Old Soul: Massena LAB and Vianney Halter Unveil a Limited Edition of 47 Timepieces

Massena LAB has partnered with legendary independent watchmaker Vianney Halter to create Old Soul, a limited-edition wristwatch of just 47 pieces. This collaboration blends Halter’s visionary steampunk aesthetic with William Massena’s encyclopedic knowledge of watch history. Powered by a rare vintage Minerva movement, Old Soul feels suspended in time—neither past nor present, but something entirely its own.

The Concept of the Soul

Every great timepiece has a soul, and for Old Soul, it begins with the movement. The project started after the discovery of unused vintage calibers from Minerva. The chosen engine, the Minerva 17.22 caliber, was first developed in the 1920s and used in pocket watches until 1942. In 2025, Massena and Halter revived this caliber, transforming it into a wristwatch that transcends eras.

The Minerva 17.22, complete with its original movement numbers, features 17 jewels, a Breguet balance spring, and a 36-hour power reserve. For Old Soul, it has been ingeniously modified with a transparent sapphire minute disc that creates the illusion of a floating arrow. This marks the first time a vintage movement has been reimagined to achieve such a complication.

A Dial That Defies Time

The dial of Old Soul showcases Vianney Halter’s signature steampunk influences combined with vintage design cues from William Massena. It is three-dimensional and multilayered, presenting time in a regulator-style display:

Hours appear on a subsidiary dial at three o’clock.
Seconds display on a sub-dial at nine o’clock.
Minutes track across the outer chapter ring, using the mysterious floating arrow system.

Arabic numerals, crafted in Halter’s distinct typeface, emphasize the unique character of the design. Each register uses a chemin de fer, or railroad track style, evoking late 19th and early 20th-century watchmaking while retaining a thoroughly modern execution.

Adding to the depth, the signatures of both Halter and Massena appear on the interior of the sapphire crystal, rather than the dial, casting subtle shadows across the surface. Above this, a three-dimensional stainless steel shield, engraved with concentric circles and dotted with studs, reinforces the bold steampunk aesthetic.

Case and Design Details

The stainless steel case measures 42mm in diameter and 12mm in height. It features a polished concave bezel and stepped lugs with a mix of brushed and polished finishes, highlighting fine craftsmanship. The watch includes double AR-coated sapphire crystals and is water resistant to 30 meters.

A studded crown, adorned with Vianney Halter’s “VH” signature, completes the steampunk profile. On the caseback, collectors will find the engraved signatures of both Halter and Massena LAB, alongside a unique serial number for each of the 47 pieces.

Between the lugs lies a poetic inscription: “Time is the fire in which we burn” — a line from American poet Delmore Schwartz, made famous by the 1994 film Star Trek Generations. This reference underlines Halter’s enduring love of science fiction.

Technical Excellence

Case: Stainless steel, 42mm x 12mm, water-resistant to 30m
Crystal: Double AR-coated sapphire, front and back
Bezel: Polished concave with stepped lugs
Crown: Studded steampunk design with VH signature
Movement: Vintage manual-wind Minerva caliber 17.22
Frequency: 18,000 vph, 17 jewels
Power Reserve: 36 hours
Finishing: Côtes de Genève, rhodium plating, anglage, black polishing
Dial: Regulator-style, three registers, Arabic numerals in Halter’s font, mysterious minute disc
Strap: Italian midnight blue leather with Massena LAB stainless steel pin buckle

A Watch Out of Time

With only 47 pieces worldwide, Old Soul is destined to become one of the most collectible watches of 2025. It combines forgotten movements from a golden era of Swiss watchmaking with the creative genius of two modern visionaries. More than a watch, Old Soul is a dialogue between past and present—a timepiece that proves the soul of watchmaking is eternal.