New Les Montres Vianney Halter Website

Les Montres Vianney Halter finally has a new website featuring his entire collection. I finally get to meet Vianney in a week and if anyone has a clever question for me to ask him, let me know!

Les Montres Vianney Halter website-->Link

See also;
All Vianney Halter Posts

Check out my $100-$100,000 holiday gift guide!-->LINK


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New Views of the Old Vianney Halter "Antiqua"

Although I've featured this remarkable watch before, Suitbert of The Purists has photographed it in a new light. Somehow, it looks more "Steampunk" than ever before, as if it's rising from the sea with a few giant squid trying to grasp it back down into the murky depths.

See the rest of his shots here-->Link

All Vianney Halter watch related posts-->Link


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The Cabestan Winch Tourbillon Vertical For Sale!

I've written about this watch in the past, never really seemed it would be produced - but lo and behold, it has been realized. Jean-François Ruchonnet of the DMC Group, the man responsible for the phenomenal belt-driven Tag Heuer V4 (which by the way, is also now a reality->Link) has taken Vianney Halter's vision to an official and public reality. Being sold in a variety of styles, seen at the official Cabestan website-->Link, you could buy one for between $275,000 and $400,000 (approx) but you'd be out of luck, all models for 2007 have sold out. And with plans for four watches a month in 2008, you might wanna rob that bank you always had your eye on...You know, the one with the sleepy security guard.

Available in titanium, yellow gold and rose gold
(top of page features black cylinder version)
As well as the all black titanium below

And with the demand for bling versions of everything, yo, the encrusted diamond Cabestan

Ah, the winch driven chain-fusee movements do move me!

Cabestan Website-->Link
Search all past Cabestan posts-->Link



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All Wound Up - 2007 Baselworld & SIHH

So far, my favorite watches for 2007 include DeBethune, Sarpaneva, HD3, Hautlence, Greubel Forsey, and the Opus 7. Nevertheless, here are some other noteworthy new releases from Basel/SIHH;

Glashütte Original - PanoTourbillon XL

Vianney Halter 'Janvier Classique Lune et Soleil'
Solar Time & Moonphase-->Link

FP Journe 'Centigraph' -->Link

Jaeger LeCoultre Master Compressor Extreme Lab
First lubricant-free watch-->Link

A.Lange & Sohne 31
First 31 Day Power Reserve-->Link
(Wind once, runs for a month!)

Concord C1-->Link

Bell & Ross BR01 Instrument
Blue, Orange & all black Phantom-->Link

Related new-release posts;
DeBethune-->Link
Greubel Forsey-->Link
Opus 7-->Link
Sarpaneva Supernova-->Link
Hautlence-->Link
HD3 Vulcania-->Link
Bell & Ross Tourbillon-->Link

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The Latest Cabestan Photographs

I've been waiting to see more extensive photos of the Cabestan by Vianney Halter and Jean-François Ruchonnet of the DMC Group. So thanks to SuitbertW who just shot these for The Purists. The Cabestan has yet to go into production (as far as I know) and these prototypes seem to be the only existing specimens so far.

The rolling barreled displays are powered by chain links and fusee wound by a winding winch!

Mechanical specs below photos;





A spectacular architecture (via EuropaStar)

This really spectacular architecture seems to be absolutely original. The mechanical design of the Cabestan, including its tourbillon, is totally transversal. The indications (hour, minute, seconds, and power reserve) appear on the cylinders located at the four “corners” of the watch.
Starting from the lower left, we find the barrel, which transmits its driving power to the movement by the intermediary of a chain. This chain is connected to a second cylinder, at the upper left, made up of one part of a fusee (placed horizontally as opposed to the traditional fusees that are always vertical), and the other of the cylindrical power reserve indicator (a total of 72 hours).

Still on the upper end, but this time on the right, we find two cylinders next to each other, providing the perfectly readable hours and minutes. In the lower right hand corner, we can see the tourbillon, which is also placed vertically and is directly linked to another cylinder, which quite logically gives the seconds indication, as the tourbillon makes one rotation per minute.
This completely original mechanical movement, with manual winding, a fusee and a tourbillon, integrates six ball bearings into its operation. It is also water-resistant to 30 metres. The entire movement is visible from above and from the side, under a double sapphire crystal (“Trimaran” model) with three recessed and curved sides, taking the form of a “hood”, all in a very sturdy design.

