Monday, September 30, 2013

SEVENFRIDAY - P2/2 Works














SEVENFRIDAY - P2/2 “Works” NEW

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























SEVENFRIDAY’S GONE CLASSIC…AGAIN…

 Zürich, 25th September 2013 – the story of the P2 is also continuing with the latest model P2/2 “works” !



The model name P2 (the second) already makes it obvious that its inspiration can be found in the universe of the “industrial revolution”.

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




























 Elegant, yet powerful, sophisticated yet cool – that’s how the P2/2 presents itself. Inspired by the emotional beauty of the classic machineries of the 19th century we went about creating this latest model.

The animation ring is in stainless steel, specially treated for the finishing to remind the heavy machinery of its time.

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























SEVENFRIDAY’s watches consist of two integral elements – the Box and the Interface. The box – made of stainless steel- is a complex constructed and protecting casing. The shape and style lies between modernity and classic and creates an exciting atmosphere. The case is surrounded by the animation ring made of different material catering additionally to the haptic and visual senses of the products respective universe.
Click on the mouse wheel to see the large size ...      BIG FOTO
























In the box you find the interface which consists of hands, discs, dial and movement. The indicators are designed and arranged in way to bring the complexity of the movement to the surface. The dial alone is made of 5 separate pieces / layers with eleven different applications. The complex construction attracts and fascinates the spectator and makes checking the time a new.
 Click on the mouse wheel to see the large size ...      BIG FOTO

























A variety of materials, finishing and colors completes the uniqueness of the collection and takes the user on a tour of ongoing discoveries.

Die P2/2 is available on www.sevenfriday.com as well as selected retail stores starting end September 2013.


----------------------------------------------
www.facebook.com - SevenFriDay
--------------------------------------------------------------
www.SevenFriDay.com

Saturday, September 28, 2013

A. Lange & Söhne - LANGE 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Handwerkskunst


A. Lange & Söhne - LANGE 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar Handwerkskunst

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

LANGE 1 TOURBILLON PERPETUAL CALENDAR HANDWERKSKUNST

Nomen est omen

A. Lange & Söhne is relaunching its horological opus magnum with the two eponymous
complications – it had its debut just last year – in a special Handwerkskunst edition limited to 15 timepieces. It leverages the entire spectrum of artisanal skills mastered by the eminent Saxon manufactory.


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

The LANGE 1 TOURBILLON PERPETUAL CALENDAR HANDWERKSKUNST combines two classic complications with the typical design of A. Lange & Söhne’s most famous wristwatch: the Lange 1. Intelligently arranged around the time indications, the calendar displays with the patented peripheral month ring deliver a host of information at a single glance: date, day, month, leap year, and moon phase. A decisive asset: all perpetual calendar displays advance instantaneously. They are so harmoniously integrated in the dial architecture that it takes a second look to grasp the technical complexity of this horological masterpiece. To assure crisp legibility, the refined tourbillon mechanism with the patented stop function can be observed only on the caseback side.

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

The dial is crafted from solid white gold and in this special edition is decorated with a rare combination of tremblage and relief engraving techniques. The manual work involved extends into the realm of the smallest details: For the first time in a Lange timepiece, the blue numerals of the outsize date display are hand-painted.

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

The epithet Handwerkskunst also applies to the decorations of the manufacture calibre L082.1 without reservation. They are the traditional counterpoints to the avant-garde calibre design innovations. The relief-engraved tourbillon and intermediate-wheel cocks frame the tourbillon ensemble with the patented stop-seconds feature.

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


The same free-hand engraving technique is used to decorate the large central rotor in 21-carat gold with a platinum centrifugal mass. Each of the three train bridges is embellished with solarisation. The specular polish on the upper side of the tourbillon cage is also a typical Lange quality hallmark. Four screwed gold chatons and a diamond endstone bearing for the tourbillion are the grand finale of Lange’s “Handwerkskunst” extravaganza.

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

A 41.9-millimetre platinum case is the fitting highlight of this composition of precious metals. The A. Lange & Söhne signature and the case and edition serial numbers on the caseback are hand-engraved.

