Raúl Pagès is the hot independent watchmaker of the moment, winning the 2024 Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives and having recently released his new RP2 to rave reviews. However, priced at CHF 89,000 his watches are not exactly accessible. Enter Massena LAB who have collaborated with him multiple times to bring his designs to the masses (at least before they sell out) in a manner that won’t break the bank. Following the Absinthe last year, the two have launched another collaboration for 2025 in the form of the new Massena LAB x Raúl Pagès Noctograph.
The Noctograph pays a lot of tributes to the aforementioned RP2 but instead of being close to 100k, it’s priced at $8,875 (approx. £6,620). The most obvious nod is that like the RP2, the Noctograph is a three-hand, time-only watch with central hours and minutes and then a small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock. Although, the Noctograph’s subdial is much more Art Deco in style rather than minimalist thanks to a railway seconds track and a high shine sunray brushed finish.
In terms of colour, the central disc of the dial is a rich, royal blue with a vertical brush that sweeps across the display. In the bottom right of that blue dial, at 4 o’clock, you can see the ghost engraving of Massena LAB’s logo, a reference to the same positioning of Pagès’ ghost logo on the RP2. It’s contained within a rhodium plated minute scale that again leans into that Art Deco influence. Interestingly Art Deco is normally associated with the 1920s and 30s but Massena LAB actually cite the 50s as being their lead influence, especially when it comes to the circular lines of the 38.5mm case.
Beneath that display is the M660 manual winding movement. It’s produced by Massena LAB but was designed and developed by Raúl Pagès. It has a 4Hz frequency and 60-hour power reserve, which are solid specs. What really captures the attention though is the finishing, with prominent Côtes de Genève across the mainplate and perlage visible below the open balance spring.
The name Noctograph means a device designed for measuring night, which serves a double meaning here. Firstly, it’s a reference to the blue dial, which shifts through multiple tones as the light plays across it thanks to the finishing, one of the most prominent of which being a midnight blue tone. Secondly, as a refined dress watch it will count the hours of your late-night soirées in impeccable style.
I’ve been a fan of Massena LAB for a while (I recently added one to my collection) and while the Noctograph isn’t my favourite, I do still like the effortless elegance it carries itself with. Plus, at $8,875 (approx. £6,620), it’s one of the few ways a regular collector might actually get their hands on some of Raúl Pagès’ work. Limited to 99 pieces.
Price and Specs:
Model:
Massena
LAB and Raúl Pagès Noctograph
Case:
38.5mm
diameter x 10mm thickness, stainless steel, exhibition caseback with unique serial number
Dial:
Midnight
blue, vertically brushed, rhodium-plated chapter ring and subsidiary dial, stainless steel hour and minute hands, steeled blue small seconds hand
Movement:
Massena
LAB calibre M660, manual winding
Frequency:
28,800
vph (4Hz)
Power reserve:
60h
Functions:
hours,
minutes, seconds
Strap:
dove
grey calfskin leather, Massena LAB-designed stainless steel buckle
Price:
$8,875
(approx. £7,100), limited to 99 pieces
More details at Massena LAB.
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