Experience Time's Artistic Leap: The Resurgence of Niton
The Return of a Watchmaking Pioneer: Niton's Storied Legacy
The watchmaking world often celebrates the revival of brands with rich histories, and Niton's reintroduction is no exception. Established in 1919, Manufacture des Montres Niton S.A. gained prominence for its pioneering work in jumping hour watches and movements, supplying mechanisms to prestigious houses such as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Cartier, and Gubelin. This esteemed heritage set the stage for its modern-day rebirth.
The Renaissance of Jumping Hours: A Complex Art Form
The jumping hour complication, a distinctive digital display, has seen a significant resurgence in contemporary haute horlogerie. Unlike traditional analog displays, this intricate mechanism requires precise power accumulation and instantaneous release to ensure the hour and minute discs jump and reset flawlessly, without any rebound. Though digital clocks date back to the 17th century, the jumping hour found its true aesthetic calling in the wristwatches of the 1920s and 1930s, perfectly embodying the geometric and digital spirit of the Art Deco era.
A New Era: The Visionaries Behind Niton's Revival
After a period of quietude, Niton has been reignited by the entrepreneurial spirit of Yvan Ketterer and Leopoldo Celi. Ketterer, a WOSTEP graduate from a lineage of watchmakers, spearheads the creative direction, bringing a wealth of product management experience from his tenures at Girard-Perregaux and Tissot. Celi, with a robust background in marketing from LVMH and Girard-Perregaux, oversees the brand's market presence, leveraging his experience from launching his own watch brand, Fugue.
Introducing the Niton Prima: A Contemporary Homage
The Niton Prima is not merely a nostalgic echo of the past but a bold reinterpretation of the brand's heritage for the modern era. Its design is a clear homage to Art Deco and Bauhaus principles, celebrating graphic and industrial design where the timepiece itself becomes an artistic statement. The Prima encapsulates a timeless elegance, refined through a contemporary lens.
Exquisite Design and Features: The Prima's Distinctive Appeal
Crafted in luxurious platinum or rose gold, the rectangular Prima case measures a refined 27mm x 35.50mm with a slim profile of 7.9mm. The dial, finished with a satin brush, features three circular apertures that provide a unique, deconstructed view of the time: jumping hours at the top, minutes on a rotating disc in the middle, and small seconds at the bottom. Notably, the absence of a brand logo on the dial underscores a commitment to design purity and distinctive identity.
The Subtlety of Time: An Auditory Dimension
Adding an unexpected layer of sensory experience, the Niton Prima incorporates a subtle auditory cue. Each transition of the hour is accompanied by a discreet "click," a gentle reminder of the passage of time without the need to glance at the dial. This ingenious feature is made possible by a snail cam that activates two levers, one for the jumping hour and another that gently strikes the case, producing the minimal sound.
The Heart of the Prima: An Exceptionally Crafted Movement
At the core of the Niton Prima beats a beautifully finished, manually wound rectangular movement, the NHS01 calibre. Designed by Niton and brought to life in collaboration with Le Temps Manufacture – a specialist known for movements in watches like the Byrne Gyro Dial – each movement is meticulously assembled in Geneva. Its decoration is a harmonious blend of modern and Art Deco aesthetics, featuring guilloché patterns on the German silver bridges and black polished steel for the escapement and balance bridges. Each movement is individually numbered, indicating its place in the limited edition series. The variable inertia balance wheel, equipped with a Breguet overcoil, operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, while offering a substantial 72-hour power reserve. Winding the watch is a satisfying experience, enhanced by the long, blade-like ratchet click.
Precision and Excellence: Certifications and Innovative Setting
The Niton Prima stands as a testament to precision, adhering to the rigorous Geneva Seal specifications and holding a chronometer certificate. An innovative feature allows for precise time setting: upon pulling the crown, the seconds hand continues its sweep until it reaches the zero position, then stops. This is achieved by a lever blocking the seconds wheel at zero, rather than halting the balance wheel, offering a more refined and accurate time synchronization mechanism.
Limited Availability and Pricing: An Exclusive Offering
The Niton Prima is offered in two highly exclusive limited editions, each comprising 19 pieces: one in platinum and one in rose gold. Each timepiece is paired with a calf leather strap, secured by a pin buckle matching the case material. The rose gold variant is priced at CHF 44,750 (excluding VAT), while the platinum version is available for CHF 47,750 (excluding VAT), reflecting their exclusivity and exquisite craftsmanship.