A superb presentation box set of one of the most striking independent watches of 2023, the Dual Time Day and Night set by Geneva based watch brand Atælier Haute Complication is the perfect complement for the completist collector, and one which offers two quite different realisations of this fabulous piece of contemporary independent watchmaking from one of the emerging talents on the independent landscape.

Presenting the owner with the enviable and enticing dilemma of choosing between which one to wear, the Dual Time Day and Night set is produced in an exclusive edition of only 99 numbered examples, and although technically identical, the two watches have strikingly different personalities.

A remarkable debut piece from a watchmaker whose natural talent only became apparent while working under the watchful eye of one of the most celebrated Masters in the independent watchmaking sector, the Dual Time by Vladimir Négault’s Atælier Haute Complication is a watch of visually compelling aesthetics, as well as being one of sophisticated technical complexity and innovative and practical functionality.

A qualified architect by profession, it was actually Vladimir Négault’s skills as a digital animator which caught the interest of his long-time friend François Paul Journe, who in the early 2000s, commissioned him to create visuals for his eponymous watch company. Having completed the project, during which he gained a unique perspective of his friend’s creative processes, Négault accepted a rare invitation to accept the Master’s mentorship, and join him full time as an understudy watchmaker, going on to spend the next chapter in his career developing and working on F.P Journe movements.

Working in such close proximity to a legend of contemporary watchmaking, and learning much from this unique and immersive association, Négault decided to embark on his own watchmaking journey, and in 2022 renders of what would become his first horologic creation, and the birth of his independent company Atælier Haute Complication were revealed.

The Dual Time features two separate twelve-hour time displays, which provide an instant, at-a-glance reference to both local time and home time. Presented in two colourways which are both unique to this edition, the distinctive aesthetics of the Dual Time dial are further accentuated in the contrasting shades of light and dark, as the Day version features a pale yellow background, while the Night is characterised by a dark blue background.

Local time is displayed on a conventional decentralised counter, which is off-white in colour with a smooth matte finish and whose design echoes nuances of the watchmaker’s mentor. Against the black background of the four circular cutaway panels at the 3, 6, 9 and 12, the plump numerals stand out prominently in sky blue, and are complemented by the skeletonised blued steel hands.

Home time is shown via a delightful day/night display through a semi-circular aperture which dominates the upper half of the watch face. The day/night disc rotates beneath in a twenty four hour cycle, and has two little opposing triangular pointers, with one next to a sun icon indicating the daytime hours, and the other beside a moon for night. The disc also changes colour as it fades from the light blue shades of daytime into dark blue and through into the black of night and back again.

Beneath a semi-circular window which is marked with the hours between six and six, the passage of the twenty-four hour cycle is depicted, with its shades of blue fading from the darkness of a star studded night, into the light blue of a dawn sky as the sun replaces the crescent moon, heralding the start of a new day.

The 41mm case is manufactured in stainless steel which has been polished, and at only 9mm tall with curved lugs, the watch is slim and easy to wear. The rounded bezel has five screw openings and is also laser etched with the edition number as well as the word Geneve at the six o’clock position. The crown features the AHC logo in red.

On the underside, a sapphire crystal exhibition caseback reveals the fully in-house designed and developed movement, which has been manufactured in German silver, with every component finished by hand to the uncompromising standards of haute horlogerie. Beating at a frequency of 3Hz (21,600 vib/h) the single barrel delivers between 42-45 hours of power reserve.

A wonderful and exclusive piece of contemporary horological expressionism, the Dual Time Day is presented on a brown leather strap with pin buckle, while the Night version comes on a dark blue leather strap.