I didn't learn how to drive a car until I was 25 years old. This was due to my frugality that draws me to budget watches. Baltic, a French independent brand founded in 2016, offers a variety of vintage-inspired watches assembled in France. After seeing Holthinrichs create more ambitious watches in recent years, we hoped that the brand hadn't abandoned their goals of creating high-end, in-house timepieces. Fortunately, Holthinrichs Haute Horlogerie has now launched the Ornament Nouveau, the first watch under this new banner.
The defining characteristic of the Ornament Nouveau is its sculptural design. Not only is the case and dial uniquely designed, but the movement itself embodies this artistic vision. The movement, described by the brand as in-house, is the result of partnerships with Dutch precision manufacturers and Swiss suppliers. It measures 4mm thick and features a double concave shape on the mainplate, as well as steel bridges. The balance wheel is held in place by a three-dimensional glass bridge, known as the "Holthinbridge." This manually-wound caliber offers an 83-hour power reserve.
The dial of the Ornament Nouveau is also remarkable. Made from a photochromic material, it is UV sensitive, turning dark gray when exposed to UV light. In normal lighting conditions, the dial has a translucent quality that allows the movement beneath to be seen.
The Ornament Nouveau is a limited series of 20 pieces with a retail price of CHF 67,138. Holthinrichs has created a dedicated Instagram feed for this project.
