Kauri - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

Kauri, founded in 2019, is an independent Geneva-based brand (atelier in Plan-les-Ouates) created by watchmaker-designer Samuel Gillioz; it started with limited-run Swiss watches combining 316L steel with handcrafted wooden shells and later moved into more complex, original displays.

Wood + 316L steel case: Geneva architecture for daily wear

The core idea is a steel “container” ensuring water-resistance and strap fixation, clad with a hand-finished wooden shell on O1, then a Carbonium® shell on recent pieces; the goal is durability despite a living material. This composite build, developed in the Plan-les-Ouates workshop, delivers a Swiss-Made content above 90% while preserving the tactile character of wood.

O1, Duo and Regulateur Carbone: families and use cases

The range revolves around three pillars: O1 (octagonal, “wood up front”), Duo (round, two woods combined, 38/41 mm) and a high-independent piece, the Regulateur Carbone (jumping hours with retrograde minutes, Carbonium® shell). Start by picking the architecture (octagonal vs. round), then wrist presence (38/41 mm) and your preferred level of complication.

• Kauri O1 — Launch series of 50 pieces; 41 × 43.8 mm, 9.9 mm thick, 30 m WR, automatic (Soprod M100), bespoke wood choice (Kauri, Macassar ebony, kingwood, briar burl, “Swiss Ebony”). Launch pricing by wood: CHF 4,490–5,490.
• Kauri Duo — Round 38 or 41 mm case, pairing two woods (e.g., Swiss Ebony / briar burl), double-domed sapphire, 3 ATM, Soprod M100 automatic; Black Edition and Diamonds versions (Duo 38 with set bezel, 25 pcs). Typical cap: 50 pcs.
• Kauri Regulateur Carbone — Central retrograde minutes + jumping hours at 6 o’clock, hand-wound base (Olivier Mory) with > 100-hour reserve, 41.5 × 11 mm; subscription series of 20 watches, priced at CHF 34,000.

Personalisation, finishing and Swiss-Made approach > 90%

Each piece is built to order (wood, indexes, back engraving, strap) with hand finishing and oil impregnation; steel parts are sourced from Swiss specialists and final assembly is handled by the founder. This “tailor-made” logic explains the restrained volumes and the intentional diversity of textures, a central part of Kauri’s identity.

Positioning, pricing and reach

O1 and Duo sit in the “accessibly high-end” bracket for a Swiss micro-brand (about CHF 4,490–5,490 by wood/edition), while the Kauri Regulateur Carbone opens a more exclusive chapter at CHF 34,000 (20 pieces). Distribution is primarily direct (official site) with support from Watchmakers United, with limited, numbered runs throughout.

Conclusion

Kauri is for buyers who want material to tell a story: O1 as the octagonal “wood + steel” manifesto, Duo as a more versatile round option (38/41 mm, sometimes set), and the Kauri Regulateur Carbone as a small-run statement with an animated display. To decide, weigh use case (daily vs. statement), your tolerance for wood’s natural aging and budget. Before purchasing, ground your choice in Dialicious customer reviews for comfort, legibility and long-term experience.

(Updated August 2025)