Loading...Last year I met Jacky Epitaux, the CEO of Rudis Sylva, in Geneva. He invited me to Les Bois so I took the trip to visit him after the SIHH and GTE finished.
He took me around to meet his Masterwatchmaker Mika from Finland and his Emailleuese. Unfortunately, his Guillocheur was sick back then. Nevertheless, I received in insight into the talent for watchmaking and artisanal talent in the Jurassic mountains which I never expected and which was a real learning experience for myself.
Now, Rudis Sylva has created a new masterpiece, the RS12 Grand Art Horloger.
This new timepiece belongs to the best in watchmaking that is possible.
Rudis Sylva is proud to present the RS12 Grand Art Horloger, the third generation of timepieces equipped with the Harmonious Oscillator and decorated in the most exquisite fashion.
This revolutionary regulator featuring two toothed balances is a unique invention minimising the effects of gravity while boasting highly sophisticated decorative details hand-worked by the Jura region’s finest craftsmen. Its technical characteristics are also exceptional:
- The two toothed balances are interlinked. This link ensures the same amplitude. The symmetry and energy of the balance springs are constantly opposed, enabling instantaneous average correction in the vertical position, which minimises the effect of gravity.
- The cage turns 360 degrees in 60 seconds
- The pallet fork is positioned at 90 degrees
- The double barrel ensures a power reserve of 70 hours
- The frequency is 21,600 vibrations/hour (3 Hz)
Seconds indicator bridge
Machined from titanium and hand-bevelled, this bridge at 6 o’clock includes no fewer than 28 internal angles. It takes 10 times longer to create a sharp internal angle in titanium than a rounded corner in steel.
Main plate
The lower part of this strategic component features a hand-crafted guilloche decoration of tapering pyramids. From the edge to the centre of the piece, each guilloche line includes 60 pyramids, each one smaller than its neighbour, requiring extremely meticulous guilloche operations.
Engraving
Apparent in the marking on the double barrel bridge or the caseback sundial and inscription, the extremely precise engraving magnifies the skill of the hand-engraver whose painstaking work is carried out under microscope.
I have an interesting anecdote to tell about the sun clock which is made in enamel on the back of the watch. Jacky Epitaux took me to the house where the sun clock is on the outside of the big farm house. That sun clock is the base picture for the sun clock on the back of this watch.
In the past, the jurassic watchmakers were farmers during summer, and watchmakers during winter. You can still tell nowadays in which farm houses a watchmaker was doing their work by looking at the windows. All the watchmakers needed more light than a regular farmer so they built two windows really close to eachother. Normal farmers only have one window standing alone.
Oven-fired enamel
Silica stones are crushed by hand and mixed with water. The resulting material is then applied to the hand-engraved surfaces and placed in a special oven at 840°C. The resulting enamel is then polished to obtain the perfect dial.
The unique technology offered by Rudis Sylva positions the Harmonious Oscillator above most existing tourbillons, since the effects of gravity to which it is subjected are minimised. The hand-finishing makes each piece unique and pays tribute to the various branches of watchmaking artistry.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Case
Material: red or white gold 18k
Width: 44 mm
Height: 14.3 mm
Case finish: vertical satin finish
Bezel finish: polished
Horn finish: welded, polished and micro-blasted
Inter-horn distance: 23 mm
Back
Engraving: by hand
Decoration: hand-engraved sundial with overn-fired enamel
Sundial origin: artisan watchmaker’s farmhouse from 1750, Les Bois
Strap: real alligator, large scales with tassel
Buckle: tongue red gold or white gold 18k
Crown: red gold or white gold with engraved logo
Brand logo: 3 fir trees on 3 mountains
Logo symbolism: settling of the Jura by clearing, around 1350
Dial
Hour and minute indicator ring: sundial decoration
Second indicator ring: bevelled
Hand centre: hand guilloche work
Hand guilloche work pattern: progressive circular pyramids
Hands
Material: Gold
Hand decorated: drawing on the 2 faces, bevelling on the flanks
Main plate
Hand guilloche worked, 60 tapering pyramids
Movement
Harmonious Oscillator
Dimensions: h. 7.78 mm / d. 39.55 mm
Winding: manual, 49 crown revolutions
Power reserve: about 70 hours
Manufacture: made by Rudis Sylva
Purchases from third parties: 7 parts: escapement, stones, spring, Incabloc
Indicators: hour, minute, seconds
Main plate machining: on machine with bed plate, 175 operations
Precision-tested: 100% of components
(Information and pictures taken from the Rudis Sylva Homepage, thank you to Jacky Epitaux)