Details 

A very rare, unusual and spectacular double balance tourbillon wristwatch in white gold from the Rudis Sylva brand, founded in 2006 by entrepreneurs Jacky Epitaux, Laurent Frésard and Fabrice Thueler. Unique piece from 2023. 42.2-mm curved rectangular case in 18k white gold, 18.1 mm thick, sapphire window on the side of the case for observing the caliber, solid gold caseback with hand-engraved logo, inscriptions and the image of the sundial from 1750, filled with Grand Feu enamel. The pusher at 2 o'clock for setting the date. Galvanic purple dial, time display sub-dial with a guilloché, yellow hands, big date display at 2 o'clock and large opening for a tourbillon. In-house movement with manual winding, tourbillon with two balances, power reserve up to 42 hours. Functions - display of time in hours and minutes at 12 o'clock, date at 2 o'clock, tourbillon at 6 o'clock. Black leather strap, Rudis Sylva pin buckle in white gold. Unique piece. 

Lot essay 

The brand name Rudis Sylva is the ancient name of the village of Les Bois (Franche Montagnes, Switzerland), where the company is based. The entire collection of the brand is made on the basis of one caliber, which comes in three versions. Its main feature is a very large 17.4 mm tourbillon, in which two balances are installed. Each balance has a toothed edge, thanks to which the balances are constantly engaged and rotate in opposite directions when they vibrate. One of the balances has no connection to the escapement and receives power from the second balance, which in turn is coupled to the escapement. The entire tourbillon rotates in 60 seconds, which, according to watchmaker Romain Gillet, the inventor of this concept, allows for very effective compensation of gravity error - better than a classic tourbillon. The concept called Oscillateur Harmonieux was further developed by watchmaker Mika Rassinen for the Rudis Sylva collection. 

The movement is entirely made by the brand, only a few components are bought in: the escapement, the jewels, the springs and the Incabloc shock protection. The present example is equipped with a second-generation caliber, which features a large date display in the aperture at 2 o'clock. The workmanship of all components betrays a lot of manual labor. This is especially evident in the upper part of the tourbillon, which is made of titanium. The shape of this part is unusual and reminds of two bats with outstretched wings. Its top is decorated with a straight grinding, the chamfers are polished and the inner and outer corners have been finished with special care. Other parts of the movement are finished using various techniques typical of haute horlogerie. These include shot-blasting, chamfering of the bridges, guilloching of the main plate, circular brushing of the wheels, radial brushing and careful conical polishing of the drive wheel caps. 

The large tourbillon with double balance is always the center of attention and gives the watch a visual appeal. Thanks to the gear coupling of the balances, the watch produces a unique sound during operation, which makes the impression of this model unforgettable.

Available sources say that Rudis Sylva releases about ten watches a year, which makes each piece a rarity, especially if it's a one-of-a-kind piece like this one, which the brand first presented at the Watches & Wonders fair in Geneva in 2022. 

Reasons to bid 

The Rudis Sylva RS05 Oscillateur Harmonieux Piece Unique No. 18 would be an excellent purchase for collectors looking for a rare and complicated mechanical watch from a small independent and creative brand that makes unconventional and dynamic watches. The tourbillon concept of the RS05 Oscillateur Harmonieux watch is unique and fun, while the handmade decoration with guilloche, engraving and grand feu enamel gives it a sense of exclusivity. The obvious rarity, exceptional design and rare purple finish of the present example certainly add to its appeal - there is much about this watch that will delight the avid collector. 

Specification

Condition report