Louis Erard and Vianney Halter Unveil Futur Antérieur Collaboration

Louis Erard and Vianney Halter have launched the Futur Antérieur, a limited edition timepiece that draws directly from Halter’s celebrated Antiqua design. Revealed at the end of October, the collaboration brings together Halter’s signature steampunk aesthetic and Louis Erard’s approach to accessible independent watchmaking. The new watch is available in two versions, one with silver dials and a blue ostrich leather strap, the other with gold-toned dials and a black ostrich leather strap, each limited to 178 pieces. A special box set containing both variants is also offered, limited to 78 sets.

The Antiqua, introduced by Halter and designer Jeff Barnes in 1998, is recognized for its unconventional case with raised, riveted porthole sub-dials and a retro-futuristic silhouette. While the original was a complex perpetual calendar and produced in precious metals for a select few, the Futur Antérieur distills the visual essence of that design into a more attainable form. The case of the new collaboration, measuring 38mm wide by 44mm high and just 8.85mm thick, is constructed from brushed stainless steel with polished edges and yellow gilt rivets accenting the porthole bezels and crowns. Both the hours-and-minutes and seconds sub-dials protrude from the case, each surrounded by a ring of twelve rivets, and are covered by sapphire crystals.

The dial design is faithful to Halter’s distinctive style, with grain-textured centers, brushed chapter rings, and blued steel hands. The larger sub-dial at the lower right displays the hours and minutes, while the smaller, upper left sub-dial is dedicated to the seconds. The names “Louis Erard” and “Vianney Halter” are each engraved on raised plates affixed to the case, reinforcing the collaborative nature of the project.

Image: Louis Erard

A notable technical choice is the use of two independent Sellita SW100 automatic movements, one for each sub-dial. Each movement has its own crown, set with six polished rivets, on opposite sides of the case, and each offers a power reserve of approximately 38 hours. The dual-movement configuration allows for the distinctive porthole layout but means that the hours-minutes and seconds hands operate independently, a solution chosen for design over mechanical integration. The caseback is closed and engraved with the collaboration’s details. The articulated lugs, another Halter hallmark, are engineered to enhance comfort on the wrist.

Vianney Halter, still working from his Swiss atelier, has been active in recent collaborations beyond his own brand, including projects with Massena LAB and Bulgari. Louis Erard, under Manuel Emch’s direction, has made a practice of inviting renowned independent watchmakers and designers to reinterpret its models, with previous Halter collaborations in 2020 and 2024 focusing on regulator layouts. This third partnership is the first to fully embrace the three-dimensional, riveted porthole case that defines the Antiqua’s legacy.

Each version of the Futur Antérieur is supplied on an ostrich leather strap, with the gold-dialed watch paired with black and the silver with blue. The watches are priced at CHF 4,950 each, while the box set containing both is CHF 9,900. All are limited editions, with 178 pieces per color and 78 box sets. The magazine has also looked at Blancpain and Swatch’s collaborative watchmaking and Hublot’s all-black collaboration with Depeche Mode.

The Louis Erard x Vianney Halter Futur Antérieur is available now, with sales limited to the stated editions and pricing set at CHF 4,950 for each single watch and CHF 9,900 for the box set.