BY JAY AQUINO APRIL 16, 2026

Presented at Watches and Wonders 2026, ArtyA Genève’s Double Cônillon 12H / 6H “Complexity” arrives as a disruption—an object that seems intent on bending the language of mechanical watchmaking itself. Framed boldly as “not a tourbillon, but its evolution,” it stands as both a challenge and a hypothesis: that even a complication introduced in 1801 by Abraham-Louis Breguet still holds room to be reimagined, if not fundamentally redefined.

Rethinking The Tourbillon

The traditional tourbillon rotates along a single cylindrical axis, averaging positional errors within one plane. Historically significant and mechanically elegant, it has also become increasingly familiar in contemporary haute horlogerie. The Cônillon departs from that established geometry entirely; its balance wheel follows a conical trajectory, extending error correction across multiple spatial positions at once. Building on ideas pioneered by Éric Coudray—known for multi-axis constructions such as the Gyrotourbillon—ArtyA takes the concept further, redefining how these systems interact by integrating two inclined tourbillons that enhance precision and stability in timekeeping.

Dual Regulators, One Intelligence

What distinguishes the complexity is not only the inclined tourbillon but also the presence of two of them. Positioned at 12 and 6 o’clock, each operates on a distinct, nonparallel axis, ensuring that no critical components—balance, cage, or escapement—share the same orientation. This deliberate rejection of symmetry is engineered with precision rather than chaos.

At the heart of the system lies a differential, far from a secondary component. It acts as the mechanism’s backbone, distributing energy evenly between the two regulators and allowing them to function in synchrony while continuously averaging deviations in real time.

Transparency As Engineering

Its sapphire case is not merely decorative; transparency functions as both a design principle and a declaration of intent. Carved from synthetic sapphire, the case adopts a fluid, triple-concave architecture that feels almost organic in form.

The execution is as demanding as the design is expressive, requiring more than 120 hours of machining and 140 hours of polishing, with precision leaving no margin for error. Twin domes positioned at 12 and 6 o’clock act as optical amplifiers, magnifying the motion of the tourbillons beneath.

Controlled Chaos Inside

Inside, the Complexity-01 caliber, developed with Purtec Sàrl, brings together 287 components and 44 jewels, operating at 3 Hz with a 50-hour power reserve. With no parallel axes, the movement operates within a framework of controlled imbalance, an approach in which complexity becomes a route to consistency. Despite its intricacy, the system is said to offer improved shock resistance compared to traditional multi-axis constructions, a notable achievement given the inherent fragility of such mechanisms.

IMAGE SOURCE: ARTYA

Dial, Design, and Identity

ArtyA presents two distinct interpretations of the dial. The Griffe version introduces a textured, point-cloud-like engraving that radiates outward, echoing the energy of the movement. The matte version, by contrast, strips the surface back to a more mineral, minimal expression, allowing the mechanics to take visual priority.

The case, designed by Jérémie Arpa, measures 42 by 48 mm and balances its sculptural presence with unexpectedly wearable proportions. The overall design merges ergonomic consideration with visual boldness, reinforcing the watch’s dual nature as both mechanism and object.

Limited to just nine pieces, the Double Cônillon 12H/6H “Complexity” stands firmly outside any idea of universality. It does not seek to settle into tradition but to hover at its edge—where certainty gives way to experimentation and engineering begins to resemble instinct. In that liminal space, ArtyA’s bold claim softens from provocation into possibility, and and what first reads as rhetoric begins to feel like a creation still learning the extent of what it can become.

Discover ArtyA here.