Old School by Massena LAB and Luca Soprana
"There is a loneliness in this world so great that you can see it in the slow movement of the hands of a clock." - Charles Bukowski
Old School by Massena LAB and Luca Soprana
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Old School is a concept watch that began as both an experiment and a study of an aspect of watchmaking previously unexplored by Massena LAB — the montre d’école. A traditional montre d’école, translating literally to “school watch”, is a watch that is designed and crafted by an apprentice watchmaker at the conclusion of their studies. The finished montre d’école is then evaluated to determine whether or not the apprentice may call themselves a true watchmaker. Some montres d’école are finished so elaborately that they require a full year of work to complete, and the most talented apprentice-watchmakers create their own movements. It is this attention to detail, dedicatio
Features
Highlights
ABOUT THE WATCHMAKER
Luca Soprana was born in Valdagno, Italy, where his family has owned and operated a watch repair shop for four generations. Growing up in and around the family shop, where he would work during the school holidays, Soprana developed a keen interest in everything mechanical — especially the movements of highly precise marine chronometers.
At 26, Soprana relocated to Switzerland to take study at WOSTEP, where he was a contemporary of Kari Voutilainen and studied under Stephen McDonald. Later, Soprana would become a teacher at the same school.
After leaving WOSTEP, Soprana worked for various manufactures and watchmakers in Switzerland including Vulcain and Vianney Halter, where he worked on the TRIO and the Janvier N˚1. Later, at BNB Concept, a manufacture of highly complicated watch movements, Soprana worked as the head of its prototyping workshop where he helped develop the Concord Tourbillon Gravity. Soprana then went to work for Patek Philippe, and then for Rolex, before deciding to establish his own, independent atelier, 7h38, in the castle of Vaumarcus.
Most recently, Soprana has worked to develop the Astronomia Tourbillon for Jacob & Co., and the DPW 01 for Derek Pratt, along with other, confidential projects.
Soprana lives near Neuchâtel, Switzerland with his wife and three children. When he is not in his workshop, you may find him out skiing or sailing around Lake Neuchâtel.
Movement
• LS-01 hand-wound caliber by Luca Soprana
• Hour hand, and minute hand, small second at 9
• 18,800 beats per hour (2.5Hz) with approximately 40 hours of power reserve
• Blued steel balance spring with bi-metallic balance wheel and gold screws
• Swan-neck regulator and micro-metric screw
• Constructed from maillechort, or German silver
• 3/4 plate with hand-finished traits-tirés, or straight-grain finishing, gold chatons, and 25 jewels
• Engraved with limited edition number and signed “Massena & L. Soprana”
LIMITED EDITION
• Manufactured by Luca Soprana in the castle of Vaumarcus, Switzerland
• Limited edition of 11 examples
DIAL
• Stepped, sector dial constructed from maillechort, or German silver, with rhodium and 2N gold plating
• Center section is carefully hand-frosted (as opposed to a more common, chemical process) to achieve the texture
• Hand-filed, blued steel hands
• Midnight blue markings
• Signed “Massena & Co.” and “Vaumarcus”
CASE
• Diameter: 41.5mm, thickness: 11mm
• Stainless steel
• Crown made by hand
• Flat, anti-glare sapphire crystal on both dial and display back
• Water-resistant to 3 bars (30 meters)
• Midnight blue alligator strap made exclusively for Massena LAB by Jean Rousseau Paris
Warranty
• 2 year guarantee