The young French brand Alto, founded by Thibaud Guittard, does not drag on the way. Less than a year after the presentation of its inaugural model, Art 01, Alto offers two variations by choosing the main theme of black or gray monochrome rendering. But it is perhaps behind the scenes that the main event in recent months is hidden: the recruitment of Raphaël Abeillon as Director of Creation. This is an excellent news for me for two reasons. The first is that Raphaël Abeillon, as a former house in Cartier perfectly masters the rules and constraints of form watches. The second is that the arrival of a personality with such a pedigree indicates that he has confidence in the potential of the brand. I must admit that I look forward to what collaboration will give in the future.
For the moment, the two monochrome art 01 mark the first steps of Raphaël Abeillon but in the context of a preexisting context. Art 01 monochrome black and monochrome art Gray reinterpret the first viola watch by modifying its chromatic atmosphere. The exercise is in my opinion very successful because the approach takes advantage of the characteristics of art 01 to obtain a more divisive result. In fact, I had several feelings when I discovered new products. I was first surprised by the impact of the All Black theme. The perceived size decreases (it is certainly not a revelation) but the shape of the case means that the watch does not lose in singularity and personality. Due to the contrast between the super luminova and the black of the dial, the senestre route de la Trotteuse becomes the highlight of the show and attracts our eyes. Personally, I am less sensitive to the All Black approach, first of all for reasons of taste (I do not like the predominantly black watches) and then because the exercise of style imposes a treatment of the case. In the case of Alto Art 01, the case is covered with DLC in order to confer the satin effect sought. Conclusion: The All Black approach works very well which proves the interest of the initial drawing. However, I am less seduced for reasons of personal perception. Some will on the contrary be able to appreciate the visual impact of the whole which allows to control the perceived size.
On the other hand, I was much more convinced and seduced by art 01 Monochrome Gray. It is for me the most successful version by far. The watch becomes more bright and this time, the structure of the dial and the shape of the glass are better highlighted. The choice of the dominant shade of gray is perfect, it is a gray neither too light nor too dark which is both dynamic and elegant. It emerges from the whole a beautiful harmony obtained thanks to the perfect adequacy between the color of the bracelet, that of the dial and of course that of the microbilled titanium of the case. I really liked this watch and instinctively, I spent more time with this version than with the other (and besides I only have photos of gray!). I think that success lies in the balance between the subtlety of design (the motif of the dial, the shape of the case, the facets of the glass) and the rendering which seems to be minimalist. It is a watch that we appreciate more and more over time because it allows the discovery of details. In any case, I found it refined and elegant while the black monochrome art appeared to me more raw to say brutal (which can make it interesting for those looking for this type of watch).
On the movement side, I find the micro-rotor caliber developed with the circle of clocks and whose shape marries that of the case. The structured and angular construction is consistent with the spirit of design and it is also a point that makes the strength of alto watches. The movement reserve of the movement is 48 hours for a frequency of 4Hz. Note that the finish of the platinum (but not bridges or mobile elements) is adapted to the context of each version.
Finally, the comfort in the wearing is ensured by the lightness of the art 01 monochrome (56 grams) and especially by the efficiency of the rubber bracelet which allows effective support on the wrist. Lightness only makes sense if the watch does not fidget and this is the case here. It is recommended given the size (the diameter is 41mm) and the shape of the case. Versatility to use is respected thanks to the seal of 50 meters.
Each watch is published as part of a limited series of 20 pieces per color. The price is around 25,000 euros (to give an order of magnitude) but it is preferable to contact the Alto team directly via its website in order to obtain more precise information on this point as well as on the availability of parts.
