Model: Pierre DeRoche “TNT Royal Retro 43” TNT10005ACTIO-001CRO
Year: 2014
Features:
The Action. As one retrograde second hand completes its ten second journey, it briefly syncs up with the next second hand, as though passing an invisible baton, before dutifully snapping back into its resting spot - ready to go again in 50 seconds. But why read about it when you could watch a video instead?
The Design. Not only is it colourful without being crass, but its openworked construction is immaculately finished. Satin, circular and vertical brushing techniques - alongside high-polish - define the gears and plates responsible for the visible retrograde mechanism.
The Man. Surprisingly, his last name isn’t even DeRoche - it’s Dubois - and watchmaking is very much in his DNA. He’s part of the fourth generation of the Dubois Dépraz dynasty - the complication specialists who have quietly supplied the Vallée de Joux with modules and movements for the last 125 years. When brands like Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, Rolex, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Breitling, Omega, and Longines are among your clients, it’s easy to understand why Dubois Dépraz is considered the invisible backbone of the Swiss watch industry.
The Journey. And while Pierre Dubois is the current CEO of Dubois Dépraz, most of his professional years have been spent outside of the family business. His career began in finance. Try as he might to resist his ancestral calling, after spending seven years at one of Switzerland’s largest banks, he was recruited to join Audemars Piguet as their CFO. This is still technically a finance role, but it’s close enough to watchmaking that his true destiny would become too alluring to resist.
The New Beginnings. After 14+ years as CFO (and eventually COO) at AP, Pierre Dubois took the leap and founded Pierre DeRoche in the mid-2000s - before eventually being appointed CEO of the Dubois Dépraz group in 2017. Thankfully, he continues to also run Pierre DeRoche, because these TNT Royal Retros thoroughly deserve their place in the pantheon of unusual watch complications.
The Future. As you might have already guessed, Dubois Dépraz - run by his two brothers at the time of Pierre DeRoche’s founding - helped develop the unique relay-retrograde style complication. There are absolutely no plans to license the complication to any other brands, so it will remain a DeRoche exclusive for the foreseeable future.
The Uniqueness. The titanium case is packed full of unusual facets and angles, ensuring every inch of the TNT is interesting to look at from the dial, to the movement, and even the case itself. And while no one sensible would ever describe a watch that retailed for just under $30,000 as “affordable”, the level of engineering (56 jewels by the way) and finishing on display genuinely makes it feel worth every penny.
The Aside. Pierre means “stone” in French, and “DuBois” means “from the woods (forest)” = “the stone from the woods”. When he was younger, a neighbour mocked this nonsensical name and declared “De Roche” was more fitting than “Dubois”. It stuck, and “Pierre DeRoche”, or “the stone from the rock” was born!
Specifications:
Condition: In great condition overall. Some minor marks can be seen on close inspection on the brushed parts of the bezel. The backside of the leather strap is worn.
Scope: Box and papers
Movement: In-house Pierre DeRoche Royal Retro Movement
Dimensions:
- Case Width: 44.0mm
- Lug to lug: 52.1mm
- Case Thickness: 12.8mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
