Elements of RGM's Caliber 801.

Visitors to the RGM web site frequently take note of the variety of models we offer within a single product line. Some of our watches—for example, referencing "P" ( 151P ) —are available as ‘professional’ models with pilot-style black dial. Or with a more elegant silver dial, with decorative engraving "E" ( 250E ). This method of designating the variants within a product group has been carried over into RGM’s newest watches, including the Pennsylvania Series of American-made watches powered by our own Caliber 801.

The Pennsylvania Series watches, designated by the prefix PS, are not only made in America, but feature cases and movements made in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania—a traditional watchmaking region that is also RGM’s home. Adorned with a keystone on the winding crown—symbolic of the Keystone State—the PS watches are powered exclusively by the in-house designed and built Caliber 801.

RGM offers many options to the buyer of a Pennsylvania Series watch. The movement itself is available with a finish of yellow gold or rhodium plating. Mechanical options such as an elegant 7-tooth click or wolf’s-tooth winding wheels are available.

The face of an RGM PS 801 is clearly as important to the personality of the watch as its noteworthy motor. Thus, the Pennsylvania Series watches are made with the utmost attention to design details. We judiciously employ stylistic elements that set the 801 apart from other watches, while also identifying them as part of the RGM family. The following models from the PS 801 series each embrace the RGM style, but each is individualistic and appeals to different customers for different reasons.

PS 801 E is the reference number assigned to the Pennsylvania Series 801s that feature engine-turned decorations—applied in RGM’s own workshops with antique rose engines. Known as guilloché, this decorative style of engraving has long been used for the decoration of jewelry and watches. For several years, RGM has been among the few watchmaking firms cutting our own guilloché. For the PS 801 E, hand-cut guilloché (never machine-stamped) is applied to the silver dial. Many options are available for customization according to the customer’s wishes, including a wide array of guilloché patterns, dial and printing colors, and hand engraving—applied to the dial or to the movement itself. The typical PS 801 E features an elegant silver dial with engraved chapter rings and complementary engraved patterns within the hours/minutes chapter and that of the small seconds.

PS 801 S features a dial that is skeletonized, or cut-away to reveal elements of the movement beneath. The center of the dial is artfully removed, leaving the seconds chapter intact, to expose jewels, blued screws and some polished components of the setting and winding system of Caliber 801. The dial is available with Roman or Arabic numerals—customizable, as always, in silver or deep black with luminous elements beside the hour markers.

PS 801 ES, as you may expect, is a combination of both the skeletonized dial and hand-cut guilloché. For this version, the engraving is applied directly to the movement plate, and is visible through the removed portions of the dial, combining two dramatic visual features into one breath-taking package.

Other series of RGM watches use these abbreviations, and others, to identify special features. While perusing our web site you may notice such designations as BD (big date), O (orange dial), or MOP (dial made of mother-of-pearl), or even combinations of these. We hope this short description assists you in deciphering our simple code. Feel free to contact us if you have questions about ordering or customizing an RGM watch.

PART 11: Home Sweet Home.

Having departed in August 2010 from his native France, on an odyssey to circle the globe, Romain returned home recently. He provided us with his thoughts on completing his ambitious five-continent trek, the lessons he has learned, and on the performance of his traveling companion: the RGM North Pointer GMT.

“I very much enjoyed discovering new places and meeting new people. Of course it's always helpful meeting people because they help one understand the places where they live. Sometimes our schedule forced us to move on unwillingly…a heavy sigh at the time of leaving but with mild regret as there was always the rest of the trip to look forward to.

“The more the journey advanced, the more I was at ease with people and could chat easily with them on many topics. And now that I am back home, I find I can be more outgoing with foreign travelers…and they are surprised and pleased to meet someone who is friendly and eager to help. I can't help thinking how different I was ten months ago.

Of the people Romain met en route: “One sees a huge difference in personalities…but all those we met had the same enthusiasm to learn more about people and what they can teach you…it's hard to explain because the feeling is so strong. Of course, during the trip, bad and good things happened. We moped after a robbery or a sickness but now we can laugh when we talk about it. And the best part is that girls love hearing about my adventures!

“Now that I am back at work, never a day goes by without me telling an anecdote. I have just begun an association with former fellow students which helps me to develop as a designer as well as an innovator in furniture design. I have already shown my work at a successful exhibition at Arc-et-Senans and there will be two more in the future.” Regarding the RGM North Pointer GMT, “it survived everything it was subjected to including rafting, climbing and diving. It feels comfortable on my wrist... The big test for the watch was when I was hired in May by a demolition company. After all the severe treatment it endured, it still keeps perfect time.

”I wear it all the time wherever I am and whatever I am doing and if I return to the United States that will mean the watch really does go around the world. It went with me through the northern and southeastern parts of the USA, Canada, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Dubai & back home to France.”

