Romain Gauthier likes to forge its own path. “ I work step by step, I prefer taking country roads rather than highways. It takes longer but you learn more, you make discoveries”. So there is no question of taking well-trodden routes for this free spirit with a background in engineering who defines himself as a “creative designer with a passion for watchmaking” rather than as an independent watchmaker. In the wake of the classic HM and its younger sibling the HMS, both driven by an in-house movement, the Logical One appears like a perfectly logical next step in the work of Romain Gauthier. This timepiece stemming from two years of development represents “the quintessence of what I am capable of designing and developing in terms of relevant horological complications, aesthetics, design and finishing”.
Two extremely important innovations
The Logical One is above all the culmination of research based on the efficiency of constant force in the quest for timekeeping precision. “Looking at things from an engineer’s perspective, it seemed strange to operate a high-precision machine with variable force,” comments Romain Gauthier, who thus undertook to reinvent the fusee-chain mechanism, one the oldest systems for transmitting constant force to a movement. The goal was to increase the robustness of the mechanism and achieve enhanced reliability. “The chain is a fragile element in a classic construction”, adds Romain Gauthier. To address this issue, the “engineer-watchmaker” replaced the traditional fuse with a snail placed on the same level as the mainspring, thus enabling the use of s short chain with larger and sturdier links. Another important innovation featured in the Logical One is the pushbutton winding system. “This is the only watch on the market with push winding”, explains its creator. “Fifty or so presses are enough to wind the mechanism.”
In terms of design, the constant force device is positioned firmly front and centre, framed by an elegant case in red gold or platinum. Romain Gauthier explains this aesthetic approach in these terms: “In my view, constant force is tomorrow’s tourbillon. But people are still not very aware of this complication, which is why I wanted to put it in the spotlight. It was crucial to create a wow effect.” That goal has certainly been reached with this model dedicated to collectors looking for innovation and exclusivity.
