Manufacturer: Vianney Halter Year: Circa 2005 Case No: 47R.227.CL Model Name: Classic Material: 18K pink gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. VH100, 27 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold Vianney Halter pin buckle signed VH Dimensions: 36mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by Vianney Halter fitted box, Certificate of Authenticity and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
With the perpetual calendar Antiqua launched in 1998, Vianney Halter somewhat launched the genre of Independent Creative Horology, with a highly off the beaten path design inspired by 19th century steam punk.
Halter released the Classic collection in 2000 as a deliberate evolution away from the complexity – and the audacity - of the Antiqua. The Halter signature elements were nevertheless very present on the Classic that includes a bezel with rivets on each hour marker inspired by the portholes of Captain Nemo’s Nautilus, lugs with an unconventional hinged design and a crown adorned with rivets. The dial gleams in its architectural beauty, it is multileveled with an elegant mix of frosted and polished surfaces. The whole topped with flame blued hands.
The movement inside is an interesting one. It’s a modified Lemania caliber 8810 – dubbed the VH100 by Halter – with a double barrel architecture and an oscillating weight mounted on a transparent sapphire crystal to allow for an unimpeded view of the movement design and decoration. Every aspect of the case, the movement, and the dial are hand-finished by Halter and his team.
The Classic was made in a total of 250 pieces in pink, yellow and white gold with different dial variants. The present example in pink gold bearing number 47 is in excellent condition with its full set of accessories and offers the opportunity to the collector of independent artisans to own an extremely coveted and hard to find timepiece.
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.