The Romain Gauthier Logical One is not a new watch…it is a fascinating and stunning timepiece, with an interesting take on both the constant force and fusée-and-chain mechanism. So, how do you improve something that is seemingly hard to beat? Well, Romain Gauthier had decided to tackle the aesthetics by introducing a new case material: Natural Titanium.
According to Romain Gauthier, he was inspired to produce an ultra high-end Titanium timepiece as wanted to offer collectors something different from the usual Gold and Platinum cases. Furthermore, he adds that “the Logical One and natural titanium were made to go together”. Well, we can certainly agree with that, after taking a look at the pictures of this new timepiece.
The Romain Gauthier Logical One Natural Titanium.
For those who are not familiar with the Logical One, you can proceed to read our review here. What is revolutionary about this piece is its constant force and fusée-and-chain mechanism, which won Romain Gauthier the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2013 for the “Men’s Complications” category. Unlike the conventional fusée and chain system, the Logical One replaced the traditional hyperboloid-shaped fusée and flattened it to a snail cam. This reduces the side tension as the fusée unwinds. Romain reasoned that the snail cam and mainspring barrel configured on the same plane, the chain line is improved and hence it is able to transmit energy via a straight line. This, as a result, should make the system more efficient. The snail cam offers a similar ability to equalize torque like a fusée. Chain friction is reduced by using synthetic rubies (for the links in the chain), as well as to place the mainspring between synthetic sapphire plates.
The back of the Logical One. It is actually pretty stunning, with a myriad of finishing methods.
Another curious feature is the winding mechanism. Instead of the standard winding system where one turns the crown to wind the watch, the Logical One requires the user to push the button at the 9 o’clock position to wind it. We are not sure how many presses it would take for the user to fully wind up the watch’s 46 hours power reserve, but we think that it is a fascinating and novel process.
A close up shot of the Logical One.
Now, with the new case, we think that the Logical One is now even more attractive. This 43mm watch features a Grade 5 natural titanium case with anthracite ADLC, and it is matched with a palladium-treated movement. The finishing on both the case and movement, needless to say, is excellent. Additionally, the owner is given a choice to fit the watch with one of the three excellent dial options (either an enamel white or black dial, or a blackened brass dial featuring the Clous de Paris guilloché). The watch will be paired with a matte black alligator strap, and it will retail between CHF 98,000 (for the Clous de Paris dial) to CHF 102,000 (for the enamel dial versions).
Product Specification:
Logical One Natural Titanium by Romain Gauthier
Edition: Grade 5 natural titanium case with anthracite ADLC and palladium-treated movement
Features: Hours, minutes, small seconds, 46-hour power reserve, push-button winding and innovative chain-and-fusee style constant force system featuring snail cam and ruby-link chain
Dial and hands: Oven-fired white enamel dial on a 18k gold base complemented by flame-blued steel hands, or Oven-fired black enamel dial on a 18k gold base complemented by 18k gold hands, or Blackened brass dial featuring Clous de Paris guilloche complemented by 18k gold hands
In-house movement
Dimensions: 35.5mm x 10.5mm
Power reserve: 46 hours
Number of jewels: 63 in total, including 26 for the constant-force chain
Number of components: 359
Balance frequency: 28,800 vph / 4Hz
Movement components in: Steel, stainless steel, beryllium copper, brass, titanium and German silver
Patents: 4
Finishing: Highest level haute horlogerie finishing<
Case Dimensions: 43mm x 15mm
Water resistance: 30m/3atm/100ft
Sapphire crystal with anti-reflection coating front and display back
Crown for time-setting at 2 o’clock
Push button for winding at 9 o’clock
Strap: Matte black alligator leather strap with light grey stitching, hand-stitched in Switzerland with titanium pin buckle
