Premice (Gold)

An exceptional piece of independent haute horlogerie from one of the genre’s best kept secrets, the Premice by Geneva based Cédric Johner is truly an extension of the watchmaker’s personality, defying conventional norms with his signature hand crafted tonneau-esque case design, and a two-sided display of captivating horological architecture which exemplifies the traits of this unique and wonderful talent.Using only traditional watchmaking techniques and manually operated tools, each and every Cédric Johner watch is painstakingly manufactured and finished by hand.

Even the case of the Premice is hewn from a solid ingot of 18ct white or rose gold and machined into the inimitable tonneau shape which has defined every Cédric Johner watch since being first introduced in1997 when he established his atelier. Measuring 39mm across and 49mm in length with a height of 12mm, the case of the Premice is a masterwork of eccentric elegance, with its long, flowing lines and curvaceous surfaces which sweep across every part of the design, rom the tips of the lugs and over the gently domed sapphire crystal. The positioning of the crown at the four o’clock position adds to its distinctive aesthetic.

Beneath the sapphire, the display is almost entirely disposed to the beauty of the mechanism within. Depending on the case metal, 18ct white or rose gold hands indicate the hours and minutes on an off-centre dial in the upper right-hand quadrant, which is also manufactured in 18ct white gold, and features a guilloché centre panel and hand painted roman numerals on the hours ring. On the left, a slender hand indicates the power reserve on a curved plate.On both sides the architecture of Johner’s first fully in-house movement is breathtaking in its layout, finishing and the steady animation of the gloriously oversized balance wheel which oscillates at a leisurely 18,000vib/h (2.5Hz)while the escape wheel takes centre stage and marks off the passing seconds.

Working with Julien Tixier, a prodigy in the art of hand finishing, every bridge, plate, screw and wheel is manufactured and finished to the most uncompromising standards of haute horlogerie. The Cal CJ101 manual winding movement boasts an impressive 100 hours of power reserve.A truly magnificent piece of contemporary independent watchmaking the Cédric Johner Premice is presented on either brown or black leather strap with pin buckle and will be manufactured in twenty four pieces each in 18ct white gold or rose gold.