The Romain Gauthier Insight Micro Rotor is extended with a series comprising of three limited edition watches in white gold with enamel dials. Each dial version – black, blue and white is limited to 10 pieces.
The Insight Micro Rotor series is not new. It was first introduced in 2017, and the line has been extended a few times – with a titanium version and ladies version in 2018. The ladies edition added an opal dial earlier this 2019, and is extended again at Baselworld 2019 with this enamel dial editions.
Romain Gauthier Insight Micro Rotor White Gold Enamel Dial
Three versions are offered, all in a white gold case. Each is limited to only 10 pieces – viz a black enamel, blue enamel and white enamel dial.
The case, dial and hands
The case remains unchanged from earlier versions, but now ececuted in white gold. The basic 3 piece round case comprise of a polished bezel with a bombé sapphire glass, a polished rounded case middle and a case back with an open sapphire crystal. The crystal is not symmetrical and rises to the highest point over the hour-minute display.
“The gleam of the white gold case, the matte finish and gilded tones of the movement…. For me, this historical combination of colours and finishes is the one that most evokes a collector’s watch,”
Romain Gauthier
The case includes a lip in the case band which flares out to join the bezel and the crown is at 2 to free up space for wrist movement.
The dial proper is reduced to a sub-dial carrying the hour/minute indications and a overlapping smaller sub-dial carrying the subsidiary second hands. The rest of the dial is open to show the beautifully finished bridges. The base is a 4N rose gold plating over a beautiful frosting which is made by hand. This provides a beautiful contrast with the rhodium plated bridges.
On the dial left, at 9 is a bridge carrying the micro-rotor, and on the right is pierced to show the winding system. The balance is visible and is held in place by a stylized bridge at 6.
The hands used are the either in gold for the black and blue versions or blued steel for the white.
The sub-dials are grand feu enamel over gold dials. And appear to be magnificently fired and finished, held in place by polished gold rings.
The movement
The front dial side is opened and shows the bridges for the micro rotor and the balance wheel, and another part of the bridge which is also opened to show the winding mechanism. The micro rotor is not suspended, but is attached to bridges on both sides of the movement, making it very stable. The pivots of the micro rotor are mounted on rubies (unusual), and the rotor itself run on ball bearings.
From the back the bridges are also frosted, with highly polished anglage.
Movement finishing is excellent throughout. The design itself is a showcase of haute horlogerie. It calls for many inward and outward acute angles. And the execution is top drawer. The front side is quite impressive with the polished bridges casting a bright contrast over the frosted gilt backdrop. All the bevels are hand-polished. As are the other finishing details like the hand-frosting, circular-graining, straight-graining and snailing, in addition to hand-made and hand-polished jewel countersinks.
Concluding thoughts
The Romain Gauthier Insight Micro Rotor White Gold Limited Editions with Enamel Dials is a beautiful personification of the Insight collection. The contrast afforded by the gilt background with the silvery white rhodium bridges and the dark (or white) enamel dials is magnificent indeed.
At 39.5mm case diameter, the watch is highly wearable, and is comfortable sitting on the wrist.
Romain Gauthier Insight Micro Rotor Limited Edition Enamel Dial Specifications
Edition
18k white gold case with 4.5N rose gold, palladium and rhodium treated movement
3 x 10-piece limited editions:
- 10 pieces with oven-fired white enamel dial on 18k gold base, complemented by flame-blued steel hands
- 10 pieces with oven-fired black enamel dial on 18k gold base, complemented by 18k white gold hands
- 10 pieces with oven-fired blue enamel dial on 18k gold base, complemented by 18k white gold hands
Features and indications
Off-centre hours, minutes and small seconds
In-house, automatic movement featuring 22k gold bidirectional micro-rotor
Double mainspring barrel in series for generous 80-hour power reserve
Dial and hands
Oven-fired enamel dial on 18k gold dial base, with 18k gold or flame-blued steel hands
Movement and finishing
Dimensions: 32.1mm x 6.8mm
Power reserve: 80 hours
Number of jewels: 33
Number of components: 206
Balance frequency: 28,800 vph / 4Hz
Components in: 22k gold micro-rotor, steel, stainless steel, beryllium copper, brass and German silver
Finishing: Highest-level haute horlogerie hand-finishing
Case
Material: 18k white gold
Dimensions: 39.5mm x 12.9mm at highest point
Water resistance: 50m/5atm/170ft
Sapphire crystal with interior anti-reflection coating, front and display back
Crown for winding and time-setting at 2 o’clock
Strap and buckle
Brown alligator leather strap hand-stitched in Switzerland with white gold pin buckle. Deployant buckle available upon request.
1 Comment
Excellent watches!