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

This exclusive collectors’ item will be presented in September 2013 at the “Watches & Wonders” Haute Horlogerie Exhibition in Hong Kong. It comes in a limited edition of 15 watches that will be available exclusively through the eleven international A. Lange & Söhne Boutiques.

-------------------------------------------
Contact information for the media

Arnd Einhorn, Director Press and PR
* Tel.: +49 (0)35053 44 5505
* E-mail: presse@lange-soehne.com
-------------------------------------
www.facebook.com - Lange&Soehne
----------------------------------------------------
www.Alange & Soehne.com

Friday, September 27, 2013

Vacheron Constantin - Patrimony Contemporaine Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731















Vacheron Constantin - Patrimony Contemporaine Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731 NEW



The melody of a unique time

If there is one art that few watchmakers truly master, it is that of striking mechanisms, the horological complications acknowledged to be the hardest of all to produce. The Manufacture Vacheron Constantin has been creating such miniature marvels for over two centuries, and is now laying a new milestone with the Patrimony Contemporaine Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731, bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva. This masterpiece of virtuosity combines the complexity of a striking mechanism with the additional challenge of producing the thinnest minute repeater calibre and the thinnest minute repeater watch on the market. At just 3.90 and 8.09 mm thin respectively, both the movement and the timepiece housing it are dedicated to the most accomplished expression of the watchmaking art.

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








































It was in the 18th century that the first minute repeater watch was devised to provide an audible indication of the time in the dark, in an era before the advent of electric lighting. While this complication is no longer an imperious necessity, it continues to represent the pinnacle of the art of watchmaking. That is because each miniature repeater watch is unique and bears the unique signature of the master craftsman who made it. Each lives its own life, plays its own music, while making way for fleeting moments of grace and emotion when its chime rings out. On demand, the minute repeater sounds the hours, quarter-hours and minutes. After activating the repeater slide – in this case the only element of this major complication visible on the dial side – a hammer strikes the low-pitched gong to mark the hours, while the quarters are played by two hammers on the two gongs – one low-pitched and the other high-pitched – and the minutes are sounded on the high-pitched gong.

A legacy of expertise and excellence
Rather than merely building on a heritage, Vacheron Constantin nurtures an authentic and enduring love story with striking watches. The Manufacture made its first minute repeater on a pocket-watch in 1810, before combining striking mechanisms with major complications throughout the following decades, in each case producing exceptional timepieces that were among the most complicated of their era. Watches that have made history, such as the one developed for King Fouad of Egypt in 1929, or the timepiece created in 1935 for his son, King Farouk. In 1941, Vacheron Constantin launched its first wristwatch equipped with a single complication in the shape of a minute repeater housed within an ultra-thin movement: Calibre 4261. The quest for extreme slenderness continued over the years, and in 1992, the Manufacture once again transcended the realms of possibility by presenting Calibre 1755, a minute repeater measuring just 3.28 mm thick – truly unprecedented! Today, Vacheron Constantin celebrates this emotionally charged complication with an all-new calibre inspired by its illustrious predecessors: 1731, thus named in tribute to the birth of the brand founder, Jean-Marc Vacheron.

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









































Calibre 1731, a gem of finesse equipped with an innovative device
It was in 2009 that Vacheron Constantin decided to create a new minute repeater combining slenderness, a pure sound, aesthetic beauty, reliability and sturdiness. Four years proved necessary to solve this complex equation. While the new Calibre 1731 is barely thicker than its predecessor from 1993 – 3.90 compared with 3.28 mm – due to its impressive 65-hour power reserve, it is nonetheless the thinnest on the market today, having successfully overcome the difficulty of assembling and adjusting parts that have been slimmed down to extremes.

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






















Nor are the technical feats confined to the ultra-thin side of its nature, since Calibre 1731 is equipped with a highly ingenious device developed by Vacheron Constantin in 2007 for the 2755 movement – another member of this exclusive family of minute repeater calibres: a flying strike governor.

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






















Contrary to classic lever-type governors, this one is completely silent. Its role is to steady the rate at which the hammers strike the gongs. Without a regulator or governor, this musical sequence would take place at the speed of the striking barrel-spring, and would merely produce a rush of indiscernible notes. The device developed by Vacheron Constantin comprises two inertia-blocks or weights designed to act as a brake on the rotating shaft of the governor and thus evening out the energy supplied by the barrel spring.


