Louis Erard – Exceptional Le Régulateur Louis Erard x Atelier OÏ Limited Edition 2021
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How to materialise space and time? How to materialise the contemporary spirit of the watch when connected technology has disconnected watchmaking from its primary necessity: telling the time?
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Louis Erard invited atelier oï to look into the question and the answer is a new original dial, the third part of the series of collaborations already co-signed by Alain Silberstein and Vianney Halter.
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Breaking new ground, the collaboration leaves the strict field of watchmaking, since atelier oï works in the fields of architecture and design. The invitation did not come about by accident, however. The workshop, based in La Neuveville, a satellite town of Neuchâtel, has been close to the watchmaking industry since its creation precisely thirty years ago and the watchmaking world has played a major part in the development of the company. Going back as far as the 1990s, there has also been a warm relationship between atelier oï and Louis Erard, as illustrated by the current manager Manuel Emch, who began his career with an internship at atelier oï and who has collaborated with it ever since.
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In three decades, atelier oï has become a brand in itself, reputed around the world, rewarded with more than thirty distinctions which illustrate its uniqueness. Moreover, the name, oï, is borrowed from the Russian Troika, a word that symbolises the energy generated by a trio, in this case, Aurel Aebi, Armand Louis and Patrick Reymond, the three co-founders.
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The objective, for Louis Erard, is once again to break down barriers in the world and make accessible what is often reserved for specialist clientele. With this added challenge of plunging without a net into contemporary creation, with all that entails of references, reflections, diversions and shocks.
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Atelier oï proceeded in a basic way: "To radiate from the centre outwards." Taking care to reduce the technical vocabulary as much as possible, reminiscent of the shape of a sundial. The result is a surface engraved with asymmetrical rays, the light of which reveals reflections and contrasts - echoing the passion of the members of atelier oï for the material and the play of light. The art of engraving being expressed here in its essence: drawn lines. These lines create a space, to which the hands add the dimension of time.
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Le Régulateur Louis Erard x atelier oï. Retail price CHF 3,500. Limited edition of 178 pieces — symbol number which means that together we are always stronger. Other collaborations to follow.
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ABOUT VIANNEY HALTER
Vianney Halter was born in 1963 on the outskirts of Paris,
the son of an engine driver on the French railways. He remembers being
fascinated by the old machines and mechanical objects that his father
brought home. Perhaps this early contact with powerful locomotives,
steam engines and other measuring instruments is the reason why he was
attracted to technology and mechanics.
At 14 years of age, Vianney Halter made the decision to broaden his interest in mechanics, and took the train to the capital to enrol at the École Horlogère de Paris (Paris Watchmaking School). He qualified in 1980 and
spent his first ten years in the profession restoring antique watches
and clocks, experience which gave him in-depth knowledge of the art of
watchmaking.
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His designs have been regarded as avant-garde pieces and are considered to have instigated a new shift in the watchmaking world. Vianney Halter makes unusual watches in the traditional method of the master watchmakers of the past, while using singular aesthetics, his own technical patents and unique constructions. All of this is illustrated in his first model, the “Antiqua”, a perpetual calendar presented in 1998. This watch was instantly regarded as a "relic of the future", reinforcing Halter's creativity and allowing him to enter the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI).
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ABOUT LOUIS ERARD
Based in the Jura mountains, the birthplace of watchmaking, Louis Erard
embodies the values of Swiss mechanics, the tradition that keeps its
promises. Combining luxury, timelessness and elegance, this independent
brand is renowned for its mechanical watches and, in particular, its
iconic regulators. A collection on which the brand, founded by Mr. Louis Erard in 1929, built its reputation.
Continuing
the work of its founder and honouring watchmaking tradition, the Maison
is reinterpreting the codes in a contemporary language. Louis Erard is
now writing the next chapter of the brand’s story. Inspired by high-end
watchmaking, the brand is strengthening its collection of mechanical
timepieces with complications.
