It seems it was only a matter of time before Vianney Halter would turn his attention to the silent-movie masterpiece by Fritz Lang.

 

An abundance of nods to the industrial style seen in the setting of Metropolis can be found in the shapes of Halter's Classic, Trio and Liberty models. The moment finally came in 2024: the watchmaker has introduced the Art Deco Metropolis watch with a direct reference in its name to a film set in the dystopian future.

 

Its director Fritz Lang managed to predict many aspects of how the world's megalopolises would develop. The industrial aesthetic takes a back seat here though, where the cinematic masterpiece's more romantic Art Deco architectural aspect is foregrounded.

 

Preserving industrial power in the details, the Art Deco Metropolis looks more refined than the watchmaker's other creations thanks to characteristic 1920s details.Halter admits that he has dreamed of creating a tribute to the Art Deco movement since 2017.

 

Vianney Halter Art Deco Metropolis
Vianney Halter Art Deco Metropolis

But he only got around to making the artistic piece which is now the center of attention following detailed research into the phenomenon of resonance, explored in the calibers created over the last couple of years.

 

The connection with the Roaring Twenties is definitely made clear by the popping asymmetrical decoration in the center of the dial, elements on the bezel, as well as the choice of the Arabic numerals and font used to inscribe the brand's name.

 

The watchmaker cites the SNCB Type 12 steam locomotives operated by the National Railway Company of Belgium in the late 1930s as a source of inspiration for the gold rivets and winding crown. 

The railroad concept extends onto the track around the watch's blue dial. Alternating finishes make the dial look particularly impactful: the polished central element of diamond-cut radiating rays rests on a textured backdrop.

 

Revolving over this backdrop are faceted hands made of polished steel: their shape melds with the silhouette of the artistic gold rays. The case of the Art Deco Metropolis, which measures 39.8 × 8.2 mm, houses automatic caliber VH122. It runs at a frequency of 21,600 vph. The novelty has a power reserve of 56 hours.