Version Watches V01-LCC
Version Watches, a new microbrand founded by designers Cybèle Vigneron and Carla Lanfranchini, offers a unique take on midcentury design with its V01-LCC collection. The watches feature intricate, bisected dials with contrasting patterns and a semi-skeletonized aesthetic, drawing inspiration from sources like Bauhaus design, the Aston Martin DB5, and Charlotte Perriand's LC4 Chaise Longue.
- Price: $1,850
- 38mm case size
- Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement
The V01-LCC features a bisected dial with a lattice pattern on the top half and converging etched lines on the bottom, designed to be an invitation to 'lean in, look closer, and lose yourself in the micro-architecture of the dial'.
The design draws inspiration from Bauhaus geometric forms, the curves of the Aston Martin DB5, and Charlotte Perriand's LC4 Chaise Longue, aiming for a pure designer's perspective rather than relying on off-the-shelf components or nostalgia.
Automotive inspirations also include the Citroën SM, Alpine A310, and Matra Bagheera, influencing the idea of a semi-hidden mechanical heart through elements like engine louvers and rear window grilles.
The rounded, bullet-shaped hour markers and the elongated, open-shaped hour hand are noted design elements that echo the dial's curvature.
The Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement is visible through a clear caseback, with a unique detail allowing a view of the dial's grid pattern on the other side.
Version Watches was founded in 2024 by Cybèle Vigneron and Carla Lanfranchini, who met at Strate École de Design and have backgrounds in design and brand management from luxury houses.
The brand debuted to an American audience at Tempus Takumi, a showcase for independent watchmaking outside of Switzerland.
A second collection, the V0201-TH, is planned for September 2026, inspired by French aeronautics and the Concorde, featuring translucent colored elements to evoke a sunrise view.