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



















To achieve this, it makes use of two opposing centrifugal and centripetal forces. When the governor spins, the centrifugal force pivots one end of the weights outwards so that the other end presses on the shaft so as to stabilise the rotation speed and thus ensure a steady cadence. Perfectly finished right down to the smallest details, the governor bears Vacheron Constantin’s Maltese Cross emblem, even though the latter cannot be seen from the front of the calibre.

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




















The quest for perfect harmony
Particular care was devoted to the acoustics of the Patrimony Contemporaine Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731, since its sound is the very reason for being of a striking watch. Various technical choices were made to ensure a crystal-clear and entirely tuneful tone. The gongs are not only connected to the case middle to as to amplify the sound, but also for the first time stacked rather than placed side by side. The case is made to be as one with the movement, within a clever composition incorporating such subtle parameters as the airflow between the mechanism and the case, designed to achieve optimal propagation of the sound. The quest for perfection does not end there, since the case itself has been built without joints so that the elements can interact literally metal against metal and thus enhance the amplitude of the sound, while the flying governor ensures a steady rate of the hammer blows on the gongs.

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






























While each master-watchmaker instils his own music into the minute repeater that he will take several months to assemble and fine-tune, the sound of the movement will be subjected to the keen ear of the virtuoso striking mechanism specialists within the Manufacture, and will undergo certain adjustments in order to achieve perfect harmony between low-pitched and high-pitched notes. And it is at precisely at 4:49 that the tests are performed, since that is the time when the cadence is the most clearly audible due to the almost identical intervals between the hours (4 strikes), quarters (3 strikes) and minutes (4 strikes).
 
Click on the mouse wheel to see the large size ....             BIG FOTO


























The true soul of a repeater watch, the individual chime of each watch is recorded and carefully stored before it leaves the Manufacture, thus constituting a “soundprint” duly registered in the Vacheron Constantin archives. This procedure guarantees not only the lifelong repair of all its timepieces, both historical and contemporary, but also the ability to restore within its workshops the unique sound of each model equipped with a minute repeater.

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



























The work of a single virtuoso master-watchmaker
For a master-watchmaker, taking part in creating striking watches is a supreme honour. An art that requires gifted hands, lengthy experience combined with infinite patience, as well as a truly musical ear. Watchmakers capable of mastering striking mechanisms thus belong to an extremely elite circle. At Vacheron Constantin, only the master craftsmen working in the “Grandes Complication” workshop create such marvels. To enter this inner sanctum, they must have acquired at least 15 years’ experience in the various other workshops, before working for two years under the mentorship of a master. While the minute repeater is probably the most fascinating of all complications, it is also the most demanding due to the large number of tiny parts that must be patiently assembled and made to interact, before repeatedly setting and adjusting them to the point of achieving perfectly smooth running and an absolutely pure sound. A single watch takes from three to six months to assemble and adjust. Concentration is a must at all times, since one small extra stroke of the file on the base of the gong could muffle its tone.

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































To work on such a complex mechanism, the master-watchmakers has over 1,200 tools, many of which he has made himself and some of which have been created to perform just one gesture. They form an impressive panoply, even through a master’s supreme instrument remains his own ear. For it is in placing his own personal ‘signature’ on the model during the sound-adjustment phase that he breathes life into the minute repeater.

Finishes in keeping with the noblest Fine Watchmaking traditions

Testifying to a degree of time-honoured know-how that sets an authentic Fine Watchmaking creation apart from the rest, the components of Calibre 1731 are patiently finished one by one, even though some will remain hidden. Whereas the mainplate is circular-grained, the hammers are specular polished so as to alternately catch the light or appear clothed in a deep black cloak so as to eliminate any trace of the finely worked surface.

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






































Meanwhile the bridges are enlivened with a delicate Côtes de Genève pattern to create a refined wave effect. While the artisans of the Manufacture Vacheron Constantin are well accustomed to the various finishing techniques, there is one that requires a highly demanding 18-month training period: bevelling or chamfering, meaning the specific work on the interior angles, such as can notably be found on the seven bridges of Calibre 1731.

