Anniversary | Stainless Steel

One of just 20 examples made to celebrate the 20th year of Vianney Halter's eponymous brand. This Anniversary piece builds on the Classic, marking an evolution of the design and cased in a very rarely seen metal in Halter's work – surgical steel. Intriguingly, a coded message is printed on the rotor of the watch, which can only be deciphered when all 20 watches are brought together and the codes shared among collectors.

Limited to just 20 pieces, this Vianney Halter Anniversary marks the brand's 20th year in classic fashion – but with a slightly modernised approach to the design and material used.

The Classic inherited a simplified variation of the innovative design of the Antiqua that was the result of Halter’s collaboration with Jeff Barnes, an American graphic designer with a longstanding interest in horology. The time-only watch, first seen in 2000, was the second installment in the Futur Antérieur collection that imagined a future of the sort Jules Verne and H. G. Wells envisioned in their works.

There are several notable changes between the original Classic and the 2018 Anniversary watch. To begin with, the proportions of the Anniversary were adapted slightly and made larger, at 38mm compared to the original 36mm, in keeping with Halter's intention for the watch to be a modern piece. Additionally, where the previous series featured gold cases, the Anniversary is cased in surgical steel, the same used to make surgical instruments and implants. The use of steel is a rare instance in Halter's work.

The distinctive case features a brushed, stepped bezel with 12 rivets that correspond to the Arabic chapter of hours. The polished lips on the bezel, both where it meets the midcase and the crystal, are a design element that is repeated on the dial to create an almost jewel-like effect. This is repeated in miniature on the crown, where smaller rivets give texture and further character to the piece – another change from the original Classic, which featured two rows of rivets and a more prominent crown.

The sterling silver dial features an engraved chapter of sector-style minutes followed by one of Arabic numerals, both filled with black enamel paint applied by hand. However, instead of the typical sunken brand mark and watchmaker's initials, we get Halter's updated logo, a combined "VH" reminiscent of a running figure right below 12 o'clock, and his signature can be found on the lower half of the dial, in a stylised flourish. Meanwhile, the outer rim of the dial is finished in satiné circulaire while the inner dial features a frosted finish, while the midcase is flat and polished and features shrouded lugs.

The movement powering this is the U30A, and differs from the original VH198 as it has an upgraded 56-hour power reserve and slower beat rate. The U30A was sourced from "a friend and fellow AHCI member", in keeping with the collaborative and interconnected nature of the independent space. Visible through the sapphire caseback, the bridges frame the watch's inner workings, and we see beautiful decoration throughout.

Notably, each of these Anniversary pieces has an encrypted code on the watch's patented mystery winding rotors, printed in a pixelated modular font. The secret message can only be deciphered if all 20 collectors come together, with their own Classic, and share the codes amongst themselves. This unusual twist shows the whimsical and playful side of Halter’s creative process.  

If sold within the United Kingdom, this Vianney Halter Anniversary will be subject to 20% VAT

Closer look

Condition

This Vianney Halter Classic is in excellent overall condition. The case shows virtually no signs of wear. Both the movement and dial/hands show no signs of imperfection.

Warranty

The watch comes with a two-year warranty from A Collected Man, alongside a lifetime guarantee of authenticity.