Introducing the SNSM Watch Project – Young Watchmakers Design a Limited Edition for a Good Cause

The Atelier Parisien d’Horlogerie (APH) is launching a limited edition watch to celebrate the 50th anniversary of SNSM (Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer) a French voluntary association tasked with saving the lives of those lost at sea around the French coasts. Nearly 8’000 people were rescued last year by the NGO, which has 1,300 lifeguards on staff and a further 4,400 active volunteers. The proceeds from the watch sales will benefit SNSM which relies largely on the generosity of the public for funding.

The watch project has been designed by the young watchmakers of Lycée Diderot with Mr. François Quentin (part of the professors and Founder of 4N). The students involved are getting ready to graduate with a watchmaking Diplôme des Métiers d’Art (DMA) and as part of this process will also prepare and assemble the first prototypes.

The watch will be released as a limited and numbered edition of 50 pieces at the end of 2017 with a final price tag of 7’200 Euros however it is available for pre-order now. From the sketches above you can see it has a very classic nautical aesthetic, understated yet elegant including flamed blue hands and an anchor on the crown.

It will come equipped with a Vaucher automatic movement displaying the hours, minutes and small seconds on a sub-dial at 6 o’clock. The movement will be housed in a 41mm bronze case, water resistant to 100m. Some details are still to be revealed such as the strap specifications.

The drawing and prototypes were presented by the future DMA graduates to the Atelier d’Horlogerie Parisien team, the professors and journalist Stephan Ciejka (La Revue des Montres) as part of the final selection process. For more information: www.montre.snsm.org (in French only).