The Albishorn Voisin Aérosport brings the brand’s imagined histories into a simpler format, pairing a layered sector dial with a slim case and hand-wound movement in a design inspired by the era of French automotive designer Gabriel Voisin.
The brand’s first time-only watch retains the unusual crown position and asymmetric display of its chronographs, establishing a recognisable identity beyond the complications that defined its launch.
Initial thoughts
There are number of good reasons why so many watchmakers return to the Art Deco era, and specifically the sector dial format, for inspiration. For one thing, the inherent purposefulness in the instrument-like design has allowed it to transcend trends and fads.
For another, it was also one of the styles en vogue during the early wristwatch era, so the design has become embedded in the cultural heritage of watchmaking. These attributes make it attractive subject matter for a brand like Albishorn that interprets historical motifs through a contemporary lens.
The Voisin Aérosport is Albishorn’s first time-only model after a string of vintage-inspired monopusher chronographs, each taking after a specific historical inspiration, from the Swiss expeditions to Everest in 1952 to the regattas of Lac Léman.
The watch derives much of its personality from its bi-level seconds scale, legible thanks to the two ends of the asymmetrical seconds hand that count off the first and second halves of each minute in sequence. The format is familiar from watches like the Daniel Roth Tourbillon, but it remains an uncommon detail in the broader landscape.
Like its stablemates, the Voisin Aérosport imagines an alternative history, and is founder Sébastien Chaulmontet’s vision of a wristwatch as it might have been conceived by the pioneering French aviator-turned-automotive designer Gabriel Voisin.
One of Voisin’s most celebrated designs was the C28 Aérosport of 1935. Albishorn’s homage stops short of replicating the Streamline Moderne look of the automobile itself, choosing instead to channel the visual codes of the era’s wristwatches.
Historical inspiration aside, the Voisin Aérosport has been sized to contemporary expectations with a 38 mm case and features the intentional asymmetry that has become a recurring Albishorn motif.
The Voisin Aérosport is priced under CHF4,000, even with the optional stainless steel bracelet the brand launched this past spring. That’s nearly the same price as the brand’s chronographs, but what it lacks in complication it makes up in considered details — the case is sumptuously sculpted — making it a compelling value all the same.
Long live the sector dial
Albishorn’s interpretation of the sector dial comprises three distinct levels, mirroring the layered look of the stepped bezel and lugs. The upper and lower layers of the dial are similar between the Classic and Ice Blue colourways, while the latter features an embossed mid-layer with raised markings.
In either case, the “Chronometer” text that runs between six and seven o’clock is a visual counterbalance to the recessed gauge for the running seconds.
The elaborate dial construction offers pleasing depth for a watch less than 10 mm thick, and the polished edge of the applied satin-finished chapter ring results in a premium look. Of the two variants, I prefer the simpler Classic configuration with its pad-printed mid-layer, which makes it feel more like an artefact of the early 20th century.
A first for Albishorn
The ALB04 M movement inside is derived from an ébauche supplied by Manufacture AMT, a division of Sellita that produces bespoke calibres for small independent brands. The positioning of the major elements — the fourth wheel would be at nine o’clock with a traditional crown location — hints at the architecture’s chronograph roots.
The movement layout is similar to that of the AMT6600 seen in the Havid Nagan Classic One, though the movement has been rotated relative to the case to achieve the 10 o’clock crown position.
Conveniently, this change appears to have naturally relocated the fourth wheel underneath the running seconds gauge, possibly eliminating the need for an auxiliary gear train underneath the dial.
Not only is the Voisin Aérosport Albishorn’s first time-only watch, it’s also the first time that the brand has chosen to reveal the movement — the brand’s chronographs all feature solid case backs, and no movement images were shared publicly until the launch of the X-Graph earlier this year.
The decoration is industrial but appealing enough to warrant display, notably in its treatment of the recessed planes and the dial side of the main plate, which are decorated with perlage.
As a final note, the movement is also a COSC-certified chronometer, which feels appropriate given the scientific optimism that prevailed in the interwar period.
Key facts and price
Albishorn Voisin Aérosport
Diameter: 38 mm
Height: 9.6 mm
Material: Steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 50 m
Movement: ALB04 M
Features: Hours, minutes, and seconds
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Manual
Power reserve: 60 hours
Strap: Pair of leather straps included, optional stainless steel bracelet
Limited edition: 99 pieces in each colour
Availability: Direct from Albishorn
Price: CHF3,450 on strap, and CHF3,900 on bracelet; before taxes
For more, visit Albishorn-watches.ch.
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