C3H5N3O9 - Experiment ZR012

 C3H5N3O9 - Experiment ZR012 Limited Edition NEW

Whenever geniuses of Swiss watch making industry meet, we always witnessed the births of new concepts, new brands and collaborations. This time, a new brand or better call an experimental platform was born when Felix Baumgartner, Maximilian Büsser, Martin Frei and Serge Kriknoff joined together to experiment with concepts, ideas and creations without the inherent limitations of a luxury brand. They named this platform as C3H5N3O9.

 C3H5N3O9 is both the molecular formula for nitroglycerine and a horological experiment. Many of the most reactive (and most exciting) chemical reactions derive from combining seemingly innocuous ingredients. When Felix Baumgartner and Maximilian Büsser shared a pleasant lunch on a Geneva terrace in the summer of 2008, it started a horological chain reaction that four years later manifested as C3H5N3O9.

Urwerk founders Felix Baumgartner and Martin Frei had a concept featuring Wankel engine inspired indications that they had not yet developed, and they suggested their constructor Cyrano Devanthey could develop and produce a movement based on that. MB&F partners Maximilian Büsser and Serge Kriknoff teamed up with independent watch designer Eric Giroud to design and produce the case.

Experiment ZR012 is the first ever timepiece by C3H5N3O9. This world premier model features Wankel engine inspired hour and minute indications in an asymmetrical zirconium case with articulated and compound lugs.

   Click on the mouse wheel to see the large size ...BIG FOTO  

At first glance the time appears to be indicated by centrally rotating triangular rotors; however, the triangles are actually Reuleaux polygons; they rotate eccentrically rather than centrally and track complex epitrochroid curves rather than circles.

Click on the mouse wheel to see the large size ...BIG FOTO 

The system was inspired by the Wankel engine, which features orbital Reuleaux polygon rotors rather than the reciprocating pistons that power the majority of our cars and machines today.

  Click on the mouse wheel to see the large size ...BIG FOTO 

     Click on the mouse wheel to see the large size ...BIG FOTO

   This timepiece will be costing approximately 110,000 Swiss francs (33, 000 Swiss francs for the confirmation of the order) and only available directly from Switzerland. Interested buyer can contact through the contact form of the website. There will only be two series of 12 Experiments featuring the Wankel complication: ZR012 12 pieces in Zirconium (in 2012) and RG012 12 pieces in red gold( in 2013).

  Indications:  

Experiment ZRO12 indicates hours and minutes with two Wankel engine inspired eccentric rotating Reuleaux polygons (triangular-shaped rotors). Hours are indicated by the lower rotor along the front of the 'dial', while minutes are indicated by the smaller upper rotor.

Epitrochoid curves: Time is by the tips of the Reuleaux polygon rotors tracing epitrochoid curves. To create the complex shape of the hour and minute epitchroid curves with the high precision required, 180 separate points were plotted. There is tolerance of just o.2omm between the triangular rotors - the special shape is actually called a Reuleaux polygon - and the hour and minute marked epitrochroids surrounding them.

  Complication: The Reuleaux polygon (triangular-shaped) rotors are eccentric, i.e. not mounted directly to the central 'crankshaft' and they demand considerable time, skill and patience to set up correctly in assembly process. To ensure extremely high precision adjustment the fixed wheels can be rotated slightly (then re-fixed) to allow fine adjustment and synchronised precision between the hour and minute indicators.

   Click on the mouse wheel to see the large size ...BIG FOTO

Case:

The case and lugs of Experiment ZR012 are made from zirconium, which is derived from the mineral zircon. Visually zirconium is similar to titanium and is highly resistant to corrosion.
The case dimensions are 55mm x 44mm (excluding lugs). The articulated front lug and compound rear lug wrap ergonomically around the wrist and ensure a high level of comfort.

  Click on the mouse wheel to see the large size ...BIG FOTO   

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Technical specifications

Experiment ZR012 is an edition of 12 pieces in zirconium

Hours and minutes are indicated by two Wankel engine inspired Reuleaux polygon rotors tracing epitrochoid curves

Case

Dimensions without lugs: 55mm x 44mm

Case and lugs: Zirconium case with titanium lugs

Number of case components: 60

Compound front lug, articulated rear lug

Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment both side

Water resistance: 30m - 100’ - 3atm

Strap and buckle: Brown calf leather strap. Titanium and white gold folding buckle.

Movement

Movement dimensions: 32.65mm x: 41.35mm: 11.55 mm

Number of components: 328

Number of jewels: 42

Manual winding

Power reserve: 39h

Balance frequency: 28'800

Finishing: satin finishing, sandblasted, circular graining on movement, black PVD treated components, black ruthenium treated components

Number of plots to create epitrochoids for hours and minutes: 180

Tolerance between hour and minute indication rotors and inside of epitrochoids: 0.20mm

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