Manufacturer: Vianney Halter Year: 2018 Case No: 1/20 Model Name: Anniversary Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Automatic, cal.U30A, 30 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel VH deployant clasp Dimensions: 38mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by outer and inner box, Certificate of Authenticity and undated warranty and polishing cloth Literature: Vianney Halter is featured in Masters of Contemporary Watchmaking by Michael Clerizo pp. 192-211, in Twelve faces of Time, Horological Virtuosos by Elisabeth Doerr and Ralf Baumgarten pp.106-121 and in Watchmakers, The Masters of art Horology by Maxima Gallery pp 178-189
Catalogue Essay
Rarely has a watchmaker had such an influence on his peers as Vianney Halter who took the world by surprise in 1998 with his incredibly original and unusual Antiqua perpetual calendar followed by the Opus 3 developed with Harry Winston (see Lot 142).
In 2018, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the launching of his brand, Halter presented the Anniversary in a limited edition of 20 pieces of which the present model is number 1.
Inspired by the Classic presented in 2000, the Anniversary reinterprets the futuristic steampunk Jules Verne inspired visual codes of its predecessor in a more contemporary livery.
The enlarged 38mm case is now made in steel, a metal that Halter had never worked with and which according to him will never be use again, the sterling silver dial bears his autograph and interestingly a fragment of an encrypted message is printed on each of the 20 rotors, a message that can be deciphered only when the watches are reunited!
The automatic movement features an ingenious sapphire central rotor enabling a full view of the movement.
The present watch, in unworn condition is number 1 of the limited edition giving this already incredibly desirable piece even more appeal and collectability.
Vianney Halter seeks to change how we view time and creates mechanical timepieces with retro-futuristic innovative timekeeping displays. One of his most famous models, the groundbreaking Anitqua, takes inspiration from the nineteenth century with an industrial, steampunk aesthetic, using a case with four separate dial displays that wowed collectors when it was first launched in 1998. For some of Halter's creations, literature — in particular that of Jules Verne — has been a source of inspiration. Halter continues to create futuristic case designs and works with complicated movements.