Key takeaways
• David Candaux has introduced the DC1 Platine Art du Tourbillon, his first creation utilizing a platinum case, limited to just 8 pieces.
• The watch features a unique 30-degree inclined flying tourbillon designed to improve chronometric precision by sweeping through more positions on the wrist.
• Technical innovations include the patented retractable Magic Crown at 6 o’clock and a multi-layered dial constructed with mirror-polished black onyx and white opal.
The first piece created by David Candaux is called the DC1 First Eight. Crafted in steel, it emerged from the Solliat workshop in 2017 and houses a flying tourbillon inclined at 30 degrees. The architecture of the DC1—a magic crown at 6 o’clock, an asymmetrical stepped case, a transparent case back revealing the cascading H74 caliber, and traditional decorations on a movement made entirely of natural titanium—became the foundation of the collection. This architecture has remained unchanged ever since.
In 2026, for the first time, David Candaux ventured into platinum. The DC1 Platine Art du Tourbillon, produced in a limited series of 8 pieces, explores what this material brings to an already proven timepiece: a new density, a different presence, and the demands that come with it.
Platinum
Noble. Dense. Malleable. Platinum has been the benchmark of fine watchmaking for two centuries, and one of the most demanding materials to work with. Where gold slips, platinum grips and tears. It retains the memory of every tool, resists perfect polishing, and reveals the slightest imperfection. For a case with taut edges and sharp angles like that of the DC1, preserving the original design in platinum requires a precision that titanium does not demand. Every sharp angle must be reworked so it does not sag under the polisher. The entire case is polished.
The Dial
Beneath the crystal, the dial of the DC1 Platine Art du Tourbillon appears in relief. A dozen distinct components are layered on top of one another: the main flange in 18-karat rose gold, polished, hand beveled, and hand-chamfered; the power reserve sub-dial; the decorative plate; the small hour and minute dial; and the hour markers. A layered construction that highlights the volumes and creates a sense of depth that a flat dial cannot express. This layered construction, unique to the brand, is what makes it possible to assemble such contrasting materials while maintaining overall harmony.
The large central plate is made of mirror-polished black onyx. The onyx has an intense, perfect, deep, almost supernatural black. Mirror-polished, it reveals its full beauty. The plate’s size and thinness make it one of the most delicate components to produce in a watch. Two-tenths of a millimeter thick. Extremely fragile, sensitive to the micro-vibrations of machining, and the slightest variation in pressure. The majority of blanks break before they are completed. To finish a single plate, five are used.
At 3 o’clock, the hour and minute dial is made of white opal. The stone is beveled and faceted to precisely follow the movement’s domed curve. The opal changes character depending on the light source: natural, translucent, and deep in indoor light; luminous and vibrant in outdoor light. The 18-karat rose gold flanges frame the hour and minute dial, then wrap around the tourbillon at 9 o’clock, accentuating the volumes. The bear logo, applied in rose gold, completes the ensemble.
The “Magic Crown” at 6 o’clock further expresses the interplay of materials: a body in natural titanium, a cap in platinum—two densities, a contrast visible.
The 30°- Angled Tourbillion
In the David Candaux collection, the tourbillon is an exception to the principle of consistency.
David Candaux readily admits: mechanically, the tourbillon was not designed for a wristwatch and has no place there. Invented in the 18th century, it corrects the timing errors of pocket watches, which were always carried vertically. On the wrist, the watch assumes dozens of positions throughout the day, then lies flat on the nightstand at night. In this horizontal position, the axis of the classic tourbillon is perpendicular to gravity, and the compensation no longer works.
So why a tourbillon? At age 13, during his first visit to Jaeger-LeCoultre, David Candaux discovered the Reverso 60th Anniversary tourbillon. A tourbillon in a wristwatch. So small. Mesmerizing. The piece left a lasting impression on him. He returned home with one certainty: his first watch would be a tourbillon. His heart had decided before his mind.
All that remained was to restore its coherence. David Candaux did not simply integrate a tourbillon. He tilted it 30 degrees to restore its value on the wrist.
