Introducing The Indie Brand Artime Unveils The ART01 in Red Gold

Independent watchmaking is a niche within the watch industry where smaller, often artisan-led brands create unique, handcrafted timepieces. Unlike major watch companies, independent watchmakers typically focus on limited production, allowing them to create distinctive watches. This approach appeals to collectors and enthusiasts seeking timepieces with a personal touch and a unique story.

Artime is a new name in the independent watchmaking scene and is the result of a collaborative effort among watchmaking professionals, pooling their substantial expertise and experience. Established in 2021 in Les Brenets, within the Swiss Jura mountains, Artime was co-founded by six individuals who collectively brought a wealth of knowledge to the table.

The Artime ART01 in titanium 

In 2023, the independent brand debuted its first timepiece, the Artime ART01, a limited edition of 20 pieces featuring a titanium and sapphire crystal case construction. This year, the brand marks its second milestone in its watchmaking journey by unveiling the ART01 watch in 5N red gold that also is a limited edition of 20 pieces. The ART01-5N combines a red gold case with an NAC-treated metallic alloy, resulting in a captivating black finish on the movement side. The red gold against the deep black hue creates a striking contrast, accentuating the intricate geometric shapes and bold component arrangements within the movement. 

The case retains the first ART01's dimensions of 42 mm in diameter and 11.4 mm in thickness, made of red gold with an integrated sapphire crystal case middle, offering a proprietary 360° panoramic view system. The bezel, also crafted from red gold, features a polished bevel, hand-chamfered edges, and a satin-brushed top and bottom. The sapphire crystal case back allows for a clear view of the movement's inner workings. The red gold crown includes a pusher to select different watch functions, instead of the conventional pull action, a simple press allows the user to switch between operating modes as you can see in the 3 o’clock position 'N' for neutral, 'R' for remontage (winding), and 'H' for heure (time setting).

The open-worked dial features a barrel positioned at 12 o’clock, and a tourbillon cage at 6 o'clock with a unique design that eliminates the conventional pillars, offering a clear, unobstructed view of the mechanism. 

The hand-wound movement offers 80 hours of power reserve and  includes white gold wheels and a yellow gold escapement wheel that operates at 21,600 vph (3 Hz), driven by a variable-inertia balance wheel with gold adjustment screws and two balance springs supplied by Precision Engineering. The watch comes with a leather or textured rubber strap with saddle stitching and red gold buckle. 

For more information please visit Airtime’s official website.