Description

In the history of fine watchmaking, a mechanical part that smoothly transitions between orbits has never been seen before. After three years of creation and 10 years of research, this remarkable watch is finished with an 18K gold casing, movement, and time display intricacies.

It tells the tale of an obsession with the figure 8, the sign of infinity that is so potently depicted in the analemma, the path in the sky formed by the sun's various positions recorded at the same time and from the same location over the course of a year. Additionally, it's a desire to respectfully build upon the foundations while upending the fundamentals of watchmaking. The foundation of traditional watchmaking is a gear-driven system of permanent parts.

You will acquire a new perspective on time reading with GENUS. The lead moving indicator, called "the Genus," moves freely from one center orbit to the next and displays tens of minutes in addition to the hours at nine o'clock. The precise minute is read on the rotating dial at the customary three o'clock position.

Two display complications are the subject of pending patents: the circulating tens-of-minutes display and the hours display complication.

The show lasting tens of minutes is amazing. The lead Genus displays the passage of time in 10-minute intervals, and is followed by 11 Genera, which move radially along the orbital route in the shape of an eight, resembling a moving sculpture. The lead Genus circles the two separate foci on its route.

The watch has a variable inertia balance wheel and is driven by an 18K gold hand-wound manufacturing caliber. Energy regulation and distribution are separated from transmission by the main base plate, which is divided into two halves.

The majority of the steel components of the movement are beveled and black-polished (poli noir finish), while the main plate, bridges, and wheels are all hand-finished in accordance with the strict standards of Haute Horlogerie. Every flank sketch is created by hand. The display module made of 18K gold exhibits an equally remarkable level of craftsmanship. The wide dial aperture and flush-mounted sapphire crystal with a box dome allow for a clear glimpse of the intricate construction of the module.

Watchmaker, instructor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of GENUS, Sébastien Billières successfully leverages an expertise in Fine Watchmaking acquired while working with some of the greatest in the field.

A proud father of three, he is the son of a watchmaker who devoted 35 years of his career to Rolex. Barely a few days after obtaining his CFC as a watchmaker in 1999, Sébastien Billières shifts into high gear at the workshop of Roger Dubuis, which had approximately ten employees at the time, and collaborates directly with the master himself.

Eager for experience, he enters the orbit of other strong personalities, like Felix Baumgartner in the early years of Urwerk. Sébastien Billières then becomes part of the Opus V project team at Harry Winston, in charge of fine-tuning alongside Felix (prototyping), and testing and parts production. Until today he remains in charge of after-sales service operations for Harry Winston.

There is no mistaking the signs of destiny. When Sébastien Billières decides to set up on his own, the workbench he rents from Svend Andersen turns out to have been previously occupied by none other than Felix Baumgartner, his friend and mentor, and Franck Muller.