FounderFest: Why the echo/neutra Rivanera Piccolo “Rosa d’Epoca” is Zach’s personal favourite of the seven
Zach BlassTeeny, tiny Tank Normale, in titanium, from Time+Tide. Well, really, it is from Italian independent echo/neutra – but with an obligatory Time+Tide twist. Founded in 2018 by designer Nicola Callegaro and aerospace engineer Cristiano Quaglia, echo/neutra really broke through to a broader audience with its launch of the Rivanera in 2024. To be honest, it was the launch of its classic rectangular-shaped watch, remixed with contemporary notes, that the brand really appeared on our radar.
The minute Andrew and I first saw it, we knew it was a future classic, and that it would be the most instantly recognisable design from the brand. echo/neutra could have just ridden the wave, placing new dial colours and textures within its Rivanera case for years to come, but a year later, in 2025, the brand debuted a new iteration, the Rivanera Piccolo, that made the case more compact in length and, in exchange for a slight 1mm increase in thickness, an automatic movement.
The slender 6.9mm-thick case, which measures 26mm in width and 33mm in length, is 3mm larger in each direction compared to the original length and width of the original Cartier Tank from 1917. But while it shares the proportions and silhouette of the aforementioned design icon, it is not by any stretch a mere homage.
Firstly, the lightweight yet robust case is made of grade 5 titanium and thoroughly modern with its fine-grain sandblasted finish. Shouldering the brancards of the case are thin mirrored bevels, adding literal lines of flair that really punch through against the more muted sandblasted surfaces. In the same way Tudor made a bronze dive watch that Rolex would never attempt itself, everything about the Rivanera Piccolo case breaks all the rules the Cartier designers perhaps wish they could.
Watch buyers have particularly been enjoying more monochromatic designs as of late, so where the case ends, the dial somewhat seamlessly takes over, continuing the dark grey hue of the case. However, we wanted a not-so-subtle, but tasteful, pop to the dial, rendering the dial text and central hands in pink – which not only simply looks great but increases the legibility of the dial. Speaking of legibility, we wanted there to be some sense of an outer minutes track.
So, rather than the full tone-on-tone border you would find on regular production models, on the Rivanera Piccolo FounderFest Studio Edition this border has been sectored, with the spaces between and the corners of the border lines creating clearer points that can serve as hour indexes. Lastly, at 6 o’clock, a date complication, with a white-on-black disc, is nestled between the ‘Swiss Made’ text, maintaining the symmetry and harmony of the overall dial.
The dark grey and pink colour combo is by no means random. As with all of our other FounderFest editions, its inspiration is drawn from music. For this one, we kept being drawn to the monochromatic album art that would be punctuated with sharp points of colour, often used by Indie bands from the mid-1980s all the way through to the 2000s.
As we have come to expect with the Rivanera Piccolo, our Rivanera Piccolo FounderFest Studio Edition will be bundled with two straps. The first, like previous standard models, is a black rubber strap, a pairing that only works due to the contemporary look and feel of the Rivanera Piccolo design.
The second, exclusive to our Rivanera Piccolo FounderFest Studio Edition, is a grey suede strap with rose-coloured stitching to tie in with the pink elements on the dial. Inside, and exhibited on the caseback, is a cost-effective and strong-performing Sellita SW1000 calibre. It is an automatic movement with a humble 46 hours of power reserve.
While we could never ask Andrew, the founder behind, or co-parent of, each of these FounderFest Studio Editions to pick a favourite, I can certainly nominate one. As someone who has longed to add a Tank Normale to my collection, but can never seem to justify bringing one into my collection due to not having a spare US$20,000, nor a reason for another plain-Jane white dial, this Rivanera Piccolo FounderFest Studio Edition is my favourite design of the pack.
It delivers just enough traces of Tank Normale to scratch that itch, with a completely contemporary and overhauled design that incorporates grade 5 titanium, handsome and unexpected finishes for a design with this form, and a colour palette that is both bold and restrained. It will set you back effectively a tenth of the price of a 78902, but it is anything but a tenth of a watch.
echo/neutra Rivanera Piccolo “Rosa d’Epoca” Time+Tide Studio Edition pricing and availability
The echo/neutra Rivanera Piccolo “Rosa d’Epoca” Time+Tide Studio Edition will be available at FounderFest from September 19, then globally online at the Time+Tide Shop during a 24hr window beginning on September 22. Following that, this Studio Edition will be available exclusively at the Time+Tide Studios in London, Melbourne, and New York. Price: £1,650 (incl. VAT) / US$1,995 / AU$2,880 (incl. GST) / €1,495 (excl. VAT)
| Brand | echo/neutra |
| Model | Rivanera Piccolo “Rosa d’Epoca” Time+Tide Studio Edition |
| Reference | RN2HTT |
| Case Dimensions | 26mm (D) × 6.9mm (T) × 33mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Grade 5 titanium |
| Water Resistance | 30 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Dark grey grained dial with lacquered frame |
| Strap | Grey suede strap with rose-coloured stitching and additional black rubber strap |
| Movement | Sellita SW1000, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 46 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, date |
| Availability | Available beginning September 19 at FounderFest US/UK/AU Available online globally on September 22 for 24 hours only, before becoming an in-store exclusive across Time+Tide’s Discovery Studios |
| Price | £1,650 (incl. VAT) / US$1,995 / AU$2880 (incl. GST) / €1,495 (excl. VAT) |