Independent watchmaker Albishorn is charting a new course. Known primarily for its vintage-inspired monopusher chronographs, the brand is introducing its very first time-only wristwatch: the Albishorn Voisin Aérosport. Named in honor of the pioneering French aviator and automotive designer Gabriel Voisin—celebrated particularly for his striking Streamline Moderne automobile designs of the 1930s—this new model translates the brand’s imagined historical narratives into a simpler, highly refined format.
By pairing a sophisticated layered sector dial with a slim, elegantly sculpted case and a hand-wound mechanical movement, the Voisin Aérosport retains the idiosyncratic character and unconventional layout of its predecessors. Yet, it establishes an entirely fresh identity for Albishorn beyond the complex chronographs that marked the brand’s high-profile launch.
Initial Thoughts on the Return of the Sector Dial
Watchmakers have long returned to the Art Deco era and the sector dial format for inspiration, and for good reason. The inherent purposefulness and instrument-like aesthetic of sector dials have allowed them to transcend fleeting trends and seasonal fads. Originating during the early wristwatch era, the style quickly embedded itself deeply into the cultural heritage of horology. These attributes make it an exceptionally attractive subject for a brand like Albishorn, which specializes in interpreting historical motifs through a distinctly contemporary lens.
The Voisin Aérosport marks a strategic pivot for founder Sébastien Chaulmontet. Following a string of vintage-inspired monopusher chronographs—each taking after a specific historical inspiration, ranging from Swiss alpine expeditions to Everest in 1952 to the competitive regattas of Lac Léman—this time-only release distills the brand’s design philosophy into its purest elements.
A significant portion of the watch’s distinct personality stems from its bi-level seconds scale. Legible and inventive, the scale utilizes the two distinct ends of an asymmetrical seconds hand to count off the first and second halves of each minute in sequence. While this ingenious format has appeared in high horology icons like the Daniel Roth Tourbillon, it remains a rare and captivating detail in the broader contemporary watch landscape.
Like its stablemates, the Voisin Aérosport imagines an alternative history. It embodies Chaulmontet’s vision of what a wristwatch might have looked like had it been conceived by Gabriel Voisin himself. While Voisin’s most famous creation, the C28 Aérosport of 1935, is an icon of automotive design, Albishorn’s homage stops short of literally replicating the vehicle’s sweeping sheet metal. Instead, the brand channels the sophisticated visual codes of wristwatches from the exact same interwar era.
Historical inspirations aside, the Voisin Aérosport is sized entirely for modern expectations, featuring a modest 38 mm case diameter paired with the intentional asymmetry that has swiftly become a signature Albishorn motif. Remarkably, the watch accomplishes this while maintaining an accessible price point under CHF 4,000, even when paired with the optional stainless steel bracelet introduced by the brand earlier in the spring. Though it lacks the intricate mechanisms of its chronograph siblings, it more than compensates with thoughtfully executed details and meticulously sculpted case geometry, establishing it as a compelling value proposition in independent watchmaking.
Long Live the Sector Dial
Albishorn’s execution of the sector dial is exceptionally complex, comprising three distinct levels that mirror the layered look of the stepped bezel and integrated lugs. Across the dial colorways—which include a stark Classic configuration and a modern Ice Blue variation—the upper and lower layers remain consistent, while the Ice Blue edition features an embossed mid-layer complete with raised markings.
In both iterations, the "Chronometer" text positioned subtly between the six and seven o’clock markers acts as a visual counterbalance to the recessed gauge for the running seconds. This elaborate dial construction achieves a remarkable sense of visual depth for a timepiece measuring under 10 millimetres in total thickness. Furthermore, the polished edge of the applied, satin-finished chapter ring delivers an elevated, premium aesthetic. Among the variants, the simpler Classic configuration—with its pad-printed mid-layer—offers a direct aesthetic connection to the authentic artifacts of the early 20th century.
A First for Albishorn
Beneath the solid yet display-friendly architecture lies the manual-wind ALB04 M movement. Derived from an ébauche supplied by Manufacture AMT—a specialized division of Sellita dedicated to producing bespoke calibres for independent watch brands—the movement’s underlying architecture reveals its chronograph lineage. In a traditional crown configuration, the fourth wheel would naturally sit at the nine o’clock position; however, rotating the movement relative to the case achieves the watch’s signature 10 o’clock crown placement.
Cleverly, this structural rotation appears to have naturally repositioned the fourth wheel directly underneath the running seconds gauge, potentially bypassing the need for an auxiliary gear train beneath the dial.
The Voisin Aérosport breaks new ground for Albishorn in another notable way: it is the first time the brand has chosen to display its movement through an exhibition case back. While previous Albishorn chronographs featured solid case backs with no public imagery of their calibres released prior to the launch of the X-Graph earlier in the year, the Voisin Aérosport proudly puts its engine on display. The finishing is decidedly industrial yet visually captivating, featuring perlage decorating the recessed planes and the dial side of the main plate. True to the scientific optimism of the interwar period that inspired it, the movement is fully COSC-certified as an official chronometer.
The Albishorn Voisin Aérosport is issued as a limited edition of 99 pieces in each colorway. It is available directly through Albishorn, priced at CHF 3,450 on a pair of leather straps and CHF 3,900 when mounted on the optional stainless steel bracelet, with both prices listed before applicable taxes.
