vincent-calabrese
http://www.vincent-calabrese.ch

Vica Sarl
Bd de Grancy 19a
CH - 1006 Lausanne
Tel. +41 21 617 08 34
Fax +41 21 617 08 35
info@vincent-calabrese.ch

VINCENT CALABRESE
A self-educated person, iconoclast and philosopher, his creations are a challenge to mechanical engineering traditions in general and watchmaking traditions in particular. The number, the diversification and the originality of these creations have made him famous throughout the world as one of its most fertile designers.
Vincent Calabrese is one of that rare breed of watchmakers who are able to build a watch movement himself completely by hand. Traditionally, those movements are in 18kt gold, but he is the only one to date to have built movements in 950 platinum. His so-called "SPATIALE" watchmaking style allows him to create unique and personalized movements beneath any shape whatsoever, such as the owner's initials, symbols, animals, countries and so on. To his technical achievements, such as the "FLYING TOURBILLON", regulator or not, he has added unique aesthetic features, and his collection, though very complex, astonishes the beholder with its sheer beauty and its elegant simplicity.

Vincent Calabrese enjoys challenges that test his inventive mind, and creates watches that, in contrast to the traditional look of watches with dials, have to be different from anything that has ever been created before. An eclectic, he can design a popular watch such as the "COMMEDIA", a gold plated quartz watch, as well as a handmade watch in 18kt gold or even in 950 platinum that is tailor-made to the owner's personal requirements, such as the "PERSONNELLES" range.
We cannot help but be amazed at the many facets of V. Calabrese's creative talent. All of his creations have a mechanism that he himself has invented and built, all his creations have an outward appearance that has been conceived without any outside influence or borrowed ideas. Moreover, if the creations are not already patented, there is a patent pending.

HISTORICAL

The take-off of his career was initiated by the International Inventor’s Show in Geneva, where he won the gold medal in 1977. Since then he continues tirelessly, year after year, to astonish every-one with his creations.
In 1985, when he has just founded the AHCI, he has made his first wristwatch Tourbillon, as well as the symbol of his watchmaking, the "ESPRIT".
Until 1988, he was concentrating on his "SPATIALE" watchmaking and had mounted a few movements with varying shapes and material. He learnt, just by himself, to make any and all watch parts. From the movement to the exterior of the watch. Also, this same year, he created his famous "FLYING TOURBILLON".
In 1989, while making 10 Tourbillons ordered by an Italian magazine, where the challenge was to create these pieces in 18 months, he started a period of diversification and made a mischievous wink to traditional watchmaking. He invented the miniature clock "TWO HANDS", which associates the immobility of the pendulum to the mobility of the Tourbillon. He also made the "BALADIN" which provides a unique display, combining digital and numerical displays with a wandering jumping hour.
Creating successful timepieces for famous watch brands, he finally decided to launch his own Collection with his original mechanisms.
In 1990, the "COMMEDIA" was born, a watch with jumping hour that was transformed to the "MONA LISA" in 1991. He created thus the first watch with jumping images.
In 1992, the creation of the "POWER", which encompasses a very flat and reliable power-reserve, starts the range of "TECHNIQUES". The "TRANSWORLD", created at the same time, offers a mechanism including two different times, one with 24 hours and one with 12 hours. In 1993, the realization of the "DAILY", a dual -time with a sub-dial indicating the weeks.
The "MOBIL" was created in 1994, a very special dual time, but above all very aesthetical, whereas the "NIGHT & DAY", with automatic change of numerals to Arabic figures 13 to 23 to Roman figures I to XI, was created in 1995.
1996, the creation of the "52" is a true treat for admirers, collectors and even the secular. Encompassing some very useful indications such as the calendar, days of the week, the period of the day, weeks, months and some more !
Regarding the "SPATIALE" watchmaking, he built the archipelago of "JAPAN", "EQUUS" which represents a cambered winged horse and a Tourbillon with regulator called "REGULUS".
In 1998, the "HORUS" features a surprising turning display put in a new case, with central clips, also created by the Artisan Horloger.