In a partnership that merges historical reverence with futuristic vision, Massena LAB has joined forces with the legendary independent watchmaker Vianney Halter to introduce the Old Soul. This limited-edition timepiece is a profound exploration of horological identity, questioning the very nature of timekeeping by housing a vintage heart within a contemporary, almost science-fiction-inspired body. The collaboration is a testament to both parties' philosophies: Massena LAB's dedication to reinterpreting horological history and Vianney Halter's career-long pursuit of crafting timepieces that seem to hail from an alternate reality.
The conceptual nucleus of the Old Soul is its movement, a component that gives the watch not just its life, but its name and character. The project began with the remarkable discovery of a cache of "new old stock" Minerva caliber 17'22 movements. These are not merely old calibers; they are pristine, unused engines of time, originally developed in the 1920s and produced for pocket watches until 1942. To find such a collection is rare, but to use it as the foundation for a new, avant-garde wristwatch is an act of horological alchemy. The watch's name, "Old Soul," is therefore literal—it possesses the soul of a bygone era, meticulously preserved and now resurrected for a new existence.
Courtesy of Vianney Halter
The philosophy of Massena LAB, founded by noted collector and industry veteran William Massena, is crucial to understanding the Old Soul's genesis. Massena LAB operates as a creative catalyst, collaborating with esteemed watchmakers to produce timepieces that exist outside their standard collections. The firm's approach is not merely to commission a watch, but to engage in a deep dialogue with the watchmaker, blending historical appreciation with a forward-thinking design ethos. It serves as a laboratory for ideas, pushing the boundaries of traditional watchmaking by infusing it with elements of the past to create something entirely new.
On the other side of this collaboration stands Vianney Halter, a figure who requires little introduction in the world of independent watchmaking. Since establishing his own workshop in 1994, Halter has cultivated a reputation as a horological "mad scientist." His creations are often described as steampunk, futuristic, and deeply unconventional. From his groundbreaking Antiqua Perpetual Calendar in 1998, which looked like a scientific instrument from a Jules Verne novel, to his more recent Deep Space series inspired by science fiction, Halter’s work consistently challenges our perceptions of what a watch should be. His design language, often incorporating rivets, unusual case shapes, and complex displays, is instantly recognizable and has earned him numerous prestigious awards, including multiple Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) prizes.
The dial of the Old Soul is where these two worlds collide in a spectacular display of three-dimensional architecture. It is a multi-layered construction that immediately signals Halter’s influence. The time is presented in a regulator format, meaning the hours, minutes, and seconds are all displayed on separate registers, a nod to historic precision clocks. The hours are shown on a sub-dial at the three o'clock position, while the small seconds tick away on a corresponding sub-dial at nine o'clock. This symmetrical layout creates a visual balance that is both classic and reminiscent of instrument panels found in fantastical machinery.
The most captivating feature of the dial is its "mysterious" minute display. Instead of a traditional hand fixed to a central pinion, a large, blued steel arrow-shaped indicator orbits the dial's periphery, pointing to the minute track on the outer chapter ring. This indicator appears to float weightlessly above the dial's surface, an illusion achieved through an ingenious system. The minute hand is actually affixed to a large, transparent sapphire disc that rotates once per hour. This complication not only provides a visual spectacle but also marks a significant technical achievement: it is the first time a vintage movement like the Minerva 17'22 has been modified to incorporate such a mystery dial complication.
Courtesy of Vianney Halter
A closer look at the dial reveals layers of texture and detail. The hour and second sub-dials feature frosted centers, providing a soft, matte contrast to the surrounding elements. Encircling these sub-dials are chapter rings with fine, concentric circular graining. A prominent design feature is the steampunk-inspired metal shield that sits atop the main dial plate. This hourglass-shaped structure, finished with a vertical brushing, frames the two sub-dials and is secured by small, polished steel studs—a quintessential Vianney Halter design motif. The chemin de fer, or railroad track, markings on all three time-telling registers are a deliberate choice by Massena LAB, evoking the classic aesthetics of late 19th and early 20th-century watchmaking.
Further enhancing the dial's depth, the "Vianney Halter" and "Massena" signatures are not printed on the dial itself. Instead, they are delicately etched onto the interior surface of the sapphire crystal. This subtle but brilliant detail causes the names to cast a faint shadow onto the dial below, creating a tangible sense of three-dimensionality and ensuring the complex dial surface remains uncluttered. The Arabic numerals, rendered in Halter’s distinctive, slightly rounded signature typeface, complete the dial’s unique personality, blending vintage legibility with futuristic styling.
The watch is housed in a substantial 42mm stainless steel case that balances vintage-inspired elements with Halter’s bold aesthetic. The case features a polished, concave bezel that gracefully frames the dial, drawing the eye inward. One of the most refined details is the design of the stepped lugs, which feature a dynamic interplay of finishes. The upper and lower surfaces are brushed, while the angled facets between them are mirror-polished, creating a play of light that accentuates the case's complex geometry and anchors the design in a more traditional watchmaking context.
