The Journey of ETIEN: Craft, Colour, and Patience

At ETIEN, our watches are not built for speed — they’re built for those who value time itself. This story traces where we began, how we fell in love with enamel, and why we continue to craft every dial with the same patience that defines our philosophy.

Where It Began

ETIEN began in Singapore, far from the valleys of Switzerland or the old ateliers of Europe. There were no centuries of heritage behind us — just curiosity, and an obsession with how things are made.

Our fascination wasn’t with watches as status symbols, but as objects of craft. Every detail — from the texture of a dial to the warmth of a polished case — told a story about the people who made it.

That’s where we found our purpose: to bring back that sense of touch, care, and imperfection that gives a watch its soul.

Discovering Enamel

Our journey into enamelling started the way many good things do — by accident and persistence. We were drawn to the way enamel seemed to hold light, how its surface carried depth instead of reflection.

We learned what every enameller knows: the material demands respect. It cannot be rushed. It cracks when it wants to, and forgives only patience. And when it finally comes out right, the result feels alive — light trapped in glass, suspended over metal.

That was when we knew enamel wasn’t just a material for us — it was our identity.

Flinqué and the Fabergé Connection

We were particularly inspired by flinqué enamel — the combination of guilloché engraving beneath translucent enamel.

There’s something almost poetic about it. The geometry of guilloché catches light; the enamel softens it, adds colour, and gives it life. Together, they create an effect that changes with every movement of the wrist.

It’s an old art, famously perfected by Fabergé. Few attempt it today, and even fewer do it entirely by hand. But to us, flinqué enamel represents everything ETIEN stands for — where engineering meets art, precision meets imperfection.

Our dials begin with guilloché bases, precision-cut by CNC machines for perfect geometry. But the enamel — every layer, every firing — is done in-house, by hand. That combination of precision and craft defines who we are.

A Modern Voice in a Traditional Craft

ETIEN was never meant to imitate the past. We respect tradition deeply, but we also believe it should evolve.

That’s why our designs stay modern — clean lines, sharp proportions, and contemporary colours that reflect today’s sensibilities. We think enamel doesn’t need to live behind museum glass; it deserves to exist on wrists, in the present moment.

Each collection explores a different emotion through colour — serenity in blue, depth in violet, calm in aqua. For us, colour isn’t decoration; it’s language. It’s how we express mood, character, and identity.

Why We Keep Going

Watchmaking today is full of noise — more releases, faster cycles, louder designs. It’s easy to get caught up in it.

But every time we fire a new dial, wait for it to cool, and see how it’s transformed — we’re reminded why we started. This work teaches patience. It humbles you. It rewards care over speed.

And that’s what ETIEN stands for. Not luxury for its own sake, but the quiet satisfaction of making something well.

Very Few Still Do This

The truth is, very few makers in the world still work with grand feu enamel. Even fewer combine it with guilloché, and even fewer do it in-house.

Most of those who do sit at the highest end of the industry — brands with centuries of history and six-figure price tags. We exist somewhere else: in the space between independence and tradition, where authenticity matters more than scale.

That’s what makes ETIEN different. We’re small, but that’s our strength — it lets us care more, learn faster, and stay true to what we believe.

Looking Ahead

ETIEN isn’t just about watches. It’s about time as a medium of creation — how patience, repetition, and curiosity can turn raw material into art.

We’ll continue to refine our enamel craft, explore new colours, and push the limits of what’s possible in a small workshop. The journey is slow, sometimes uncertain — but that’s the beauty of it.

Because when you work with something as demanding as enamel, you realise the process is the reward.

And in that slow rhythm — between fire and glass, metal and light — ETIEN continues to find its voice.