ArtyA Unveils the Purity Wavy Stairway to Heaven
At Geneva Watch Days 2024, ArtyA unveiled its latest model, the Purity “Stairway to Heaven” HMS Wavy—a watch that stands out for its technical minimalism and nature-inspired design. Produced in a limited run of 99 pieces, it showcases the Swiss brand’s expertise in working with sapphire crystal and sophisticated watch movements.
The Purity “Stairway to Heaven”: A tribute to transparency
The Purity Wavy celebrates transparency and lightness—two hallmarks of ArtyA. Fitted with a 40mm sapphire-crystal case measuring 13mm thick, the watch reveals the beauty of its mechanical movement without restraint. Sapphire is nothing new for ArtyA, but this model pushes the exploration of light and reflections on this exceptionally resilient material even further. Sapphire crystal—the third-hardest material after diamond—lets you appreciate the details of the mechanics while delivering exemplary robustness.
A reinvented movement
At the heart of the Purity Wavy, ArtyA’s in-house “Time Only” movement offers a bold, pared-back architecture. The name “Stairway to Heaven” is no coincidence: the escapement is literally suspended in mid-air, creating a striking visual effect—as if time itself were floating. The movement beats at 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) and delivers a 72-hour power reserve, ensured by two redesigned barrels engineered to provide stable, consistent energy.
The movement’s bridges, with their angular and arched forms, have been hand-finished, adding a touch of extreme skeletonisation. This design not only elevates the mechanics, but also creates a true visual spectacle through the suspended components.
Wavy design: A wave in perpetual motion
The case design, by Jérémie Arpa—son of founder Yvan Arpa—draws inspiration from the motion of waves, with organic, fluid curves that evoke the sea. Each curve of the Wavy case is carefully sculpted to suggest a constant flow, echoing the perpetual movement of waves. This interplay of lines and light, heightened by the domed sapphire crystal, gives the watch a dimension that is both technical and artistic.
Enhanced legibility
Despite its airy aesthetic, the Purity Wavy doesn’t forget functionality. Its hour track, engraved on the inside of the upper crystal, ensures optimal legibility without obstructing the view of the movement. The brushed and diamond-cut sword hands slice through space with elegance, while the large central seconds adds dynamism to the whole.
Produced in a limited edition of 99 pieces, the Purity Wavy is aimed at discerning enthusiasts of haute horlogerie and contemporary design. Its retail price is around CHF 44,900—a figure that reflects not only the brand’s meticulous, innovative work, but also its commitment to creating singular pieces where the boundary between art and watchmaking becomes blurred.
All in all, the Purity “Stairway to Heaven” HMS Wavy embodies the very essence of ArtyA’s creativity: a perfect fusion of transparency, technique and inspired design. While one might criticise the watch for a certain aesthetic complexity—or even an impression of fragility inherent in the extensive use of sapphire—it remains a work of mechanical art, with every detail conceived to capture the light and the eye of connoisseurs.
