Introducing: The Albishorn Voisin Aérosport

Albishorn leaves tool watches and extreme environments behind. The Voisin Aérosport is a more restrained expression of the brand, built around the world of Gabriel Voisin and one of his most remarkable cars, the C28 Aérosport. No such watch ever existed. Albishorn imagined the one Voisin might have ordered for himself, with a three-dimensional dial and a new hand-wound, COSC-certified caliber, and called it the Albishorn Voisin Aérosport.

With this new release, the Swiss brand adds a touch of elegance to the otherwise tool-watch-dominated lineup. Aside from the simpler design, the new Albishorn Voisin Aérosport has all the major features the brand is known for.

Aircraft to automobiles

Gabriel Voisin, a French aviator, began conquering the air with experimental gliders in 1903. Soon after that, in 1905, he joined forces with another Frenchman, Louis Blériot. Eventually, Voisin’s brother, Charles, joined his company. Just a few years later, in 1908, Henri Farman flew a 1km closed circuit at Issy-les-Moulineaux in a Voisin biplane and won the Deutsch-Archdeacon Grand Prix d’Aviation. Sadly, in 1912 Charles died in a car accident, leaving Gabriel the sole Voisin in their prosperous company. Business was doing well; Gabriel Voisin was soon building military aircraft for the First World War.

After the war, Gabriel turned his attention toward automobiles. Some of the most distinctive French cars from the interwar period were designed by his new company, Avions Voisin. He applied the same logic that made his planes successful, considering engineering, structure, materials, and form together. As a result, his automobiles had a character unlike almost anything else of their time. One remarkable example was the C28 Aérosport, an automobile introduced in 1935. This is where his story connects to Albishorn.

Albishorn Voisin Aérosport

Albishorn imagined a side story in Gabriel Voisin’s life. What if he had commissioned a watch to celebrate the launch of his greatest creation, the C28? What would it look like if Albishorn had created that timepiece? We are not talking about a tribute or a re-edition. The watch is also neither a commemorative piece nor decorated with car references. Instead, it shares that car’s underlying themes — aviation, engineering, and Art Deco geometry — while keeping the proportions and structure in mind. It’s an imaginary period piece, not a contemporary watch dressed up as one from the 1930s, and this makes the Albishorn Voisin Aérosport remarkable. I reviewed most of Albishorn’s other releases and dwelled on the idea of “imaginary vintage.” Sébastien Chaulmontent was also a guest on the Fratello On Air podcast a few weeks back. All you need to know about Albishorn’s modus operandi is in those articles.

The three-dimensional dial

Sébastien showed me the prototype of the Albishorn Voisin Aérosport in early September during Geneva Watch Days. We sat down at the iconic Parfums de Beyrouth restaurant — a Geneva staple and a frequent spot for weary watch journalists to grab a bite between meetings — and the establishment’s menu served as a backdrop for my photos. At first glance, the watch looked nothing like what I expected from the brand. Yet, for some strange reason, it also seemed familiar. That dial looked truly spectacular, and it is the watch’s defining feature.

The bottom layer is a silver-toned, concentric-grained 180° “sectorial seconds indicator” at 4 o’clock. Then, there’s the middle layer, or the main dial. As the Albishorn Voisin Aérosport comes in two colorways, you can choose between silver opaline (Classic) and grained ice-blue main dials. The top layer is the raised, satin-brushed hour-and-minute chapter ring. On both versions, this piece has blue printing and polished edges. I only saw the silver-dial version in the metal; perhaps that’s why it is my favorite. The watch looks restrained at first glance, but upon closer inspection, the construction reveals itself, which I find fascinating.

The architectural case

Moving on to the 38 × 45.2mm 316L steel case, we see that the creativity didn’t end with the dial. The Albishorn Voisin Aérosport features polished and satin surfaces and chamfered, polished edges. At 9.6mm thick with the crystal and 8.9mm without, it has a slim profile. It also takes a 20mm strap and has a 50m water resistance rating. These are the basics. Looking at the stepped bezel, we find that it has two levels. The upper part is circular-brushed, while the bottom part is slightly inclined and mirror-polished. The same construction continues throughout the case itself. Here, the different levels are separated by a circular-brushed ring. Finally, the lugs follow the same principle with a two-step architecture and a satin finish on top. Only the signature Albishorn crown at 10 o’clock breaks the case’s symmetry.

ALB04 M inside

If you are familiar with the brand, you’ll know that the attention to detail does not end with the exterior. Inside the Voisin Aérosport ticks a proprietary Manufacture AMT-based caliber developed specifically for this watch. The ALB04 M is a 17-jewel 30 × 4mm hand-wound movement with a 28,800vph frequency, hacking seconds, and a 60-hour power reserve. The caliber supports two dial assemblies, one of which is built in two parts. Therefore, the 3D dial design is not merely a decorative overlay on a conventional movement. The mechanical configuration beneath the dial makes it possible. The ALB04 M is also a COSC-certified chronometer with a design and proportions recalling 1930s chronometers. Radiating Côtes de Genève decoration dominates the ALB04 M, with double colimaçons on the winding wheels and perlage on the mainplate. You can enjoy this majestic caliber in all its glory through the case back’s sapphire display.

Price and availability

Both of the Albishorn Voisin Aérosport variations come with two leather straps. If you prefer steel bracelets, the brand also offers one for this watch, meaning you’d get the two straps with an additional bracelet. Speaking of which, the three-row bracelet is a work of art. It features screw-fastened links, a butterfly clasp with two concealed extensions (one on each side), and a quick-release system. Should you decide to buy the watch with the leather straps only, the price is CHF 3,450 (excluding taxes, tariffs, and shipping).

If you would like to get the steel bracelet as well, the price is CHF 3,900 for either the Classic or Ice Blue dial variant. Although the piece is unnumbered, it is limited in production. Over the next three years, Albishorn will make only 99 pieces in each dial color. While I could only spend a short time with the Voisin Aérosport, it left a lasting impression on me. I hope to spend more time with it soon.

Let me know what you think of Albishorn’s newest watch in the comments!