When I met Emmanuel from Artime in Geneva at Hotel Beau Rivage it wasn’t in a suite like all the other brands. It was down in the lobby at the bar. Casually sitting at a coffee table between some guests having lunch he showed me their first ever watch, the Artime ART01. And how cool this watch is. How many times can you get to see the first watch of a new brand?
This isn’t a watch like many products of micro brands out there. Parts of different suppliers cased together, the brands themselves rarely even employ a watchmaker. Artime is different, they manufacture most parts of their watch on their own. But who has the machines, capital and the know-how from the beginning? Before building the ART01, Artime Créations SA was a partner of the Swiss watch industry. They worked as a supplier for some big names, but they always wanted to make their own watch. What if budget constraint didn’t play a role during manufacturing? What if we could really go crazy and develop the watch of their dreams? This is the result.
Artime didn’t cut any corners. We’ve got a tourbillon with a double balance spring, a case where there’s no actual case. The white-gold movement is the case, and the case is the movement. A semi transparent fusion made from titanium and diamond-like sapphire. The crown has a pusher that lets you cycle through the neutral position (N), winding (R) and time-setting position (H). Just like a car’s clutch system you can see what “gear” you’re in. This 20 piece edition is something for the watch collector that’s seen it all and who has a “demanding taste“. Really something special, I’m looking forward to what the Artime team comes up with next.
Write a comment