After qualifying in precision mechanics then in machine-tool construction, both at École Technique in Le Sentier, Romain Gauthier made his debut at François Golay, a manufacturer of high quality components, where he developed the nascent precision-turning workshop. He would remain there for nine years, all the while studying for an MBA which he obtained in 2002. Despite being the “name in the frame” to take over at the head of his employer’s business, an idea had formed in a corner of the young man’s mind to branch out and develop his own movement. In 2005 he established his company, Romain Gauthier, in Le Sentier. Two years later at Baselworld he showed his first watch, the Prestige HM, an hours-minutes model equipped with the HM 2206 in-house movement. Already, the hallmarks of a Romain Gauthier watch were there: the original movement architecture, a revisited classical aesthetic and movement finishing that is as near perfect as possible. Indeed, for Romain Gauthier as for Philippe Dufour, his mentor who guided him through the launch of his brand, finishing is an art.
Romain Gauthier
Celebrities
For Romain Gauthier as for Philippe Dufour, his mentor who guided him through the launch of his brand, finishing is an art.
So as to give his fledgling business every chance of success, Romain Gauthier developed a parallel activity producing high added value components for other brands; the idea being to ensure the company’s long-term viability while Romain Gauthier watches gradually made their name. Here, too, a reputation for quality kept order books full and brought in new clients. They included Chanel who, impressed by what they saw, took a stake in the business that would enable it to further expand. Which it did, first with a new version of the Prestige with small seconds, then with the Logical One, equipped with a fusee-chain-type constant-force mechanism on the dial side, with the balance, and wound by a pusher. Having outgrown its old premises, in 2014 the company moved to a new address. The Insight Micro-Rotor, the brand’s first automatic watch, came shortly after.
A version for women followed in 2017. The brand now applies its expertise to three collections - Freedom, Exception and Heritage – differentiated by the aesthetic treatment given to the four models in the portfolio. The latest to date is C by Romain Gauthier, a contemporary design introduced in 2021. With production in the region of one hundred watches a year, Romain Gauthier has earned the respect of the most discerning collectors.
2002
Awarded an MBA. His dissertation was a business plan for a start-up watch company.
2005
Established Romain Gauthier SA in Le Sentier. First in-house movement, the HM 2206.
2007
Romain Gauthier debuted at Baselworld with the Prestige HM.
2010
Launch of the Prestige HMS.
2011
Chanel took a minority stake in Romain Gauthier SA.
2013
Presentation of the Logical One with a constant-force mechanism.
2014
Moved to new premises in Le Sentier.
2017
Launch of the Insight Micro-Rotor, the brand’s first automatic watch. Introduced as a version for women the following year.
2021
C by Romain Gauthier.
