This year marks the 15th anniversary of the founding of the brand. In this milestone year, the brand is launching the new Insight Micro-Rotor Skeleton. This model allows you to enjoy the hand-finished craftsmanship that has been highly acclaimed since the brand's founding in 2005.

This model features a skeletonized in-house automatic caliber, aiming to create a cutting-edge skeleton watch that respects the traditions of haute horlogerie. To achieve this, not only has the watch been skeletonized, but the bridges and baseplate have been made of ultra-lightweight titanium, and each has been beveled. Beveling is a traditional Swiss watchmaking decorative technique that involves cutting off corners, smoothing the surface, and polishing it. The Insight Micro-Rotor Skeleton requires more than 250 hours of work just to chamfer the movement.

The Insight Micro-Rotor Skeleton is a custom-made model. Customers can choose their preferred case material, dial color, chamfer finish, and more at authorized retailers around the world.

The Insight Micro-Rotor Skeleton Story

Skeletizing the Insight Micro-Rotor


Not all movements can be skeletonized, both from a technical and aesthetic standpoint. Gauthier says: "If we were to skeletonize the Prestige HM or HMS, there would be a large amount of space, which would reveal too much skin. On the other hand, there is almost no part of the Logical One that can be skeletonized. In that respect, the Insight Micro-Rotor is well suited to skeletonization."

The Insight Micro-Rotor is an automatic three-hand model, and its in-house automatic movement is equipped with a bidirectional winding micro-rotor made of 22K gold. The micro-rotor, which rotates between two "bridges," can be seen from both the dial side and the case back. It uses ruby bearings, which minimize friction and are highly resistant to wear, so its movement is smooth and silent. It also efficiently winds the two barrels, which are arranged in series. When fully wound, it has a long power reserve of 80 hours. Gauthier describes it as follows: "The shape of the bridges, the position of the balance and micro-rotor, and the layout of the barrel and gears made me see new possibilities in skeletonizing this movement. I thought that revealing hidden details could bring even more excitement."


Material Selection: Ultra-Lightweight Titanium
The Insight Micro-Rotor Skeleton features a skeletonized baseplate and eight bridges. The baseplate and bridges were previously made of brass, but grade 5 titanium was used to ensure the strength and lightness necessary for skeletonization, reducing the movement's weight from 28g to 16g. Grade 5 titanium also achieves a natural color without the need for galvanic treatment, and can be polished by hand. Roman states:

"Processing titanium to the ideal state is extremely difficult. Completing each part requires more steps than with other materials. The machines also tend to wear out quickly. Machines can't be left unattended overnight due to the risk of fire. Above all, the skill of the operator is put to the test, as the finish must be within ±2 microns. Even a slightly smaller hole could cause the part to break when the watchmaker places the bearing jewel."


The pinnacle of hand finishing


Even more difficult than processing titanium is hand finishing. Since the brand's launch in 2005, this "hand finishing" has been highly acclaimed. A typical example is chamfering. The beauty of the chamfering is achieved by creating a face between the surface and the side and then polishing that face. The chamfering process is divided into the following steps: 1. Creating a rounded chamfer with a steel file 2. Smoothing the face with alumina 3. Finishing with emery paper 4. Polishing with diamond paste and a rod made from the stem of a gentian (a type of gentian native to the Vallée de Joux)

Skeletonizing the bridges and baseplate was a first for even the highly skilled chamfering team. First of all, the skeletonization process created 156 corners. The inner corners in particular were extremely difficult to access with manual tools. Titanium also presented its own unique material challenges.

Sylvie Deveaux, head of the chamfering team at Romain Gauthier, says: "I've been a chamferer for 17 years, but this is the first time I've worked on a movement that uses titanium to such an extent. I've worked with brass, steel, gold and nickel silver, and I've also used titanium in the Logical One's constant-force mechanism, which alone takes around 20 hours to hand-finish. The Insight Micro-Rotor Skeleton was a real challenge for me and my team. Titanium is extremely difficult to machine, let alone hand-finish. Compared to chamfering brass, every step takes longer. Sometimes we have to repeat the same step. Also, small particles can scratch the material, leaving spots that have to be redone.

In fact, it takes Romain Gauthier's chamfering specialists more than 250 hours to chamfer the Insight Micro-Rotor Skeleton's natural titanium baseplate and all eight bridges. These 250 hours are purely for chamfering.

Decorating the movement by hand or with a hand-operated machine takes even more time. Techniques include hand frosting, circular graining, and snail finishing, which can take an additional 100 hours or more.

Sylvie Deveaux says: "The Insight Micro-Rotor Skeleton is a test of mental stamina. It requires eight hours of concentration per day for a month and a half. It's like a marathon. Every single edge has to be chamfered until you reach the finish line."

In addition to the traditional chamfered finish, the Insight Micro-Rotor Skeleton also comes with a matte chamfered finish. This is a more subdued finishing method, where the chamfer is filed with a steel file, smoothed, and finished with emery paper, deliberately omitting the traditional final step to leave the surface matte.


A skeleton watch reveals new details
The hand-skeletonized bridges and mainplate reveal new details.