When calibre and case set new ultra-thin records to form a unified whole
The epitome of classicism conveyed through absolute purity, the Patrimony Contemporaine Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731 conceals remarkable complexity beneath its apparent simplicity. Its design is inspired by an ultra-thin model created in 1955 to mark the Vacheron Constantin bicentenary and then revived in 2004 to give life to the Patrimony Contemporaine, reference 81180. Since then, its extreme slenderness, its pebble shape, its curved bezel, its cambered dial and crystal, its beaded minute circle, along with its baton-shaped hands sweeping over alternating triangle and baton-shaped hour-markers, have firmly established it as a timeless classic. While the new Patrimony Contemporaine Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731 has remained loyal to its timeless design codes, its case has been the object of subtle and complex workmanship so as to form a unified whole with Calibre 1731 and to set a double record: the thinnest minute repeater movement (3.90 mm) housed inside the slimmest minute repeater watch (8.09 mm). The curve of the case middle has been accentuated so as to trim down the silhouette, while the sapphire crystal case-back has been opened as broadly as possible so as to reveal the hammers, along with a rare glimpse of the gongs. On the dial side, Vacheron Constantin has opted for an extremely elegant small seconds offset at 8 o’clock, the first in the Patrimony Contemporaine line: a useful and playful way of making the Patrimony Contemporaine Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731 instantly recognisable.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Patrimony Contemporaine Ultra-Thin Calibre 1731
Reference   30110/000R-9793
Timepiece certified by the Hallmark of Geneva

Movement
Calibre 1731,
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical manual-winding
32.80 mm (14’’’ ¼) diameter
3.90 mm thick
Approximately 65-hour power reserve
3Hz (21'600 vibrations/hour)
265 components
36 jewels
Indications 
Hours
Minutes
Small seconds at 8 o’clock
Minute repeater
Case 
18K 5N pink gold
41 mm diameter, 8.09 mm thick
Transparent, sapphire crystal caseback
No water-resistant
Dial
Silvered opaline, convex external zone
18K 5N pink gold hour-markers and “pearl” minute-track
Bracelet 
Brown Mississippiensis alligator leather strap,
hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales
Buckle
18K 5N pink gold buckle
Polished half Maltese cross-shaped
Accessories
Delivered with the resonator of sound « La Musique du Temps »
enhancing the sound and the harmony notes of the Vacheron Constantin minute repeaters

--------------------------------------------------
www.vacheron-constantin.com - presse
---------------------------------------------------------
www.facebook.com - Vacheron Constantin 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
www.Vacheron-Constantin.com

Thursday, September 26, 2013

RAYMOND WEIL - Lady MAESTRO Phase de Lune


RAYMOND WEIL - Lady MAESTRO Phase de Lune NEW


Lady maestro Phase de Lune

In 2013, the Lady maestro Phase de Lune is raising eyebrows. For the first time, the Swiss watchmaker is offering ladies a watch with complications. And what more feminine than a moon phase? The Lady maestro Phase de Lune now completes RAYMOND WEIL’s principal collection and displays the passage of time by means of its night star.

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

The moon truly symbolizes the feminine. The Geneva Company has always been keen to honor women and, to demonstrate this, has introduced a ladies’ moon phase. From the aesthetic point of view, as member of the maestro collection, this latest addition to the RAYMOND WEIL range enjoys the Brand’s patented system of pushers integrated in the case. These adjust the date at 4 o’clock and the moon’s position at 8 o’clock.

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

Equipped with a 36mm polished steel case, set with 68 diamonds, the Lady maestro Phase de Lune exhibits blue hours on a white mother-of-pearl dial. In its center, a sunray guilloché decor makes room for the moon phase at 6 o’clock.

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


The hours, minutes and seconds hands are also blue and feature the most classic of watchmaking designs. A fourth hand indicates the date, tracing a lunar arc. Finally the varnished, royal blue, alligator strap matches the stone in the crown at 3 o’clock.