The cage rotates on an oblique plane. It thus sweeps through more positions in a single revolution, including the flat positions. The 60-second rotation amplifies this benefit: more averaged positions in less time, increased chronometric precision both when worn and at rest.
This solution remains extremely rare in watchmaking. It requires a particular mastery of gear geometry, lubrication, and dynamic balancing in a non-standard plane. All these challenges were resolved one by one, through successive iterations, in the workshop.
The tourbillon cage is made of black anodized titanium. An intense black that echoes that of onyx.
The anodization of titanium is a transformation, not a coating. The metal is immersed in an electrolytic bath: the voltage drives the oxidation, and a layer of oxide forms from the titanium’s own surface. Bronze, violet, blue, turquoise, green—each color corresponds to a specific voltage. Nothing is deposited onto the metal. It transforms from within.
Black is out of reach. The oxide layer interacts with light through interference—like oil on water— and interference does not produce black. Pushing the voltage beyond a certain point causes dielectric breakdown: electric arcs form, and the surface degrades.
We must then change the process. Micro-arc oxidation sends localized plasma discharges that transform the surface into a dense ceramic layer, integrated into the titanium. It no longer interferes with light. It absorbs it: no coating, no PVD, no DLC. In a hundred years, the cage will be exactly as it is today.
The H74 Caliber
The H74 is developed entirely in-house at Solliat. Bridges and mainplates are made of Grade 5 titanium, chosen for its natural properties. Corrosion-resistant. Anti-magnetic. Thermally stable. Lightweight. Biocompatible. David Candaux remains the only watchmaker to have applied this approach to all of his movements.
The wheels are made of beryllium copper. The axles, pinions, pins, and screws are made of stainless steel. Each component is crafted and finished by hand, in accordance with the expertise passed down in the Valley since 1740.
At the heart of the movement: the flying tourbillon, inclined at 30°, completing a revolution in 60 seconds. The large central seconds hand sweeps across the dial.
The transparent case back reveals the cascading movement, tilted 3° relative to the case. The depth shifts with the light. Eighteen recessed angles, each mirror-polished. Straight striations, polished bevels, and circular graining beneath the bridges. The Côtes du Solliat pattern runs along the bridges—an exclusive finish paying homage to the village where each piece is born.
Power reserve: 55 hours, indicated by a hand at 12 o’clock. Frequency: 21,600 vibrations per hour. Phillips-terminated balance spring. Variable-inertia balance wheel with gold adjustment screws. 287 components. 47 jewels.
The “Magic Crown” Crown
Every watch from the House of David Candaux is based on the same visual tension: horizontal symmetry, vertical asymmetry. The balance that Leonardo da Vinci articulated in the Vitruvian Man is natural, pleasing to the eye, and faithful to the body’s proportions. To achieve this, the traditional crown at 3 o’clock had to disappear.
The solution draws inspiration from the retractable ballpoint pen and its bistable cam: one press to extend, one press to retract. David Candaux developed his own version, which was tested 28,000 times — up to four presses a day for twenty years—without any measurable wear. The result is a patent: 31 components that define the entire architecture of the case and movement. The “Magic Crown” at 6 o’clock is the hallmark of every model in the brand’s collection.
Three positions: winding, time setting, neutral. When not in use, it disappears into the case. The watch is adjusted on the wrist with a natural gesture. On the DC1 Platine Art du Tourbillon, the body is made of natural titanium, and the cap is of platinum.
Noble. Mechanical. Art Of The Tourbillon
Platinum is the material of exceptional pieces, the one that haute horlogerie reserves for its most accomplished creations. Dense, unalterable, present. David Candaux wears it here on his first creation, the DC1, the root of everything that followed.
Art of the Tourbillon. The name expresses what “The Heart and the Spirit” encapsulates: emotion first, precision second. David Candaux’s tourbillon was born from a sudden passion at age 13, brought to life by a 30-degree tilt. It is the foundation of the brand. The DC1 Platine showcases it with simplicity amplified by the mirror-polished onyx. A surface that simplifies the view, focusing attention on the rotating cage.
Limited Edition
The DC1 Platine Art du Tourbillon is available on a black textured rubber strap with black stitching, a Velcro closure, and a quick-release system. Limited edition of 8 pieces. 10-year warranty.
