Romain Gauthier

Romain Gauthier hails from the Vallee de Joux in Switzerland. The Vallee de Joux is a heart of Swiss watch tradition. Traditional craftsmanship of the Vallee de Joux is identified by characteristic decoration and traditional fine finishes of mechanical works of art. In the Vallee de Joux it is a point of great pride to be recognized as a true craftsman, just from a glance at finished work under a glass. Romain Gauthier has strived to bring this tradtional qualities to his own brand with the skills and toil of years in the watch industry.

Romain Gauthier’s skills as a micro-engineer have led him to develop his own calibre. The calibre was in development over the course of six years. An admitted perfectionist, Romain Gauthier wanted to realize all of his ideas for his calibre to the fullest, prior to offering the calibre as a complete product. The first watches were realeased as a series enititled “Prestige”. Indeed, this style of Haute Horology screams prestige. The watches feature unique manufacture calibre with bespoke engine turned guilloche dials. All finished to perfection and presented in a hand made custom machined steel and glass cylinder. Mr. Gauthier offered a second version of this watch, known as the “HMS”. The HMS features dials that are layered and apportioned partially in squelette. The style allows the wearer to view the fantastic and rare design, machine and finish work through both the front of the watch and through the sapphire display on the rear. A rare treat for any lover of fine horology.

The next advance from Romain Gauthier was the invention and subsequent release of Logical One. The primary idea of Logical One, the majority of machines run on constant force: Cars and planes don’t start running more slowly as fuel runs low and machines receive the same voltage no matter how much electricity is produced. Yet, the power that runs and regulates most high-precision mechanical timepieces varies greatly according to the state of wind of the mainspring. Constant force, or constant torque, is one of the holy grails of horology and with Logical One, Romain Gauthier has reinvented the chain-and-fusee − one of the oldest methods of supplying constant force to a horological movement − making it more reliable, more effective… and more constant. Romain Gauthier’s invention contains an innovative snail cam connected to the mainspring barrel by a ruby-link chain. With the snail cam and mainspring barrel configured so they are ‘flat’ – i.e. on the same plane – force is transmitted in a straight line for an ultra-efficient transfer of energy. The relatively short length of the chain allows it to contain strong, generously sized links in steel featuring rollers made from low-friction, hard-wearing synthetic rubies. The chain is joined together via a smart snap-clip system.

Winding Logical One is a veritable tactile pleasure thanks to Romain Gauthier’s innovative push button winding system, with the pusher set into the caseband at 9 o’clock. Another demonstration of Gauthier’s clever engineering, the pusher efficiently transmits force to the barrel on the same plane. That the pusher protrudes just slightly from the caseband and follows the curve of the case is an aesthetic tour de force. Logical One’s movement was conceived, developed, produced, decorated, assembled and regulated at Manufacture Romain Gauthier in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland. The spectacular decoration includes hand-created and hand-polished rounded bevels, hand-frosting, snailing, straight-graining, circular graining as well as hand-polished jewel countersinks. Virtually every component of the movement bore Roman Gauthier’s distinctive touch: The highly visible balance wheel with curved arms and calibrated eccentric weights; the curvaceous balance bridge; bespoke gear wheels with graceful circular arms for maximum strength; hand-decorated bridges; high-efficiency profiles of the gear teeth; polished screw heads with s-slot for more length; and Romain Gauthier-invented triangular pallet lever for maximum rigidity. All these elements can be admired dial side, while more of the movement can be viewed through the display back. So accomplished is it that Logical One was awarded the prize for Best Men’s Complication watch by the jury of the 2013 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève – the Oscars of watchmaking.

Insight Microrotor, an horogical step to follow Logical One. Sweeping around the centre of the dial are small seconds surrounded by an hour-minute subdial at 12 o’clock, beating balance at 6 o’clock and, at 9 o’clock, the swaying micro-rotor, framed by a cut-out in the mainplate. This compact oscillating weight turns fluidly and noiselessly between two bridges, each fitted with a friction-minimising, wear-resistant ruby bearing. In whichever direction the micro-rotor swings, it winds a serially operating double mainspring barrel that, when fully wound, provides 80 hours of power. There are more stunning views of the movement through the display back: The sinuous shapes of the hand-bevelled, hand-polished bridges – secured using Romain Gauthier’s signature S-slot screws – are juxtaposed by the linear plaquettes adorning them, while the gears and ratchets stand out for their circular arms that have been bevelled. Part of these timepieces’ splendour lies in the contrasts created by the various finishes applied: Light and dark, polished and satin-finished, straight-grained and hand-frosted.

C, Romain Gauthier opening new horizons with a refined and modern new timepiece. Romain Gauthier-C by Romain Gauthier reflects Romain’s creative freedom with a modern and youthful design. This new timepiece is the result of more than 16 years of know-how acquired through the development of the brand and the Manufacture.Technical in nature, casual in style and free in spirit, the Freedom collection has enabled the creation of this piece, which represents a true continuity in space time, a vision of the future and opens the doors to new horizons for the brand. During its creation, it was clear to Romain that the case had to harmonize with the movement. It had to be contemporary and uncluttered. But not only that – comfort, ergonomics and the choice of materials also contributed to the design of this case made entirely of Grade 5 titanium. The dial, also of Grade 5 titanium, adds to the consistency of the piece and evokes a sense of continuity, as no circle completes the time indication. Inspired by the finger bridges style, the design of the movement follows the watchmaking history of the Vallée de Joux, with a modern approach, reflecting Romain’s vision of the evolution of tradition. C is the current platform of recent releases from Romain Gauthier.

In terms of finish, their are few other watch makers or firms in the world that produce a watch with calibre finished as artisianally as Mr.Gauthier has chosen to render his calibre. The wheels in this movement must be seen to be believed. There is no one on this planet, that I have seen that makes wheels as they are in this calibre. In fact, I have witnessed no fewer than five master watchmakers, that produce their own watches, marvel at the finishing work of Romain Gauthier. The absolute highest compliment and praise in the horological world is to have ones true colleagues and peers marvel at your product. So, Mr. Gauthier, I say Chappeau! I am proud to own and represent this fine work that is from the very soul of the creator and the Vallee de Joux.

For more information : http://www.romaingauthier.com

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“C” by Romain Gauthier, on titanium bracelet (open dial) (52,000 CHF)