Born in the Vallée de Joux, rightly known as Switzerland’s “watch valley”, Romain Gauthier studied precision mechanics and became a CNC programmer in a workshop which, under his guidance, became one of the best equipped in Europe. Even so, he never lost sight of the prospect of creating his own brand; a step he took in 2015 after several years spent working in secret on the development of a movement – which he sees as the starting point of any watch. After the classic-looking Prestige HM, Romain Gauthier presented the Prestige HMS in 2010 with a more daring and personalised design, featuring a dial partially open onto the movement. He went on to unveil a new interpretation of the latter in 2015 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his brand. The common denominator of all Prestige watches, the mechanical manual-winding movement renews the stylistic traditions of the Vallée de Joux, not least by placing the crown flush with the caseback. Mounted horizontally to the movement rather than at the usual 90° angle, it serves to improve winding efficiency and to reduce wear. Large, notched and slightly protruding from under the caseband, it can be easily used even when the watch is on the wrist. Moreover, it plays an important role in the aesthetic appeal of the 41mm case by leaving its smooth, round shape undisturbed. For the Prestige HMS – standing for Hours, Minutes, Seconds –, Romain Gauthier has designed a destructured multi-level dial, playing with the concept of nested circles. The solid upper part contrasts with the lower section that opens onto the regulating organ and also reveals the seconds wheel whose display overlaps the hours and minutes indication. The pink gold, white gold and platinum models have a diagonally open dial adorned with a central sunburst motif and an hours ring passing below a 180° seconds arc. The titanium models, including the black DLC-treated Enraged limited editions presented in 2016, feature a horizontally open dial adorned with lateral stripes and an hours ring passing over a 300° seconds arc. A solid meteorite dial completes the line-up. Other variations include the Prestige HMS Ten limited editions featuring a less open, more traditional dial with pared-down display zones that are invisibly fixed to a Clous de Paris hobnail guilloché base. They are a nod to their predecessors, the Prestige HM, to celebrate the brand’s 10th anniversary.

• Contemporary watch renewing the traditional style of the Vallée de Joux • Crown fitted flat on the caseback, accessible even when the watch is on the wrist