The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Brands like Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Breguet and so on, get the maximum attention to the exclusion of others in the industry. A much smaller number, know of independent watchmakers whose work elevates them into a category of horology that only a select few are a part of.
L-R: Romain Gauthier, Dr.George Daniels , F.P.Journe, Roger Smith
There are several differences between the industrial giants of watchmaking and independent watchmakers. The most glaring is the number of watches each produce a year. For example, Rolex produces over seven hundred thousand timepieces a year where as an independent and his small team would make between fifty to a hundred.
In an independent watchmaker's facility, raw materials are tested in house. Furthermore, the manufacture of the miniscule watch components, their polish and hand finish is done by specialised professionals. Quality control and assembly of hand-finished parts to create a variety of calibres are all carried out within the same establishment. Consequently, only very highly skilled employees work on these different processes, sometimes to an insane degree of perfection. A module or watch movement produced with this high level of human participation, entirely under one roof constitutes an 'in-house movement.'
One of my favourite if not my most favourite independent watchmakers is Romain Gauthier. Born in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland, he grew up in a region replete with watch making houses like Audemars Piguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Breguet.
Valley de Joux , Cradle of Watchmaking, Switzerland
Gauthier landed his first job of making parts for wrist watches. He followed that with a course on the subject of precision mechanics backed by a diploma in learning how to build machinery. A deep understanding of how machines work coupled with a business management course equipped Gauthier to enter the niche world of independent watchmaking.
Today, Gauthier works with a small team of highly skilled individuals that design and create up to fifty watches a year. His company also manufactures exceedingly precise watch parts for other watch brands located in the region.
He firmly believes in preparing future generations of watchmakers trained to the highest standards to carry on his legacy. Perfection in design, massive attention to the most minute of details, excellent hand finishing and innovative technology come together in all the timepieces stamped with the Romain Gauthier name. He currently produces three lines of watches - the Prestige HM & HMS, the Logical One and the Insight Micro Rotor series. The watch that appeals to me the most is the Logical One.
More on this timepiece in part two of this blog.
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