RGM is proud of our association with Romain’s adventure and glad that he has returned safely home. Having enjoyed his communications with us—watching him learn and share lessons from his experiences—we are certain that his ability to appreciate new situations will be of great value to him. We wish him success in his endeavors and hope he find an opportunity to visit us again in Pennsylvania, surely with additional tales to relate of interesting experiences shared with his RGM watch.

PART 10: The Desert Flower.

Dubai is a city which is the seat of one of seven emirates, also sharing the name, of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi.

Since the founding of the oil industry, Dubai has attracted thousands of migrants from all over the world and, in fact, has the largest immigrant population in the world. Although Dubai's economy was built on the oil industry, it has become a global city and business hub. Today its main revenues are from tourism, real estate, and financial services, similar to that of Western countries. Dubai has recently attracted world attention through many innovative large construction projects and sporting events (football and cricket being the most popular). Dubai lies directly within the Arabian Desert and sits roughly at sea level. Much of its landscape is highlighted by sandy desert patterns, while gravel deserts dominate much of the southern region of the country. The sand consists mostly of crushed shell and coral and is fine, clean and white. East of the city, the salt-crusted coastal plains, known as sabkha, give way to a north-south running line of dunes. Farther east, the dunes grow larger and are tinged red with iron oxide. The flat sandy desert gives way to the Western Hajar Mountains.

Dubai has no natural river bodies or oases; however, it does have a natural inlet, Dubai Creek, which has been dredged to make it deep enough for large vessels to pass through. Dubai has a very hot arid climate. Summers in Dubai are extremely hot, windy and dry, with an average high around 104 °F and overnight lows around 86 °F. Most days are sunny throughout the year. Winters are warm with an average high of 73 °F . Several indigenous trees such as the date palm and neem as well as imported trees like the eucalypts grow in Dubai's natural parks. Dubai has more than 70 shopping malls, including the world's 7th largest shopping mall, Dubai Mall. Dubai is sometimes called "the City of Gold"; the Gold Souk market in Deira houses nearly 250 gold retail shops. Modern Islamic – and world – architecture has literally been taken to new levels in skyscraper building design and technology. Dubai now boasts more completed or topped-out skyscrapers higher than any other city. A culmination point was reached in 2010 with the completion of the Burj Khalifa (Khalifa Tower), now by far the world's tallest building at 2,716 feet. The Burj Khalifa's design is derived from the patterning systems embodied in Islamic architecture, with the triple-lobed footprint of the building based on an abstracted version of the desert flower hymenocallis, which is native to the Dubai region. The completion of the Khalifa Tower, following the construction boom that began in the 1980s, accelerated in the 1990s, and took on a rapid pace of construction unparalled in modern human history during the decade of the 2000s, leaving Dubai with the world's tallest skyline as of 4 January 2010.

RGM has similarly taken watchmaking to new levels. We were pleased to see the North Pointer ( Model # 254 ) prove its durability and craftsmanship, this is to be the standard that RGM sets for all our watches. RGM Watches stand the test of time. Unfortunately the End of our Adventure around the World has come to a conclusion. Next, Romain heads home to France, and we look forward to hearing from him about his experiences not only on his travels but also with the RGM North Pointer.

PART 9: The Islands.

Across its many islands, Indonesia has developed a shared identity defined by a national language and ethnic diversity. The name Indonesia derives from the Latin "Indus", and the Greek "nesos", meaning "island". Despite its large population and densely populated regions, Indonesia has vast areas of wilderness . The country is richly endowed with natural resources, yet poverty remains widespread in contemporary Indonesia. Indonesia shares maritime borders across narrow straits with Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines to the north, and with Australia to the south. The capital, Jakarta, is on Java and is the nation's largest city, followed by Surabaya, Bandung, Medan, and Semarang.

Upon arrival and disembarking from the plane, you'll immediately notice the sudden rush of warm, wet air. Indonesia is a warm place. It has no spring, summer, fall, or winter, just two seasons: rainy and dry, both of which are relative (it still rains during the dry season, it just rains less). While there is significant regional variation, in most of the country (including Java and Bali) the dry season is April to October, while the wet season is November to March.

The volcanoes in Indonesia are among the most active of the Pacific Ring of Fire. They are formed due to subduction zones of three main active tectonic plates. Some of the volcanoes are notable for their eruptions, for instance, Krakatau for its global effects in 1883. The name Krakatau is used for the island group, the main Island , and the volcano as a whole. The island exploded in 1883, killing approximately 40,000 people, although some estimates put the death toll much higher. The explosion is still considered to be the loudest sound ever heard in modern history, with reports of it being heard nearly 3,000 miles (4,800 km) from its point of origin. The shock wave from the explosion was recorded around the globe.

Native to Indonesia and Malaysia, orangutans are currently found only in rainforests on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. There are only two surviving species, both of which are endangered. Orangutans have a large, bulky body, a thick neck, very long, strong arms, short, bowed legs, and no tail. They are mostly covered with long reddish-brown hair, although this differs between the species: Sumatran Orangutans have a more sparse and lighter coloured coat. A number of organisations are working for the rescue, rehabilitation and reintroduction of orangutans. The largest of these is the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. Other major conservation centres in Indonesia include those at Tanjung Puting National Park and Sebangau National Park in Central Kalimantan.