Winding the watch and setting the hour and minutes are effected using a winding stem in the form of a movable “winch” that links directly to one of the small “capstans” that are found at the four exterior angles of the case: at the upper left, it acts directly on the fusee and, by the intermediary of the chain, allows the barrel to be wound; at the upper right, it acts on the minute cylinder which is connected to that of the hours. The two other small “capstans” are only there for decoration and to complete the aesthetics of the case. Once the small winch is used, it is easily stored in the buckle of the watch’s bracelet.

Related Posts;
The Other Cabestan
Jacob & Co. Quenttin
HD3 Vulcania
Tag Heuer V4 Beltdrive
Vianney Halter Trio
Vianney Halter Antiqua


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TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO WATCH HAS GONE BEFORE!

Great article by Nick Foulkes from FT about the current 'Garage Watchmakers' of todays exclusive independent boutique brands like MB&F, Urwerk, Richard Mille, Vianney Halter, Hautlence, FP Journe, HD3, and Greubel Forsey.

Article PDF-->Here

via Ian Skellern @ OurWorld

Vianney Halter's Steampunk Trio Grande Date

Damn, I love big boxy watches! Especially when they look like Victorian time machines.

Another one of my many spotlights of the living legend, Vianney Halter and an homage to his 'Trio Grande Date'. The third model of his 'Futur Anterieur' collection, a curved rectangular case of white gold with four riveted portholes for time, Petite Seconde hand, and Grande Date. All housing a specifically designed calibre VH205 40 jewel automatic movement. The balance wheel frequency is 28,800 oscillations per hour with a power reserve of 60 hours.

Like his Antiqua, it's a Steampunk relic of the future.

Photo credit to Horolographer, Harry SK Tan of WatchingHorology
His photomontage of the Trio Prototype seen here --> Link

Detail from rose & yellow gold versions

Related Vianney Halter posts;
Antiqua --> Link
Cabestan --> Link
Goldpfeil --> Link
VH Website --> Link

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MB&F : Maximilian Busser & Friends Horological Machine No.1

Even if the new company Max Büsser & Friends were a dangerous cult, I might likely find myself selling flowers and handing out booklets in the airport for them. In fact, I'm not even sure you can call it a company anyway, it's really more of a commune for wayward horological geniuses.

This, the first watch of the new brand, the 'HM1' or more specifically, Horological Machine #1' has popped the cherry of the traditional flat hands-on-dial timepiece by creating a multi-layered three-dimensional time machine. Timing has been deconstructed by separating the hours from minutes into two overlapping dials, much like a splitting egg. But Max's 'Friends' are close to splitting atoms with the level of technical intricacy. The dials feature transverse mounted floating sapphire subdials connected by a raised central flying central tourbillon and four massive mainspring barrels fueling a seven-day power reserve. The two beryllium gear trains run in parallel to reduce torque of each mainspring, improving synchronization between them. The entire watch caliber is built from scratch.

Only thirty HM1 will be built per year, limited to a total of 100 models ever made and prices exceeding $100,000 USD. According to Max himself, upcoming Horological Machines will pass the baton further with each lap. The next Machine is slated for an October release and be sure to check here for any advance looks!

Max Büsser, the man I believe is responsible for leading this new age of independent watchmaking - mostly due to his previous time-bending series of Opus watches for Harry Winston Rare Timepieces. Like Malcolm Mclaren, Max assembled the Sex Pistols of the watch world by matching some of the most unique talent to create timepieces unlike anything ever seen before. Pairing genius minds like F.P. Journe, Vianney Halter, Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei who all inconceivably blend design and micro-engineering to radical works of horological art. The HM1 was conceptualized by Büsser, designed by Eric Giroud, a former architect, and built by movement engineers Laurent Besse and Peter Speake-Marin. The known and unknown talent will be assembled and rotated from machine to machine where everyone involved is given credit for their hand (or wrist) in the project.

