Independent Watchmakers · 2026-07-27
Ludovic Ballouard’s Upside Down keeps the present hour upright
Twelve rotating hour discs turn a philosophical idea into an ingenious mechanical display.
By Chronolume digest · Original English summary · Based on Phillips
Save this watch to revisit later.
What to know
The Upside Down makes the current hour the only upright numeral on its dial. At the hour change, one disc turns away while the next rotates into its readable position. A dot helps identify the active hour; conventional central minutes and small seconds complete the display without an hour hand.
This platinum example, made in 2015 and profiled by Phillips in July 2026, has a 41mm case, a grey dial and blued hands. Its hand-wound B01 calibre controls the twelve discs through a patented jumping-hour mechanism. The rear view reveals the construction behind the effect. It is an established independent design, rather than a 2026 release.
At a glance
| model | Upside Down Platinum |
|---|---|
| case | 41mm platinum |
| movement | B01 manual winding |
| functions | Jumping hours on rotating discs, minutes, small seconds |
| modelYear | Photographed example: 2015 |