In response to growing demand, the brand has re-launched its iconic INTI with a new automatic movement. But as always, Frédéric Jouvenot’s ability to amaze us with his mechanical creations remains unchanged.

Frédéric Jouvenot, the CEO of the Swiss watch manufacture of the same name, is known for placing the beauty and mechanical engineering of timepieces at the forefront. Case in point is his creation of the first ever chronograph fitted with an automatic winding mechanism that is completely visible in the dial. By showcasing the beauty of the movement right in the centre of the dial, there are not many places where a watchmaker can hide.

And it seems Frédéric Jouvenot has no interest in stepping back in the shadows. Rather, the focus is on projecting the beauty of luxury watchmaking in a bold manner. Take, for instance, his Surya line of watches, featuring an intricate flower petal-like design aimed at women:

It’s easy to see how Frédéric Jouvenot has gained global recognition with his highly unusual timepieces. And in response to popular demand, he decided to re-launch one of his previous timepieces - the iconic INTI - as a limited-edition automatic model.

Inti is the sun god of the Inca religion, which was venerated by the ancient Andean peoples. He is depicted by a disc with a human face, from which rays and flames extend, and traverses through the sky in a chariot.

Captured in watch form, Frédéric Jouvenot’s INTI transports the beholder into the fascinating realm of the Inca civilization. The engravings on the bezel portray elements of Incan culture, reflecting the geometrically arranged edifices that can still be admired in Machu Picchu today. Created from a bird’s-eye perspective, they intensify the depth of focus of the bezel.

The dial features 12 Inca pyramids and an equal number of rays. They radiate outwards from the center, where the minutes are indicated. But the most remarkable part of this watch is the mechanism found in the middle of the dial, which controls the manner in which the hour rays display the time. Specifically, at noon, all sunbeams are bright and gradually become dark as the evening progresses.

The complication – which is a watchmaking challenge on par with the making of a tourbillon cage - incorporates a jumping 24-hour ring composed of nearly 100 parts. Thanks to its ingenious design, the watch does not need hands to tell the time. It simply lets the owner vividly observe the passage of time.

Like all other creations by Frédéric Jouvenot, this timepiece shows that the Swiss brand is never satisfied with the ordinary. But this is not just a case of putting on a show to stand out from the crowd. Jouvenot equally tests the outer fringes of what is feasible in mechanical terms. In other words, bold styling is not at the expense of engineering substance.