Foversta's Baselworld 2013 report unveils ArtyA's audacious "Son of Sound" chronograph, a collection that pushes the boundaries of watch design with its rock music inspiration. This article delves into the unique guitar-head shaped case, innovative time display, and decorative techniques, showcasing Yvan Arpa's commitment to creating mechanically ambitious and visually striking timepieces.
It was inside the Artya booth that we could find one of the craziest watches presented at the Basel Fair in 2013. Even though I'm used to see a lot of surprises coming from Yvan Arpa, I must admit he has managed to amaze me with its new line Son of Sound. It differs so much from the rest of the Artya collection that it would almost deserved to be developed in a dedicated brand. After all, if there is an activity that Yvan Arpa appreciates, it is the launch of new projects.
Whether the shape of the case, the way to display the time, the decorative
techniques, the movements,each detail finally differentiates it from a "traditional" Artya (if I may say so...). Son of Sound is a collection of watches that celebrates music, rock to be more precise. If
it does not unfortunately apply the hearing sense (perhaps that it will come
later, I hope), however other senses are mobilized like the sight and
the touch.
The most representative piece of the collection is the UK edition watch chronograph characterized by its dial decorated with wood marquetry. But each version has a guitar-head shaped case. To manage to even better stick to the desired spirit and atmosphere, the pushers evoke the machine heads and four strings are also represented, crossing down the full middle of the dial. The result is spectacular, disturbing and ultimately attractive as long as you are fan of original watches with character.
Yvan Arpa has not done things by half measures and it is much better. The case whose width is 42mm impresses by its size and its shape. The four pushers are positioned on the curved casesides and are hopefully all operational. Because there is a clear message behind these watches: the Son of Sound is perhaps the most ambitious Artya collection mechanically speaking.
Two types of watches are available in the collection: the first offers a double retrograde minutes and hours hands. The second is a chronograph with date as you can see it on the pictures.
The hours are displayed through the upper window, the biggest one, while the date appears in the lower window. The big hand is dedicated to the minute indication. The other elements are dedicated to the chronograph seconds hand and the permanent second hand. I will not beat around the bush too long. The Son of Sound is not a tool watch. The lack of scale or graduation makes the information reading, including the chronograph data very imprecise if not impossible. But is that really the point here?
Actually, I mostly feel that the chronograph complication is an excuse
to play with the pushers like a guitarist with his machine heads. The four pushers are dedicated to set the date, the time, to start and stop the chronograph and to reset it. So, you understand it, two of these pushers can be manipulated only to play with them! And it is a very good idea because the sensation caused by the activation of these pushers is perhaps what is the most enjoyable reason to use this watch.
The movement which powers the Son of Sound chronograph was jointly
developed by Concepto and SC2, the watch parts manufacture owned by Yvan Arpa. Its
performances are without any surprise since the conventional Concepto chronograph was inspired by the
7750: the watch features a 4hz frequency with a power reserve of 48 hours. It is partially visible through a transparent caseback whose glass is decorated with motifs evoking music. The movement is called Woodstock so if we are not
able to understand the universe in which Yvan Arpa wants to take us, it would be hopeless!
The main interest of the Son of Sound chronograph is the emotion it brings when it is put on the wrist. We
must forget about the rational way we analyse the watches in terms of readability,
practicality, lay-out the dial... Comfort is by the way not a major
problem thanks to the large buckle that keeps
correctly the watch on the wrist. We are talking here about Rock, guitar solos
and concert halls and she succeeds with its overall consistency and
some judicious and assumed aesthetic choices.
The UK version is not without interest from a pure decorative standpoint. The dial marquetry is successfully done and provides a qualitative side to the whole watch. The applied elements, including the 4 strings of gold, also add a touch of refinement that enhances the interest of the dial. Obviously, the shape of the watch, its daring style and its impracticality will not appeal to fans of classic pieces. The
targetted clients by Yvan Arpa are obviously not these ones but the customers who will be more
sensitive to such an approach are musicians who wish to have a
kind of permanent evocation of their favorite instrument on their wrists. The potential for customization of the Son of Sound should also lead to very some special orders! And as you know, in this context, the only limit is the imagination of the ordering clients.
Thanks a lot to Yvan Arpa and to his team.
Fr.Xavier
