Introducing – Manufacture Royale Androgyne Royale Skeleton Tourbillon in Steel (Live Pics, Specs & Price)

Quite recently, we showed to you two of the watches introduced by Manufacture Royale, the Voltige and the Haute Voltige (the Dual-Time version of the first). These watches, technically interesting, also show the new style, cleaner and easier, wanted by the brand. However, we should not forget what Manufacture Royale started with in 2010, watches with a very strong design, such as the Androgyne. Here is a new version of this watch, with a revamped movement, the Manufacture Royale Androgyne Royale Skeleton Tourbillon – and it comes in steel.

One thing that made the early Manufacture Royale daily recognizable was their shape. Indeed, the case of the Androgyne watches was, and still is, a piece of complex design. The shape of the new Manufacture Royale Androgyne Royale Skeleton Tourbillon is identical, meaning very complex, very bold, totally steam-punk inspired. As always with such highly designed objects, it’s hate or love – which of course we won’t debate, to each his own. What should be recognize is the work done on the case only. Indeed, it comprises 52 parts, including the 12 screws on the bezel and flexible lugs, to adjust to the wrist. Despite a respectable 43mm, and with such complex shape, the watch feels smaller than expected, has a reasonable height of 10.20mm and is very comfortable, as well balanced on the wrist.

As you can see, Manufacture Royale has decided to go friendly with the wallet here, as the case of this Androgyne Royale Skeleton Tourbillon is made in stainless steel. However, the finishing, with a nice mirror polish on all the parts and the precise assembly, remain appreciable. Again, the shape and looks are not focused on discretion and refined elegance. This is a watch for those looking for expressing their tastes and to actually show something different. The Manufacture Royale Androgyne Royale is secured on the wrist by a blue alligator strap with contrasting stitching.

The main novelty of this Manufacture Royale Androgyne Royale Skeleton Tourbillon is located into the case: a new, more opened tourbillon movement. This is not the first time the brand shows such a movement – the first editions featured the Calibre MR02, already an open-worked tourbillon – but this Calibre MR-06 is different. First, it is even more opened and skeletonized, with a nice design of the bridges, resolutely modern with long and curved arches holding the tourbillon and the barrel (at 12). Then, the brass main-plate and bridges are all coated with a bright blue PVD treatment, and not rhodium plated like in most movements. The flat surfaces are sanded on the dial side or grained on the movement side, for a matte look, contrasting with the hand-polished chamfers. This movement, produced in-house, has a comfortable power reserve of 108 hours (4.5 days).

Compare to the previous movements of the brand, this calibre MR06 also features a new tourbillon, this time a flying tourbillon, which is not attached to a transversal bridge on the dial side, but freely rotating, offering a more eye-catching view on his ballet (with a frequency of 3Hz – 21,600vph). The cage on top is also skeletonized, Blue-PVD coated and finely finished. Finally, it features modern silicon escape wheel and pallet fork.

This Manufacture Royale Androgyne Royale Skeleton Tourbillon is available in this bright steel – blue configuration, as well as a more classical steel – dark grey (for the movement) edition. The best comes from the rather reasonable price tag: 56,000 Swiss Francs.

Specifications of the Manufacture Royale Androgyne Royale Skeleton Tourbillon

• Case: 43mm diameter x 10.20mm height – polished stainless steel – sapphire crystal on the front and on the back – water resistant not specified
• Movement: In house calibre MR06 – manual winding – 108h power reserve – 21,600 vibrations/h – skeletonized tourbillon with hours and minutes
• Strap: blue alligator leather strap with steel pin-buckle