Dual Time

A remarkable debut piece from a watchmaker whose natural talent only revealed itself while working under the watchful eye of one of the most esteemed Masters in the independent watchmaking sector, the Dual Time by independent brand Ataelier Haute Complication is a watch of visually compelling aesthetics, as well as being one of sophisticated technical complexity and innovative and practical functionality.

A qualified architect by profession, and at the forefront of using CAD graphics in his work, it was actually Vladimir Négault’s skills as a digital animator which caught the interest of his long-time friend François Paul Journe, who in the early 2000s, commissioned him to create visuals for his eponymous watch company. Having completed the project, during which he gained a unique perspective of his friend’s creative processes, Négault accepted a rare invitation to join the Master full time, and would spend the next chapter in his career developing and working on F.P Journe movements.

Working in such close proximity to a legend of contemporary watchmaking, and learning much from this unique and immersive association, Négault decided to embark on his own watchmaking journey, and in 2022 renders of what would become his first horologic creation, and the birth of his independent company Ataelier Haute Complication were revealed.

Featuring a unique day/night display and two twelve-hour time zones, the Dual Time instantly provides the wearer with local time and home time, the latter complemented by a stunning sky illustration which rotates under the dial, and dominates the upper half of the watch face. Beneath a semi-circular window which is marked with the hours between six and six, the passage of the twenty-four hour cycle is depicted, with its shades of blue fading from the darkness of a star studded night, into the light blue of a dawn sky as the sun replaces the crescent moon, heralding the start of a new day.

Local time is shown on a reduced decentralised display, which is applied to the dial and whose design echoes nuances of the watchmaker’s mentor. With cutaway panels providing a black background the generously oversized blue numerals at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 stand out prominently, and are complemented by the skeletonised blued steel hands.

On the underside, a sapphire crystal exhibition caseback reveals the fully in-house designed and developed Calibre Architecture Mécanique N°1, which has been manufactured in German silver, with every component finished by hand to the uncompromising standards of haute horlogerie. Beating at a frequency of 3Hz (21,600 vib/h) the single barrel delivers between 42-45 hours of power reserve.

Manufactured in stainless steel, and measuring 41mm across and only 9mm tall, with its distinctive dial configuration and bold colours, the Ataelier Haute Complication Dual Time is a watch with enormous personality, and one which is not only instantly recognisable, but which has become a highly sought after piece among collectors and enthusiasts of independent watchmaking. Its innovative yet simple solution to displaying the two time zones simultaneously and with intuitive legibility, as well as its novel twist on the ‘am/pm’ function make it a charmingly quirky, while still being a very user friendly piece for the travelling watch collector.