Shams – ArtyA’s take on the skeleton watch
SHAMS BLACK CHF 4,400
Yvan Arpa started fiddling around with skulls at a time when doing so was still held to be beyond the pale in watchmaking. Since then, as everyone knows, this particular symbol of life and death has been widely used right across the industry.
Now ArtyA’s CEO and designer has gone to the other extreme by taking on a prevailing trend in watchmaking aesthetics – the skeleton watch – and giving it the full ArtyA treatment. The result goes by the name of Shams, meaning “Sun” in Arabic.
“We were already sculpting and hollowing out movements back in 2010,” explains Yvan Arpa. “For us to move into skeletonization meant doing it our own way, whilst still being affordable. Many brands plunged into pulling off superlative achievements that are sadly well out of the reach of common mortals. We wanted to show that we could offer something unique and creative, with a great story – and without it breaking people’s budgets.”
A sun on the wrist
The story is that of the sun – Shams in Arabic.
SHAMS GOLD CHF 4,400
The aim of a skeleton is to reveal the movement, workings and mechanical beauty in all their glory. But that requires light. What better source of light could there be than the one that has given us life – the sun? Once again, ArtyA reconciles extremes and opens up a new creative path, combining a movement clad in the absolute minimum with all the warmth of a life-giving heavenly body.
There are three versions on offer, all in exclusively limited editions of 99 pieces. They share the same 44mm steel case, as well as a Swiss Made movement with a 52-hour power reserve. The skeleton – the watch’s main feature – varies depending on the different models, each with a different PVD treatment. There’s a full-colour version, along with a black/steel version and a gold/steel version. They all have one thing in common – ArtyA’s secret signature on the jumper, a letter “A” formed by the lines of the skeleton itself.
This type of finish allows ArtyA to present a wide choice of colours, satisfying every possible whim of gentlemen and ladies alike. The unique offer thus provides a limited-edition, numbered watch in any choice of finish for just CHF 4,400. Lovers of creative watchmaking will be able to purchase a one-of-a-kind timepiece that’s well above standard, made by an independent brand – and decidedly different from existing mass-market products.
SHAMS STEEL CHF 4,400
MOVEMENT: ArtyA Rising Sun Skeleton(Hand-wound,Swiss made) / 25 Jewels / 2 Hands / Power reserve 52 hours / ArtyOr alloy or Black PVD lateral inserts
CASE: 316 Stainless Steel / 44 mm Diameter
GLASS: Sapphire glass / See-through back
STRAP: Cow leather
WATERPROOF: 5ATM WEIGHT: 74 g
MADE IN SWISS
The movement called ArtyA Rising Sun calibre is reworked and fully skeletonized Unitas.
Skeleton Back.
Color: Black, Gold, Steel – World limited 99 pieces each
CHF 4,400.00
(Delivery costs, duty and tax are not included in the price. They will be added to the price as total cost.)
