A rare and exclusive ten piece limited edition from a fresh young independently owned watch company the SB04 Horophile edition by Sartory Billard is a stylish  modern watch, with a striking presence on the wrist, thanks to the combination of the rich purple colour of its dial, and the sleek, matt grey of its titanium case.

Originally designed in a creative collaboration with one of the brand’s clients, the SB04 Horophile edition has been expanded into a ten-piece limited production, and features many details which were the result of direct input in this individually manufactured bespoke model.

Combining in house manufacturing processes with state of the art, third party movements, Sartory Billard is one of a new breed of small watch brands, presenting a more accessible face to the world of independent watchmaking, which excels in creating these beautifully detailed and individually manufactured wristwatches for the discerning collector. Born out of a passion to design and produce wristwatches through a process of hand craftsmanship, each piece is refined and sophisticated, and created on a piece-by-piece basis.

The round 40mm case is crafted from an ingot of Grade 5 titanium with a blasted matt grey finish, and features a gently domed box-sided sapphire crystal which creates a distorted refraction of the dial around its edge. Classical in its shape, each case is produced individually, and its lugs flow from the rounded contour of the case, while the squat signed crown neatly hugs the waist of the watch.

Beneath the sapphire glass, the dial is immediately striking in its stunning shade of purple on titanium, which has been highly polished to leave a remarkable glossy finish. The stencilled ring which contains the numerals is a single piece, which is overlaid on the surface of the dial, and offers a subtle three dimensional effect. Like the chapter ring, the skeletonised steel hands are elegant and have been individually finished by hand.

On the underside, a transparent exhibition caseback reveals the serrated fluting of the round burgundy titanium oscillating weight, which spins as it maintains the energy level of the premium Swiss made self winding Calibre STP 3/13 by independent movement specialist Swiss Technology Products. A departure from the ETA norm, this excellent mechanism provides 44 hours of power reserve while beating at a brisk 28’800 vib/h.

Representing exceptional value for an independent marque, the SB04 Horophile Edfition by Sartory Billard is a cool and alternative piece of contemporary watchmaking, which offers eye catching individuality and the quality and exclusivity of a piece whose components have been created, finished and constructed by hand.