Gold, platinum, stainless steel and… Well, just gold,
platinum and stainless steel. Collectors of ultra high-end watches rarely
deviate from these traditional case materials when choosing the next addition
to their timepiece collection.
Titanium? For all its merits – strength, lightness and
biocompatibility – this material is more often associated with tool, sport or
avant-garde watches, rather than exquisite dress timepieces. Ultra high-end
collectors just don’t seem to go for titanium.
At least, those were the thoughts running through Romain
Gauthier’s head when he had the idea for Logical One Natural Titanium.
“In my experience, most ultra high-end collectors enjoy
their timepieces in gold, platinum or steel,” says Gauthier. “Titanium is still
a step too far for many."
He continues: “I respect that but I believe that in time
high-end collectors will move over and eventually won’t think twice about
acquiring an haute horlogerie timepiece in titanium. For Logical One Natural
Titanium, my instinct was ‘build it, and they shall come’.
“Personally, I really wanted to see Logical One Natural
Titanium become a reality, not least because I think Logical One and natural
titanium were made to go together.”
A paragon of fine Swiss watchmaking, Logical One is Romain
Gauthier’s Grand Prix de Genève-winning creation that contains a revolutionary
snail cam and friction-minimising ruby-link chain, plus sapphire-lined
mainspring barrel, to offer nearly two days of constant force – the holy grail
of precision watchmaking.
Its beautifully hand-decorated, in-house movement can be
admired dial side and through the display back, and is wound using an ergonomic
winding pusher integrated into the caseband.
It features hours and minutes on an off-centre subdial,
small seconds, and a 46-hour power reserve indicator on the back.
Part of Logical One Natural Titanium’s splendour lies in the
contrasts created by the various finishes applied to the case and movement:
light and dark, polished and satin-finished.
The mainplate, mainspring barrel bridge and lower bridge for
the constant force mechanism bear a deep anthracite ADLC finish.
Yet, the balance bridge, escape wheel bridge and power
reserve indicator bridge are in a bright palladium-treated brass that brings
out the fine hand-finishing of these parts.
Likewise, the upper ‘bar’ bridge for the constant force
system is in light-hued natural titanium.
As for the titanium case, the lugs, bezel, caseback, pusher
and time-setting crown are satin-finished, creating a gentle sheen that forms a
fine counterpoint to the gleaming caseband, which has been highly polished.
The alligator leather strap is in casual matte black with
light grey stitching.
The result is a real high-end collector’s timepiece, yet one
boasting all the advantages of titanium: Its robustness makes for a durable
case; its light weight provides an eminently comfortable wear; its
biocompatibility means those with nickel allergy need not worry.
Photographs: Romain Gauthier
And on the wrist, it makes a real visual statement. There is
a hint of casualness, a soupçon of sportiness, but not quite overpowering
enough to eclipse its credentials as an exquisite dress timepiece.
Logical One Natural Titanium is available with oven-fired
white enamel dial with flame-blued steel hands (pictured), oven-fired black
enamel dial with 18k gold hands, or black clous de Paris dial with 18k gold
hands.
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