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The Retro-Futuristic 4N-MVT01/D01

written by A.Morgan - 6th Feb 2012

Think of a digital watch and you think of that great little Casio you had as a child with the backlit display and more alarms than you knew what to do with. At that age, the watch you craved wasn’t a Patek Philippe minute repeater or a Vacheron Constantin perpetual calendar, it was that other Casio digital watch that your friend had that could turn the TV in class on and off. This has remained your most desired digital watch ever since. Well, prepare to re-adjust this life-long desire, because there’s a new kid in town, and it goes by the name of 4N-MVT01/D01. Whether that’s the president’s nuclear launch code or the chemical formula for Kryptonite, who knows, but it sounds like an awesome name for a digital watch whatever the case.

It’s an awesome name that is neatly paired with an awesome watch, because 4N have by-passed the easy-peasy technology that powered the little Casio in favour of something a little more weapons-grade. Recruiting the help of industry heroes Renaud and Papi, who build complicated movements for Audemars Piguet no less, 4N have united 520 parts (count ‘em), 86 jewels, 10 numbered discs, 2 mainspring barrels with ten hours’ power reserve, and a strap changing system like never seen before to create a truly special way of telling the time.

The man behind 4N, François Quentin, has a list of amazing horological achievements to his name longer than a baboon’s arm, so we know this is the real deal and not a project that will spend an eternity in the prototyping stage. We can’t wait to get hold of one and see it in action.