Courtesy of Vianney Halter
The crown is pure Vianney Halter. Rather than a simple fluted design, it is a robust, functional sculpture. Dotted with raised, polished studs, it not only reinforces the watch's steampunk character but also provides an enhanced tactile experience, making winding and setting the watch an effortless and satisfying operation. The end of the crown is signed with Halter’s iconic "VH" insignia. The case is rated for a water resistance of 3 ATM, suitable for everyday wear but not for swimming.
Flipping the Old Soul over reveals an exhibition case back, offering a breathtaking view of the historic Minerva caliber 17'22 movement through a sapphire crystal. The view is a journey back in time. Crafted entirely by hand in an era before CNC machines, the movement's architecture is a testament to traditional craftsmanship. The large bridges are adorned with elegant Côtes de Genève stripes, and their edges feature painstaking anglage, or chamfering, which gleams as it catches the light. Screws and other key components are finished with a black polish, achieving a mirror-like surface.
The large mainspring barrel is a focal point, prominently engraved with the signature of the original maker, Minerva, a proud declaration of the movement's noble lineage. This vintage heart beats at a leisurely pace of 18,000 half oscillations per hour (2.5 Hz) and features a Breguet balance spring, hallmarks of classic watchmaking. The movement provides a power reserve of approximately 36 hours. To signify this unique collaboration, the bridges are also signed with a special double emblem, bearing the insignias of both Vianney Halter and Massena LAB.
Courtesy of Vianney Halter
Beyond the mechanics, the watch carries a philosophical weight. Engraved discreetly on the case, between the top lugs, is the poignant phrase: “Time is the Fire in which we burn.” This line is borrowed from the American poet Delmore Schwartz. However, its inclusion is a specific nod to its use in the 1994 film Star Trek Generations, where it is uttered by the villain Tolian Soran. This reference is a deliberate tribute to Vianney Halter’s well-known passion for science fiction, particularly the Star Trek series, which has inspired some of his most famous creations like the Deep Space Tourbillon.
The choice of this quote perfectly encapsulates the essence of the Old Soul. It speaks to the passage of time and our place within it, a theme made manifest by the century-old movement—a relic of a "fire" from the past—burning brightly within a vessel that looks toward the future. It connects the worlds of Captain Nemo’s Victorian-era science fiction with Captain Kirk’s space-faring adventures, a space that Vianney Halter’s designs comfortably occupy.
The watch is fitted with a supple navy blue calfskin leather strap, crafted in Italy, which provides a rich color contrast to the cool tones of the steel case and silver dial. The blued steel hands of the watch are perfectly complemented by the deep blue of the strap, creating a cohesive and visually appealing package. The strap is secured by a stainless steel pin buckle, engraved with the Massena LAB name.
This collaboration is a testament to the power of creative partnership in modern watchmaking. William Massena's deep knowledge of horological history and his curatorial eye identified the potential in the vintage Minerva movements. Vianney Halter's unparalleled technical skill and boundless imagination were then required to not only build a watch around this caliber but to modify it in a way that had never been done before, integrating the mysterious minutes complication. The result is a watch that could not have been created by either party alone.
Courtesy of Vianney Halter
The Old Soul is a piece that engages the wearer on multiple levels. Visually, it is a complex sculpture of metal, crystal, and light, with details that reveal themselves over time. Mechanically, it is a bridge across a century of watchmaking, powered by a movement made with techniques and a philosophy that are now exceedingly rare. Conceptually, it is a meditation on time itself, blending nostalgia for a lost era of craftsmanship with a bold, forward-looking design.
The Vianney Halter x Massena LAB Old Soul is being produced in a highly exclusive limited edition of only 47 pieces, ensuring its rarity and desirability among collectors. Each piece is individually numbered on the movement. Due to the very limited nature of this release, the price is available upon request directly from Massena LAB. For those fortunate enough to acquire one, the Old Soul offers a unique opportunity to wear a piece of horological history that has been reborn through the mind of one of today's most visionary watchmakers.
Case: Stainless steel, 42mm diameter, 12mm thickness. Polished concave bezel, stepped lugs with mixed polished and brushed surfaces. Sapphire crystal with AR coating on front and back. Water-resistance: 3 ATM.
Movement: Manual-winding vintage Minerva caliber 17'22. 17 jewels, 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz), approx. 36-hour power reserve. Hand-finished with Côtes de Genève and anglage.
Dial: Multilayered regulator display with hours at 3 and seconds at 9. Mystery minute display via a rotating sapphire disc with a blued steel indicator. Arabic numerals in Vianney Halter's signature typeface.
Strap: Navy blue calfskin leather made in Italy. Stainless steel pin buckle signed by Massena LAB.
Price: Available upon request.
Notes: Limited edition of 47 pieces. The watch uses a new old stock Minerva pocket watch movement from the 1920s-1940s, modified for the first time ever to include a mystery dial complication.