Between 1 and 3 o'clock, the winding and time-setting mechanism can be seen, complete with S-head screws. At 5 o'clock is the snailed mainspring, and at 7 o'clock is a beautifully beveled circular arm with circular graining. At 6 o'clock, the beating balance wheel appears to float, while at 9 o'clock, a micro-rotor swings into a distinctive space created by a circular hollow in the mainplate.


The see-through back allows for a better view of the movement. Once again, the micro-rotor takes center stage, transmitting torque to the gear train, which begins with the reversing wheel that allows the mechanism to rotate in both directions. The beautifully decorated mainspring and gears are now more visible thanks to the skeletonization. The curves of the bridges are in perfect balance with the straight plates to which they are attached.

"By making the Insight Micro-Rotor skeletonized, I believe it allows viewers to enjoy the details even more. Wearers of this watch can see the gears and other moving parts, further enhancing their appreciation of the movement. The skeletonization also gives the watch a more three-dimensional feel. Ultimately, I believe I have created the ideal skeleton watch." -- Roman Gauthier


As a Custom-Order Model
A watch created together with the customer
The Insight Micro-Rotor Skeleton is a custom-order model. Customers can choose their preferred case material, dial color, and beveled surface finish. This is part of the brand's commitment to building a relationship reminiscent of the "customer-watchmaker" relationship of medieval Western aristocracy, and to responding to customer orders. For example, the case is available in 18K red gold, 18K white gold, platinum, natural titanium, and black titanium.


The model in the photo has an 18K red gold case. The Grand Feu enamel dial has a hand-frosted matte finish, and the 18K red gold hands and indexes are white and gold. The movement bridges and main plate have matte chamfered edges. The micro-rotor, logo plate, and balance are all gold. The strap is a gray natural rubber strap with an 18K red gold pin buckle.

A wide range of customizations are available through custom orders, including the case, dial, movement, strap, and buckle. (Details can be found in the next section.)

Insight Micro-Rotor Skeleton Specifications

Functions and Indications
Off-center hour display, minute and small second display, in-house automatic movement (hand-skeletonized and beveled natural titanium bridges and baseplate), 22K gold bidirectional micro-rotor, double barrel with 80-hour power reserve

Dial and Hands
Grand Feu enamel dial, skeletonized hour and minute hands, small second hand
[Customization details] Material and color of hour, minute, and second hands, traditional or matte finish for the Grand Feu enamel dial, Roman or Arabic numerals

Movement and Finish
Size: 32.1mm x 6.8mm
Power reserve: 80 hours
Number of jewels: 33
Number of components: 206
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour / 4 Hz
Component materials: 22K gold micro-rotor, steel, stainless steel, beryllium copper, brass, nickel silver
[Customization features] Polished or matte finish on the chamfers of the bridges and main plate, engraved text on the plate

Case
Size: 39.5mm x 12.9mm (at highest point)
Water resistance: 50m / 5 bar
Crystal and caseback: sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inside
Winding and time-setting crown at 2 o'clock
[Customization features] Case material (choice of 18K red gold, 18K white gold, platinum, natural titanium or ADLC titanium)

Strap and Buckle
[Customization options] Natural rubber strap / hand-stitched alligator strap (color selectable), pin buckle / D-buckle (matched to the case material. However, if a platinum case is selected, the buckle material will be 18K white gold.)

Price
18K red gold case: matte beveled edges from 13.7 million yen (plus tax)
18K red gold: polished beveled edges from 17.2 million yen (plus tax)
18K white gold case: matte beveled edges from 14.2 million yen (plus tax)
18K white gold: polished beveled edges from 17.7 million yen (plus tax)
Natural titanium case: matte beveled edges from 13.3 million yen (plus tax)
Natural titanium case: polished beveled edges from 16.8 million yen (plus tax)
Black titanium case: Matte beveled edges Starting from 13.5 million yen (plus tax)
Black titanium case: Polished beveled edges Starting from 17 million yen (plus tax)
Platinum case: Matte beveled edges Starting from 17 million yen (plus tax)
Platinum case: Polished beveled edges Starting from 20.5 million yen (plus tax)


Romain Gauthier
Romain Gauthier is a luxury watch brand from the Vallée de Joux in Switzerland. Founded in 2005, 2020 marks the brand's 15th anniversary. Founder Romain Gauthier is a heir to the traditions of watchmaking in the Vallée de Joux, the birthplace of Swiss luxury watchmaking. He has earned acclaim from watch enthusiasts worldwide by combining his theoretical approach, drawing on his engineering background, with traditional watchmaking. In 2013, the brand won the Grand Prix de Genève Watchmaking Grand Prix (GPHG) award for Best Men's Complication. All watches, including the movements, are personally designed by Romain Gauthier, and are finished in the company's own workshop under his direction. Each watch is characterized by its exceptionally high level of finish. Approximately 60 watches are produced annually.

Authorized retailer of Romain Gauthier
Takashimaya Watch Maison Tokyo Nihonbashi
3-1-8 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0027
TEL 03-3211-4111
Business hours: 10:00 - 19:30

Kamine Kyukyoryuchi Store
1 Kyukyoryuchi Heiwa Building, 49 Harima-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0036
TEL 078-325-0088
Business hours: 10:30 - 19:30



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