Introducing Vianney Halter and Massena LAB Unveil the “Old School”

Massena LAB has joined forces with independent watchmaker Vianney Halter to create Old Soul, a limited-edition wristwatch that fuses Halter’s otherworldly vision and technical mastery with William Massena’s encyclopedic knowledge of watch history. Blending the science fiction aesthetic of steampunk with 19th-century watchmaking references—and powered by a vintage Minerva movement Old Soul feels intriguingly detached from our current timeline.

To understand the concept behind Old Soul, one must first consider the “soul” itself: the movement. It is the animating force of a wristwatch, representing not only its heartbeat but also its intangible essence and unique character.

The development of Old Soul began with an extraordinary discovery: a cache of new old stock Minerva movements. The caliber 1722, first developed in the 1920s and used in pocket watches until 1942, has been reimagined for this creation, revived in 2025 as something that exists mysteriously outside the boundaries of past and present.

Housed in a 42 mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 12 mm, Old Soul features a stepped lug design that firmly anchors it in vintage tradition. The case combines polished and brushed surfaces to create elegant contrast, with the concave bezel flowing seamlessly into the stepped lugs, a distinctly mid-century detail. The crown, echoing the shield motif found on the dial, is accented with functional studs that enhance the steampunk aesthetic while also improving tactility for winding and time-setting.

The caseback bears the engraved signatures of both Vianney Halter and Massena LAB, as well as an individual serial number. Between the lugs sits a finely engraved quotation: “Time is the fire in which we burn,” a line by American poet Delmore Schwartz (1913–1966), popularized in the 1994 film Star Trek: Generations. Fans of Halter will recognize his long-standing passion for science fiction, and his enthusiasm for Star Trek in particular.

The dial of Old Soul is a three-dimensional, multilayered composition that combines Halter’s hallmark steampunk influences with vintage and mid-century design cues inspired by William Massena. The watch displays hours, minutes, and seconds on three separate registers: hours on a subdial at 3 o’clock, seconds on a subdial at 9 o’clock, and minutes tracked on a radially brushed, rhodium-plated chapter ring around the perimeter. The Arabic numerals, rendered in Halter’s distinctive typeface, reinforce his unmistakable touch. The chemin de fer railroad track design recalls late 19th- and early 20th-century timepieces, though executed here with a resolutely modern edge.

Through Halter’s technical ingenuity, the minutes are indicated via a mysterious disc system, creating the illusion of a blued arrow orbiting freely in space, floating above the silvered surface of the dial.

Another unique detail lies in the placement of the signatures: those of Halter and Massena are printed on the interior of the sapphire crystal, casting a subtle shadow across the dial and heightening its three-dimensionality. Framing the crystal is a stainless steel shield engraved with concentric circles and dotted with studs, further reinforcing Halter’s signature steampunk aesthetic.

The “soul” of the watch—the movement—is revealed through the sapphire caseback, treated with anti-reflective coating for optimal visibility. This Minerva caliber 1722, crafted entirely by hand decades before the advent of CNC machines, is decorated with Côtes de Genève, anglage, and black polishing. Its mainspring barrel is engraved with Minerva’s name and the classic arrow motif, an enduring symbol of the brand’s heritage. Beating at 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz), the movement offers a power reserve of 36 hours.

For the first time, this vintage caliber has been adapted to incorporate a transparent minute disc, enabling the mystery dial complication. Each movement retains its original numbering and authentic character, now enhanced with a double emblem bearing the insignias of both Vianney Halter and Massena LAB.

The watch is paired with a blue strap featuring tone-on-tone stitching, crafted in Italy, and secured with a stainless steel Massena LAB pin buckle.

Old Soul by Vianney Halter and Massena LAB is available to order starting today, August 26, 2025, exclusively through Massena LAB’s official website.

Limited to just 47 pieces, priced at CHF 32,000 (approximately AED 145,800).

For more information, visit Massena LAB official website.