Sartory Billard
SB10 Cheese Grinder

A first interpretation (and a joke)

(note from April 3rd 2026) :

This SB10 “Cheese Grinder” was originally presented as an April Fools’ joke. The response, however, has been unexpectedly strong—strong enough to make us seriously consider bringing it into production. In the meantime, we invite you to explore this page, conceived as a “serious joke” presentation of what might soon become a reality. Armand Billard

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The SB10 marks a new step for Sartory-Billard. A jumping hour watch conceived around touch, where material is no longer just seen, but becomes a surface to explore. The deliberately minimal display frees a central space designed as a direct point of contact.

With the SB10 Cheese Grinder, Sartory-Billard introduces a deliberately straightforward approach to material, integrating a cabochon crafted from a Swiss Jura cheese grater. Selected for the precision of its stamping and the regularity of its perforations, this surface retains the properties that define its original function, while offering a new interpretation—both functional and unexpected.

A functional cabochon

This piece was born from a simple, almost mundane observation of life in Swiss watchmaking workshops. At times, without leaving the bench, one might take a quick break with a piece of cheese and some bread nearby, instinctively shaving a few flakes without preparation or dedicated tools. In those moments, the gesture is immediate, natural, almost obvious—and it is precisely this spontaneity that the SB10 Cheese Grinder seeks to capture.

An intuitive ergonomics

The cabochon therefore retains its primary function. It is not a decorative motif or a symbolic reference, but an active surface—one that enables a simple gesture capable of turning an ordinary moment into immediate satisfaction.

Whether preparing an impromptu snack, adding a few shavings to a dish on the spot, or responding to a sudden craving for grated Gruyère, the watch supports a real, unfiltered use—without staging.

No hands

The SB10 Cheese Grinder features no hands.

Time is entirely displayed through two ultra-thin sapphire discs, approximately 0.2 mm thick, which seem to almost disappear into the light.

The hour disc jumps 30 degrees every 60 minutes, instantly revealing the next numeral. This mechanism creates a strong visual effect—almost cinematic: a precise instant, a transition, a beat, a pulse.

The minute disc moves continuously around the cabochon, creating a contrast between jumping time and flowing time.

Two rhythms coexist—one discreet and punctual, the other smooth and continuous. It is this duality that defines the SB10’s unique character.

Minutes in orbit

The minutes are displayed via a sapphire disc completing a full rotation every sixty minutes. Around the cabochon, a peripheral ring coated with Super-LumiNova BGW9 traces the passage of time.

A red marker crosses this luminous ring, indicating the minute with immediate clarity during the day.

But it is at night that the SB10 reveals another dimension. The ring glows with an intense turquoise light, forming a continuous halo around the cabochon. The light appears to float, suspended around the central material.

Time is no longer simply read—it becomes atmosphere: a slow, silent, almost hypnotic rotation, a luminous circle in motion, an almost celestial phenomenon on the wrist.

The mechanism

Beneath this refined architecture lies a coherent mechanical construction.

The SB10 is powered by the G100 automatic calibre from La Joux-Perret, paired with a patented jumping hour module ensuring a crisp and precise jump.

Both hour and minute discs are made of sapphire and housed within a 39.5 mm stainless steel case.

Every technical choice serves a single vision: clarity, coherence, and obviousness.