Geneva Watch Days 2025: Massena LAB and the timeless "Old Soul"

Massena LAB is a watchmaking studio founded by William Massena in 2018. The company regularly releases limited-edition models in collaboration with independent watchmakers or brands.

Now, in cooperation with Vianney Halter, watchmaker and owner of the Janvier Manufacture workshop, the “Old Soul” has been created, a wristwatch limited to 47 pieces.

Combining the science fiction of steampunk with references to early 19th-century watchmaking, it is powered by a historic Minerva movement. The result is a timeless watch in the truest sense of the word, one that plays with the eras.

And Vianney Halter and William Massena locate the eponymous “old soul” in the clockwork: For them, it is the invigorating power of a wristwatch that embodies not only their heartbeat, but also an intangible essence and an individual character.

An “old soul” from Minerva

In the case of the "Old Soul," this is the historic vintage Minerva Caliber 17'22 movement with a 36-hour power reserve. Developed in the 1920s and used in pocket watches until 1942, it now revives as an "old soul" in the "Old Soul," protected by a 42-millimeter stainless steel case with polished and brushed surfaces and a sapphire crystal case back.

This original Minerva caliber was crafted entirely by hand long before the invention of CNC machines and features Geneva stripes, chamfering, and a black polish. The original manufacturer's signature is engraved on the barrel. For the "Old Soul," the 17'22 was modified accordingly, while retaining the movement number.

Massena LAB: Multilayer dial

The Minerva hand-wound movement projects its precise functionality onto a three-dimensional, multi-layered dial with clear steampunk influences—a Vianney Halter trademark—as well as vintage and mid-century design inspirations from William Massena.

The hours, minutes, and seconds are displayed in three separate displays: the hours are shown on a subdial at 3 o'clock, the seconds on the subdial at 9 o'clock, and the minutes on the outer, radially brushed and rhodium-plated minute track. The Arabic numerals are designed in Vianney Halter's signature font.

The railway track look on all three displays is reminiscent of clocks from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but is designed in a much more modern style.

Thanks to Vianney Halter's technical expertise, the "Old Soul" features a sophisticated minute disc system that creates the illusion of a blued arrow circling in space and seemingly floating above the silvered surface of the dial.

The signatures of Vianney Halter and Massena are printed on the inside of the sapphire crystal. This emphasizes the three-dimensional design by casting shadows on the dial surface. 

The stainless steel frame placed on the sapphire crystal reflects the steampunk aesthetic, just as the crown with stainless steel rivets does.

Meaningful decorations

The caseback of the "Old Soul" is engraved with the names Vianney Halter and Massena, along with the serial number. Also included is the phrase: "Time is the fire in which we burn." This line from the poem "Calmly We Walk Through This April's Day" by American poet Delmore Schwartz (1913–1966) was popularized in 1994 by the science fiction film "Star Trek: Generations."

In the film, the line is spoken by actor Malcom McDowell in his role as the villain Tolian Soran, the assassin of Captain Kirk. Fans and collectors of Vianney Halter are undoubtedly familiar with the watchmaker's love of science fiction, and in particular, his enthusiasm for the Star Trek series.

The "Old Soul" follows the "Old School," a collaboration between independent watchmaker Luca Soprana and Massena LAB. Both are part of a series of thematic collaborations with independent watchmakers that Massena LAB calls "Old Masters."