Ludovic Ballouard Upside Down Platinum, 2010s

Dealer description — S.Song Watches

When it comes to unconventional and whimsical independent watch brands, no one does quite like Ludovic Ballouard. Following his 7-year tenure at F. P. Journe, where he played a pivotal role in assembling the legendary Sonnerie Souverain, Ludovic ventured out to establish his own brand. His debut creation in December 2009, the Upside Down watch, emerged as one of the most innovative and whimsical designs in the independent watch space. It truly turned heads (quite literally) with its unconventional time-telling approach. Despite its seemingly simplistic appearance, this design has a profound depth that transcends first impressions, which we'll delve into shortly. Needless to say, we are thrilled to offer such an exceptional timepiece on our site today. Beginning with its hefty case crafted from platinum, the Upside Down showcases dimensions of 41mm x 10.5mm and incorporates a clever design feature - a concave mid-case flank in its case profile. Now, what makes this aspect interesting is that when you peer into this surface, you'll notice your reflection appearing upside down, a subtle yet ingenious touch that aligns seamlessly with its concept and name. The lugs seen here are strong, thick, and have a gentle downward curvature which helps enhance overall wearability. Positioned at an unconventional 2 o'clock, the crown bears the signature "LB" insignia. Encased within is a grained silver dial which hosts a total of 12 individual discs adorned with Arabic numerals. To explain this as simply as possible, the dial presents an unusual configuration: while 11 discs are consistently inverted, or upside down, the current hour is indicated by the singular disc in an upright position, distinguished by a black dot for enhanced legibility. If you look closer, you’ll notice that each of these discs is subtly obscured by the dial's periphery. This serves a practical purpose as it conceals the aforementioned black dot, which reveals itself as the hour changes. Moreover, the Upside Down features only two hands: a central one for minutes and a small-seconds hand positioned within the recessed seconds sub-dial at 6 o'clock. Powering the Upside Down from within is the beautifully finished, manual-winding, in-house Cal.B01, an exceptionally unique-looking movement in appearance as well as in function. Drawing inspiration from the construction of the venerable Peseux Cal. 7001, the layout of the movement closely mirrors its geometry and positioning, from the barrel to the escapement and balance wheel. The core of the movement here is meticulously finished, with carefully bevelled bridges and subtle solarized surfaces throughout. The outer part of the movement hosts a specially designed mechanism consisting of 12 individual Maltese crosses, supporting the visible discs from the front. With each passing hour, the central cam shifts to engage with each of these Maltese crosses, triggering a 180-degree rotation that alters the position of the corresponding disc, effectively reflecting the transition of the hour. When fully wound, the Cal. B01 offers a power reserve of up to 40 hours. While not immediately evident to the casual observer, the distinctive time-telling concept of the Upside Down serves as a poignant reminder for the wearer to always seize the day (carpe diem) and to cherish the present moment (or hour, in this case). This sentiment held deep meaning for Ludovic himself, who truly understood its significance upon receiving the devastating news of his late wife's cancer diagnosis. Beyond this heartfelt message woven within the design, there is also something applaudable about a small independent brand like Ludovic Ballouard producing a timepiece of such calibre as their inaugural offering. That alone is a remarkable achievement in itself. For collectors with a penchant for unconventional yet classic-looking timepieces (and also, with great taste), I highly recommend you seize this opportunity (just as Ludovic intended) and come take a closer look at this.