The new Pierre De Roche TNT Royal Retro RB may look busy, and that’s because it is. No less than 6 retrograde seconds hands are busy, busy busy whirring round the face of the watch at intermittent intervals counting down the seconds in a constant relay of ten second intervals. Endlessly fascinating to watch, and no doubt exquisitely intricate to create.
It’s actually even busier under the face of the watch, for all the mechanisms in the making of it are clearly visible. There is also a bridge with 12 pivots and 6 chamfered, satin-finished seconds bridges. Each of the seconds hands is gear-driven, the traditional balance-spring having been replaced by a strip-spring mechanism which sends each back to its original position retrospectively.
This new edition of the watch comes with a rubber bezel on a 47.5mm titanium case. The watch is powered by an exclusive Dubois Dépraz Calibre, a manufacture which takes movements by ETA, Sellita and others and then add their own complications. In fact Dubois Dépraz discreetly supply calibres to some of the best names in the industry. A family business for more than 110 years, brothers Pascal and Jean-Philippe Dubois continue the watchmaking traditions started by their Great Grandfather in 1901.
As for the brand itself, there is a strong family link between Dubois Dépraz and Pierre De Roche. In fact Pierre is a brother to Pascal and Jean-Philippe Dubois, hence the ability to call on such an exclusive manufacture of specialized movements.
The new TNT Royal Retro is in a limited edition of just 201 pieces and comes on a high quality rubber strap.
Specifications
Movement: Automatic, exclusive 58-jewel Dubois Dépraz calibre
Decorated and engraved oscillating weight
12 pivot central bridge and 6 chamfered and satin-finished seconds bridges
Moving retrograde hand indicators
6 gear-driven retrograde seconds hands,
strip-spring return
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds with retrograde function displayed on 6 segments covering 10 seconds each, date at 6 o’clock
Case: Black PVD-treated container, rubber-moulded steel bezel, steel lugs, crown guard and screw-lock crown, 47.5 mm in diameter
Bracelet/Strap: Overstitched rubber, safety folding clasp
