From one of independent watchmaking’s more eclectic young companies, the Androgyne Deep Purple Steel Tourbillon by Manufacture Royale is a quite beautiful piece of contemporary Haute Horlogerie, with immaculate finishing throughout and a colour combination which is striking and eye-catching on this superb and distinctive watch.

A small manufacturer specialising in exquisite hand crafted, low number and bespoke watch production, and based in Vallorbe, Switzerland, Manufacture Royale has established a reputation for its wonderful characterful aesthetics and intricate, expressive watchmaking, which are inspired by the legend of flamboyant French philosopher, socialite and entrepreneur, Voltaire, who long ago, in 1770, established the recently revived company name.

From the Royale Bespoke collection, the Androgyne Deep Purple Steel is a breathtaking piéce unique whose vibrant hue of purple leaps out from a complex construction of gleaming stainless steel like an irresistible eye magnet.

Cradled between a pair of sculpted tubular steel limbs, the round central case is topped with a flat sapphire crystal and porthole-like bezel, featuring twelve countersunk screws, evenly spaced to double up as hour indices.

Beneath the sapphire crystal, polished steel hands indicate the hours and minutes and circulate above the three-quarter plate which is coated in purple PVD and pared back to reveal the winding mechanism, gear wheels and skeletonised barrel within. In the lower part of the dial, and seemingly suspended in mid air from beneath a ‘floating’ purple bridge, the captivating rotation of the one minute tourbillon is mysterious and graceful.

Inside, the manufacture MR02 hand winding movement is classical watchmaking with a contemporary twist. Beautifully executed by hand, it is fully revealed thanks to the sapphire case back, which allows a three-dimensional view of the pristine finishing throughout. Beating at 21’600vph it has an impressive power reserve of at least 108 hours when fully wound.

A spectacular piece of independent Haute Horlogerie, the Manufacture Royale Androgyne Deep Purple Steel Tourbillon is a watch that commands attention, and of course, is presented on a purple alligator leather strap with white stitching and pin buckle.