ArtyA Brabant Tourbillon

For many years now, ArtyA’s CEOYvan Arpa has been travelling the world, seeking out new forms of artistic expression. Most recently, he’s been looking in the direction of Northern Europe.

The region had already inspired Yvan Arpa to produce a series of much sought-after knives. And it was in Flanders that an outstanding Tourbillon Arabesque came into being, with an exclusive engraved case made of titanium –a material so hard it’s notorious for being virtually impossible to sculpt.

One man; two unique time pieces The man behind this first success was Bram Ramon. Ramon is Belgian, and comes from Flanders. With a background in conventional sculpture and engraving, he has once again used innovative techniques in watchmaking for ArtyA, coupled with the influences of Gothic art and the Belgian province of Brabant that have characterized his career. Bram Ramon has studied, assimilated and then transcended them all in a new, unique timepiece: the ArtyA Brabant. ArtyA has never been a slave to traditional style codes, and neither has Bram Ramon. The techniques of engraving and sculpture have hitherto been seen as mutually exclusive –but Bram and Arpa decided this piece would be a case of “why not both?”

A technique just for ArtyABram Ramon has dubbed his very own technique the “Prisma cut”. It involves the material being especially deeply chiselled (thereby combiningsculpture and engraving) to reveal both shape and colour

Another new feature is that the cut is triangular, bringing to life sharp angles capable of catching the light. The ArtyA Brabant exudes historic style notes, a Gothic spirit, a hint of religion, and a Flemish touch–and the whole is far greater than the sum of all these parts.

Pushing the envelope still further, ArtyA and Bram Ramon have added 24-carat gold inserts to the composition. Slipping gold leaf into the recesses of key sculpted motifs adds exceptional depth to the Brabant, whose colours range through every shade of grey to black and gold.

“Bram and I share the same values,” concludes Yvan Arpa. “More than anything else, that’s what’s brought us together. ArtyA creates unique timepieces, working with people who are them selves unique. They’re all outstanding craftsmen, but Bram is probably one of the best

I’ve ever met. "The ArtyA Brabant Tourbillon is thus a fitting Unique Piece for the new ArtyA Complications collection.