Amidst the powerful Volcanoes , the beauty of the Organgutans, and the warm climate of Indonesia , the RGM "North Pointer" felt right at home. Its time to step out of the jungle and head south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula , next to Dubai.

PART 8: The Eye of the Tiger.

Romain’s next destination, Cambodia’s neighbor to the west - Thailand. Another small Asian country, Thailand is similar in size to the state of California and has a population of approximately 64 million people. One of the most distinctive Thai customs is the wai, which is similar to the Indian namaste gesture. Showing greeting, farewell, or acknowledgement, it comes in several forms reflecting the relative status of those involved, but generally it involves a prayer-like gesture with the hands and a bow of the head.

Amongst the most famous of Thailand's cultural art forms is the Khon. Khon masked drama evolved in the royal court of Siam, although its roots lie in folk dances of the countryside. Here, performers don elaborate jeweled costumes; men wear masks and women gilded headdresses. Music accompanies the dance and the dialog, and songs are performed by an off-stage chorus.

Maritime trade is especially important to the Thai people. The Choa Phraya and Mekong River provide resources, transportation, and irrigation for rural Thailand. The Gulf of Thailand houses the country’s largest seaport in Laem Chabang and also provides maritime access to its largest city and second largest port - Bangkok. Because of it's location on the Gulf of Thailand, Bangkok is the political, social, and economic center of Thailand and Southeast Asia.

Thailand is also called home by the Indochinese tiger. Placed on the endangered species list, a male tiger can measure as long as 9 feet and weigh more then 500 pounds. Mother tigers give birth to two or three cubs at a time. It is thought that as few as 1,000 of these majestic animals still exist in the world. Indochinese tigers live in secluded forests in hilly to mountainous terrain, the majority of which lies along the borders between countries. Entrance to these areas is frequently restricted and, as of late, biologists have been granted limited permits for field surveys. For this reason, comparatively little is known about the status of these big cats in the wild.

Elephants are another animal which roam Thailand. Elephants have been revered in Thailand for many centuries. Famous as the strongest beasts of burden, in Thailand they were important in battle, with kings mounted on elephants fighting the Burmese to defend Thailand on many occasions. They have also been noted for their intelligence, memory and pleasant nature. A white elephant is even included in the flag of the Royal Thai navy, and the "Order of the White Elephant" is one of the highest honors bestowed by the king. White elephants are very rarely completely white. The skin has to be very pale in certain areas to qualify as a "white elephant" .

Both the beauty and toughness of these animals nicely highlight the same traits in Romain's RGM Model 254. The movement is beautifully finished but a workhorse, or we should say 'work elephant', when it comes to the durability of the mechanical movement housed in the 254. Next month we follow Romain as he travels to the archipelago of Indonesia. To find out more about the 254 North Pointer or any other watch in the RGM collection please visit our web site, or call us at 717-653-9799.

PART 7: The Eighth Wonder of the World.

One of the smallest countries in Southeast Asia, the ancient land of Cambodia was a seat of Southeast Asian culture for centuries. About one-third the size of France and somewhat larger than the U.S. state of Missouri, Cambodia is bordered to the west and northwest by Thailand, to the northeast by Laos, to the east and southeast by Vietnam, and to the southwest by the Gulf of Thailand. Cambodia consists of low flat plains, with breathtaking landscapes of dazzling rice paddies, swaying sugar palms, thundering waterfalls and pristine crater lakes.

The ancient temples of Angkor represent one of humankind's most astonishing and enduring architectural achievements, and stand as monuments to the Khmer dynasties that date back to the ninth century. Angkor Wat is one of the most beautiful and fascinating places on the planet. Built by the Khmer kings over a period of four centuries, it had been abandoned and hidden by the dense jungle until, about 150 years ago, it was re-discovered by a French explorer and once again open for exploration to the modern world. It was built as the king's state temple and part of his capital city, which itself was seventeen times bigger than Manhattan Island. The word Angkor is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning “city", Wat is the Khmer word for temple. It is possibly the single largest religious structure in the world, and surely one of the world’s wonders of art and architecture, often praised for its harmony of design. In fact, within an area of 120 sq. miles, the ruins contain some of the most imposing monuments in the world, including about a thousand temples, mainly Hindu and some Buddhist.

Angkor Thom,a walled and moated royal city, was the last capital of the Angkorian empire. After King Jayavarman VII recaptured the capital from invaders, he began a massive building campaign across the empire, constructing Angkor Thom as his new capital city. He began with existing structures and built a grand enclosed city around them, adding the outer wall and moat and some of Angkor's greatest temples, including his state temple, Bayon, set at the center of the city. Standing in the exact center of the walled city, Bayon Temple is thought to represent the intersection of heaven and earth. Bayon is known for its huge stone faces of the bodhisattva , with one facing outward and keeping watch at each compass point. The curious smiling image, thought by many to be a portrait of Jayavarman himself, has been dubbed by some the "Mona Lisa of Southeast Asia." There are 51 smaller towers surrounding Bayon, each with four faces of its own.

