watch industry. With 40 collaborators, the atelier draws on expertise from over 15 distinct crafts and professions, including enamelling, miniature painting, hand-engraving, gem-setting, and more.

TAOS is a rather unique example of a watchmaking brand emanating from a workshop specializing in exceptional dials and métiers d’art. The encounter of Olivier and Dominique Vaucher with watchmaker Olivier Gaud ignited the collaboration for this unique venture. Their vision is to use the workshop know-how and resources to craft a few exceptional artistic watches every year. The name “TAOS” is inspired by a small community in New Mexico known for its art colony. It is also the Greek word for peacock.

The inaugural collection is composed of seven unique timepieces presented in a 38mm x 10mm case, in either pink or white gold. Each dial involves over 200 hours of meticulous craftsmanship. All watches are equipped with the same movement, featuring hours and minutes indication: the automatic VOP318, operating at 4Hz and boasting a comfortable 3-day power reserve. While its components are meticulously hand-decorated at Atelier Vaucher, with up to 100 hours of work invested in each movement, the calibre VOP318 itself is crafted by Telos. A high-grade, niche movement designer and producer, Telos was founded by Frank Orny and Johnny Girardin in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

Inaugural collection

• Broderies: gold and white dominant – strands of enamel drawn and laid in floral patterns, embroidery-like, on the dial, with gem-setting – CHF 150,000
• Envol Bleu: blue dominant Hand-engraving under enamel, hand engraving on enamel, paillonné enamel, and diamond Setting Multiple layers, multiple firings – CHF 140,000
• Envol Rouge: red and orange dominant at the center Hand engraving under enamel, hand engraving on enamel, paillonné enamel, and diamond setting multiple layers, multiple firings – CHF 140,000

• Euphorie: red, orange and black dominant Grand Feu paillonné enamel – overlay of paillons and enamel multiple layers, multiple firings – CHF 120,000
• Floréal: silver, blue and pink dominant émail on silver-leaf paillons, cloisonné enamel, hand-engraved mother-of-pearl, miniature painting on mother-of-pearl, and gem-setting – CHF 140,000
• Kaleidoscope: blue and green dominant Stone mosaic inlay, engraved mother-of-pearl center, and engraved motif in white gold – CHF 130,000

• Ondes: white dominant – engraving on mother-of-pearl on multiple layers; patterns echo the engraving on the movement – CHF 110,000