The second collaboration between Louis Erard and Vianney Halter takes on the distinctive styling of the Régulateur and fusing it with the Steampunk signature of the Antiqua.
Press Release with commentary in italics.
New: Le Régulateur Louis Erard x Vianney Halter II
The Louis Erard x Vianney Halter II Ref. 85246AA03.BVA172 and Ref. 85246AA02.BVA172 will retail at CHF 4,444. Pricing is before tax. Two 178 piece limited editions.
Commentary
On their first outing together, we were not quite happy with the result and criticised the release. Read all about that here. Manuel Emch graciously accepted the critique, and tried again. And now with this second collaboration, we are happy to give our blessings. Not that either Manuel Emch nor Vianney Halter was seeking our approval. After all, the first collaboration was very successful and sold out quickly without.
I saw the two watches before the GPHG Ceremony this year in Geneva, and am very impressed with the fusion of the two maisons. The signature styling of Vianney Halter’s steampunk Antiqua is now clearly all over the regulator of Louis Erard.
Two models are proposed here. One which is a retail exclusive has a rhodium dial base with chapter ring in red -gilt 5N. And the other is reversed with a red-gilt 5N dial base with the chapter ring in rhodium. And this time round, the dial is now right.
On both models, the dial base features a vertical satin-brushed finish with the chapter rings now laid over the base as a separate metal structure, giving dimensionality to the dial. The contrasting finishing only adds to the attractiveness.
This time round, the hands are also now in blued steel and now the Vianney Halter signature. Also, the crown is now eatures 24 real red-gilt 5N rivets instead of just being machined to give the impression.
Plus, we also love the way the red-gilt 5N rivets are now placed on the bezel, whereas the first project had a standard Louis Erard plain bezel.
The rear of the watch remains unchanged. As is the Sellita SW266-1 automatic movement, which has proven to be a workhorse, if not a beauty queen.
Release information
With their second collaboration, Louis Erard and Vianney Halter go bold, integrating Steampunk craftsmanship and the distinctive codes of Antiqua into the Régulateur. The design of the Louis Erard Régulateur aligns perfectly with Halter’s unmistakable split-time subdials. The outcome: a piece pulsing with deconstructed energy. This watch orbits between reality and fiction, transcending the boundaries of both time and space!
Watchfacts that matter
- Steampunk roots: inspired by Halter’s Antiqua
- Retro-futuristic industrial aesthetic: red-gilded rivets reminiscent of industrial machines, riveted bezel and crown
- Deconstructed aesthetic: asymmetrical counters and offset crown at 2 o’clock
- Blued steel hands: a signature shared by the two watchmakers
- Haute Horlogerie finishes: polished and diamond-cut angles, circular and vertical satin brushing
- Raised dial elements and Halter font: distinctive style in tribute to its creator
- Dark brown grained calfskin strap: vintage style
- Two 178-piece limited editions
- Price excl. tax CHF 4,444
“Creating with Vianney is about friendship and defying limits. This piece is a true joint endeavor! It’s got the Steampunk rivets, the off-center dials, as well as bold, intricate details that leave nothing untouched. A watch with all the independent Haute Horlogerie codes… yet still within reach, bold enough to stand out, yet made to be worn every day. With Vianney, it all started with a lucky pocket call in a ski gondola, serendipity that led to something extraordinary.”
Manuel Emch
Vianney’s Edge in a Louis Erard watch
Vianney Halter is no ordinary watchmaker. For over two decades, he has been defying horological conventions with bold, Steampunk-inspired designs. His debut independent piece, the Antiqua (1998), set the stage for a deconstructed vision of time. Now, he’s found a brand that shares his love for breaking the rules of design and the Régulateur is a perfect reflection of that spirit.
Le Régulateur Louis Erard x Vianney Halter II is more than a watch: it’s a tribute to those who dare to dream and venture beyond convention. A salute to Halter’s “Live Long and Prosper” mindset, this timepiece is the perfect blend of Victorian industrial aesthetics and a retro-futuristic vision.
A split-channel launch
Louis Erard’s sales approach is as unconventional as the watch itself. One edition for their e-boutique, another retail-exclusive. This is how Louis Erard is turning sales into events. Stay tuned – the norms are about to be shaken up once again!
Louis Erard x Vianney Halter: time, redefined and ready for takeoff.
Louis Erard x Vianney Halter II Specifications
Movement Automatic regulator, Sellita caliber SW266-1, 11½’’’, Ø25.60 mm, thickness: 5.60 mm, 31 jewels, 28,800 VpH (4Hz), meticulously decorated, special openworked oscillating weight with black lacquered Louis Erard symbol, min. 38 hours of power reserve
Functions HMS * Hours counter at 11 o’clock, central minutes hand, seconds counter at 5 o’clock
Case Polished and circular satin-brushed stainless steel, 12 polished red-gilt 5N rivets around the bezel, Ø43 mm, lug width: 22 mm, lug to lug : 49.60 mm, thickness: 10.95 mm, three parts, sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides, movement visible through the transparent caseback, water-resistant to 5 bar pressure (50 m / 165 ft), Vianney Halter signature crown with 24 red-gilt 5N rivets, caseback engraved with the inscription « Louis Erard x Vianney Halter Limited Edition 1 of 178 »
Dial 1 Rhodium-plated and circular satin-brushed with diamond-polished chamfers chapter ring & counter rings, red-gilt 5N base with a vertical satin-brushed finish, black transfers, Louis Erard logo at 2 o’clock and Vianney Halter logo at 8 o’clock. Dial designed by Vianney Halter with his artistic identity
Dial 2 Red-gilt 5N and circular satin-brushed with diamond-polished chamfers chapter ring & counter rings, rhodium plated base with a vertical satin-brushed finish, black transfers, Louis Erard logo at 2 o’clock and Vianney Halter logo at 8 o’clock. Dial designed by Vianney Halter with his artistic identity
Hands Vianney Halter signature hands in blued steel
Strap Dark brown grained calf leather strap with tone-on-tone stitching, black lining grained calf leather, polished stainless steel pin buckle, ergot bars for quick strap change. Dimensions: 22/20mm width, 80/115 mm length
Collaboration Watch developed in collaboration with Vianney Halter in a 178-piece limited edition
