Henri Grandjean & Cie Unveils the Magician Atrivm Green Sapphire and Atrivm Red Sapphire

Henri Grandjean (1803-1879) was a master watchmaker from Le Locle, renowned for his precision marine chronometers and for his pioneering role in Swiss chronometry. The name was recently revived by entrepreneur and collector Sohail Aziz and positioned as an independent brand specialising in exquisite high-end contemporary haute horlogerie. Making an impressive debut, Henri Grandjean & Cie launched the Magician, a mysterious triple-axis tourbillon suspended in mid-air with no visible connection to the movement. Ahead of Geneva Watch Days 2026, the brand envisions a contemporary, light-filled stage for its Magician, now performing in red and green sapphire crystal cases with a touch of classic Grand Feu enamel.

To date, the Magician has appeared in 11 different guises united by the same mechanical foundation: a manual-winding movement with a triple-axis tourbillon. The three concentric cages located on the dial at 9 o’clock rotate at different speeds – the innermost cage rotates every 10 seconds, the middle cage every 18 seconds, and the outermost cage every 60 seconds. However, the real magic of these high-speed triple-axis tourbillons lies in the optical illusion that they appear to float independently in mid-air, with no visible connection to the movement.

The illusion is created by mounting the mechanism on transparent sapphire crystal discs, eliminating the need for metal bridges or pillars.  Obviously, weight is a crucial factor, and heavy cages would drain the power reserve and compromise accuracy. To address this, the interlocking matte grey cages are made from lightweight metals: the first cage is made of magnesium, the second of titanium and the exterior cage of titanium and steel.

As part of the Atrivm series, represented by a blue sapphire crystal model and a transparent white sapphire case unveiled at Watches & Wonders this year, the two new references debut at Geneva Watch Days. Now crafted from green or red sapphire crystal, the transparent case allows light to flow freely through it, dissolving visual boundaries and attenuating the 45mm diameter and 16 mm thickness. The sapphire crystal also echoes the ethereal, airy quality of the magical tourbillon.

Combining ultra-contemporary sapphire crystal architecture with nods to certain features of Grandjean’s 19^th-century marine chronometer, the two new Magician references introduce Grand Feu enamel to the mix. Featured on the off-centred hours and minutes disc at 3 o’clock and on the plate surrounding the tourbillon, the red or green Grand Feu enamel has a mottled background.

In addition to the time, the open chapter ring reveals its multi-layered architecture, complete with a date wheel. Peering out from below the top section of the chapter ring is a 24-hour wheel with day and night displays represented by a sun and moon medallion. Referencing the founder’s style, the silver numerals on the chapter ring are Breguet-style Arabic numerals, and the hands are spade-shaped.

The Magician is powered by calibre 1831, a 38.5mm manual-winding mechanical movement conceived and developed from the ground up in-house and assembled at the brand’s workshop in Noiraigue, in the canton of Neuchâtel. Composed of 218 components, the frequency is 21,600vph, and the two barrels deliver a power reserve of 42 hours. As a haute horlogerie brand, the finishing is of the highest level, with Geneva stripes on the bridges and plates, straight-grained flanks, mirror-polished chamfers, and circular-grained wheels, all executed by hand.

Given the complexity of the Magician, the new models are strictly limited editions. The retail price is CHF 990,000 (excl. taxes). More details at henri-grandjean.com.