Unless you actually visit Baselworld you can’t really appreciate the actual scale of the event. Certainly in Hall 1 the large groups like Swatch, Rolex and LVMH have built booths on absolutely palatial scale. Incredibly these temporary fixtures exist for one week and then get disassembled for storage. These companies must spend millions because their stores look amazingly impressive. However judging by the level of the passing traffic I would say they invested their money well. Obviously not all brands have this amount of financial resources so they have to opt for more modest booths in the smaller halls. In fact a few small independent watchmakers like Rudis Sylva even made the radical decision to exhibit their ways in the adjacent Ramada Hotel.
In the scheme of things Rudis Sylva is a pretty young company and has only existed nine years. The brand is the brainchild of Jacky Epitaux and derives its name from an area in the Jura called Les Bois. I was very fortunate to finally meet Jacky and his exceptionally talented watchmaker Mika Rissanen. It was clear they were both really passionate about their product and they explained concisely the concept. Amazingly the finest Swiss craftsmen create every component of the watch in house. In fact they showed me photographs of the companies workshops, which look idyllic and have a rustic charm.
So far Rudis Sylva has only developed one timepiece called the Harmonious Oscillator. I did see an exciting new design that uses a more contemporary square case but because it is still a prototype I wasn’t allowed to take pictures. Anyway the watch I decided to review was the black DLC (diamond like carbon) titanium RS15 model. This is a new direction for the company because they have never used this lightweight material before. It certainly made the watch very comfortable to wear and practical for most occasions. Dimensionally the 44mm x 14.3mm should also appeal to a wide variety of collectors including potentially the unisex market.
Visually the Harmonious Oscillator RS15 has a really delightful Avant Garde appearance. What makes this watch so special is the exquisite multi layered dial that perfectly exposes the brilliant mechanics of the watch. This characteristic illustrates the level of craftsmanship involved to produce a movement of this calibre. The finishing has to be first rate because everything is on display. Other distinctive features include a black guilloche grand feu enamel dial with red Roman numerals (located at 12 0’clock) and wonderful red open worked hour/minute hands. Overall the composition is beautifully presented and the attention to detail is superlative.
At the heart of the watch is a very ingenious patented highly accurate movement entirely created in house by Mika Rissanen. This caliber comprises two balances and oscillates at a frequency of 21,600. Every component has been flawlessly finished to a supreme level. The oscillating cage is constructed from titanium (which is extremely hard to machine) and has 28 inward corners that are all visibly displayed. Functionally the Harmonious Oscillator RS15 features hours, minutes and has a power reserve of 70 hours.
The Harmonious Oscillator RS15 has a hand stitched black alligator strap with a matching black titanium buckle. Priced for the connoisseur at: 220,000 CHF (approximately $226,275).
For more information about Rudis Sylva visit the company’s website: http://www.rudissylva.ch
