Daniel Roth Extra Plat Rose Gold Skeleton
Daniel Roth Extra Plat Rose Gold Skeleton
Daniel Roth presents the Extra Plat Rose Gold Skeleton, an openworked reinterpretation of one of the brand’s most celebrated creations. Conceived in the spirit of La Montre Objet d’Art, the Extra Plat Rose Gold Skeleton preserves the classical proportions and architecture of the original, while revealing the inner brilliance of the new manually wound calibre DR002SR, designed exclusively for the Extra Plat Rose Gold Skeleton.
While firmly grounded in the brand’s historical vocabulary, the Extra Plat Rose Gold Skeleton is the first step in the revival of Daniel Roth, moving beyond faithful reinterpretation, as the Extra Plat was never skeletonised during the brand’s founding era by Mr. Roth.
“The Extra Plat has always embodied the quiet refinement at the heart of Daniel Roth,” says
Matthieu Hegi, Artistic Director of La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton.
“Opening the movement allows its elegance to speak in a new way, while remaining faithful to Mr. Roth’s earliest ambitions and attachment to traditional high watchmaking.”
A signature revisited Daniel Roth
Simple yet perfectly executed watchmaking has long been central to the identity of Daniel Roth. During his early years as an independent watchmaker, Mr. Roth considered the Extra Plat a complication in its own right; it was, in fact, his favourite complication after the tourbillon for its apparent simplicity and the technical discipline required to execute it properly. The balanced restraint of a thin movement, confined within the precise geometry of the double-ellipse, formed a foundational pillar of the brand’s reputation.
In the early 1990s, shortly after establishing his namesake brand, Mr. Roth began producing skeletonised versions of select references. Made in extremely small quantities due to the painstaking craftsmanship involved, these early openworked pieces served as both technical exercises and demonstrations of the brand’s expertise: slim architecture, open volumes, and hand-finished details.
The new Extra Plat Rose Gold Skeleton continues this tradition in a contemporary idiom. Produced in limited numbers each year, it reflects the original spirit of the Extra Plat while expanding its expressive range through transparency. The refinement of the double-ellipse case remains, while the movement, now visible in its entirety, reveals the structural logic that has always been central to the Daniel Roth aesthetic.
“As a complication, the Extra Plat represents the essence of Daniel Roth,” continues
Matthieu Hegi. “It emphasises proportion, clarity, and a certain discreet sophistication. By skeletonising the calibre, we allow the architecture to be understood on its own terms. It is a respectful evolution of what Mr. Roth first imagined more than thirty years ago.”
At the centre of the Extra Plat Rose Gold Skeleton is the calibre DR002SR, a new shaped movement manufactured entirely in-house at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. Based on the DR002, the DR002SR reinterprets the original architecture with newly shaped bridges and plates designed to accommodate an openworked construction. Bridges and plates have been redesigned with the beauty of the skeleton in mind, ensuring that the calibre could be rendered with lightness and transparency, without compromising rigidity or chronometric performance.
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The DR002SR is constructed in solid 18k 5N rose gold to match the case, a choice that reflects both tradition and intention. Gold provides a naturally warm contrast to the black-polished steel components and offers an ideal substrate for the extensive hand finishing that defines the Extra Plat Rose Gold Skeleton.
“With the DR002SR, we revisited the original calibre and reworked its architecture specifically for skeletonisation,” explains
Michel Navas. “We reshaped the bridges and plates to open the movement as much as possible, while ensuring that rigidity, reliability, and chronometry were never compromised.”![]()
“The decision to craft the bridges and plates in solid gold was both technical and aesthetic,” adds
Enrico Barbasini. “Gold is a noble metal that responds beautifully to traditional finishing. It allows the handwork to speak clearly, which is essential in a skeletonised movement.”Despite its transparency, the DR002SR retains the technical specifications of the DR002: a free-sprung balance, a 4 Hz frequency, and an ample power reserve of 65 hours, all within the elegant contours of the double-ellipse shape.
Skeletonisation is an exercise in reduction. The Extra Plat Rose Gold Skeleton brings this principle to its highest expression, with a movement that bears the full imprint of the artisan’s hand. Nowhere is the human touch more apparent than in the numerous internal angles; impossible to achieve by machine, each crisp transition is shaped and polished by hand.
Each of these sharply defined internal angles reveals the steady hand and patient rhythm of the craftsmen and women at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, who complete every stage of finissage, from bevelling to black polishing, entirely in-house.
“The work required to finish a skeletonised calibre of this nature demands complete mastery of traditional techniques,” note
Barbasini and
Navas. “At La Fabrique du Temps, we can perform all of these operations under one roof, ensuring that every component reflects the standards of Daniel Roth. This internal capability is essential to the integrity of the final watch.”![]()
Reduced to its essential form, the DR002SR becomes a mechanical gallery of traditional craftsmanship. Balancing form and function, its openworked architecture demonstrates the technical mastery and aesthetic sophistication that have become synonymous with Daniel Roth.
The Daniel Roth Tourbillon collection honours the spirit of the original 1988 design while expressing its commitment to artisanal watchmaking today. Defined by the signature double-ellipse case, exquisite calibre finishing, and refined guilloché dials engraved by hand using an antique rose engine, each Tourbillon reflects the Maison’s blend of legacy and contemporary finesse. At its core, the calibre DR001 balances High Watchmaking tradition and innovation, with exceptional yet discreet finishes.
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The Daniel Roth Extra Plat collection embodies the Maison’s pursuit of refined simplicity, rooted in Mr. Roth’s belief that a thin dress watch represents the epitome of functional elegance. Its slender double-ellipse case and guilloché-decorated dial reflect a balance of modern sophistication and time-honoured craft. Under the dial lies the new in-house calibre DR002, designed from the ground up to perfectly fit the dimensions of the case. The Extra Plat collection stands as a pure expression of timeless watchmaking.
In 1988, Master Watchmaker Daniel Roth established a brand that revolutionised independent watchmaking. With signature complications and a relentless commitment to horological excellence, Daniel Roth set new standards, blending mechanical mastery with elegant, understated design. His passion for watchmaking was born during his early years at Audemars Piguet and Breguet, where he mastered complex mechanics such as the Tourbillon. His dedication to this complication led him to create a case design, the double-ellipse, that would allow the Tourbillon to play a key role, technically and aesthetically, marking a milestone in horological history. Driven to revive traditional craftsmanship, Mr. Roth pursued mechanical precision and understated elegance, creating watches that stood apart.
The brand was revived in 2023 with the support of La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. Staying true to its roots in high-watchmaking, Daniel Roth continues to honour its founder’s legacy while embracing modern innovation. Each timepiece reflects the brand’s distinctive DNA of refined elegance and mechanical precision, maintaining its reputation for exceptional craftsmanship.
The revival began with the Tourbillon, Mr. Roth’s favourite complication, launched as a limited Souscription series in yellow gold, followed by a rose gold edition. This collection paid homage to the brand’s heritage while introducing the in-house crafted DR001 movement. Each piece was meticulously handcrafted with exceptional hand-finishings and a solid gold Clou de Paris guilloché dial, achieving La Montre Objet d’Art.
Today, the brand continues to follow Mr. Roth’s vision, working with the finest artisans to craft exceptional watches. Even in an age of rapid technological advancement, Daniel Roth watches remain timeless, preserving the art and tradition of measuring time.
