VietNamNet Bridge - After the first two Speake-Marin Dong Son Tourbillon watches were delivered in late November 2015, Speake-Marin continued delivery of the 3rd and 4th to Vietnam.

Speake-Marin Dong Son Tourbillon are considered the most valuable watches in Vietnam because each product is a limited mechanical work of art, which includes elements of culture and national symbols.

They are created by the master of contemporary mechanical watches, the watchmaker for chiefs of state and princes like the 13th Sultan of Malaysia Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, the Japanese royal family, Prince of Monaco Albert II, Prime Minister of Russia Dimitry Medvedev, etc ....

Only eight Speake-Marin Dong Son Tourbillon watches are manufactured, honoring the national cultural values of Vietnam and craftsmanship of the highest level.

Speake-Marin Dong Son Tourbillon was highly praised by international experts when it appeared in dozens of prestigious newspapers and magazines in the world, such as the cover of WOW and Robb Report magazines along with the nomination for the "Best of The Best Award".

The Dong Son Tourbillon features a red gold dial with centre intricately etched to leave a fascinating relief motif inspired by the prehistoric bronze drums of the ancient Dong Son civilization of Vietnam. The meticulously detailed dial is complemented by the drum-like Speake-Marin Piccadilly case in 18k red gold.

The top surfaces of these drums are adorned with a central starburst and concentric circles within which are repetitive images of armed warriors and flying egrets as well as geometric hatching.

The dial centre motif of the Dong Son Tourbillon follows a similar pattern to these historical masterpieces, with an outer ring of graceful egrets complemented by an inner ring featuring plumed warriors holding their weapons between the 12 points of the eye-catching starburst.

These 12 points also form a neat horological reference for the central hands indicating hours, minutes and seconds.

The Dong Son Tourbillon’s visually-arresting blued steel hands are also designed in the same style as the hands of the Foundation Watch, the Rosetta Stone of Speake-Marin.

The polished, sculpted hands – including a heart-shaped hour hand – are set off superbly by the white etched dial centre.

Speake-Marin Dong Son Tourbillon on the cover of Robb Report magazine.

Around the circular-grained periphery of the 18 k red gold dial, Roman numerals are first engraved, then lacquered, then circular-grained.

The polished gold bezel frames the dial, just as the polished guard in the dial around the escapement frames the Tourbillon.

Turning the Dong Son Tourbillon over, the movement featuring hand-finishing can be fully appreciated through the display back.

On top of the offset mainspring barrel is the noble platinum micro-rotor, its strong and sober aesthetic counterbalanced by the intricate complexity of the tourbillon.

The lower tourbillon cage is supported by a striking paddle-shaped bridge offering clear visual access to the surrounding gears below.

The rhodium-finished German silver bridges and movement plates are circular-grained with polished screw heads and countersinks. Technical details are engraved and gilded on the bridges either side of the platinum rotor.

Dong Son drums are bronze drums crafted by the Dong Son culture in the Red River Delta of northern Vietnam between 600 BC and the 300 AD.

The Dong Son people were highly-skilled bronze casters and their drums – of which the sides and top surface were usually decorated with geometric patterns and scenes depicting daily life – are considered to represent an artistic level that very few cultures of the time could match.

It is thought that the Dong Son drums were used as musical instruments in festivals, in prayers for rain and for good harvest, in rituals such as weddings and funerals, and for rallying men for war.

The sides and top surface of the drums were usually decorated with geometric patterns and realistically inscribed scenes depicting daily life – for example war, animals and boats.

Every watch in the set of 8 Dong Son Tourbillon reflects the passion and philosophies of Peter Speake-Marin. About 8 watches have been ordered and are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2016.

Below are pictures of the 3rd and 4th watches that were recently delivered to collectors in Vietnam: