ince 2006, under the leadership of Jacky Epitaux, Rudis Sylva has developed an independent and committed approach to Haute Horlogerie. Rooted in the Swiss Jura, the Maison continues the tradition of the farmer-watchmakers, whose craft, standards and close connection to the land it perpetuates.

Each creation takes shape within a unique local ecosystem, where artisans with rare expertise work within a 20-kilometre radius, ensuring proximity, consistency and complete control over every stage. Guilloché work, engraving, enamelling, bevelling: all carried out by hand, respecting tradition and with an assured creative freedom.

At the heart of its identity, the patented and unprecedented Harmonious Oscillator reworks the principles of regulation, delivering remarkable stability and precision. More than a mere innovation, it embodies a desire to develop the watchmaking art without ever forsaking its roots.

Its principle runs counter to the very foundations of classical theory. Here, any load applied to the balance had traditionally been prohibited, but Rudis Sylva developed a novel system: two complete toothed balance wheels, mechanically linked and driven by a single escapement. A bold design, which connoisseurs associated with the innovative spirit of the tourbillon. Unveiled in Basel in 2009, this breakthrough immediately attracted the attention of the industry’s leading figures. Independent master watchmakers, established brands and technical development specialists recognised the significance of this unique approach.

Rudis Sylva is celebrating its 20th anniversary with two flagship launches, unveiled throughout the year, starting with the RS11, unveiled at Watches & Wonders 2026. This square-shaped piece, designed in 2011 but never released, is available in titanium and pink gold, and was created entirely with the aim of providing optimal comfort for the wrist. It incorporates the Harmonious Oscillator, featuring two interconnected toothed balance wheels driven by a single escapement, ensuring identical amplitude and instantaneous correction of the effects of gravity within a cage that completes a full rotation every 60 seconds.

In the titanium version, a vibrant palette unfolds, where purple evolves in a gradient from the deepest to the brightest tones, revealing violet accents with delicate fuchsia undertones. This chromatic richness is expressed at every level, from the guilloché main plate enhanced with a black-purple PVD treatment, to the hour and minute dial, and the three-quarter bridge. This interplay of tones contrasts with the assertive presence of the gears, whose silvery hues with luminous reflections reveal every detail, in particular the Harmonious Oscillator, its two balance wheels and its large bridge, as well as the hands, Roman numerals, indices, the outline of the upper dial and the titanium case. The whole creates a subtle balance between visual intensity and mechanical precision, in a spirit that is bold yet still a watchmaking classic.

Like the other models in the collection, the RS11 showcases regional watchmaking expertise: its main plate features hand guilloché work applied using a “straight-line” engine to create a linear pattern of pyramids. This operation involves the simultaneous use of both the left and right hands to operate the two spindles of the guilloché engine. The amount of material removed is minimal – around 6 hundredths of a millimetre – and the main plate must be turned over three times, making for an even more complex execution. Georges Brodbeck, neighbour and friend of the watch brand, winner of the Gaïa Prize awarded by the Musée international d’horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and a world-renowned authority in the field of guilloché work, crafted the two prototype main plates exhibited at Watches & Wonders 2026. 

The main plate, barrel bridge and all the other bridges of the RS11 square model are hand-bevelled, reflecting a rare level of craftsmanship. Bevelling is performed using gentian wood, harvested from pastures at an altitude of 1000 metres and dried in late autumn. Its finish, ideal for a mirror polished look, enhances every edge of the watch components. This gentian root, harvested in autumn and distilled, subtly evokes the Maison’s deep roots in its local region. The bevelling of the Harmonious Oscillator bridge, carried out entirely by hand, takes up to 25 hours and involves creating 28 interior angles in the titanium, a very demanding material, demonstrating the extreme precision of this craftsmanship.

The arms of the main plate, which pass through the barrels, are angled at 180°, lending the structure a smooth, rounded appearance. The recesses are polished by hand and the gear train passages are circular-grained by hand. The surfaces and sides, alternately sand-blasted and brushed, create a subtle interplay of textures.

Housed in a 41 mm square case, the RS11, water-resistant to 30 metres, features a domed crystal, a case-back crystal and a side crystal, allowing the movement to be admired from every angle. All three crystals have an anti-reflective coating on both sides for optimum readability. The polishing of the case is particularly intricate, with a horizontal satin finish on the sides that stops precisely at the edge, while the case middle features an interplay of alternating polished and satin-finished surfaces. The timepiece is presented on a genuine alligator leather strap with large scales, backed with a leather lining and mounted between horns set 25 mm apart. A version without alligator leather is also available.

Rudis Sylva underscores its discreet yet demanding vision, where each timepiece becomes an expression of time, place and craftsmanship. Sincere, uncompromising watchmaking, driven by the constant pursuit of accuracy and authenticity.