Brian Jeffrey
Linh stands out in Vietnam for painting intricate art pieces on watch faces, starting each commission at a minimum of 15 million VND.
With a background in industrial art, Linh (34) initially pursued a career in aesthetics. However, a chance encounter led her back to art, this time creating miniature artworks on watch faces.
During the 2020 pandemic lockdown, Linh, inspired by her husband, a watchmaker, delved into painting. She found her niche using watch dials as her canvas, challenging herself to paint on a small surface by hand.
Starting from scratch, Linh experimented with various paints to find one that was easy to apply, durable on metal, and thin enough to fit into a watch without obstructing its functionality. She recalls the challenges of using extremely fine brushes and painting under a microscope.
After trials and errors, Linh’s early works emerged. Her first piece, a fairy painting, took two weeks to complete. Despite her self-critique, collectors noticed her art, with one commissioning a watch featuring a carp as a gift.
Linh’s painted watch faces have gained recognition locally and internationally, attracting orders from countries like the US and South Korea, often featuring zodiac symbols or birth year representations.
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The price for Linh’s artworks starts at 15 million VND, with higher costs for special materials like mother-of-pearl. Each piece, from concept to completion, requires a minimum of two weeks.
Despite juggling business and family responsibilities, Linh dedicates hours daily to painting these unique pieces under a microscope.
The artist looks forward to creating unique watches by combining hand-painting with engraving, focusing on zodiac-themed products for Lunar New Year 2025.
