In the contemporary haute horlogerie scene, it rarely happens to witness the birth of a brand capable of attracting attention even before the presentation of its first timepiece. This is what is happening with Dominique Renaud, a signature born from the experience of one of the brightest minds in modern watchmaking engineering.
The official debut will take place in April 2026 at the Time To Watches show in Geneva, where the first watch from the new maison will be unveiled: the Pulse60. This is a particularly significant debut because it marks the moment when Dominique Renaud finally presents a creation with his own name on the dial.
Who is Dominique Renaud
To understand the value of this project, one must start with the figure of its founder. Dominique Renaud is one of the great innovators of modern watchmaking. His name is linked to numerous complications developed for some of the most prestigious Swiss maisons.
In the 1980s, together with Giulio Papi, he founded Renaud & Papi, an atelier destined to become a legend in the field of complex movement design. The facility would later enter the orbit of Audemars Piguet, transforming into today’s Audemars Piguet Renaud & Papi (APRP), one of the industry’s most important complication development centers.
Renaud has always been distinguished by a deeply experimental spirit. His method is to look at problems from novel perspectives, often overturning traditional paradigms of watchmaking mechanics. Throughout his career he has explored radical solutions for the regulating organ, working on extreme frequencies and innovative systems.
After decades spent creating for other brands, Dominique Renaud now inaugurates a new phase in his career by presenting a watch that directly expresses his vision.
HHDR: a multidisciplinary laboratory
The new brand was born within a structure dedicated to research, experimentation and development: Haute Horlogerie Dominique Renaud, abbreviated to HHDR.
More than a traditional manufacture, HHDR takes the form of a multidisciplinary laboratory where engineers, designers and watchmakers collaborate to imagine new archetypes and forms of contemporary watchmaking. The headquarters have been established in Tolochenaz, in the heart of the French-Swiss Jurassic Arc, a place that is intimate and deeply connected to nature.
Here for Dominique must converge visions, approaches and paradigms all united by the mantra: “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”
The Dominique Renaud brand represents the second concrete expression of this creative ecosystem, after the experience started with Renaud Tixier (born in collaboration with the young Julien Tixier).
And it is within this context that the first chapter of the new fashion house takes shape.
The new Pulse60
Dominique Renaud’s first signature watch is called Pulse60. The name already encapsulates the central idea of the project: sixty beats per minute, a direct reference to the frequency of the heart and human interaction in this project.
In the world of modern watchmaking, the quest for precision has often led to increasing the frequency of the balance wheel. Dominique Renaud, however, has chosen a different path, bringing the focus back to low frequency.
In fact, the Pulse60 operates at 1 Hz, that is, one full oscillation per second, equal to 7,200 alternations per hour. This choice significantly reduces the number of impulses and stresses that pass through the escapement during the operation of the movement. As a result, the dynamics of the balance wheel are smoother and less subject to perturbations generated by the power transmission system.
Time thus takes on a slower, more natural and human pace.
An out-of-scale barbell
To take full advantage of this low-frequency architecture, the movement employs a balance wheel of exceptional size for a wristwatch. At 20 millimeters in diameter, it represents one of the most distinctive elements of the Pulse60.
The large oscillating mass increases the inertia of the system, making it more stable in the face of torque variations and small shocks. The principle is reminiscent of that of historical marine chronometers, in which the amplitude and mass of the balance wheel helped ensure a smooth ride.
Dominique Renaud compares this behavior to that of a tightrope walker crossing a rope with a long balance rod. The longer the rod, the more stability the system gains .
The ultra-wide
The real innovation of the BUA2024 movement, which stands for Balancier Ultra Amplitude, concerns the amplitude of the oscillation.
In traditional movements, the amplitude is limited by the geometry of the system formed by the rocker arm, anchor and impulse pin. Above a certain threshold, the knocking phenomenon occurs, resulting in running errors.
Dominique Renaud has completely redesigned this assembly to allow a much wider oscillation. In the Pulse60, the amplitude can exceed 360 degrees, with a theoretical limit approaching 700 degrees.
This freedom of movement allows the rocker arm to oscillate more naturally and stably, reducing the influence of micro energy variations. The system thus works with a wide operating margin, comparable to that of an engine operating far from the critical zone of maximum speed.
A mechanics to watch
The design of the Pulse60 was created with the aim of making this technical research immediately visible. The large balance dominates the scene through an opening in the dial that allows us to observe its slow oscillation.
The case features soft, sinuous lines. The domed sapphire crystal, the absence of a traditional bezel, and the integration with the strap create a very contemporary silhouette.
The arrangement of the indications follows a clear logic: hours and minutes are placed in a counter at twelve o’clock, seconds are at nine o’clock and show a characteristic natural half-snap generated by the frequency of one hertz. In contrast, a torque indicator appears at three o’clock, signaling the energy available in the barrel.
Through the sapphire crystal caseback one discovers a movement with a deliberately essential construction, based on simple geometric shapes that highlight the architecture of the escapement.
Specifications and availability
The Pulse60 features a 40 millimeter case with a thickness of 12 millimeters and is made of grade 5 titanium or a combination of rose gold and titanium. The hand-wound movement works at a frequency of 1 Hz and provides a power reserve of four days. Water resistance is 30 meters.
The watch will be available from April 2026 with a target price of 49,000 CHF for the titanium version and 59,000 CHF for the two tone rose gold and titanium version.
The beginning of a new story
With the Pulse60, Dominique Renaud inaugurates a new phase in his career and an exquisitely personal vision of contemporary watchmaking. The research on low frequency, the monumentality of the balance and the exploration of ultra amplitude tell of an approach that looks at tradition with an inventive spirit.
It’s the first chapter in a story that has just begun, but is already rich in technical and cultural content. A promise that hints at new directions for mechanical watchmaking in the coming years.
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