The new piece by Romain Gauthier named Logical one Secret Kakau Hofke is a model that offers the highest standards in three different areas. Its appearance categorizes it as a true work of art, while the manner in which the idea was executed makes it a representative of the highest kind of skilful craftsmanship. Thirdly, it also excels in a horological sense. The novelty by Romain Gauthier possesses a stunning and original dial with the depiction of Rio de Janeiro that was designed by the famed Brazilian artist, Kakau Hofke. Her idea and the lovely scene she envisioned were materialized with the use of painstaking micro-marquetry stone technique. Finally and most importantly, it is a haute horlogerie piece since it runs on an award-winning intricate movement which completes the terrific ensemble of the watch’s basic traits.
Symbols of Rio De Janeiro with a Pop Art Twist
First of all, let us take a look on the lovely face of the watch which was designed with the idea to include some of the most iconic visual elements of Rio de Janerio, the city that served as the inspiration for the piece. These scenes were created by the worldly renowned artist, Kakau Hofke. The Brazilian representative of pop art genre is recognizable for her distinctive use of overlapping color patterns which can also be seen on the dial of the new Romain Gauthier piece.
Kakau Hofke
By the way, the artist and the watchmaker that combined their forces in the creation of Romain Gauthier Logical one Secret Kakau have a long history of collaboration. Kakau Hofke was also responsible for the creation of the brand’s logo back in 2005 when the watchmakers was founded.
Rio De Janeiro
For the new timekeeper, Hofke picked two symbols that immediately point out to the city in which she was born in and which inspired the creation of the model. The first one of these is Corcovado hill with the statue of the Christ the Redeemer, the most famous landmark of the Brazilian city. The other one is the pattern visible on the promenade that leads to Ipanema beach. These two symbols were skillfully melded into a harmonious scene of stunning beauty that gives the watch a true artistic appeal.
Micro-Marquetry Artistic Craft
Apart from the mentioned artistic aspect, Romain Gauthier Logical one Secret Kakau likewise possesses a side which demanded extremely skilful craftsmanship, since the depicted scene was executed by the means of the demanding micro-marquetry artistic craft. The discipline requires incredible skill and patience and utilizes pieces of stone which are put together to form the desired scene.
In this particular case, no less than 352 minute tiles of jade and agate were selected. To be more precise, there are 270 lavander jade stones, and 82 more tiles made of agate which are all cut with laser and then hand finished to the desired form. These pieces of stone with hand-performed mirror-polish which are just half a millimeter thin were subsequently assembled into a lovely scene. It took three months of demanding and skilful work in the prestigious atelier of Olivier Vaucher in Geneva to form the desired scene which features a highly domed bombe profile. Naturally, this is another trait that makes it even trickier to create.
The use of micro-marquetry forms a dial which features a lavender jade stone for the promenade pattern and the additional use of transparent blue agate for the hill with the most famous landmark of Rio de Janerio. Two motifs overlap in some parts, but thanks to the translucency of the super-positioned agate stone, one can still notice the lower motif made in jade.
The end result is a stunning three dimensional scene which brings these motifs together. It is easy to demonstrate how successful the entire thing is, since Romain Gauthier Logical one Secret Kakau is already preselected for the GPHG 2015 award in the artistic crafts category.
This potentially award winning scene with the Brazilian motifs goes along with a pair of off-centered indication of which one is used for hours and minutes, while the other one shows small seconds.
Horological Value
So it is pretty clear that just this sort of dial would be quite enough to differentiate the watch and to reserve its position in the higher niche of timekeepers. However, the manufacturer was not satisfied solely with the visual aspect. Instead, it decided to equip the piece with the exceptionally strong haute horlogerie quality as well. That is why the timekeeper includes a Logical one movement. The impressive caliber is hidden below this scene, but also visible on request, when the wearer presses the appropriate pusher at the four o’clock position and activates a hinge that allows the front view on the movement.
The whole concept is reminiscent to the systems that can be seen in hunting pocket watches, while the only difference is that it is in this instance moved to the front side. Speaking of the case-back, the rear side of the movement can also be seen through a transparent rear section.
Once the wearer activates the hinge, he or she can observe the intricacy of the caliber which is so advanced that it received Grand Prix de Horlogerie de Geneva award in the category for the best men’s complication two years ago. The movement is so special and valued since it includes a fuse and chain system that guarantees constant force, which is of course of upmost importance for the steady rate and ultimately for the accuracy of the watch.
Not only that the watch includes this sort of system, it also has it in an improved form, since it introduces a new snail cam which operates in ensemble with a ruby-link chain and mainspring barrel with sapphire lining. The complete system which can be seen on the entire left side of the face is responsible for almost two days of functioning with the unchanged force (or to be more precise, it offers a power reserve that lasts for 46 hours)
Once the dial cover is removed, there is also a highly visible balance wheel which is held in place with an elegant and curved bridge and the lower right section. As for additional strongpoints of the watch, it should be said that the movement features as ingenious push-button winding system which is efficient and effortless for the wearer. All one has to do in order to fill the power reserve of the piece is to press the pusher at the nine o’clock position.
This revolutionary mechanical marvel which stands in the core of the model was naturally completely envisioned, designed and made in house and it was enriched with demanding haute horlogerie finishes and decorations. These include hand-polished screws and jewel countersinks, hand-polished plates and bridges, as well as hand-bevelled sections. When it comes to the materials that were utilized, it should be said that the movement includes plates and bridges which are made of titanium, steel and brass and which are all finished with palladium treatment. The operational frequency of the caliber used in the Romain Gauthier timekeeper is 28,800 vph.
The caliber is 35.5 mm wide and 10.5 mm thick. It integrates 37 jewels and 34 additional ones for its chain. All in all, the entire complex structure is consisted of as much as 357 components.
Romain Gauthier Logical one Secret Kakau is placed inside a round housing made of 18 K white gold. Its diameter is 43 mm, while the thickness measures to 15 mm which is not that much considering the complexity of its ticking heart. Moreover, the construction also involves a sapphire crystal with glare-proofed treatment and it is water resistant to 30 meters.
As for the attachment, Romain Gauthier selected a brown alligator leather strap with hand-stitching. It fastens with an 18 K white gold pin-buckle. This breathtaking watch was expectedly made in a single copy which gives it an additional doze of appeal.
