Introducing: The Old Soul By Vianney Halter And Massena Lab
Over the past few years, we have seen Massena Lab team up with several interesting brands. For this new creation, William Massena’s collaboration laboratory joined forces with Vianney Halter to produce the Old Soul. This timepiece blends the science fiction of steampunk with watchmaking references from the early 1900s. Additionally, it houses a vintage Minerva movement, resulting in a watch undefined by a specific era but, rather, by passing time itself. Let’s find out what the Old Soul is all about.
This watch is the second project in a series of conceptual creations brought to life in collaboration with independent watchmakers. Massena Lab calls the series Old Masters. The first watch was the Old School, a collaboration with independent watchmaker Luca Soprana. The timepiece explored the beginning of a watchmaker’s journey. For the Old Soul, Halter and Massena Lab formulated a concept exploring the end of that journey, touching upon mortality, immortality, and the persistence of mechanical objects. It’s an abstract approach to creating something as tangible as a time-telling instrument, but it leads to daring and thought-provoking results. The Old Soul is the perfect display of that approach.
The story of Vianney Halter and Massena Lab’s Old Soul
The conceptual story of this new creation starts with its soul. For mechanical watches, the “soul” is the movement. For the Old Soul, Vianney Halter and Massena Lab were able to source a cache of new-old-stock vintage calibers from Minerva. More specifically, the Minerva 17’22 — first developed in the 1920s, used in pocket watches until 1942, and especially revived for the Old Soul — is the beating heart of the creation.
The vintage caliber lies within an elegant 42mm stainless steel case with a 12mm thickness and a 30m water resistant rating. This round case features nicely stepped lugs and a polished concave bezel. It also displays a mix of polished and brushed surfaces to accentuate the details. Special attention goes to the studded Vianney Halter steampunk-style crown adorned with the watchmaker’s “VH” signature.
The steampunk dial within the Old Soul
A sapphire crystal protects a steampunk-inspired silvered dial, a Vianney Halter calling card, with vintage and mid-century design inspiration from William Massena and Massena Lab. This three-dimensional, multilayered creation immediately stands out, displaying the time through an uncommonly designed regulator layout. It starts with the hours displayed within a subsidiary dial at 3 o’clock.
Located at 9 o’clock is the small seconds display, and lastly, the minutes are displayed on the circular-brushed and rhodium-plated outer chapter ring. As you can see, the minute “hand” seems to float above the dial. Indeed, a the blued steel diamond-shaped pointer sits on a rotating sapphire disc, creating the illusion of a floating hand. The chapter ring displays Arabic numerals printed in Vianney Halter’s signature typeface, which fits the overall creation perfectly.
As you can see, the dial is double-signed, with both the Vianney Halter and Massena signatures etched into a sapphire crystal. One final layer frames these signatures — a three-dimensional stainless steel shield resting atop the sapphire crystal. The shield features engraved concentric circles, accentuating its hourglass shape. On top of that, steel studs add more steampunk drama to the dial. All the different elements create a three-dimensional experience that is steeped in history, extravagant in its design, and beautifully detailed in its execution.
The vintage Minerva caliber 17’22
If you turn the watch around, you get a glorious view of the vintage Minerva caliber 17’22. This movement has a 39.25mm diameter, explaining the 42mm case size. It operates at 18,000vph, has 17 jewels, and offers a 36-hour power reserve. Furthermore, the caliber, originally for pocket watches, features a Breguet balance spring. These 47 vintage NOS calibers were crafted and finished by hand. As a result, they combine elegant Côtes de Genève, anglage, and black polishing. Additionally, the mainspring barrel features the original Minerva logo and the classic arrow symbol.
However, as you would expect, Halter did not leave these calibers untouched. He modified them to incorporate the transparent disc used for the floating minute pointer. Lastly, the calibers retain their original serial numbers for a classic touch. All in all, it is great to see that Halter and Massena Lab were able to source these calibers as the foundation of the Old Soul concept.
Final thoughts on Vianney Halter and Massena Lab’s Old Soul
While this project started with sourcing 47 vintage NOS movements, the outcome is far more remarkable. Above all, Halter and Massena Lab created a timepiece that represents the persistence of mechanical objects. It is a wonderful reminder that great mechanical watches will outlive all of us. There were mechanical timepieces long before we were born, and they will be there long after we pass. Seeing that reflected in this new conceptual project is as pure as it gets in the world of watchmaking.
As mentioned, the Old Soul by Vianney Halter and Massena Lab is a limited edition of 47 pieces, and each comes with a midnight-blue leather strap. The price is available on request, and the watches are available for order starting today, August 26th, by submitting an inquiry via the product page on the official Massena Lab website. Additionally, the watch will be available for viewing at Geneva Watch Days 2025 starting Thursday, September 4th. Interested collectors in the Geneva area can reach out to Massena Lab directly to schedule a viewing. Considering the special nature of these watches, I’m sure all 47 pieces will quickly find homes with dedicated collectors.
