Increasingly hard to find, the present watch is an excellent example of Vianney Halter’s rare and instantly recognizable ‘Antiqua’ perpetual calendar wristwatch. It is thought that less than 100 examples of this ingenious watch were made in all metals over the period of production. With its ‘steampunk’ aesthetic, the ‘Antiqua’ has become a must-have for the collector of independent watchmaking.

Antiqua, Vianney Halter's very first model and first model of his ‘Future Antérieur’ or ‘Future Past’ collection, debuted at the Basel Watch Fair in 1998, its style best described as a ‘relic of the future’. The ‘Antiqua’ is characterized by the display of the various functions through riveted portholes, resembling watches that one might imagine on Captain Nemo's wrist while commanding the Nautilus, or worn by H.G. Wells when returning from one of his trips through time.

The heart of the Antiqua is the calibre VH198, a perpetual calendar movement developed in-house with Halter's patented ‘mysterious’ oscillating weight. To ensure an unhindered view of the movement, Vianney Halter developed his so-called ‘mysterious mass’ rotor, hidden behind a peripheral ring with no apparent link to the rotor.

The pink gold Antiqua is fitted with platinum dials, the case is composed of more than 130 parts, the rivets are in solid gold, contributing to the very distinctive style of the model. The dials are hand-engraved, making each watch unique.

The Antiqua requires approximately 900 hours to be completed. It was in production between 1998 and 2016 and available in yellow gold, pink gold, white gold or platinum, one gem-set example is known.

After conceptualizing and creating timepieces for famous brands including Breguet, Audemars Piguet and Harry Winston (notably the celebrated "Opus" model), Halter began creating his own line of inspirational timepieces combining exceptional watchmaking, technical innovations and futuristic case designs. His company ‘La Manufacture Janvier’ was founded in 1994, paying tribute to the renowned French clockmaker Antide Janvier (1751-1835).

Vianney Halter is member of the renowned ACHI Académie Horlogère Des Créateurs Indépendants or Horological Academy of Independent Creators.