Cambodia has two distinct seasons -- the wet and the dry. Cambodia's wet season comes courtesy of the southwest monsoons, bringing with it frequent rains, heat and high humidity. In the peak of wet season, from July to September, it can rain as much as two out of every three days. The dry season runs from October to April, when the northeast monsoon arrives. Characterized by heat and dust, the temperatures become scorching and so dry it can take your breath away.

The extreme weather conditions allow Romain to put RGM’s rugged North Pointer to the test. The durable yet lightweight rubber strap is able to withstand the heat and humidity; the curved underside shape helps the wearer remain comfortable no matter what the temperature. Despite many years of war, Cambodia, as home of the Khmer culture, remains one of the most important and exotic countries in Southeast Asia. When we see Romain again he will be .............crossing the border into Thailand. Its Tiger feeding time with the Monks of Bangkok !

PART 6: The Land of the Rising Sun.

Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun, known for its storied culture, high speed trains, and technological prowess, was Romain’s next stop on his world tour. Japan came to have the name “Land of the Rising Sun” through its official Japanese name "Nippon" which means “sun origin”. It is thought to have come from the Imperial Missions to China between the years 600 and 800 and refers to Japan’s position east of China, or from the direction in which the sun rises each day. Japan’s culture is steeped in mystique and history. The feudal era saw the rise of the ruling class of Samurai. In the 1630’s the policy of Sakoko was enacted, under which no foreigner was allowed to enter Japan and no citizen was allowed to leave under penalty of death. This was done to help preserve the Japanese way of life and traditions from conquering western influences. Only certain western powers, like the Dutch, were allowed to conduct trade during this period. This isolationism ended in 1854 and the door was fully opened for trade with the rest of the world.

Japanese culture is also known for its traditional theater arts – noh, kyogen, kabuki, and bunraku. Bunraku is a form of puppet theater and has been practiced in Japan since the late 1600’s. Also important in Japan’s culture is the traditional Kimono – meaning “something one wears”. A person’s gender, age, marital and societal status, and time of the year can determine the kind of Kimono worn. Despite placing a strongs emphasis on traditional ways of life, Japan is also known for being a leader in cutting edge technology. The network of high speed bullet trains allow citizens to move about the country at speeds up to 200mph. The future of high speed rail travel in Japan continues to become faster as plans are in place for a magnetic levitation line running between Tokyo and Nagoya, about 230 miles away, by 2025. Trains employing this technology can operate at speeds near 300mph and would be able to make the trip between Tokyo and Nagoya in less than 45 minutes. In a country such as Japan where the old blends seamlessly with the new, the RGM North Pointer is equally at home. Designed in the tradition of the great sport watches of the past and assembled using the same traditional methods used in watchmaking for centuries, RGM puts a modern touch on this traditional time keeping piece.

Underwater photographer and RGM.

RGM and Nick Caloyianis We at RGM recently ran into an old friend of ours who is putting his RGM Ref. 300 Professional Diver to the test. The watch of Nick Caloyianis--award winning underwater photographer and cinematographer—isn’t subjected to run-of-the-mill conditions. His work (and probably his play) demands a robust timepiece, not only to withstand extreme situations, but because he also relies upon it for his safety. Nick made sure to let us know “I am very pleased with the reliability and performance” of the RGM 300 dive watch. He went on to attest, as many divers will agree, that because safe underwater expeditions are limited to a finite time period, “the accuracy and reliability of a timepiece is a crucial component to safe diving.” And Nick speaks from the standpoint of experience. Even with the availability of high-tech diving computers and electronic timing devices, Nick has come to rely upon the RGM 300 and its self-winding reliability. He tells us “I now use your watch as a back up in the event of a dive computer failure.”

That is a welcome sentiment, but Nick doesn’t merely say such things to be polite. He went on to tell RGM that he found the Ref. 300 to be “robust enough to be utilized for diving in extreme environments.” For example, while repeatedly diving in the hostile north Atlantic, “where water temps dropped to 31 degrees F, I found your watch performed flawlessly even in 100-ft deep water… during all 52 dives. I noticed my dive computer and other gauges were fogged up underwater while the sapphire crystal on the RGM watch remained fog-free. I kept wondering how long each of the techno gauges I was using would last.”

Since then the RGM watch has been tested by Nick in other North Atlantic waters to 160 feet. Though our watch is rated to 2500 feet, to know that it also helped keep Nick safe in extreme conditions is welcome news. We’re glad to hear of his continued adventures with the RGM 300, including “drift diving off the Palm Beaches and filming Great Whites off Cape Cod.” Thanks to Nick Caloyianis for letting us know that our watch has served him well, and for keeping us informed of his exploits.

