The ArtyA Complexity Métiers d’Art with Double Inclined Tourbillon

Indie brand ArtyA, founded by Yvan Arpa, is known for its expressive designs and technically ambitious watches, often combining traditional craftsmanship with an unmistakably contemporary attitude. Earlier this year, the brand presented the Complexity, a spectacular mechanical piece with a world-first architecture of two inclined tourbillons at 12 and 6 o’clock, connected by a differential. Now ArtyA returns to the same exceptional idea with a new interpretation, focusing on hand-finishing and chronometric ambition.

The Complexity Métiers d’Art keeps the unusual mechanics and transparent sapphire construction of its predecessor but brings craftsmanship to centre stage. Instead of the original emphasis on technical purity, here every visible surface has been transformed through hand engraving, hammering, shot blasting, perlage and hand-polished bevels. We look at the new artistic expression of the highly advanced Complexity.

The watch is housed in ArtyA’s distinctive transparent case, cut from a solid block of synthetic sapphire. Measuring 42mm by 48mm and 13mm thick, the triple-concave construction follows the contours of the wrist surprisingly well for such a complicated creation. Sapphire domes at 12 and 6 o’clock magnify the two inclined tourbillons, so the case is part of the mechanical spectacle. The brand notes that creating its complex geometry requires more than 120 hours of diamond machining and over 140 hours of polishing. Note the faceted crown; it is also cut from crystal.

The Métiers d’Art dial’s finely sandblasted base is entirely hand-engraved, with a burin carving individual radiating scratches across the surface. The applied indices feature hand-polished bevels; the flanks are drawn with the carbon buff. The upper faces remain finely sandblasted to integrate with the textured dial without competing with its engraving.

The watch is powered by the proprietary manual-winding calibre Complexity-01, developed with Purtec Sarl in Vallorbe. The movement’s main feature is the double inclined tourbillon: two Conillon regulators (each follows a conical route rather than a cylindrical one, helping compensate for gravitational effects across the vertical positions) at 12 and 6 o’clock, connected by a differential. The system distributes energy between the two regulators, averaging their rates. Each tourbillon completes a rotation in 30 seconds, with the two cages moving in opposing directions. The 287-component, 44-jewel movement beats at 21,600vph and provides a 50-hour power reserve.

For this Métiers d’Art edition, the movement receives an elaborate treatment, too. The upper surfaces are shot-blasted, the lower surfaces are hand-hammered to create a relief, and every angle is bevelled and polished by hand. Like on the dial, the flanks are finished with the carbon buff, while the recesses of the mainplate are hand-perlage around the differential. A polished moulding on the centre bridge further frames the mechanism. Black rhodium plating provides a dark background from which the polished edges and textured surfaces emerge.

The Complexity Métiers d’Art is worn on an integrated rubber strap and an ArtyA folding clasp. The sapphire version is limited to nine individually numbered pieces, with availability by order through ArtyA Genève and official retailers. The sapphire version is priced at CHF 190,000; the pigeon-blood ruby version (not pictured) is CHF 220,000. For more information, please visit artya.com.