With three new calibres and a brand new collection called the Hedonia, this looks to be a big year for Le Rhöne.

We’re not even at the halfway point of 2017 yet, but Le Rhöne has already taken care of business this year. At Baselworld 2017 the brand revealed its lineup of three collections within the new Les Ateliers “workshop” area for independent watchmakers. And with the arrival of three new calibres, this looks to be a year of big advancements for the watchmaker.

Being a Swiss brand, founders Loïc Florentin and Timo Rajakoski naturally have orientated their watchmaking approach towards high quality craftsmanship. But they also add a touch of modernity and boldness to their watches, which is evident throughout each of their collections.

The Road Racer is the brand’s first collection, one that is inspired by the design of legendary 1960s American automobiles. These 45mm timepieces are chronograph models with well-balanced dial layouts, powered by the automatic DD2017 movement - essentially an enhanced version of the Soprod A10.

They are available in steel, pink gold, white gold and DLC steel. New models have been added to the collection recently, including an all-black version for a more imposing monochromatic look.

The High Watchmaking collection, as the name suggests, is Le Rhöne’s more sophisticated collection – not that their other collections are pedestrian. Two watches in particular got a lot of attention in Basel: the home time double tourbillon with a white gold bridge and the home time double flying tourbillon in pink gold. These two models are one-off releases, and they can also be fully personalized.

The brand’s newest collection is the Hedonia, and it is the biggest step by the brand so far. The 41mm diameter model has already been well received, no doubt thanks to the sport chic allure. The watch also boasts a solid double barrel DB-01 movement, which delivers more than 72 hours of power reserve.

The ladies’ version, on the other hand, features a large moonphase that takes up most of the dial. The mother-of-pearl moon is impressively realistic, set within an aventurine dial and a case in white gold, steel or pink gold. While the moonphase dominates the dial, the watch nevertheless remains a distinctly feminine option within Le Rhöne’s gradually expanding collection.