Romain Gauthier Prestige HM
Created by Romain Gauthier, the Independent Swiss watch maker based at La Vallée de Joux, Prestige HM watch collection features an original in-house movement and design. The elegant hand-guilloched solid-gold dial with off-center time indication is fairly traditional; however, the apparent lack of a crown gives an indication that the movement beneath is anything but.
The superbly finished movement features an innovative flat crown on the back, which is easy to wind on the wrist. The case is available in white gold, red gold and platinum and has a diameter of 41mm. Limited edition of 38 & 8 with baguette-cut diamonds set in the bezel.
Exuding clarity, classicism and refinement, Prestige HM features off-centre hours and minutes, superlatively hand-finished, in-house movement, graceful case and ergonomic case back crown.
Inside the chapter ring of the 18k gold dial, the smooth-finished, off-centre hours-minutes subdial bearing the R. Gauthier logo is flanked either side by a gorgeous guilloche that shimmers in the light. The dial elements are fixed invisibly from beneath, lending the displays a delightful purity.
The graceful case is distinguished by clean, unbroken lines around its perimeter, with the absence of a ‘normal’ crown revealing just how remarkable the movement is.
By placing the crown flat on the case back, Romain Gauthier has increased winding efficiency since energy no longer needs to be transmitted through 90°, while the large diameter and undulating profile of the crown enable Prestige HM to be effortlessly wound, even while on the wrist.
Turning over Prestige HM, the wearer can admire the finely-finished Calibre 2206 HM through the display back. This movement was conceived, developed, produced, decorated, assembled and regulated at Manufacture Romain Gauthier in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland.
Virtually every component of the movement bears Roman Gauthier’s distinctive touch. The bespoke gear wheels feature circular arms providing elegance and strength. The polished screw heads bear an aesthetic S-slot that enables more torque to be applied during assembly. The regulator boasts a Romain Gauthier-designed balance wheel featuring distinctive curved arms and calibrated eccentric weights, as well as a high-efficiency triangular pallet lever, another Romain Gauthier invention.
The large movement bridge with a cut-out and the Vallée de Joux style finger bridges around the bottom catch the light and the eye with their polished, rounded bevels that have been meticulously created by hand. Such anglage is the hallmark of superlative hand-finishing, for which Romain Gauthier has become renowned.
The jewel countersinks are also hand-made and hand-polished, while the mainplate recesses are decorated with spotting (perlage). As many as 60 hours have been devoted to hand-decorating the movement – even those components that are not on show.
Prestige HM has been created in four 38-piece limited editions: 18k white gold, 18k red gold with black dial, 18k red gold with champagne dial and 950 platinum.
Prestige HM with diamond-set bezel – featuring 60 baguette-cut diamonds totalling 3.86 carats set into the bezel – has been created in four 8-piece limited editions: 18k white gold, 18k red gold with black dial, 18k red gold with champagne dial and 950 platinum.
Technical details
Model: Romain Gauthier Prestige HM
Editions
18k white gold – 38-piece limited edition
18k red gold with black dial – 38-piece limited edition
18k red gold with champagne dial – 38-piece limited edition
950 platinum – 38-piece limited edition
With diamond-set bezel
– 60 baguette-cut diamonds totalling 3.86 carats:
18k white gold – 8-piece limited edition
18k red gold with black dial – 8-piece limited edition
18k red gold with champagne dial – 8-piece limited edition
950 platinum – 8-piece limited edition
Features and indications
Off-centre hours and minutes subdial at 12 o’clock
Multi-textured gold dial featuring smooth and guilloche finishes
Superlatively hand-finished, in-house movement
Movement visible through display back
Graceful case
Flat crown on case back for ergonomic winding
Dial and hands
Smooth finish on subdial
Guilloche finish around hours-minutes subdial
Roman numerals
18k gold hour and minute hands
Movement and finishing
In-house manufacture movement Calibre 2206 HM
Power reserve: 60 hours
Number of jewels: 22
Number of components: 126
Balance frequency: 28,800 vph / 4Hz Features
Finishing: Highest-level haute horlogerie finishing
Case
Dimensions: 41mm x 12.1mm
Water resistance: 10m/1atm/30ft
Sapphire crystal with interior anti-reflection coating, front and display back
Winding and time-setting crown on the caseback
Strap and buckle
Alligator leather strap hand-stitched in Switzerland with red gold pin buckle where case is red gold, and white gold pin buckle where case is white gold or platinum
