“Wearing an Atelier Jalaper is not just about telling the time—it’s about owning a fragment of legend.”
In the realm of fine watchmaking, few maisons have dared to create such a tangible connection between time and timelessness as Atelier Jalaper. Born from the visionary minds of Louis Jalaber and Simon Szleper, the brand captures the thrill of classic motoring and the precision of Swiss horology in a single gesture: a watch dial made from the hood of an iconic car.
Founded in 2019 on the benches of ESCP Business
School, Atelier Jalaper emerged from a simple yet bold idea to fuse two passions—automotive heritage and fine watchmaking—into a single, tangible form. With every watch, a piece of history shifts from road to wrist.
Crafted by Masters, Fueled by Vision
Atelier Jalaper distinguishes itself by integrating authentic automotive materials into its timepieces. The brand sources aluminum from the hoods of historically significant vehicles, including the Aston Martin DB5, Lamborghini Miura, and Jaguar E-Type. These materials are not refined to erase imperfections; instead, they are preserved to maintain the visual and material authenticity of the original vehicles. This approach results in dials that retain their unique patina, ensuring that no two watches are exactly the same.
There, experienced horologists Stephan Muller and Ivo Cramez spent over a year developing the necessary techniques to convert car bodywork into durable, functional, and aesthetically consistent watch dials. The challenge lay in maintaining the original qualities of the aluminum while adapting it to the precision and durability required in fine watchmaking.
To support the mechanical performance of their designs, Atelier Jalaper uses Swiss movements, chosen for their reliability and reputation. Earlier models employ Miyota automatic calibers, while newer pieces incorporate COSC-certified Sellita movements, aligning with the brand’s emphasis on precision, craftsmanship, and quality control.
Design in Motion
Each Atelier Jalaper collection is both conceptually and aesthetically aligned with the car that inspires it. The first series, based on the Aston Martin DB5, emphasizes minimalism, symmetry, and material authenticity. The dials are crafted directly from the aluminum bonnet of a vintage DB5, a material authenticated by the Aston Martin Heritage Trust. This choice preserves the natural patina and visible surface marks, reinforcing the historical connection between the car and the watch. The design draws from the DB5’s interior layout, specifically its clean and balanced dashboard, resulting in a timepiece that prioritizes clarity while maintaining strong visual links to its automotive source.
The collection inspired by the Lamborghini Miura marked a shift toward a more expressive and performance-oriented design language. The dials are made from aluminum sourced from the bulkhead of a 1969 Miura P400 S, preserving the metal’s natural patina as a visual trace of its automotive origin. The case features an oval bezel referencing the Miura’s distinctive headlight shape, while the dial integrates a power reserve indicator modeled after the vehicle’s fuel gauge. These details, along with the watch’s overall proportions and texture, were developed to reflect the tactile and visual characteristics of the Miura’s dashboard and interior components. The model is powered by a hand-wound Sellita SW270-1 M movement with a 45-hour power reserve. Each version is limited to 400 pieces and is available in color variants that align with the original Miura palette, including black, green, orange, and blue. The latest Atelier Jalaper collection is based on the design of the Jaguar E-Type, specifically the 1962 Series 1 Semi Lightweight model. The dial is made from aluminum sourced from the vehicle’s bonnet, maintaining a direct material connection to the car. It features a vertically brushed finish and includes two visible screws placed at 10:30 and 4:30, which reference the layout and construction of the Smiths speedometers commonly found in the E-Type’s dashboard.The case design reflects characteristics of the car’s exterior. Asymmetrical lugs and a partially recessed crown are used to suggest the E-Type’s aerodynamic profile and elongated front end. The power reserve is approximately 56 hours. Each color variation of the watch—available in silver or anodized black—is produced in a limited quantity of 200 units.
Atelier Jalaper’s design process is driven by the principle that a watch should not merely be inspired by a car’s form but should conceptually extend the experience of the automobile. Each detail—from case shape to dial composition—serves to reinforce the connection between horology and automotive history, offering a product that is both technically refined and thematically coherent.
Looking Ahead
With each creation, Atelier Jalaper pushes the boundary between design and storytelling.Their next chapter is set to honor an Italian icon shaped by the legendary Bertone design house. Early details hint at the introduction of a chronograph complication, a tribute to performance, precision, and the spirit of vintage racing, combined with a bolder and more colorful aesthetic.
Beyond watchmaking, the brand is also preparing to launch a digital platform, offering a new, immersive way to engage with their collections. This initiative aims to bring the emotions, materials, and stories behind each watch into a more interactive space—blending tradition with innovation, and allowing their audience to explore Atelier Jalaper’s universe like never before.
Meeting Atelier Jalaper
During my visit to Watches and Wonders, I had the opportunity to explore several microbrands showcased at Time to Watches, and was especially excited to see Atelier Jalaper in person for the first time. There, I also had the chance to speak directly with Louis Jalaber. He offered detailed insights into the brand’s development, explaining the initial concept, design philosophy, and the technical challenges of transforming car body components into functional and durable watch dials. In addition to the conversation, I was also able to examine the original aluminum parts sourced from the cars themselves, including pieces from the Aston Martin DB5 and the Lamborghini Miura.
As Atelier Jalaper continues to shape time through legacy, each creation serves as a quiet testament to craftsmanship, emotion, and design. These are not merely watches, but wearable archives— where every detail reflects the spirit of an icon, and every second marks a journey from road to wrist.