David Candaux
David Candaux, an independent Swiss watchmaker and engineer, embodies horological excellence through his eponymous brand, founded in 2017. Hailing from the Vallée de Joux, the cradle of Swiss watchmaking, he stands out for his boundless creativity, singular inventiveness, and exceptional craftsmanship. Based in Solliat, his workshop is a hub of creativity and technical innovation, producing watches renowned for the complexity of their mechanisms, their precision, and their unique aesthetics. His commitment to the art of watchmaking is evident in every piece, designed from start to finish with passion, featuring patents that enrich 21st-century watchmaking while perpetuating the legacy of the Valley’s masters. An iconic figure in contemporary independent watchmaking, David Candaux designs watches that speak to the Heart and the Mind.
Technical Specifications
DC1 PLATINUM ART OF THE TOURBILLON
Hand-wound titanium movement with 3 patents
30° inclined flying tourbillon • hours and minutes • large central seconds • power reserve Limited edition of 8 pieces
MOVEMENT
Movement diameter: 35 mm (16 ¼ lignes)
Thickness: 6.20 mm
Number of movement components: 287
Tourbillon cage: 27 components
Cage weight: 0.35 g
“Magic Crown” crown: 31 components
Number of jewels: 47 • half-pave jewels set on cast solid gold settings
Power reserve: 55 hours • indicated by a cam system
Barrels: Two high-speed coaxial barrels coupled in series, fixed-flange mainspring. Balance wheel: Internal variable inertia, gold adjustment screws (10 mm diameter) Frequency: 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz)
Hairspring: Phillips terminal curve • titanium anchor and anchor pin
Bridges and mainplate: Titanium • hand-polished beveled angles and polished chamfers, 18 mirror-polished recessed domed angles, drawn lines, circular graining under the bridges • Special hand-finished “Côtes du Solliat” • Cascading bridges
Wheel train: Beryllium copper wheels • stainless steel axles, pinions, pins, and screws • sharp, recessed angles, circled, diamond-molded on both sides
Movement side: Movement inclined at 3° relative to the case • Polished and locked titanium tourbillon bridge, hand-polished chamfers and edges • Gold plate with engraved number, grained, polished chamfers and edges, drawn flanks • Yellow gold medallion with bear head logo
Tourbillon: Single-axis balance wheel inclined at 30° • Cage inclined at 3° relative to the case • 60-second revolution • Black anodized titanium tourbillon cage
Displays: Hours and minutes at 3 o’clock • Large central seconds • Power reserve: needle-type window at 12 o’clock
CASE
Shape: Asymmetrical 6 o’clock – 12 o’clock and symmetrical 3 o’clock – 9 o’clock • Tapered shape Lugs: Traditional straight, screw-down
Materials: Platinum, satin-finished, brushed, and fully hand-polished
Crystal: Asymmetrical sapphire crystal, tinted anti-reflective coating
Sapphire case back: Large opening revealing the movement • olive-shaped clasp at 6 o’clock Engravings: Raised engravings: “Tourbillon 30°,” “David Candaux,” and “Waterproof 30m” Case diameter: 43 mm
Bezel diameter: 41.50 mm
Case height: 10.02 mm
Thickness including crystal: 12.90 mm
Water resistance: 3 atm – 30 m • water-resistant in all crown positions
Crown: Retractable “Magic Crown” • pressure-activated • 3 positions: neutral, time setting, winding • titanium with platinum cap
Dials: Domed hour and minute micro-dial in faceted opal • black pad-printed numerals, 18K white gold hour markers, hand-beveled and polished • pad-printed graduated minute track • 18K rose gold flanges • black lacquered and zapon power reserve indicator
Hands: 18K rose gold hour and minute hands, “syringe” shape, hand-polished • 18K rose gold central large seconds hand, hand-beveled and polished • Power reserve: inverted syringe shape in titanium
Strap and buckle: Textured black rubber, handmade, black topstitching • Velcro buckle engraved with the David Candaux logo • Quick-release system
EDITION
Limited edition: 8 pieces
Price: CHF 248,000
Warranty: 10 years
