Savoir-faire
Putting the genius of watchmaking back in motion
The Method
Far from the solitary gesture, what drives us is a singular way of approaching watchmaking creation — one built on cross-disciplinary exploration, on constant back-and-forth between crafts, ideas, and experiences. This spirit is deeply rooted in the journey of Dominique Renaud.
Today, we explore hybrid territories: unprecedented movements, alliances between artistic craftsmanship and high mechanics, between heritage savoir-faire and emerging technologies. Each project becomes a micro-laboratory where we question uses, forms, and functions. Together, these projects form a living constellation — an archipelago of possibilities oriented toward the future.
Monday
Monday by Renaud Tixier was the first tangible expression of our method. An adventure led by Dominique Renaud and young watchmaker Julien Tixier, it gave birth to the Monday — both a manifesto piece and a founding creation. This duo paved the way, showing what can emerge from the meeting of a pioneering gesture and a fresh perspective.
The decorative shaping of the Monday
For the texture, several techniques exist, such as charcoal texturing, tremblage, or hammering. We chose a never-before-seen finish, which gives Monday its unique engraving and rare character.
The case middle is in intricately engraved along the flanks and between the lugs – a process more complex than it appears. Here, a separate plate is engraved first, and subsequently affixed to the case.
The barrel ratchet is embellished with motifs that subtly shine and stand out in relief. The engraving, crafted with a flat-pointed chisel and polished, yields a sense of depth with a richly textured appearance.
The engravings are carefully hand-executed one at a time, aim to achieve a consistent effect of texture and relief. A time-intensive process that requires not only skill and precision but also great care and patience with rose and white gold.
For the enameling, we begin by grinding the enamels into a fine powder using a marble mortar. Sight, touch and sound – her senses are carefully attuned to achieve the optimal grain, which crucial to preventing bubbles from forming during firing.
The powdered enamels are then thoroughly washed to eliminate any impurities that could cause imperfections.
The enamel is applied with precision, taking care not to compromise the engraving. This process involves five layers of enamel, each requiring a separate firing at temperatures ranging from 600 to 800°C.
Each color requires its own specific firing duration. Overfiring will alter the color; if the temperature is not high enough, however, the result will be imperfect vitrification and diminished brilliance.
After each firing, the surface is painstakingly checked for any imperfections to ensure the final rendering meets the color and depth determined at the outset.
After applying the five coats, we meticulously removes any excess enamel and smooths the surface through a careful stoning process. A final, sixth firing is then conducted to perfect the glaze and achieve the radiance that is particular to grand feu enameling. It can take up to five hours to complete an enameled component.
