Nowadays, as is well known, the most desired and sought-after brands are undoubtedly those that have made Swiss watchmaking a real flagship thanks to the centuries-old history enclosed within each of the watches they produce.
However, in recent years, alongside what I would call the “mainstream” brands, the so-called “independent brands” have emerged. These are watchmaking realities that have made tradition, combined with innovation, their battle horse.
Maison that, unlike the more famous and known ones, have brought a new concept of timepiece to the watchmaking scene thanks to the combination of different peculiarities ranging from the creation of screaming mechanics to shapes and ideas never explored before, up to very high-level finishes.
Within this world of independent watchmakers, we include the maison that we will discover in detail today and that is increasingly being talked about, namely Romain Gauthier.
The Story of Romain Gauthier
This innovative watchmaking maison has its roots in 2005, the year in which the then thirty-year-old Romain Gauthier founded the eponymous company in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland. Romain Gauthier’s desire to create something innovative and never seen before in the world of watchmaking dates back many years before, more precisely to 1998.
That year, Romain, then a university student, found his passion: creating mechanical parts on a lathe. As his passion grew, the young Romain specialized in precision mechanics and, after graduating, began his first job as a programmer-operator of machines in a watch component factory.
From 1999 onwards, he then began, in his free time, to work on a project that was very clear in his mind: to create his own watch, according to his vision, so that it could be completely unique and singular. But many watchmakers, as we know, have entrepreneurial blood and between 2000 and 2002, the goal of creating his own watch expanded to something even bigger, creating his own watch brand.
Following a visit in 2002 to the atelier of one of the greatest watchmakers of our times, Philippe Dufour, Romain Gauthier realized that the desire to create something innovative and singular was affirming itself more and more. His foresight and creativity grew to such an extent that, what was then his boss, allowed him access outside working hours to the factory’s tools and machines, so that Romain could develop the pieces of his movement during evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Finally, 2005 represents what we can define as a point of arrival but, at the same time, as a springboard. That year, Romain Gauthier finally managed to realize his dream by founding his eponymous company in Le Sentier.
During the first year of work, Romain hired his first watchmaker, who completed and assembled entirely by hand the movement he was working on, the caliber HM 2206.
The caliber that in 2007 gave life to the first watch of the maison from the Heritage collection, namely the Prestige HM by Romain Gauthier.
From then on, thanks to the ability to create in-house high-end movements from A to Z with the help of the best tools and machinery, combined with talented watchmaking specialists, Romain Gauthier began to produce timepieces with captivating design combined with innovative internal movements equipped with a very high level of hand-made finishes.
2010 represents for the maison the year in which a more contemporary evolution of Prestige HM was presented with the addition of seconds and an interesting meteorite dial. Thus was born the Prestige HMS.
The following year, 2006, the maison presented the Prestige HMS Natural Titanium, the first titanium watch that laid the foundations for a new collection, Freedom, that is, a group of timepieces characterized by high-tech materials and a more “sporty” style. The change between the first Prestige and this last watch is evident, as well as the desire to experiment that Romain and his collaborators have.
In 2013, the Logical One was introduced, an incredible watch equipped with Romain Gauthier’s revolutionary constant force movement with a ruby link chain and push-button winding that, thanks to the innovations contained in it, allowed the maison to win the award for the best men’s complication watch at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. A truly incredible watch that combines mechanical wisdom with breathtaking three-dimensional aesthetics.
In 2014, coinciding with the creation of the new manufacture built in Le Sentier, the maison presents the Logical One Secret Diamonds along with the launch of the new Exception collection composed of unique pieces illuminated by virtuous displays of decorative craftsmanship.
Between 2015 and 2016, along with the growth of the Freedom collection, thanks to the presentation of various models, the prestigious recognition by the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie certified the maison as a company of “high watchmaking”.
In 2017, the maison’s first automatic watch equipped with a bidirectional micro-rotor named Insight Micro-Rotor was presented. This watch too, distinguished by Romain’s enormous ability to combine mechanics with aesthetics, giving the dial a simultaneously classic and modern look enriched by deep three-dimensionality.
In 2018, the maison’s offer also expanded to the female audience with the presentation of the Insight Micro-Rotor Lady with a mother-of-pearl dial and snow-set micro-rotor.
Finally, 2022 marks the year in which Romain Gauthier presents his first grade 5 titanium bracelet on the caliber C by Romain Gauthier.
What has made the maison famous, in addition to the 20 years of experience of the company’s founder in the production of components for the Swiss watchmaking industry, is undoubtedly the unique design that the manufacture proposes on the modern market.
Experience that, among other things, has allowed the creation of watches with innovative movements and components, along with entirely singular details.
What has certainly allowed the skilled Romain Gauthier to create what today is appreciated by the entire world of collecting is undoubtedly a strong link to the watchmaking tradition, from which every skilled independent creator has always started to bring their vision of what I define as a new era of watchmaking.
Romain Gauthier Collections
The collections currently present in the maison’s catalog are three: Heritage, Freedom, and Exception.
Starting with the first, the Heritage Collection, Romain Gauthier channels his deep knowledge of traditional Swiss watchmaking savoir-faire to create elegant timepieces composed of noble materials and complicated calibers.
The second collection, Freedom, represents Romain Gauthier’s bold vision of high-end watchmaking. Within this collection, the maison combines more contemporary materials with a sportier design and cutting-edge finishes. Despite the contemporary appearance, these timepieces encapsulate all the watchmaking tradition that has always distinguished watchmaking.
The third collection, nicknamed Exception, is dedicated to the creation of unique pieces and special requests. These are timepieces made thanks to the unique savoir-faire of the skilled artisans of the maison who combine unique decorative designs with micro-inlays of stones, gem settings, anglage, and hand-painted micro-engravings.
Final Thoughts
Leaving aside the economic aspect for a moment, I must admit that I think there are very few maisons capable of offering watches for which one can really get excited.
Those of you who have been following us for a long time will have understood by now how much my heart has always been towards the world of vintage as it is dominated by watches that have made History and that, above all, contain exciting stories to tell.
However, I must admit that, since I had the fortune to come into contact with the world of independent maisons, I have experienced a sort of second love affair with watchmaking.
Of this sector initially unknown to me, what certainly began to strike me is how much there can still be today, like in the past, a skilled watchmaker with such a great and singular vision capable of creating a company aimed at the production of timepieces that will remain in the history of watchmaking forever.
And this is precisely the case with Romain Gauthier, a skilled visionary who has managed to convey, through his watches equipped with screaming mechanics and design, his concept of a watch.
I dare say that, like certain special people one is fortunate to meet in life and whom one will never want to forget, these watches, for those who will have the fortune to touch them with their hands, will hardly fail to make you lose your head.
After all, obviously, the beauty of this crazy passion for watches is precisely a matter of emotions for those who, in the eyes of many, seem to be just objects but which, in truth, come to life once wound and worn on the wrist ready to beat and mark the time of our lives.
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