News: Manufacture Royale 1770 Haute Voltige
Manufacture Royale is an independent Swiss watchmaker, originally founded in the eighteenth century, and revived again for the modern world in 2010. The brand takes inspiration from famed French philosopher Voltaire, who supported the establishment of watchmaking workshops in Ferney-Voltaire, the town in which he was born. As you might expect from the leader of the French Enlightenment, his aim was to create clocks and watches that could just as easily be seen as works of art—and Manufacture Royale’s creations stay true to these principles.
What the brand has been adding to this ethos since its relaunch is the decidedly modern design of its watches, of which the 1770 Haute Voltige is one. The watch features a beautifully contemporary dial that exposes the intricacies of the traditional watchmaking that powers the watch. The balance wheel and escapement are placed front and centre to be admire, offering a hypnotic view of the watch’s mechanics. The case surrounding the watch is sleek black PVD micro-blasted steel, and measuring 45mm by 13.8mm, the watch makes a confident statement on the wrist.
But don’t be fooled—it’s not just a pretty face. The brand crafts its movements in-house, and powering this piece is the automatic calibre MR07. Beating at 21,600vph, it offers a reserve of power of 40 hours and features Côtes de Genève finishing on the plates and bridges. In a clever display of technical prowess, the watch also boasts an innovative dual time zone. Located in an off-centre subdial at 5 o’clock, the second time is set with the same crown used to adjust the central hours and minutes. As the extra time zone is independent, it can be used to tell the time in any location, including those that vary by a half hour or quarter of an hour.
