Vianney Halter represents the genesis of modern independent watchmaking that cuts against the grain. His initial creation, the Antiqua, changed the game when it was released in 1998 thanks to its wholly original layout and construction. The watch is a perpetual calendar that sets its functions into its own subdial structures emanating from the case. The unusual design was developed in collaboration with American graphic designer Jeff Barnes and brought to life by Halter in gold and platinum. Inside sits a Lemania 8810 base caliber that’s been thoroughly revised by Halter to suit the needs of the innovative layout.
The Antiqua was a groundbreaking, avant-garde design labeled a “relic from the future" thanks to the retro-futuristic, steampunk design language that provides interesting details to enjoy from every angle. This is a watch that helped lay the groundwork for the likes of Max Büsser of MB&F, Martin Frei and Felix Baumgartner of Urwerk, and many others ready to challenge our conception of what a watch could be. The result is one of the most important watches ever created.
From the article by Allen Farmelo, Paige Reddinger, Victoria Gomelsky, Oren Hartov, Blake Buettner
