Old Soul by Vianney Halter and Massena LAB
Description
Massena LAB and legendary independent watchmaker Vianney Halter unite to create Old Soul, a wristwatch that bridges eras. At its heart lies a vintage Minerva 17’22 caliber—originally hand-crafted in the 1920s and preserved until now—revived and re-engineered with Halter’s signature ingenuity.
The multilayered dial draws inspiration from steampunk and mid-century design, with hours, minutes, and seconds separated into three independent registers. Most striking is the mysterious minute display, where a transparent sapphire disc creates the illusion of a floating minute hand orbiting above the dial. This is the first time such a complication has been achieved using a vintage movement.
Arabic numerals in Halter’s signature typeface and chemin de fer styling reinforce the vintage character. “Vianney Halter” and “Massena” appear etched into the inner sapphire crystal, casting subtle shadows across the dial. A shield dotted with studs crowns the crystal, echoing Halter’s steampunk aesthetic.
The 42mm stainless steel case blends brushed and polished surfaces, anchored by stepped lugs. A studded crown ensures tactile control and visual harmony. The case back reveals the hand-finished Minerva caliber with Côtes de Genève, anglage, black polish, and the engraved Minerva mainspring barrel—now double signed by Vianney Halter and Massena LAB.
On the top lug, a fine engraving reads: “Time is the fire in which we burn”—a poetic nod to Delmore Schwartz, immortalized in the film Star Trek Generations.