Offering a striking contrast between strength and softness, the fourth edition of the C by Romain Gauthier boasts a black ADLC titanium case and a structured black titanium dial.
Introduced in 2021, the C (Continuum) by Romain Gauthier from the Freedom Collection reflects the independent luxury Swiss watchmaker’s creative freedom with a modern and youthful design. Made of grade 5 titanium, this mechanical wristwatch stands out with its contemporary design, untypical yet uncluttered dial, comfort and ergonomics. Inspired by the finger bridges style, the design of its movement follows the watchmaking history of the Vallée de Joux but with a modern approach.
In 2022, the watchmaker introduced the C by Romain Gauthier Titanium Edition Two, a Titanium Edition with a Bracelet and a Platinum version of this model. A few months ago, the brand launched a Titanium version with a Lever de Soleil color dial and titanium bracelet. Joining now is a new C by Romain Gauthier watch with a black ADLC titanium case and black PVD dial with a small seconds dial featuring bright blue tapered lines.
C by Romain Gauthier is all about modernity and continuity, both in terms of its movement architecture and dial design. The hour-minute hands are actually off-centred on the horizontal axis and the hour indices taper ever so slightly and are of varying lengths, while the 5-second intervals of the small seconds at 7 o’clock are also marked by tapering bright ice blue lines of differing lengths.
The tapering, three-dimensional hands and index are made from 18k white gold and filled with Super-LumiNova for enhanced legibility, as are the numerals and applied hour markers, each of which has been produced from a single piece of white gold and features bevelled edges to give a punchy presence. The dial is made from black titanium that has been structured to provide a three-dimensional straight-graining texture.
The titanium bezel is first machined into a round shape featuring a circular bevel before six straight sides are cut into it to create 6 facets. While these facets, which have been polished, reflect the light and bring the bezel to life, the rest of the bezel absorbs light thanks to its satin-finishing. The same facetted design is replicated around the sapphire crystal on the back of the watch.
On this fourth edition, the case, as well as the lugs and buckle, made of Grade 5 black titanium, have been coated with a technical ADLC treatment allowing an aesthetical black finish. This carbon-based coating reinforces the scratch and shock resistance, hypoallergenic, it is also resistant to chemicals products and solvents.
In between the bezel and caseback, the one-piece caseband and lugs are geometrically sculpted, with satin and polished finishes as well as aesthetic grooves cleverly deployed to draw out the resulting shapes. Meanwhile, the rubber strap with titanium pin buckle follows the form of the angular lugs and rounded caseband so it appears as a continuous, organic extension of the case.
The winding and time-setting crown at 2 o’clock frees up space for wrist movement. A rubber ring around the crown makes it easier to manipulate, as well as adding a dash of colour to the timepiece.
This timepiece comes with an intelligent stop-seconds mechanism that uses a snail cam. Like many stop-seconds mechanisms, a brake is placed on C by Romain Gauthier’s balance wheel when the crown is pulled out. But instead of using a straight or L-shaped balance stop lever to halt the balance, Romain has opted to employ a snail cam that performs a double function: It touches and stops the balance wheel when the crown is pulled out and, when the crown is pushed back in, the snail cam makes a turn, with its increasingly wide form giving the balance an impulse to help it start beating again.
Fusing the themes of modernity and continuity, the manual-winding, in-house movement is visible through the display back. It shows off a number of finger bridges. Historically typical of the Vallée de Joux but reinterpreted here in a contemporary way, these bridges are horizontally configured and feature a ‘stepped’ shape.
The bridges are made from lightweight, natural Grade 5 titanium and they boast contrasting tones and textures thanks to a variety of finishes. The outer edges of each bridge all feature a double bevel, while the flat bridge surfaces and rubies are each framed by a raised border that has been straight-grained. Within these borders, the hand-finishing specialists at Manufacture Romain Gauthier have used a special hand-engraving technique to create a highly original dimpled texture.
The movement mainplate beneath has been hand-frosted. Romain’s trademark gears and ratchet wheel featuring circular, bevelled spokes have been circular-grained, while the click, snail cam and screws with S-slot heads – another signature of Romain – have been highly polished. Finally, the lid of the mainspring barrel has been embellished with a superb snailing decoration.
Its regulator features the Romain Gauthier balance wheel with curved arms and calibrated eccentric weights, plus hand-assembled pallet lever that is triangular for maximum rigidity.
This new model is a limited edition of 38-pieces and engraved “1 of 38” on the back of each movement.
Technical details
Model: C by Romain Gauthier Titanium Edition Four
Edition
38-piece limited edition in black Grade 5 titanium, engraved “1 of 38” on the back of the movement
Indications
Off-centred hours and minutes
Small seconds at 7 o’clock
Dial and hands
Three-dimensional straight-graining structure dial in black PVD and protective layer against UV rays
Off-centred hours and minutes
Small seconds at 7 o’clock with 5-second intervals marked by tapering bright blue lines
Super-LumiNova-filled 18k white gold hands and applied numerals and hour markers
Movement
In-house, hand-wound movement
Dimensions: 32.10 mm x 5.50 mm
Power reserve: 60 hours
Number of jewels: 24
Number of components: 154
Balance frequency: 28,800 vph / 4Hz
Components made from: Titanium, steel, stainless steel and German silver
Finishing: Superlative decoration by hand
Treatment: Natural titanium bridges and rhodium-treated gears.
Case
Material: Grade 5 titanium coated with black ALDC
Dimensions: 41mm x 9.55mm, lugs to lugs: 49.5 mm
Water resistance: 50m/5atm/160ft
Crown for winding and time-setting featuring coloured rubber ring, at 2 o’clock
Watch supplied with a rubber crown ring in blue
Sapphire crystal with interior anti-reflection coating, front and display back
Strap
Black rubber strap with specially developed, satin-finished and polished Grade 5 titanium pin buckle coated with black ADLC
Total weight of the watch
55g, including rubber strap and pin buckle
Retail price
CHF 38,000 without taxes
