Renaud Tixier Marks Its Inaugural Debut With “Monday”
An artisanal timepiece equipped with an innovative “dancer” micro-rotor.
Renaud Tixier is a new watch brand born from the genius of two exceptional watchmakers: Dominique Renaud and Julien Tixier. Renaud is a legend in the field, who has been responsible for developing some of the most elaborate movements for the likes of Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille. On the other hand, Tixier, who’s only in his early 30s, is one of the few “complete watchmakers” in the industry today, meaning he’s able to craft every element and component of a timepiece from scratch.
The duo has crossed paths on two incredible projects. The first was the GPHG-nominated Tempus Fugit, which features the mind-blowing invention of a DNA-programmed perpetual calendar complication to count down the remaining days of its owner. As for the second occasion, the duo worked on the Secular Perpetual Calendar, which was Furlan Marri’s 2023 Only Watch participating timepiece.
Renaud Tixier’s CEO, Michel Nieto tells Hypebeast that Dominique Renaud has a set of seven concepts in mind, but has yet to find a suitable outlet to materialize them. And so the brand was founded to bring all seven of Renaud’s ideas to life, complete with the help of Tixier’s prodigious craftsmanship. “Monday,” the inaugural chapter of Renaud Tixier is a piece that revisits and addresses one of the most sensitive, yet fundamental aspects of mechanical watches — the micro-rotor.
Renaud Tixier
The rotor of the automatic watch has seen little development since the ‘30s, and its flaws remain today, meaning its power reserve can rarely ever be fully maximized. Nieto likens the energy return of the regular micro-rotor to “a tennis ball hitting a wall,” emphasizing how some of its energy will always be lost. In the case of “Monday,” its movement is geared with a “dancer” micro-rotor that serves as both an engine and a shock absorber; and continuing on Nieto’s analogy, “the tennis ball is hit back by a racket.”
With a case diameter of 40.8mm and thickness of 11mm, “Monday” is offered in two case builds: rose gold and white gold. The dial also comes in slate gray and silver colorways, complete with a sunray or hand-grained finish that echoes the detail on the sides of the watch case. The dial offers a glimpse into the watch’s wonderous inner workings through a small skeleton window.
For those who have the pleasure of flipping over the piece, its transparent caseback offers an unobstructed view of its RTVI2023 movement. Purple enamel can be spotted on the ratchet wheel, which imbues a unique aesthetic touch. The accompanying leather straps are handmade, adding to the watch’s artisanal spirit of craftsmanship and details.
Renaud Tixier’s “Monday” is released as a limited edition with a price tag of around $89,750 USD. Visit the brand’s official website for more details.
