Fine watchmaking, authenticity and original time read-off are the leitmotifs of Antoine Preziuso, watchmaker for the past 30 years, whose eponymous brand founded in 1991 develops timepieces testifying to a know-how inherited from tradition.
The authenticity of Antoine Preziuso watches stems first and foremost from the brand's independence: “There are very few truly independent watchmakers in Switzerland”, as Antoine Preziuso explains. “I feel I am part of a new generation of watchmakers who defend the authenticity of watchmaking, a certain vision of the Swiss legacy of Haute Horlogerie, as well as genuine creative freedom”.
This determination is revealed in one-of-a-kind models or others produced in strictly limited series. Watches highlighting the dexterity of artisans such as engravers, guilloché craftsmen and gem-setters and which provide a consistently different and occasionally slightly offbeat view of time. “Each watch is a real pleasure to make”, insists Antoine Preziuso. “I want them to make their mark on their era and hope that people will recognize my art.” So far, connoisseurs have certainly done exactly that…
Authenticity is also the hallmark of the production of Antoine Preziuso watches. The brand assembles all models within its own workshops and is now able to produce prototypes of the additional modules of the movements that power the brand's timepieces, as well as watch crowns and dials. This sure token of quality is accompanied by the ‘Swiss Made' label that is particularly dear to Antoine Preziuso. “If there is 1% of our watches that is not made in Switzerland, that would be the crocodile leather strap”, he points out.
For the past 30 years, Antoine Preziuso has thus been rising to the most surprising challenges, the kind that consist of constantly pushing the boundaries of creativity. Not to mention those aiming to make each mechanical complication an aesthetic object making watches bearing the signature of Antoine Preziuso truly unique in their kind. As the star collection from the family-run brand, The Art of Tourbillon has for several years now been offering numerous interpretations of the queen of complications in models such as Stardust – featuring a movement and case set with over 3,200 diamonds – Pop Art, Pop Star and Météor. The latter boasts a case middle entirely carved from a meteorite, a feat currently exclusive to Antoine Preziuso. The collection is now being enriched with two new creations, White Angel and Black Devil. Their very names are sufficiently evocative to express the angelic purity of the former, in contrast with the tempting spirit of the latter which is adorned in black diamonds and red hands that lend a diabolically seductive touch.
Crafted in platinum or titanium, these two models are entirely in tune with the overall tendency of the new releases unveiled by Antoine Preziuso this year. Titanium, an ultra-light metal endowed with a high level of mechanical resistance that also turns out to be one of the most biocompatible materials along with gold and platinum, is indeed the featured metal in the brand's latest collections. Based around the precious theme of platinum, as well as the lightness of titanium, the watchmaker is thereby reinventing a form of horology distinguished by inimitable finesse and lightness. As precise and refined as delicate lacework, the hand-wound APG/28T tourbillon movement has been entirely openworked, engraved and decorated by hand. This exceptional finishing plays with the concept of transparency in order to reveal the hour and minute indications – as well as the secrets of the exceptional mechanical genius pervading all Antoine Preziuso watches. A stunning means of measuring the passing of time. Angelically beautiful or diabolically clever?
URBAN OR SPORTY, A WATCH FOR EVERY OCCASION
This year, Antoine Preziuso is back to basics with a brand-new watch featuring a particularly pure, understated aesthetic promoting minimalism in all its splendor. Developed within the family in cooperation with Antoine Preziuso's children Florian and Laura, Urban Square is distinguished by its urban, architectural lines and pervaded by a highly contemporary spirit breathed into it by the young talents that conceived it. Its finely fashioned titanium case frames a powerful dial carrying hands inspired by the skyscrapers of the world's big cities Meanwhile, the large date display appears majestically through a window at 12 o'clock. “Urban Square adds a youthful touch to our range”, says Antoine Preziuso. “Florian and Laura worked together on this project. He contributed his ideas on the choice of materials and design, while my daughter lent a personal twist in terms of the texture of the materials. Meanwhile, I orchestrated the project with the idea of coming back to essential values, to extremely simple things.
The lines of the Urban Square are deliberately minimalist, as is the choice to limit the watch functions to essential indications such as the time and the date. This is a real change of direction for me; a choice also guided by respect for customers who I believe are looking for authentic watches endowed with a beautiful design and a meticulously finished movement.”
In another register, Antoine Preziuso is enriching its chronograph range with the Grand Robusto Haute Vitesse model. This vigorous new interpretation reveals a superb chronograph mechanism entirely openworked by hand at the heart of the titanium case. The function indications such as the tachometer, the chronograph seconds hands, the 12, 6 and 9 o'clock numerals, the minute counter, small seconds and power reserve are all printed on a glareproofed sapphire crystal, thereby endowing this resolutely modern watch with a powerful character. Much like a racing car being driven at full speed, the Grand Robusto Haute Vitesse guarantees thrills and adrenalin right from the starting line.
This model designed to become a brand icon is a new variation of the Robusto watch, the very first chronograph created by Antoine Preziuso. Housed within a sturdy rectangular rose gold watch, the blue, black or green carbon fiber dial provides an ideal backdrop to highlight some amazing distinctive characteristics. Applied oversized sloping numerals have become a signature feature on some models by Antoine Preziuso Genève. In this particular configuration, they are replaced at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock by four original display zones. Along the horizontal axis, the small seconds at 9 o'clock is echoed by the 42-hour power-reserve display with a smoothly running hand that signals the autonomy of the watch. Meanwhile, the vertical axis offers a new interpretation of two classic chronograph functions: 30-minute and 12-hour counters. Reading them off is both simple and fascinating thanks to the regular movement of the double “propeller” hands. Setting the crowning touch to the subtly symmetrical elegance of the overall appearance, the central chronograph hand is adorned with an arrow that when at rest points to the triangular marker at 12 o'clock. The other end of the hand carries a counterweight evoking the inimitable brand symbol.
With the Robusto line, which has become a great public success, Antoine Preziuso admirably combines fine watchmaking with sporting performances. Clothed in a Gibeon meteorite case in an exceptional version that only a watchmaker such as Antoine Preziuso is currently able to produce, it becomes a peerless creation that takes on a celestial dimension uniting time and space in an eminently palpable and spectacular manner!
