Manufacturer: Ludovic Ballouard
Year: Circa 2012
Case No: 4
Model Name: Half Time "Souscription"
Material: Platinum
Calibre: Manual, inhouse caliber, 53 jewels
Bracelet/Strap: Alligator
Clasp/Buckle: Platinum Ludovic Ballouard pin buckle
Dimensions: 41mm Diameter
Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Accessories: Accompanied by Ludovic Ballouard official Certificate of Guarantee confirming date of sale on July 2013, alligator pouch, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.
Literature: Ludovic Ballouard and the Half Time are featured in Watchmakers, The Masters of Art Horology by Maxima Gallery pp. 48-57
Catalogue Essay
Ludovic Ballouard has come to be known for his timepieces with original and quirky time displays and technically complex movements.

One of the most talented watchmakers of his generation Ballouard started his career working on complicated timepieces for Frank Muller and F.P. Journe. Legend has it that while other watchmakers took close to four months assembling Journe’s Grand Sonnerie, Ballouard was so dexterous and gifted that it took him less than two months!

In 2012, three years after having created his eponymous brand he launched the Half Time. As with his first watch the Upside Down he launched the Half Time using a subscription system whereby upon invitation, a client would make a down-payment that would finance the development of the movement and watch.

At first the watch may surprise as there is only one visible retrograde hand and nothing else. Nevertheless, the way of reading time is both simple and playful. The dial is composed of two rotating discs, each printed with half a Roman numeral. The numbers are not lined up and appear closer to undecipherable hieroglyphics than numerals. However, at each hour one disc jumps clockwise and the other counterclockwise, perfectly aligning at 12 o’clock where the hour can be read. Minutes are indicated by a retrograde hand on the lower part of the dial.

The brand name and opening for the hour marker as well as the retrograde section for the minutes and the individual watch number are suspended on a hand engraved plate giving the watch an incredible architectural appeal.

The movement also presents a fantastic three dimensional architecture with the different gears, arms and clicks on different levels. The movement, fully conceived, developed and assembled by Ballouard consists of over 300 components.

Ballouard made just 12 Half Time Souscription watches - all in platinum -and each individually numbered. On the dial, the hour numeral corresponding to the limited-edition number is printed in red; in this instance, the watch is number "4". The individual number is also hand engraved on the lower part of the dial.

The platinum case, black dial and red accents give the watch a definitive bombastic appearance.