Ludovic Ballouard is known for his exceptionally well-made timepieces featuring quirky time displays.

After having worked for François-Paul Journe, he decided to set up his own workshops and pursue his own vision. The result was the Upside Down, presented in 2009. This incredibly avant-garde time display is ingenious and a delight to watch. The traditional dial consists of 12 rotating discs, which are all upside down except for the correct hour, which is also denoted by a small dot that only becomes visible when right side up. At the top of the hour, the old hour passes and returns to the upside down position, while the new hour is rotated 180 degrees. The technical marvel of this movement is seen when one turns the watch over and through the sapphire back, one can admire the complexity of this unique timepiece. The movement plate carries twelve finely finished discs attached by tiny pinions, and it is as fascinating to watch the time change on the dial as it is from the movement side.

For Ballouard, this watch is not only a mechanical masterpiece, but also a representation of how one should live in the moment, and that the past and future are presented upside down to remind you that you should have no regrets about the past, or qualms for the future, which you know nothing about.

The present Upside Down, from 2012, was made specially for Independence, a Honk Kong based boutique specialized in independent artisans. It is one of only two platinum Ludovic Ballouard watches featuring a heat blued titanium dial with applied Breguet numerals. The present example is the only one made with “Independence” engraved on the case back.

Small yet important details on the platinum case show Ludovic Ballouard’s dedication to perfection and craftsmanship, such as the hand engraved inscriptions on the case back and initials on the platinum crown and side of buckle.