Introducing ALTO Expands Its ART 01 Collection with the Monochrome Edition

Last summer, a new indie brand joined the world of haute horlogerie: ALTO Watches. Based in Paris, ALTO is a French watch brand founded by Thibaud Guittard, a former marketing manager for Audemars Piguet in the French market. The brand was established to bridge the gap between watchmaking and the creative arts. 

The name "ALTO" stands for "Art and Limited Time Objects," reflecting its commitment to artistic and exclusive timepieces.

The inaugural model, ART 01, draws inspiration from 1970s design, particularly the bold aesthetics of that era’s concept cars. Featuring a unique faceted titanium case and a complex sapphire crystal, this avant-garde timepiece has earned the indie brand a strong reputation.

To push the brand forward, the founder brought in other industry experts, including Cartier Senior Watch Designer Raphaël Abeillon. Their collaboration has led to ALTO’s second edition, Monochrome, which introduces two new versions—black and grey—both entirely uniform in color, staying true to the monochrome concept.

The 41mm square case is faceted, shaped, and radically angular. Made from grade 5 titanium, it is topped with a complex sapphire crystal that combines curved and faceted outer surfaces with a hemispherical inner surface. 

The cases undergo microblasting before being coated in black or grey DLC, giving them their signature matte monochromatic finish. A sapphire case back, also featuring lateral chamfers, adds another dimension to the watch’s design.

The dial of the ALTO ART 01 retains the same design as the first editions, inspired by the major Greek arts of sculpture and architecture. With hexagonal geometric lines, it is crafted from bead-blasted brass, coated in black or grey to create a striking focal point at the center. 

This play of light and shadows is not the only distinctive feature, the hour and minute hands rotate conventionally, but the seconds hand moves counterclockwise.

Under the sapphire case back is the automatic caliber A01, designed by Barth Nussbaumer and manufactured in collaboration with Le Cercle des Horlogers. 

This micro-rotor movement features openworked elements, thin bridges, and a matte dark background to complement the overall design. Running at 4Hz, it offers a power reserve of 48 hours.

Each watch comes with an FKM rubber strap matching the case color. Each edition is limited to just 25 pieces, with pricing available upon request.

For more information, visit ALTO’s official website.