PART 5: The Center of the World

Peru is the third largest country in South America (about three times the size of California), and contains 28 different climates, from the arid desert, temperate to frigid temperatures of the rugged Andes mountains, to the warm, humid tropical rain forests. In addition, Peru has some of the largest fisheries in the world, and is home to over 1,700 species of birds, more than any other country in the world.

Romain, still in Peru, now travels south to Arequipa, a capital city founded in 1540 on the site of an ancient Incan town. The picturesque city, nestled in a valley of green countryside, is overlooked by impressive volcanoes and snow covered mountains. The city has magnificent Colonial-era spanish buildings, made of pearly white volcanic rock, which glisten when bathed in sunlight, thus it is affectionately called “La Cuidad Blanca” (“the White City”).

Traveling north along the coast lie the Islas Ballestas, located off the shores of Paracas. These rocky formations are home to colonies of birds, penguins and sea lions. The thriving marine life makes it an excellent destination to watch whales, dolphins, sea lions, leatherneck turtles and more.

Romain now crosses the border into Ecuador, the smallest of the Andean countries. Straddling two hemispheres, Ecuador is situated along the equatorial line it is named after, bordering Columbia and Peru, and is sometimes referred to as “The Center of the World”.

Puerto Lopez is a small fishing village on the Pacific Coast where people flock to see the majestic humpback whales, who migrate north about 500 miles every season to reach the warm waters of the Ecuadorean coast to mate and raise their young. The courting whales perform spectacular displays, with impressive leaps and tail thrashing. A few miles offshore is Isla de la Plata (nicknamed “The Poor Man's Galapagos”) which is surrounded by coral reefs, making it an ideal destination for divers. Here we see Romain taking advantage of another outstanding feature of RGM’s North Pointer; the watch is water resistant to 300 feet, making it an excellent timepiece both on land or sea.

The area around the present day town of San Agustin was inhabited by an ancient Indian civilization which left hundreds of mysterious carved statues depicting humans and animals, varying in size from 8 inches to 23 ft. The scenery is stunning, with dozens of waterfalls tumbling through the jungle to join the Río Magdalena.

As Colombia’s greatest river, the Magdalena winds 924 miles through many canyons before eventually winding up in the Caribbean Sea. Stay with us as we follow Romain to the Far East.

Next: The Land of the Rising Sun

Geneva Time Exhibition

The new year ushered in an exciting opportunity for RGM Watch Co. to unveil to the international community our new Pennsylvania Series of watches. RGM debuted its “American Made” watches at the Geneva Time Exhibition, at the International Geneva Conference Centre (CICG) in Geneva, Switzerland, Sunday 16th to Friday 21st of January, 2011.

The Geneva Time Exhibition ( GTE ) is dedicated to independent watchmaking, and offers craftsmen the chance to exhibit their designs in a prestigious setting, enhanced by an extensive international communication campaign. The GTE offers the opportunity for watch industry professionals and enthusiasts from around the world to discover the exceptional creativity of independent watchmakers in a in a fresh, enthusiastic, innovative atmosphere, reflecting the personality of its exhibitors.

RGM continues to uphold the finest traditions of American horology by introducing the new Pennsylvania Tourbillon, our new flagship mechanical movement. The Pennsylvania Tourbillon is the first serially produced American Tourbillon watch ever made. Following on the heels of America's first high grade mechanical movement in four decades, the RGM Caliber 801 and Pennsylvania Tourbillon represent significant advances in domestic watchmaking. These watches are not only made in the U.S.A., but are created and built in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; one of the few remaining traditional watchmaking centers of American watchmaking since the 1800's. Never before has an American watchmaker introduced a series of Tourbillon wristwatches based upon a proprietary caliber. To do so, and to create them domestically, is an historic accomplishment. The last time high-grade mechanical watch movements were produced in the United States was 1969-- the year that Hamilton Watch Co. ended its period of more than 70 years of continuous manufacturing at its facility (just down the road from RGM’s current headquarters.).

When also designing the caliber 801, we wanted to create a watch that was reminiscent of American watches from the past; not only in its shapes, but in the quality of its construction. We want a watch that can stand the test of time and serve as a framework we can build upon when designing other functions. The caliber 801 has very traditional hand finishing such as Perlage, Anglage, and Cote de Geneve waves on the bridges.

Another exciting feature of our Pennsylvania Series " American Made" watches is our new "Keystone Case" - 43.0 mm of Polished hand made Stainless Steel - Rich coin edge, and powerful lugs.

In addition to the new Pennsylvania Tourbillon, RGM is already at work on variations of the new Caliber 801, such as the 24 Hour version (displayed at the GTE), We are also eager to soon share with the public another landmark creation at RGM, our Ladies watches. Thank you for your support of America's Premier Watchmaker.

PART 4: Lost city of gold, found!

Right away Romain feels a change in the weather - Destination South America. What land borders Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the southeast, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west? This is where our journey begins in the land of Peru.

