The Raúl Pagès RP2 The Hour Glass Edition, A Subtle Play of Light and Texture

Independent watchmaker Raúl Pagès effortlessly combines traditional craftsmanship and mechanical sophistication. Trained in Michel Parmigiani‘s restoration workshop, Pagès spent years working on exceptional historical timepieces before establishing his independent workshop in Les Brenets in 2012. His first major creation, the RP1, introduced a contemporary interpretation of the detent escapement and received the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize for Independent Creatives in 2024. Following the technically daring venture, Pagès introduced the RP2 in 2025, a more classical three-hand watch conceived as the foundation of his collection. Now, he presents a special version for Singapore-based retailer The Hour Glass.

A Study in Proportion

The 316L stainless steel case retains the RP2’s elegant geometric construction, measuring 38.5mm in diameter and 11.5mm thick, including the glassbox sapphire crystal. An ultra-fine satin finish across the bezel and caseback contrasts with polished edges, emphasising the clean transitions between surfaces.

The slightly domed crown is made for comfortable winding, with its resistance finely calibrated. The front sapphire crystal features an anti-reflective coating. A second sapphire crystal on the back provides an unobstructed view of the movement. Water resistance is 30m.

A Different Interpretation of the Dial

The standard RP2 features a deep cerulean blue dial with a white agate centre. For The Hour Glass edition, Pagès uses a German silver dial base with a black-nickel-plated German silver hour ring and a central insert of light blue mother-of-pearl. The recessed small-seconds display at six o’clock is finished in grey.

Short, white baton-shaped markers give clear indications of hours and minutes, and a fine light blue ring along the inner edge of the hour chapter adds another detail. The hands, curved and hand-polished, draw inspiration from the designs of Abraham-Louis Breguet, but Pagès has introduced his own interpretation. Instead of the traditional open circle at the tip of the hour hand, he uses a small solid disc secured by a visible rivet. Both hands feature hand-matte-finished counterweights. The Pagès signature appears at four o’clock.

The Movement and Its Finishes

The watch is powered by Pagès’ hand-wound calibre, developed for the RP2. It features a traditional Swiss lever escapement with a modern gear train and a conical winding gear. The large 12.5mm variable-inertia balance wheel has four brass regulating weights set into its inner rim, recalling marine chronometers. The movement operates at 21,600 vibrations/hour and delivers a 60-hour power reserve.

For this special edition, Pagès has also introduced a different decorative treatment. While the standard RP2 features Geneva stripes on its bridges, the Hour Glass edition uses frosted bridges and highly polished bevels. The wheels feature circular graining and hand-polished chamfers, with each wheel displaying 20 inward angles, making 60 in total. Steel components, including screws and the balance bridge, are mirror-polished. Even the less visible steel components of the keyless works are straight-grained and chamfered. The baseplate is frosted.

Availability & Price

The Raúl Pagès RP2 The Hour Glass Edition comes with two hand-stitched leather straps, one in grey-blue and the other in beige. Both feature tool-free removable bars and are closed with a stainless steel pin buckle. Created exclusively for The Hour Glass, the edition is limited to three pieces. The price is upon request, but since the classic version is priced at CHF 89,000, we can expect this exclusive version to come closer to CHF 100,000. For more details, please visit pageswatches.com and thehourglass.com.