While all the big names in haute horology were showing off some very impressive timepieces at Watches & Wonders 2025, the independents weren't far behind. The lesser-known names in watchmaking also made waves with remarkable watches, and one that deserves special attention is the brilliant timepiece from ArtyA.
ArtyA introduced the Purity Wavy HMS Mirror, a bold evolution in form and function that fuses haute horology with avant-garde design. Limited to 99 pieces, this watch marks a milestone for the independent brand, combining a new in-house manual-winding movement with the world's first mirror caseback in a titanium watch.
If you're familiar with the brand, you'll know that they don't shy away from bold designs, many of which can be best described as an acquired taste. However, the Purity Wavy HMS is a departure from their status quo.
At the core of the Purity Wavy HMS Mirror is the Stairway To Heaven HMS movement, an in-house manual-winding caliber. The movement is designed for technical performance and as a visual centerpiece.
It features microbead-frosted and hand-chamfered bridges and minute wheel train, a finely adjusted balance wheel using inertia blocks, and twin parallel barrels with longer, finer mainsprings for stable energy release.
The escapement pulses at 4 Hz, and its clever positioning creates a sense of mechanical levitation. The redesigned drum barrels, engraved with the watchmaker's name, form a skeletonized design that elevates the watch's visual elegance.
The Wavy Titanium case - a first in the collection to be crafted in grade 5 titanium - was designed by Jérémie Arpa, son of brand founder Yvan Arpa. It is ultra-light but remarkably strong and finished through a multi-step process involving hand polishing, microbead frosting, and a transparent DLC coating that improves its scratch resistance to an impressive 1,200 HV. Compared to stainless steel's 200HV and titanium's 400HV, that's an impressive upgrade.
How did it get the 'Wavy' moniker? It's from its flowing silhouette reminiscent of ocean waves. That's accented by a mirror-polished lug-to-lug contour - a delicate touch made more impressive by titanium's hard-to-polish anisotropic properties.
Perhaps the most creative feature of the watch is its mirror caseback - a world-first innovation in high-end watchmaking. It creates a dual visual illusion. Viewed from the dial side, it gives the perception of the movement floating in space, adding visual depth to the open architecture.
From the back, the mirror partially reflects the movement while concealing its complexity. This adds a layer of mystique that's sure to trigger curiosity from anyone observing the watch at close range.
The case measures 40 mm in diameter and 13 mm in thickness, with a screw-in caseback and triple anti-reflective sapphire crystal. Hands are brushed and diamond-polished, and the crown bears the ArtyA signet. Water resistance is rated at 50 meters.
This remarkable timepiece comes with an option of either an alligator or grey nubuck leather strap, secured with an ArtyA pin buckle that is available with or without black DLC coating. The price for the titanium model starts at CHF 25,900 (EUR 27,900 / USD 29,900), and other versions in transparent, hued, or Nano-Sapphire crystal cases are priced from CHF 44,900.
