Manufacture Royale is an independent watchmaking brand with a strong personal language. One of the key features of their watches is the possibility to be personalised with a high degree of liberty. The Manufacture Royale Bespoke program permitted the creation of spectacular pieces, keeping the brand’s signature intact. Today, I want to present you one of these bespoke pieces, the Manufacture Royale Androgyne Light Blue Rose Gold – Royale Bespoke. The timepiece was seen and photographed during the Baselworld 2019. More pictures in the article’s gallery.
Manufacture Royale Androgyne Light Blue Rose Gold – Royale Bespoke
Manufacture Royale‘s bespoke program was unveiled at the beginning of 2018. This step was a natural evolution for the brand. The bespoke workshop evolved continuously as the result of the creative mind of David Gouten, CEO of Manufacture Royale and Jérôme Marcu, “horloger créateur”, the collectors request and market trends. The personalisation palette permits the creation of unique colour schemes that could fit any imagination and desire.
One of the most complex cases in the industry
The Androgyne itself requires no presentation. It has one of my favourite cases ever. With a complex construction, the case fits great on the wrist and offers, besides a spectacular look, comfortable wear.
The case complexity is one of the highest on the actual horological theatre. Even the nameplate is carved on the case body with negative engraving.
The case is adorned with sandblasted and high-polished surfaces. The two steps bezel is fixed with twelve screws.
The articulated lugs, besides the cool appearance, give a more comfortable position on the wrist. What seems to be a relatively big watch sits well on the wrist.
A blue skeleton
Another important characteristic of the Manufacture Royale Androgyne Light Blue Rose Gold is the skeletonised movement and dial. The presented piece has a movement coated with a layer of metal oxide. The colour shade is obtained by coating with a controlled oxide thickness.
The dial and the movement construction is an architectural play of depths. The dial layout is relatively symmetrical and pleasantly balanced.
At the dial of the Androgyne, ingenuity meets functionality. Due to construction, the dial does not permit indexes. For ease in the readout, the twelve screws of the bezel serve as hour indexes.
The empty space at 9 o’clock is used for a shield bearing the name and the logo of the brand. The gold component makes a nice contrast with the azure shade of the dial.
An interesting note is given by an omnipresent shape: the sword shape visible at the hands and bridges.
The calibre MR02 is charming. The form and function are nicely mated. The movement is part of the dial, the dial is part of the movement. This duality makes the watch’s complexity a strong point.
The watch is admirably finished. The mainplate and the bridges are chamfered and suffer an engaging polishing. The details worth a dedicated time for study. The blue coating highlight the sunray pattern. It is an eye-catching show.
Wrist presence and final words
The Androgyne Light Blue Rose Gold is good for a large variety of wrist sizes. The articulated lugs permit a firm but comfortable wear. The feel of the watch depends on the case material. The titanium version is almost surprisingly light. The rose gold version presented today looks nice on the wrist and catches attention immediately. Partly to its crazy construction, partly to its unusual colours.
The keyword for this watch, and for the entire Royale Bespoke creations, stays in the name – bespoke. The case can be manufactured in various metals and can be personalised further in colour. The movement can be also personalised by different coatings. Even if this version has a unicolour, by the wish, the movement can receive multiple treatments. Only technology and imagination are a limiting factor.
Manufacture Royale Androgyne Light Blue Rose Gold technical Specifications
Case
- Material: pink gold
- Dimensions: 43 mm x 10.20 mm
- Glass: sapphire crystal
- Water-resistance: 3 ATM / 30m
Calibre MR02
- Type: hand-wound mechanical
- Ruby: 17
- Functions: hours, minutes, tourbillon
- Power reserve: 108 hours
- Frequency: 21,600 vibrations per hour
- Finishes: azure blue CVD finish, Geneva stripes, edges chamfering and polishing,
Strap
- In hand-sewn alligator with blue stitching
- Gold pin buckle
