Introducing: The Noctograph, The Third Collaboration Between Massena Lab and Independent Watchmaker Raúl Pagès
What We Know
Just last month, Raúl Pagès launched his second production timepiece in the Raúl Pagès RP2, itself a long-awaited sequel to his detente escapement RP1. Now, the independent watchmaker is back to something a lot more (relatively) accessible with Massena LAB in the Noctograph limited edition.
The Noctograph is Massena LAB’s third collaboration with Pagès, adding to the designs already established with the Magraph and Absinthe. Massena cites inspiration in the dial design from the watches of the 1930s to 1950s, and that inspiration feels stronger than it’s ever been on one of these watches. This time, the dial is colored in a shade of dark blue and vertically brushed, just like the one on the Absinthe that came before. But unlike the previous dials of the Magraph and Absinthe, the Noctograph opts for more depth in its dial design. Sitting above the layer of dark blue is a raised rhodium-plated chapter ring that is vertically brushed and printed with a minutes track in dark blue.
At six o’clock, a metallic ring surrounds the sunken small seconds sundial, with a complementary sector-marked seconds track also printed in that same dark blue, paired with a heat-blued seconds hand. A ghost signature lies right outside the subdial, with “Massena” engraved into the dial as a nod to what Pagès himself does on the dials of his own watches. Tying everything together is the pair of polished leaf hands for the hours and minutes.
A concave bezel surrounds the dial and is set into a stainless steel case, with a diameter of 38.5mm and a thickness of 10mm. Turn over the watch, and behind the sapphire caseback is Massena’s proprietary M660 caliber, designed and developed by Pagès. The shaping of the bridges gives away that there’s been much more thought put behind the caliber. And it would make sense, for a watch with an asking price of almost nine grand. It’s not all new, however. Pagès and Massena reproduce the design of the Valjoux 7750’s gear train in the M660, but the other elements are all designed and produced according to Pagès’ specifications. The architecture of the bridges gives a taste of independent watchmaking aesthetics at a fraction of the price, with some details like a large crown wheel and ratchet system standing out in full view.
The caliber is well-finished, and many details are notable at its price point – the broad main plate features gentle Côtes de Genève striping – while the edges of all bridges are hand-decorated with anglage. A number of interior and exterior angles on the bridges showcase the project’s idea of offering some of the qualities you’d see in watches like the RP1 and RP2 in something significantly lower priced and industrial at heart. As a result, it’s important to note that while Pagès directs the production of the M660 movement through a “select group of Swiss watchmakers,” the man is not physically involved in either the production or decoration. Rather, as William Massena says in his interview with Logan Baker on the launch of the original Magraph: “The components are industrially produced. And then we have them hand-finished by people at their homes. We have people all over the Vallée de Joux who take the parts and hand-finish them in their personal workshops.”
The Noctograph by Massena LAB and Raúl Pagès is limited to 99 pieces and available through Massena LAB.
What We Think
As much as we’ve seen the rise of a generation of independent watchmakers and brands, we’ve also seen a curious (yet perhaps practical) phenomenon in which the people behind five-going-on-six-figure watches start looking for ways to flex their creative muscles on watches under ten thousand dollars. M.A.D. Editions, Grøne Oldenzaal, and SpaceOne come to mind, among others. I’d assume that it’s a refreshing way of exploring watchmaking, with a completely different audience and very different challenges involved in the watchmaking itself.
When it comes to these collaborations between Massena and Pagès, I appreciate the niche that they fill, appealing to buyers with a watch that places more emphasis on finishing and movement architecture at this price point. As we get more and more used to a saturated market where the familiar bridges of stock Sellita, La Joux-Perret, and ETA movements fill many an exhibition caseback, getting an independent watchmaker’s eye on bridge design is truly a nice touch for the nerds. Certainly, any quantity of hand-finished interior and exterior angles is not a sight you normally see under ten thousand dollars.
Aesthetically, this Noctograph is certainly the strongest dial design out of the three editions, with the raised elements of the dial standing out (literally speaking). I was able to spend a few moments with the Noctograph earlier this month in Geneva, and can say that the contrast in colors and finishes on the dial side made this watch very legible, with the case wearing well on my smaller wrist. With a significantly more dynamic dial in every sense of the word — contrast, depth, and color — and paired with a much more subtle Massena branding, the Noctograph finally feels like a few steps forward in refinement for the series.
The Basics
Brand: Massena LAB and Raúl Pagès
Model: Noctograph
Diameter: 38.5mm
Thickness: 10mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Dial Color: Midnight blue
Indexes: Printed
Lume: No
Water Resistance: 5 ATM
Strap/Bracelet: Calfskin leather in dove grey, made in Italy with signed buckle in steel
The Movement
Caliber: M660
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds
Power Reserve: 60 hours
Winding: Manual
Frequency: 28,800 VpH
Jewels: 21
Additional Details: Proprietary Massena LAB caliber, designed and developed by Raúl Pagès
Pricing & Availability
Price: $8,875
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: 99 pieces
For more, click here.
Hodinkee