thibaud guittard’s ALTO unveils ART 01 watch, reviving wedge design of 1970s concept cars

Thibaud Guittard and ALTO’s first watch, ART 01

Designer Thibaud Guittard and his brand ALTO release their foundational watch model, ART 01. From the get-go, the wedge design of the 1970s concept cars springs into view, underlined by the angular, beveled sides and pyramidic, looping dial of the watch. The timepiece is forged from a single block of titanium topped with sapphire crystal to highlight the use of primarily two main materials. When viewed from the side, ART 01’s sapphire crystal distorts the dial’s look, creating a seemingly optical illusion. This crystal cover combines a curved and faceted outer surface with a hemispherical inner surface, a feat that Thibaud Guittard describes as ‘never before achieved in watchmaking.’

images courtesy of Thibaud Guittard and ALTO

Forged from titanium and covered with sapphire crystal

ALTO’s ART 01 watch design may recall the curves and sharp edges of 1970s concept cars such as the late Italian vehicle designer Marcello Gandini’s cars, the Countach LP and the Lamborghini Countach Quattrovalvole. The addition of the sapphire crystal allows the light to play with the polyhedron shape of the dial and case, too. Crafted from grade 5 titanium, the case of Thibaud Guittard’s ART 01 can be robust and lightweight. The designer says it took two years of development and over 20 machining steps to achieve the shape the case has now, its glint coming forward through the brushed, satin, and polished finishes, which are entirely hand-crafted.

the wedge design of the 1970s concept cars spring into view, underlined by the angular, beveled sides

ALTO ART 01 watch houses automatic micro-rotor movement

Aside from the 1970s concept cars, Thibaud Guittard draws his design influences, especially the shape, from the major Greek arts, especially sculpture, and architecture. The brass dial has a matt finish obtained using the bead-blasting technique, allowing the light to enter the watch with ease. The dial’s design may recall the interiors of an ancient Greek theater with the way the hemispherical surfaces skid down toward the watch hands. ALTO’s ART 01 houses the A01 caliber too, an automatic micro-rotor movement conceived and designed exclusively for ALTO by designer Barth Nussbaumer and developed by the Cercle des Horlogers in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

rear view of ALTO ART 01 watch

Another feature to look out for in the ALTO ART 01 watch comes from the seconds hands, which turns counter-clockwise and powers the hour and minute hands, which turn in the traditional clockwise direction. For this first watch model, Thibaud Guittard wants to pay homage to the age-old art of 1970s concept cars and Greek arts, retaining their cultures and designs all the while infusing some modern flair and techniques. The ART 01 has been produced in 25 numbered pieces and is priced at CHF 18,450 (excluding VAT) or EUR 19,100 (excluding VAT).

this crystal cover combines a curved and faceted outer surface with a hemispherical inner surface