C Edition Six, Titanium

Debuting in 2021 under the name Continuum, Romain Guathier’s sports watch was an aggressively technical and thoughtful offering. Since renamed ‘C by Romain Gauthier’, this collection has expanded to include even more contemporary iterations. This is the final installment of the model, taken to its ultimate conclusion. Fully titanium in movement and case execution, this is the C Edition Six: a partially openwoked sapphire dial and rubber strap iteration. 88 examples were made, drawing a close to the model and this chapter which debuted the sporting side of Romain Gauthier. 

Revealing the escapement line assembly and seconds wheel, the partial openworking creates a more technical aesthetic. Interestingly, the area surrounding the aperture has its own unique bridge with a hand-engraved boucharder texture which precisely mirrors the movement bridges. What remains of the dial is brushed titanium under sapphire, where it should be noted each numeral is milled gold filled with Luminova which achieves a dimensionality few dials rival. As Romain explains of the design, ‘Rather than a series of enclosed circles, as we often see in watchmaking, I wanted an open, airy dial on which full or part orthogonal lines form vanishing points with the axes of the hands, reinforcing the notion of continuity.’

Including the strap and buckle, the total weight of this C Edition Six is a shockingly light 55 grams. This is only possible thanks to an entirely titanium calibre. The calibre is entirely in-house manufactured in an un-traditional yet still Vallée de Joux style. The bridges feature a stepped shape for depth. Outer edges feature a double-bevel, with a straight brushed border. The central area is given a hand-engraved dimpled texture, boucharder. Screws feature proprietary S-shaped heads and wheels have been largely opened with a unique circular, bevelled spoke. The hacking seconds incorporates an unusual small snail cam. When the seconds are re-engaged, that snail gives an impulse to the balance wheel that means it cleverly gets to full amplitude immediately. It is an echo of the snail torque system in the Logical One, with different application. It is a fundamentally impressive movement. 

The case of the C Edition Six remains traditionally 6-faceted with a 9.5mm thinness. This design is mirrored in the caseback. The crown is set to 2 in order to free wrist movement without digging. The rubber strap has been designed to perfectly integrate into the case shape, also complimenting the impression of its bridges.  

The C by Romain Gauthier is contemporary Vallée de Joux independent watchmaking for daily wearing. The entire watch has been designed carte blanche with a cohesive aim, something rarely seen from the larger Swiss brands. Every detail is considered, down to the S-shaped screws that ensure greater torque can be delivered to the screw head. It is a subtle dose of high watchmaking that will remain under the radar of most, independent to the core, and undeniably beautiful. It is the most adaptable and easily to live with Romain Gauthier yet made, no less beautiful much substantially more robust. 

This C Edition Six presents in excellent overall condition, worn sparingly since new. It comes with its full set, running well in specification.

This example is modelled on an average-sized 7-inch wrist.