Independent watchmaker Vianney Halter released the Classic collection in 2000 as a deliberate evolution away from the complexity – and the audacity – of his debut watch, 1998’s Antiqua perpetual calendar. Compared to the Antiqua, the Classic collection was far more traditional. It looked more like a watch, for one thing, but it also successfully straddled the line between being a relatively simple time-only watch in precious metal while retaining Halter’s characteristic steampunk aesthetic.

The bezel, for example, recalls the look of a submarine porthole, while the lugs are an unconventional hinged design and the crown is adorned with what looks like endless rivets. The 36.5mm diameter case wears unexpectedly large on the wrist given the aggressive architecture. The architectural, multi-part dial incorporates an eye-catching mix of frosted and polished surfaces. A frosted finished interior is surrounded by a raised 12-hour ring that is then enveloped by a two-layer chapter ring divided by minutes and hours.
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 a limited run of 250 pieces in pink, yellow, and white gold; the present example is crafted from 18k pink gold. Offered in extremely well-preserved condition with very few signs of wear, it presents a rare opportunity to own a highly coveted and hard to find timepiece.