From a fresh young independently owned watch company the SB04 by Sartory Billard is a stylish and exclusive modern watch, equally suitable for casual or dress wear, and which combines contemporary French design with Swiss watchmaking expertise and reliability, which has been manufactured and finished by hand.

One of a new generation of independent brands which offers a more accessible entry to the sector, Sartory Billard is a Paris-based brand which excels in creating beautifully detailed individually manufactured wristwatches for the discerning collector. Born out of a passion to design and produce wristwatches through a process of hand craftsmanship, each piece is refined and sophisticated, and created on a piece-by-piece basis.

The round 40mm case is crafted from an ingot of stainless steel, with brushed, polished and matte blasted surface finishings, and features a gently domed box-sided sapphire crystal which creates a distorted refraction around its edge. Classical in its shape, each case is produced singularly, and its lugs flow from the rounded contour of the case, while the squat signed crown neatly hugs the waist of the watch.

Beneath the sapphire glass, the dial is immediately striking in its stunning shade of deep blue on titanium, which has been highly polished to leave a remarkable, almost purple glossy finish. The stencilled ring which contains the numerals and minute markings is a single piece, which is overlaid on the surface of the dial, and offers a subtle three dimensional effect. Like the chapter ring, the skeletonised steel hands are elegant and have been individually finished by hand.

On the underside, a transparent exhibition caseback reveals the serrated fluting of the round blue titanium oscillating weight, which spins as it maintains the energy level of the premium Swiss made self winding Calibre STP 3/13 by independent movement specialist Swiss Technology Products. A departure from the ETA norm, this excellent mechanism provides 44 hours of power reserve while beating at a brisk 28’800 vib/h.

Representing exceptional value for an independent marque, the SB04 by Sartory Billard is a piece which offers eye catching individuality and the quality of a piece whose components have been created, finished and constructed by hand. A cool piece of contemporary design, it is presented on a brown leather strap with pin buckle.