When we look back in history in this area, the The Mesoamerican civilization, known as the Inca Empire, was located in the Andes mountains. The Incans gave their empire the name, 'Land of the Four Quarters' , or the Tahuantinsuyu Empire. It stretched north to south along the high mountainous Andean range from Colombia to Chile, and reached west to east from the dry coastal desert called Atacama to the steamy Amazonian rain forest. Stretching 2,500 miles, the Inca Empire had a short life of only about a hundred years. Most of what is known of their culture comes from early Spanish accounts and archeological finds. When the Spanish conquered the Inca in 1532, they were a small ethnic group based in Cusco, ruling more than 12 million from 100 different cultures, and speaking at least 20 languages. The Inca used gifts as well as spears to demonstrate power to potential subjects.

Northwest of Cusco, on the crest of the mountain is Machu Picchu, which has an altitude of 11,800 ft. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor (1438–1472). Often referred to as "The Lost City of the Incas", it is perhaps the most familiar icon of the Inca World. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in South America, one of the most visited tourist attractions in all of Latin America . As we continue on southwesterly , ahead of us is Choquequirao, which means "cradle of gold" in Quechua, although this is probably not its original Inca name. It is another "lost city of the Incas" located high on a ridge spur ,above the raging glacier-fed Apurimac River on the Salkantay Mountain Range in the Province La Convención in the Cusco. The site is reached by a two-day hike from outside Cusco, ( known as the Choquequirao Trek ). In one of the earlier blogs we showed how you could find North using RGM's Model # 254 North Pointer GMT in the Northern Hemisphere - its a little different in the Southern - heres how:

To find north while you are in the southern hemisphere: Hold the watch parralel to the ground. Point the 12 o'clock position so it is pointed at the sun. The point half-way between the hour hand and the 12 o'clock position will be north. Note: During daylight savings time you may want to use the 1 o'clock position to get a more accurate bearing. Crossing the border into Bolivia we continue South to Copacabana. It is the main Bolivian town on the shore of Lake Titicaca , from where boats leave for Isla del Sol , the sacred Inca island. With winter upon us here in Mount Joy , Penna - it's nice to hear the words , " the island of the sun", Isla del Sol is an island in the southern part of Lake Titicaca. Geographically, the terrain is harsh. It is a rocky, hilly island. There are no motor vehicles or paved roads on the island. No better place for RGM's North Pointer GMT to be in this rugged South American adventure. Continue with RGM's North Pointer and Romain as we continue our Journey in the Southern hemisphere of South America , when we make our way North to Columbia.

PART 3: New Frontier

After his trek across the United States , Romain takes a turn North, headed for a new frontier. The land of Canada occupies a position chiefly in the North Temperate Zone, though extending to the Arctic regions. Canada has a long history of trails. From the first footpaths of the original natives to today's Trans Canada Trail, trails have played a part in Canadian lives since the founding - first for commerce and transportation, now for recreation and adventure. In every region of the country there are trails to take you away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Leaving the Grizzly in Yellowstone National Park , Romain meets a Canadian cousin ( or a warning of their presence .)

It is closely related to the brown bear , with many body characteristics adapted for cold temperatures for moving across snow, ice, and open water, and for hunting the seal which make up most of its diet. Although most polar bears are born on land, they spend most of their time at sea (hence their scientific name meaning " maritime bear".) They can hunt consistently only from sea ice, so spend much of the year on the frozen sea. Romain was glad not to run into this family member , like he did in Yellowstone.

The Arctic North (northern parts of Canada and Alaska) is a cruel environment for men and machine. For planes it is no different. The weather creates all sorts of hazards. The terrain offers its own variety of opportinuties for disaster. Nice to see the North Pointer continuing North with no problems, keeping Romain on course. The Ottawa Valley Region covers much of the southeastern portion of the province. Most rivers flow east to the Ottawa River, although a few that flow to Lake Ontario have been added for convenience. The region lacks big, well known waterfalls, but contains a large number of small, picturesque ones - many of which are known only by the locals. But when it comes to well known ones , nothing compares to the North territories very own Niagara Falls. The mighty river plunges over a cliff of dolostone and shale. Niagara Falls is the second largest falls on the globe next to Victoria Falls in southern Africa. One fifth of all the fresh water in the world lies in the four Upper Great Lakes-Michigan, Huron , Superior and Erie. All the outflow empties into the Niagara river and eventually cascades over the falls. Pictured with the North Pointer is the Canadian "Horseshoe" Falls. ( Length of brink: 2,600 ft. , height 167 ft. , volume of water: est. 600,000 U.S. gallons per second.) Romain leaves this vast Northern Frontier for a real change in the weather - Next, South America.

PART 2: Northwest U.S. and into Canada

Please continue to follow -RGM's North Pointer GMT and Romain Oudot -As they Navigate the World.

In part 1 we introduced you to Romain Oudot, a 22 year old French adventurer on an around the world journey.