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ABOUT ATELIER OÏ
Derived from the Russian word "troika", a team of three, atelier oï was founded in 1991 in La Neuveville, Switzerland, by Aurel Aebi, Armand Louis
and Patrick Reymond. With a team spirit and an intimate relationship with the material, atelier oï has been working for 30 years to dissolve barriers
between genres and promote transdisciplinary creativity.
Born from an intuitive and emotional affinity between the three founders, atelier oï works in the fields of architecture, interior architecture, product
design and scenography, with a collaboration between disciplines, creating holistic solutions from object to space. The co-founders have a strong
interest in nature and natural materials, and their expertise in transforming these allows them to carry out both emotional and artisanal projects.
The three founders are architects, designers and boat builders, all members of the Federation of Swiss Architects FAS and headed the Swiss
Design Awards as President of the Federal Design Commission between 2008 and 2016. Trained at the school of architecture funded by Alberto
Sartoris in Switzerland, the founders also received honorary doctorates from this institution.
atelier oï encourages experimentation and cultural exchange, through their work with clients and their own initiatives, and as visiting professors in
a number of leading institutions, including ETH Zurich, ECAL Renens, the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts and the Kuwasawa Design School in
Tokyo.
The combination of local roots and international know-how has enabled atelier oï to design objects for a wide variety of national and international
clients, including Artemide, B&B Italia, Bulgari, Foscarini, Louis Vuitton, Nespresso, Pringle of Scotland, Rimowa, USM and WonderGlass. atelier
oï has also organised monographic exhibitions of its work in Zurich, São Paulo and Tokyo. atelier oï is also working on a humanitarian project for
Smiling Gecko in Cambodia.
atelier oï's projects have been recognised globally and have won some of the most prestigious awards including multiple IF Design Awards,
Europan 3 Award, European Museum of the Year Award, Red Dot Award and the product of the year award from Architectural Record.
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TECHNICAL DETAILS
Collection: Exceptional
Model: Le Régulateur Louis Erard x Atelier OÏ Edition
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Ref. 85237AA53.BVA33
Movement
Automatic regulator, Sellita SW266-1 calibre,
11½ ''', Ø25.60 mm, height: 5.60 mm, 31 jewels,
28,800 VpH (4 Hz), élaboré grade movement, meticulously decorated,
special openwork oscillating weight with Louis Erard symbol), approx.
38 hours of power reserve
Functions
HMS
Hour hand on counter at 12 o'clock, central minute hand,
second hand on counter at 6 o'clock
Case
Polished stainless steel, Ø42 mm, thickness: 12.25 mm,
3 pieces, domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides,
movement visible through the transparent back
Water-resistant up to a pressure of 5 bars (50 m/165 ft),
Vianney Halter signature crenellated crown
Case back engraved “Limited Edition 1 of 178”
Dial
"Black Or" slate grey, matt and polished, 60 planed lines marking the minutes
Dial designed by atelier oï according to their artistic identity
Hands
Blue baton hands
Strap
“Covey” grey calf nubuck leather with tone-on-tone stitching, polished stainless steel pin buckle, functional catch spring bars enabling the strap to be changed quickly
Dimensions: 22/20mm width, 80/115mm length
Collaboration
Watch developed in association with Vianney Halter in a limited edition of 178 pieces
Recommended retail price: CHF 3,500.00
Edition
Limited edition of 178 timepieces
3 YEARS WARRANTY
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Press release - 2021
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www.Vianney-Halter.com
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CONTACT:
LOUIS ERARD
Rue de l’Ouest 2
CH–2340 Le Noirmont
Suisse
info@louiserard.com
+41 (0) 32 957 65 30
Mélanie Kilcher-Berberat, Marketing Manager
Tel. +41 32 957 66 45, Melanie.Berberat @louiserard.com
www.facebook.com - LouisErardOfficial
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www.LouisErard.com
