The latest addition to the Insight Micro-Rotor family features a blue grand feu enamel dial that is frosted to give it a shimmering effect. The new release is limited to 10 total pieces and is priced at CHF 73,000.
The Logical One won the GPHG award for Men’s Complication when it was released in 2013 for a good reason. Gauthier’s research and development into the traditional fusee-and-chain constant force mechanism was a revolution in the usage of energy efficiency for a wristwatch. Gauthier and his team developed the caliber in-house and it’s on full display through sapphire crystals in the front and back. Situated to the left of the hours-and-minutes dial and its overlapping small seconds subdial, the chain-and-fusee mechanism has an unusual snail cam connected to the mainspring barrel by a ruby-link chain. With the snail cam and mainspring barrel thus configured to be on the same plane, force is transmitted in a straight line for an ultra-efficient transfer of energy. The relatively short length of the chain — which is joined together via a smart snap-clip system — enabled its designers to use strong, extra-large steel links, with rollers made from low-friction, hard-wearing synthetic rubies. To eliminate potential uneven friction within the mainspring barrel — a problem that occurs when the metal spring scratches against the edges of the brass barrel while it is unwinding — Romain Gauthier has placed the mainspring in the Logical One between synthetic sapphire plates. Sapphire has a low coefficient of friction with steel, making it an ideal material for this purpose. The result of all these innovations, according to the brand, is a movement boasting two full days of constant force, and hence a high level of timekeeping precision. Another distinguishing feature of this watch is its clever push-button winding system, with an ergonomic pusher set into the side of the 43-mm case at 9 o’clock. Protruding just slightly from the caseband and following its curves, this pusher efficiently transmits force to the barrel on the same plane. When fully wound via this pleasurably tactile method, the watch stores 46 hours of power reserve, which is displayed on an indicator on the back of the fully visible movement. The time on the hour and minute hands are set separately, via a crown at 2 o’clock.
This year, the Logical One in its white gold dressing boasts 92 baguette-cut diamonds totaling 7.2 carats across its bezel, lugs, and clasp. It’s a one-of-a-kind piece with its price available upon request.