After crossing the American mid-west, we now find Romain in the northwest United States in Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone was made a national park by President Grant in 1872 and was the first national park in the world. It is centered on the largest Super Volcano on the continent and includes one the largest high-altitude mountain lakes. The park includes some of the most beautiful and rugged terrain the USA has to offer. It comprises of geothermal hot springs, multiple rivers and canyons, lava flows, and waterfalls.

Also found in the parks are thousands of species of animals and plants. Free range elk, bison, wolves, and the greatly revered Grizzly bear can be found roaming in the park. Yellowstone also encompasses the largest petrified forest in the world. Trees become petrified when they are covered in volcanic ash and turn from wood to minerals.

Romain also visited the peak of Mount Washburn. The summit is one of the highest points in the park at 10,243 feet above sea level. At that altitude there is only 60% of the oxygen as there is at sea level. After visiting Yellowstone he moved on to the pacific northwest visiting Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The next leg of Romain‘s trip takes him across Canada, over the great lakes, and back to New York City where he will depart for South America.

In such a environment of extremes such as Yellowstone, Romain is equipped with perfect watch for the job.

The rugged RGM 254 with its anti-reflective sapphire crystal makes reading the 24 hour GMT dial easy in even the brightest sunlight. The stainless steel case protects the movement from whatever conditions you can throw at it and the utilitarian rubber strap keeps the watch securely on one’s wrist. These features, along with a host of others, like the North pointer hand, make the 254 a true adventure’s watch!

To find out more about the RGM 254 or any other model in the RGM lineup please visit our website at www.RGMWatches.com or call 717-653-9799.

PART 1.Travel Around the World with...

The Around the World Journey of the North Pointer

Travels with Romain Oudot and RGM

Romain Oudot is an adventurous twenty-two year old furniture craftsman from the small, Eastern village of Grande Combe Chateleu, France. Several years ago Romain decided to set a goal for himself to travel around the world. Towards that end he took an extra job and recently, before setting off on this historic journey, he sold most everything he owns. Since August, Romain has been traveling, via London around the United States. He’ll spend the next two months seeing sites in the US and Canada when in November, he meets up with some other travelers to begin his global trek.

Last week Romain stopped in to RGM where he picked up a RGM #254 North Pointer to help him on his journey. RGM is pleased to sponsor Romain with this watch and over the coming months we’ll be following him as he travels around the world, ending in late March or early April, back in France.

The RGM #254 is the North Pointer for a reason. The "North Pointer" aspect of the watch and the large "N" on the GMT hand. This is more than just for show, but you can actually determine the direction of North with the watch. This is something that can be done with any such GMT watch if you can see the sun. Place the watch in a flat horizontal position (face of the watch facing the sky). Find the sun, and then point the regular hour hand of the watch toward the sun. The GMT hand should be pointing North.

In the grand tradition of rugged instrument watches, RGM Watch Company is excited to see the North Pointer GMT, RGM Reference 254 on its next adventure.

In addition to visiting RGM to pick up his North Pointer, Romain stopped in at Lancaster’s Clipper Stadium to see some Lancaster Barnstormer’s baseball team. South central Pennsylvania is not only famous for high-end watches but what are perhaps the most well known motorcycles on the planet Harley-Davidson. Romain visited the Harley-Davidson factory in nearby York. Of course, he took along his North Pointer.

Leaving Lancaster Romain traveled to Chicago visiting their famous Millennium Park. The park is home to one of the most sophisticated outdoor venues in the country, the famous Pritzker Center designed by star architect Frank Gehry. The 24-acre park, once a railroad yard now houses performance venues where the Grant Park Symphony practices and plays as well many other events. The Park is also home to several pieces of unique monumental sculpture, which you can see in Romain’s photos, such as the amazing Cloud Gate, a 110-ton seamless, mirror polished, stainless steel elliptical sculpture.

From Chicago Romain continued his westward travels stopping at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota’s beautiful Black Hills. Here Romain’s North Pointer is juxtaposed with the iconic American memorial. Mount Rushmore is carved from the live granite of the Black Hills. The sixty-foot high presidential portraits were the dream of sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who began the construction in 1927 with the help of 400 workers. The project was taken over by the National Park Service in 1933. Gutzon Borglum died in 1939. Construction was stopped in 1941 by Gutzon’s son, Lincoln Borglum. Originally Gutzon has intended to present the president from the waist up but mounting costs and Gutzon’s death prevented that. At the base of mount Rushmore lies the small South Dakota city of Keystone, there is a museum there commemorating Borglum’s efforts.

From the Black Hills of South Dakota, over the prairie grasslands and infamous badlands, Romain made his way to what is perhaps the most famous of American Parks. Stay tuned as we conitnue our Journey with RGM's North Pointer and Romain in Yellowstone National Park.

History in the Watchmaking.

