This piece began with the watch itself.

The original dial was heavily oxidised, with layers of corrosion and texture that seemed to tell their own story. Looking at it, I was reminded of objects reclaimed by nature; shipwrecks resting on the seabed, forgotten structures overtaken by time, or treasures lost to the depths and slowly transformed by water.

Rather than hiding those characteristics, I chose to build upon them.

The idea of a cave diver emerged naturally from the dial. Cave diving is one of the most challenging forms of exploration, taking divers into environments where darkness conceals both danger and discovery. Guided by little more than experience, preparation, and a beam of light, they venture into places few people will ever see.

The painting uses the existing textures of the dial as part of the underwater landscape. Oxidation becomes rock, mineral deposits, and the evidence of time itself. The diver’s light reveals only a small part of the world around them, hinting at the vast spaces that remain hidden beyond the edge of visibility.

At its heart, this piece is about adventure. It is about the desire to explore beyond familiar boundaries, to venture into the darkness in search of something rare, and the belief that the greatest discoveries are often found in places others are unwilling to go.