Much like a rock star leaving a successful band in pursuit of a solo career, Büsser left the Opus project at it's peak to begin MBandF, the first cultish independent collective where he is the charismatic spiritual leader.

Front-view (via Revolution)

Sideview of raised sapphire subdial next to central tourbillon

The HM1 rotor - Inspired by the battle-axe of the Mecha character 'Goldorak UFO Grendizer', from the 1975 Japanese Manga Max loved as a kid.

Exploded view of the movement

Relic of the Future - Vianney Halter's Steampunk Antiqua Watch

'20,000 Leagues Under Switzerland' starring Vianney Halter's Antiqua. A Nautilus-ish time machine complete with riveted portholes, perpetual calendar, 100-year accuracy and 900 hours of watchmaker sweat into each watch.

Like the receding ocean before a tsunami, this was the predecessor to a wave of innovative Swiss watchmakers to follow. Or if H.G. Wells scripted it -- Swiss Steampunk watchmakers of the future's past.

Links to past Halter-related posts-->Here

Rolling Out The Jacob & Co. 'Quenttin' Watch

Jacob & Co.'s unexpected offering named the Quenttin - from their über 'Bling' watch line. A 56mm vertical barreled wristwatch - competing aesthetically with the Cabestan, both with such limited production, there should be room for more roller wheel display watches and hopefully one that doesn't cost hundreds of thousands of dollars like these. The Jaz Derby first created this style with their Swissonic in 1974.Built from either Magnesium, Rose Gold, White Gold or Platinum, fit with vertical mechanical movement wound by key, anchor mounted in Tourbillon cage & 31-day power reserve.

Opus 6 by Greubel Forsey for Harry Winston

Harry Winston Opus 6

The Opus series for Harry Winston has produced some of the most phenomenal timepieces in history. Designed and built by "mechanical architects" Robert Greubel & Stephen Forsey, the sixth in a series of collaborations with independent watchmakers taking complications to a new level of complicated.

Greubel & Forsey (Opus 6) along with previous designers Vianney Halter (Opus 3), Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei (Opus 5) have all been creating new inventions of timekeeping, new mechanics of time making and new aesthetics of time viewing. It also may require new methods of moneymaking.

Opus 3 by Vianney Halter

Opus 5 by Felix Baumgartner & Martin Frei (of Urwerk)

THE CABESTAN - Polygraph Watch? Richter Scale Watch? Please tell me this does more than tell the time...

This is just sickening. When something is so damn cool it makes you sick to your stomach, you should pay attention. Is it admiration? Jealousy? Bad Mexican food? Hell, it's all of the above.

Thanks to CoolHunting for first bringing my attention to this Sexy Beast!

The Cabestan is a collaboration between two of horology's bad boys, Vianney Halter and Jean-François Ruchonnet's DMC Group (who also designed the Heuer Monaco V4).

Inspired by old Curta calculators, this watchmaking marvel has a vertical tourbillon and an unusual fusée-and-chain movement. Time is shown on the barrels; no dial and no hands. You wind the watch by attaching a "wrench" to the two top cabestans (the knobs on the side).

135 of these beauties will be made in gold or platinum. Oh, and start saving now. They cost around $220,000 and are available from Vianney Halter.

Yeah, but a Richter scale-polygraph detector watch will come out for Basel 2007, you mark my word.

Europastar article

Vianney Halter for GoldPfeil

This will be the first of many features on Vianney Halter's "haute horologie".

The Goldpfeil Seven Masters jumping hour moonphase by Halter is an unconventional timepiece with three displays. One rectangle for digital jump hour, a square for minutes/seconds and the upper subdial with geometric moonphase. Carved from a block of solid 18k white gold, fitted with automatic movement entirely developed by Halter.

Again, part of an elite wave of Swiss watchmakers that are designing, in my opinion, "Wristwatch Porn." Designs so stimulating, I find myself physically attracted to them...I want to hold them, caress them, buy flowers for them on Valentines Day.

Good thing my wife understands.

(Detailed Photos Here - thanks to WatchingHorology.com)

Another one of the "If you have to ask..." prices.