The latest in the family of RGM chronographs is Reference 400, a new automatic with design cues that hearken back to some of the glory days of classic auto racing. This self-winding marvel blends a functional layout with eye-catching color to produce a bold statement resulting from distinct harmonious elements. Ref. 400 chronographs represent a slight departure from the previous Professional models, but the attention to detail and the quality remain indisputably RGM. Brushed and polished case elements, a new style of bezel, and the layered construction of the dial are all indications that significant thought and energy has been expended into producing a sporty chronograph with few peers. p>

The effect of this watch is clearly influenced by designs of decades past—the age of racing Cobras, the GT40, and CanAm series come to mind--while the product is distinctly modern. This is ensured by the use of sapphire crystals front & back, anti-reflective coatings and the most up-to-date Valgranges Cal. A07.211 movement. Watches in the Ref. 400 series are available from RGM immediately. Options include dial color choices (Blue, Black, Silver, Orange), various colors and materials for straps, and the willingness of RGM to create custom versions of their watches for discerning customers. Keep an eye on the company web site (RGMwatches.com) and their Facebook page for updates and additional information.

The stainless steel case measures 43.2 mm across and has a thickness of just under 16 mm. A large, easily grasped crown screws into the case for extra protection. Housed behind the uniquely decorated case back is a top-quality automatic movement - the industry standard for accuracy and reliability.

RGM Professional Dive Watch

There are many pastimes and professions that call for a rugged timepiece - those activities performed at high altitude, in extremely hot or cold temperatures, in close proximity to electrical or magnetic fields, or perhaps merely those which might result in one's watch becoming scraped, scratched, dinged or submersed. As you would expect, the industry provides specialized timepieces for engineers, athletes, pilots, and almost any other sort of vocation you can imagine. There is one style of watch, however, which appears to be most universal in both its usefulness and appeal to those in need of a durable wristwatch and those who collect them. This is the Professional Diver's Watch.

At RGM, the idea of making a dive watch has been germinating for several years. A significant amount of intense thought, market research, and design work culminates in producing the RGM Professional Automatic Diver: Model 300. The Model 300 is a rugged tool watch intended to withstand hazardous duty or extreme environments to which it is exposed. The new RGM diver is water resistant to 2500 feet - thanks to its sturdy construction, 5-mm thick sapphire crystal and double-gasket seals at the crown and case back - and is also anti-magnetic. The traditional combination of a matte black dial with black rotating bezel has been updated with highly luminous hands and dial markings, because legibility under difficult circumstances can be a matter of safety, not just convenience.

The stainless steel case measures 43.2 mm across and has a thickness of just under 16 mm. A large, easily grasped crown screws into the case for extra protection. Housed behind the uniquely decorated case back is a top-quality automatic movement - the industry standard for accuracy and reliability.

RGM Pennsylvania Series Tourbillon

Here at RGM we are continuing to uphold the finest traditions of American horology by introducing the Pennsylvania Tourbillon, our new flagship mechanical movement made here in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. The new Pennsylvania Tourbillon is signified by the state’s symbol, a keystone, surrounding a capital T, which will adorn watches in the first serially produced American Tourbillon watches ever made. Following on the heels of America’s first high grade mechanical movement in four decades, our RGM Caliber 801, the Pennsylvania Tourbillon represents significant advances in domestic watchmaking. The watch is not only made in the U.S.A., but is created and built in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania – one of the few traditional watchmaking centers of American watchmaking since the 1800s.

The new model will be produced in a small numbered series, both as a standard model and for custom orders. Housed in a 43 mm x 12 mm case of either steelor 18k gold, the movement is a symphony of layers, showcasing many of the great elements of traditional watchmaking typical of RGM. Finely polished components share space with brushed elements and perlage. Wheel cocks borrow their shape from the RGM 801 and from classic American movements of yesteryear. The spokes of the wheels continue this theme. A 7-tooth click and winding wheels with wolf’s teeth are immersed in plates with subtle striped damaskeening. The movement is made of the finest quality traditional watchmaking materials such as German Silver, Gold, Silver, and Black Polished Steel.> All of these elements are juxtaposed among that which may be the most surprising of all: the label U.S.A. Never before has an American watchmaker introduced a series of Tourbillon wristwatches based upon a proprietary caliber. To do so, and to create them domestically, is an historic accomplishment.

Additional remarkable features of this watch include hand-applied decoration such as guilloché (done on our antique rose engines), an inset hour and minute dial whose placement nicely balances the exposed Tourbillon, and a small curved sapphire window on the side of the case to allow a third view of the miniature ‘whirlwind’, the Pennsylvania Tourbillon’s cage, which is this model’s namesake.

The Tourbillon is considered to be one of the most challenging of watch mechanisms to make, and is valued for its engineering and hand finishing.

We are one of only a few watchmakers in the world who make custom watches, so customization and personalization are encouraged.

Take a moment to watch this short interview with Roland Murphy as he describes some of the thought process behind the construction of the Pennsylvania Tourbillon.

Join us on June 16th at 6:30 p.m. at the NAWCC Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, Pennsylvania, to see this new Tourbillon and the RGM collection first hand.