2013/04/13

Romain Gauthier the New Prestige HMS Titanium

 

Prestige HMS – Hour, Minute, Seconds – by Romain Gauthier is a perfect blend of the traditional and the contemporary. Hours and minutes are clearly legible in the large sub-dial, while cut-outs in the main dial reveal the intricate workings of the precision micro-mechanics of the in-house manufacture movement beneath. The visible oscillating balance wheel at 7 o’clock and open seconds’ wheel at 5 o’clock add vibrancy and animation to an already rich visual experience of mechanics, texture, colour and composition.

The dial of the Prestige HMS is a series of circles within circles. Working from the outside in, we have a chapter ring on a band around the perimeter of the dial. Inside that there is the off-centre sub-dial of the hours and minutes, its centre a harmonious composite of the engraved R. Gauthier logo on light grey, anthracite sun-ray guilloche radiating outwards and an opening allowing visual access to the movement below. A semi-circular ring arcs over the lower portion of the hour/minute sub-dial and indicates the seconds.

The elegant 41mm diameter case is distinguished by clean, unbroken lines around its full case perimeter and it is the remarkable absence of a crown that reveals just how special the movement is. Placing the crown on the back increases winding efficiency and water resistance, while reducing wear and stress of components. The large-diameter flat crown enables the watch to be easily wound, even while on the wrist.

The movement was entirely conceived, developed, designed, produced, assembled and regulated by Manufacture Romain Gauthier. Virtually every component bears Roman Gauthier's distinctive touch: from the Vallée de Joux style finger bridges that catch both the light and the eye with their seductive polished curves; the bespoke gear wheels with their circular arms; the polished screw heads with their distinctive S-slot; the delicate balance wheel with its distinctive curved arms and calibrated eccentric weights has been designed and manufactured by Romain Gauthier; and right down to the triangular pallet lever (a Romain Gauthier invention). In fact, the only components not designed by Romain Gauthier in the movement are the mainspring, balance spring and jewels (and even the latter are oversized to his specifications).

Prestige HMS is available in a 41mm diameter red gold, white gold or platinum case and a 43mm titanium case.