amerix
1537
I am wondering about the movement
There appears to be a huge amount of empty space that could have been filled with an extra barrel, a larger balance wheel, or reserved for future complications, whereas the movement itself seems crowded into an area close to the concealed winding gear that serves as the replacement for a crown.
Perhaps someone more knowledgeable than I could explain the purpose and intent of this particular (or peculiar) archeticture.
And whether the very fine finishing by the two young and talented members of his staff also extends to the gear teeth and other functional parts, which were not neglected by a Philippe Dufour.
In short, I am not enthused and less than amused.
amerix
Sneak peek at one of my favorite independent watches
I went to a small dinner tonight where Romain Gauthier was in attendance. His watches are GORGEOUS! The lighting at the venue was more about ambiance than great picture-taking, but here's a photo to whet your appetite! Cheers, Daos...
Daos.....
Thanks for the teaser Daos! I'm looking forward to more photos and details on the event. Romain Gauthier watches are amazing.... I have a chance to see them in person but have yet to handle one. Always amazed by the movement's finish and construction aest...
I find them tempting, as well.
Aaron, you must handle one if you get the chance. Really, they are quite special. IMO there's a soulfulness and honesty about them -- in their design and construction -- that I find appealing. I'll post more pictures soon. I've had out-of-town guests visi...
Ronald, here's another pic from the evening.
I'm afraid it is no better, and does the watch no justice whatsoever. I hope Daos' other pics turned out better. These watches are amazing to behold (not an exaggeration), and Romain is a charming spokesman. Best, Jed...
:-)
I'll be posting some more pictures soon, and I hope you'll take a look! Cheers, Daos
I am wondering about the practicality of the winding system...
For conventional watches, it is always a joy to hold a watch by the case between two fingers with my left, and wind it with my right, while admiring it from different angles. For Romain Gauthier watches, how does it feel to wind it with the watch on the w...
Feel gooood
If I remember correct, mr Gauthier decided to make the teeth of the winding wheel a little bit more "smooth". When we tried one of the first proto-types, you could say it was somewhat uncomfortable because the teeth were quite sharp. Later versions had sl...
I thought the winding experience I had with the Prestige...
...was quite smooth. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Mark! Cheers, Daos
I did wind the watch but not while it was on my wrist
The feel while winding is smooth and even. Romain certainly had some compelling thoughts about why he chose to include the crown on the watch back. From our casual conversation at dinner, this design element is both in service to the mechanics of the watc...
I am wondering about the movement
There appears to be a huge amount of empty space that could have been filled with an extra barrel, a larger balance wheel, or reserved for future complications, whereas the movement itself seems crowded into an area close to the concealed winding gear tha...
Architecture
My humble opinion about this calibre is that it was made to focus the eye on the finishing. I am sure that it is possible to put much more into this volume, but Romain Gauthier wanted to put the finishing and the fact that almost everything is made in his...
very well put, Don!
I guess we share similar ithoughts and impressions. And surely with regard to the dial! CNC micro-engineering combined with cosmetic hand-finishing makes me wag my head a little more these days - if not enough to use my head as a winder - even with a trul...
Hi, Don!
It's interesting to me that your feelings about the finishing have shifted from one visit to the next. I very much enjoy the choices that Romain has made in terms of decoration. The dial seems to be a weak (or strong, depending upon your position) point o...
I wonder why the movement is so compact while ...
..... there is so much space around. I have tried to understand and sketched the wheel train onto the RG caliber movement picture. Perhaps the explanation is that the empty space was saved purposely for further development such as an automatic winding mic...
I certainly can't speak for the watchmaker...
...but I do think the design is purposeful and my feeling is that we are also meant to enjoy the finishing aspects of the movement. Cheers, Daos
Interesting thoughts, Amerix!
Thanks for posting them. I agree that there is a fairly large amount of negative space within the body of the movement in the Prestige, but for me, I find the balance of emptyness and "filled" spaces to be a pleasurable yin-yang of sorts visually. I know ...
but can you compare it with
a Nicolas Delaloye? Just a point for discussion - not controversy! amerix
It's one of mine, as well!
You are a man of great taste IMO, FX! I hope you are well. Cheers, Daos
Personal like and don't like
I like RG's movement very much. I even rank it higher than Dufour and Kari's movements from naked eyes. But I don't like the dial. This is just my personal preference. Regards Ling
Hi Ling!
It's great to hear all the different viewpoints, and I'm glad you shared yours here! The dial is certainly a point of discussion for many. For me personally, I enjoy the use of classical techniques in service of a non-traditional dial layout. Cheers, Daos