In the world of luxury watches, craftsmanship is paramount—but it’s the stories behind timepieces that breathe life into them. The tale of the Ligure Karl Schmid Limited Edition is no exception, weaving together the legacy of a reclusive Swiss artist, the passion of a watch industry veteran, and the bold design ethos of an Italian brand.
The Enigmatic Genius of Karl Schmid
Born in Switzerland in 1914, Karl Schmid was a polymath whose talents spanned scientific illustration, sculpture, and painting. His anatomical sketches, renowned for their precision, earned him a role as a medical illustrator at the University of Zurich. Despite offers from luminaries like Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius, Schmid chose to remain in Switzerland, dedicating himself to teaching at Zurich’s School of Applied Arts while quietly amassing a prolific—yet rarely exhibited—body of work.
Oliver Ike’s Discovery and the Birth of a Foundation
Decades later, Schmid’s art captivated Oliver Ike , founder of the avant-garde watch brand Ikepod. After encountering Schmid’s largely undiscovered oeuvre through a chance meeting with one of the artist’s heirs, Ike established the Karl Schmid Foundation to preserve his legacy. Though no longer active in watchmaking, Ike’s admiration for Schmid’s work soon caught the attention of Pieter van Geet , co-founder of Italian dive watch specialist Ligure.
Translating Art into Horology
The challenge of interpreting Schmid’s abstract patterns and vibrant color palettes fell to Jannieke van Geet , Ligure’s designer. Drawing inspiration from Schmid’s 1988 enamel piece Spirituelles Werk , she reimagined the brand’s Tartaruga dive watch with a mosaic-like dial of layered blues and reds—echoing the artist’s signature geometric motifs. Limited to just 88 pieces, the watch balances artistic expression with rugged functionality, featuring a 41mm stainless steel case, 200-meter water resistance, and a Sellita SW200 movement.
A Tribute Worn on the Wrist
Priced at €1,888, the Ligure Karl Schmid Limited Edition includes a stainless steel bracelet with a diver’s extension clasp and a one-year subscription to Du art magazine. The closed caseback bears Schmid’s emblem—a subtle nod to the artist’s preference for letting his work speak for itself. For collectors, it’s more than a timepiece; it’s a wearable homage to a forgotten genius.
