R-Watch Watch: Local Colours
2011, Yverdon-les-Bains, a municipality in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. Romain and François Delafontaine set out to create a watch brand true to their values: R-Watch was born.
In 2012, they launched a first model called Air. This watch follows the codes of pilot’s watches, a passion shared by the two brothers.
R-Watch 3 Colours
In 2014, R-Watch unveils a watch whose surprise lies in the dial. The 3 colours features a rather astonishing complication: the hour markers change colour every day at midnight, or can be changed manually via the crown!
The designers came up with a simple yet brilliant idea that breaks the monotony of the dial and lets you match it to your outfit—or your mood.
The date function has been cleverly replaced by a 3-colour disc system. At midnight, the disc “jumps” to display a new colour (see the video at the end of the article).
If you want to change the colour manually, simply unscrew the crown and turn it until you reach the desired colour.
Local colours
You can now see the meaning behind my article’s title. It remains to shed some light on the word “local”.
Some initiatives are simply worth supporting, and the creators of R-Watch work as much as possible with local partners. The brand has not usurped its “Swiss Made” label. The oscillating weight, the movement, the dial, the discs and even the presentation box all come from Switzerland.
Elegant, the steel case—an understated 42 mm in diameter—is available with an engraved solid caseback or a sapphire display back. Water-resistant to 100 metres, it is also available in PVD. The design is pleasing: chic and modern.
The aluminium dial reveals, at the level of its hour markers, the disc combining three colours: white-yellow-green, red-yellow-blue or orange-green-blue.
The photographed model did not have them, but the hands are normally treated with Super-LumiNova. One can only hope the same will be true of the hour-marker disc.
The movement is an ETA 2824-2, with finishing left to the buyer’s choice.
The strap adds a touch of elegance with striking red stitching and a folding clasp.
Standard or high-end, with the option of adding the superb 22-carat gold oscillating weight engraved with the logo and made in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Price
Prices range from €2,150 to €2,730 depending on the level of finishing of the movement and the case.
Still very much under the radar for now, the R-Watch brand deserves to be better known—and closely followed.
R-Watch video
The website: www.r-watch.ch
