The Roland Iten Collections

The Calibre R8S Mark II Double Ardillon R8S Mk.II – 30mm

Roland: “The Calibre R8S Mark II Double Ardillon belt buckle is designed for the 'Officer' in every gentleman. The double ardillon (pin or tang) belt buckle dates back to the 15th century. At that time, belts and leather straps were used by the military as versatile and practical weapons carriers, supporting the officer's pistol and sword. Double ardillons on the buckle distributed the weight more evenly over the belt than a single pin, thus ensuring that the belt lasted longer (perhaps a critical factor in a long battle such as Waterloo).” While the battle's fought by today's Officers and Gentlemen are more likely to take place in the boardroom than the battle field, the raison d'être for the double ardillon - increased longevity and added security - hasn't changed in over half a millennium. The R8S Mark II is the perfect marriage of traditional craft and the high quality Swiss micro-mechanics more usually found in fine watch making. The R8S Mark II is manufactured in Geneva with a unique (patent pending) double Ardillon system developed by Roland Iten.

The Calibre R8 AuthenticPrecious R8 Mk.I – 30mm

Roland: “The R8 Authentic is a solid gold and titanium belt buckle engineered with over 110 custom-made, mechanical pieces which combine to deliver a multi-axle mechanism to allow the wearer 35mm of extra girth with the flip of lever. Not surprisingly, the 35mm is the two fingers of space that your tailor builds in to your custom made suit, but this added comfort is rendered redundant by normal belts. Sports car owners in particular will attest to the simple luxury offered by the smooth transmission of this expandable buckle, as will any man who likes to effortlessly tuck in his shirt after sitting for long periods.”

The Calibre R8 Sport R8SMk.I – 30mm

Roland:“The sporty version of my original R8 complicated mechanical belt buckle is made with the same engineered performance, and is based on the same multi-axle expansion mechanism as the R8 Authentic Precious collection. In this derivation, the solid gold clip and flipper is replaced with a scratch-proof, stainless steel and titanium construction that is lightweight and more performance-oriented for active sports. The natural steel finish of the R8 Sport, as well as the different PVD colour versions are ideal when a more casual look is desired.

The Calibre R81 Spring Loaded R81Mk.I – 35mm

Roland: “When I did a limited edition of the R8 AUTHENTIC for Purdey, the custom gun company, I toured their factory and saw how their guns open up, felt the power of the springs and this inspired me to create a spring loaded belt and to develop one with eight positions. The R81 Spring Loaded 8 Position Suspension Belt functions via a patent-pending “trigger” mechanism which delivers 8 degrees/ 25mm of calibration along a ratchet barrel construction. The materials used in the R81- solid gold and titanium, have been chosen to guarantee impeccable performance of the trigger mechanism and to provide the touch, feel and uniquely dense sound of gold. Afterall, when you have 8 positions to choose from, you never have your hand far from the trigger. That’s why my code-name for this product is Goldfinger.”

Calibre R82 Mark 2 Double Ardillon Buckle R82Mk.II – 35mm

Roland: “I created the mechanism for the R82 belt buckle in 1998 and I’ve been refining its design and function ever since. It is, without a doubt, the most complicated piece in the collection with over 150 engineered parts. In contrast, however, to the serious mechanics which comprise this buckle, the Gentleman who prefers discretion can choose to wear the R82 showing no more than the traditional solid gold frame. Or, the ‘double ardillon’ mechanism can be rotated to expose more of the mechanics when a more sporty, technical look is desired. The principle upon which the R82 functions is tension. With one smooth movement, the buckle lever transports the ardillon across the carriage by 30mm. The same lever movement tightens two integrated springs in the hinges on either side of the buckle which activates a locking mechanism securing the buckle in the active wear position. To convert the buckle to the relaxed position, two side triggers are employed which ‘ejects’ the buckle lever instantly, thereby releasing the tension. The stealth speed at which this belt performs has inspired its code-name ‘Cobra”.

Creditcard Dispenser RCD81

Roland: “I designed a light and ergonomic credit card case with a trigger dispensing mechanism that cascades up to four credit cards for easy handling and collapses them back inside the case with the same trigger action. The case is made of aluminium and gold—two materials that you don’t often find used together but for this product, they are the ideal combination. The extruded aluminium case is ultra light and I enhanced its smooth curves with a contradiction of satin and polished surfaces for added interest. Plus, the supple density of aluminium makes it an ideal material for engraving. Each of the mechanical performance elements of the case are made in solid gold to celebrate their function and the trigger is reinforced with inox for longevity.”

The RC81 Mechanical Cufflink RC81 Mk.II

Roland: “The RC81 Cufflinks comprise a mechanism which allows you to be very discreet with a sober ‘all business look’, or you can be festive with diamonds exposed, simply by flipping a lever. The joy of this little mechanical operation also results in an optimal force translation – so that with a slight movement of your finger the sixteen twisting, turning, flipping and pirouetting parts in the internal gearbox turn and lock the link into your cuff, all at record speed if you are well-trained. Either way, the power of the force is enjoyable.”

The RF81 “Fou Lace” Mechanical Shoe Tip RF81 Mk.II – 2.5mm

Roland: “The FOU LACE mechanical shoe tips are inspired from a traditional Italian shoe practice which adds extra leather to the tips of laces to protect them and to keep them from slipping through the holes. I believe it’s a shame when you have a beautifully crafted shoe and the first thing that breaks is the shoe lace. A patented ‘threading’ system glides the shoe string through the pieces so that it grips into place and stays put without the need for screws, clips or any additional fastening mechanism. Plus they can be easily removed and applied to other shoes. I believe it’s the details that make the man, and with the FOU LACE your personal style goes right down to the end of your shoelaces.” Available in solid rose, yellow or white gold with diamonds (festive) or in gold and titanium mixture with engravings only (business).

• MANUFACTURE SUISSE

ROLAND ITEN MECHANICAL LUXURY SA - ROUTE DE LAUSANNE 68 - CH1052 LE MONT SUR LAUSANNE - SWITZERLAND - TEL: +41 21 862 1841