Since a very young age I have always liked very quirky products. I suppose like most adolescents I wanted to distinguish myself from the crowds. As I grew older I became fascinated in architecture and furniture design. As far as I was concerned the more radical the design, the better it looked. I think that is why I instantly hit it off with Richard Paige. Even though we are (to a certain degree) from completely different backgrounds we have similar thoughts about the world of horology. However it is pertinent to mention that Richard’s knowledge of the watch industry is far more extensive than mine.
As I have stated numerous times in previous articles Richard Paige has come full circle. As well as running a very successful watch blog he also owned a chain of retail stores. After years of being exposed to same types of watches he left the industry and concentrated on other business ventures. Ultimately it was his love of historic American movements that prompted him to establish his own label called RPaige Watch. Fortunately he is now in the position to design the timepieces he loves without any creative restrictions.
Even though I have written about Richard and RPaige several times I have only actually ever reviewed two of his watches. The timepieces in question were the Stealth Carousel and Wrocket Black Dial. Both watches shared exactly the same 44m case sizes and felt exceptionally comfortable to wear. A few months ago Richard informed me of a very exciting project he had been working on. Effectively he has designed a watch called the Duo Face that can be worn either side up. This involved quite a bit of technical engineering to devise specially articulated lugs with quick release springs. Watchmakers have employed similar concepts in the past but not at the same price point. Probably the most famous example is the legendary series of Reverso watches by Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Although the Duo Face is larger (44mm x 57mm x 12mm) than both the Stealth Carousel and Wrocket Black Dial, it still sat comfortably on the wrist. In this instance I also prefer the use of stainless steel rather than titanium because it suits the overall aesthetic. What really makes these timepieces so special is that they are completely unique. The watch I am personally testing has an exquisite hand engraved gold Antique “Art Nouveau” Waltham dial with contrasting red enameled Arabic numbers. Other sublime details include delicate black Cathedral style hands and a marvelous rotating second wheel. When Richard initially sent me a few designs to chose from this amazing timepiece was definitely my first choice.
At the heart of the watch lies a Waltham vintage American manual winding movement dating back to 1908. The caliber comprises 17-jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour. This mechanical marvel is visibly showcased through the sapphire crystal exhibition case back. Functionally the Duo Face features hours, minutes and small seconds. The timepiece is also water resistant to a depth of 50 metres.
The Duo Face I tested comes with a high quality black leather strap with matching engraved steel buckle. Priced competitively at: $2,800.
For more information about RPaige Watch visit their website: https://www.rpaigewatch.com
