New manufacturers are created virtually each day within the watch business. Nonetheless, most of those newcomers or microbrands begin with somewhat generic and accessible watches, powered by outsourced actions. Nothing unsuitable with that, however we generally want for extra. And ALTO, a brand new model created in Paris, does deliver much more. Radical design, out-of-the-box pondering, inventive inspiration, a recent tackle luxurious watchmaking and refined mechanics are what ALTO guarantees with its inaugural mannequin, the ART 01 watch. And whereas we’re planning on getting our arms on this intriguing piece quickly, right here’s what we all know to this point.
ALTO Watches is the brainchild of Thibaud Guittard, ex-AP and a person with a ardour for design, artwork, structure and automobiles – particularly daring Nineteen Seventies creations (wedge automobiles) such because the Ferrari Modulo, the Aston Bulldog or the Lancia Stratos HF Zero. The concept of ALTO was, nevertheless, to assemble inventive minds, which embody Mathieu César (creator and photographer), Barth Nussbaumer (watch designer), Yorgo Tloupas (artist) and Le Cercle des Horlogers (motion constructor). The results of this inventive hub is that this UFO-like watch named ART 01.
The case is, as you may see, nothing basic. Faceted, formed and radically angular, it’s product of titanium and topped by a fancy sapphire crystal combining curved and faceted outer surfaces and a hemispherical inside floor. The hand-brushed case is to be thought-about an extension of this crystal, and regardless of its audacious traces, it feels surprisingly refined and chic, with a powerful sense of finesse. A sapphire again, additionally with lateral chamfers, provides once more one other perspective to this watch.
The dial of the ALTO ART 01 mannequin is, as soon as once more, nothing conventional. “It pays tribute to gentle as a supply of inventive inspiration (…) and is impressed by the foremost Greek arts of sculpture and structure“, explains the founder. Its advanced texture, with hexagonal geometric traces, is constituted of bead-blasted and black-coated brass to create a focus in the direction of the centre of the dial. This play of sunshine and shadows isn’t the one distinctive characteristic; the hours and minutes hand would possibly rotate classically, however the seconds hand strikes counter-clockwise…
Beneath the sapphire again is a contemporary, sharp-looking micro-rotor motion created by famend maker Le Cercle des Horlogers beneath the inventive route of Nussbaumer. Combining openworked and plain components, a matte darkish background, and skinny, brilliant, geometric bridges give it a contemporary, technical look. The calibre runs at 4Hz and shops 48h of energy reserve (its base structure can also be utilized by Trilobe and Speake Marin).
Launched in a restricted run of 25 numbered items, the ALTO ART 01 watch has triggered our curiosity. It’s priced at CHF 18,450 (excl. VAT) or EUR 19,100 (excl. VAT). For extra particulars, please go to altowatches.com.