Harmony and complication go hand in hand, making this watchmaking piece the most brilliant star of the night.
-------------------------------------------------
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

MAESTRO
 
Ref:  2739 LS3 05909

Movement
Mechanical – RW4520
Winding Automatic
Power reserve 38 hours
Jewels 26 jewels
Functions
Central hours, minutes and seconds
Date by hand
Moon phase indicator at 6 o’clock
Two corrector pushers on the case at 4 and 8 o’clock to adjust date & moon phase
Case
Round – Polished steel
Diameter: 36mm
Thickness: 11.05mm
Bezel
Polished steel set with 68 diamonds
Crown
Polished steel – fluted with RW monogram
Crystal
Sapphire crystal with dual-sided antiglare treatment
Dial
White mother-of-pearl, with central zone decorated with sunray guilloché
Indexes
Blue raised Arabic numerals appliques
Hands
Hours / Minutes / Steel type, blued, in the most classical watchmaking style
Seconds
Date Steel type, blued with moon-shaped pointers
Case back
Snapped, with sapphire crystal
Strap
Shiny blue, full skin alligator leather strap.
Folding RW clasp, with a double push-button security system
Water resistance
5 ATM
--------------------------
www.facebook.com - Raymond Weil
-------------------------------------------------
www.Raymond Weill Lve.com
------------------------------------------------------------------
www.Raymond-Weil.com

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Parmigiani - BUGATTI Aerolithe Flyback Chronograph



















Parmigiani Fleurier - BUGATTI Aerolithe Flyback Chronograph NEW






















Parmigiani Fleurier - The Bugatti Aerolithe Masculine Elegance

In 2000, the prestigious brand Bugatti was looking for a strong partnership with a watchmaking company that met its exacting criteria. 


























The brand in question had to be young – young enough for its founder to actively evolve at its heart. It needed a propensity towards technical excellence, but also artistic flair, a heightened awareness of design and the elegance of forms. Lastly, this brand needed an independent manufacture, so that it could offer the production freedom essential for limitless creative potential.

Therefore, it was a logical move for Bugatti to link its destiny with Parmigiani Fleurier, as the brand met and exceeded all its expectations. Since 2001, the Fleurier-based manufacture has striven to create timepieces for the Bugatti collection which are far more than a watch stamped with a car marque logo; they are cars reborn in watch form.
This year, Parmigiani Fleurier is proud to present the Bugatti Aerolithe, a new illustration of this partnership, which has gone from strength to strength in 2013.

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





































 

HISTORY OF AN EXCEPTIONAL VEHICLE 
No car is more shrouded in mystery than the Bugatti Aerolithe.
Shortly after it was unveiled at the Paris motor show in 1935 by Ettore Bugatti, this single model vanished from the face of the earth, leaving behind it just one photograph, a few sketches, and the memory of an enigmatic pale green colour.
However, no-one could forget the material used to create it, which caused such a sensation that year: a magnesium alloy known by the name ELEKTRON – a nickname sometimes given to this avant-garde vehicle. Incredibly light, yet so strong it could not be dented, the body of the Bugatti Aerolithe was dangerously flammable and highly volatile. Its assembly, consequently a very delicate process, required the traditional welding of parts to be replaced with another technique, an incredibly ingenious method of assembly dreamed up by Jean Bugatti, Ettore's son. This solution had a major influence on the car's futuristic look; it consisted of designing the bodywork in two longitudinal sections, riveted together using a dorsal seam structure which travelled the length of the vehicle, from front to end.
So, it was an obstacle, a challenge – the volatility of the magnesium – which gave rise to the revolutionary design of the Bugatti Aerolithe. The result was futuristic curves and harmonious protrusions, characteristic of the "Streamline" design movement, so full of grace that they still take your breath away today.

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
























 
While this first and only prototype has mysteriously disappeared, its inspired ideas will never fade. Its magnesium body, crowned with the dorsal seam, was adopted for its successor, known as the Bugatti Atlantic, which faithfully reproduced the creative genius of the Molsheim family.
Parmigiani Fleurier has decided to pay tribute to the first in an exceptional line of motor cars by creating the Bugatti Aerolithe timepiece, designed in the image of this long-lost mystery.


HOW CAN THE ESSENCE OF A VEHICLE BE TRANSPOSED INTO A WATCH?
This is the question which constantly drives research into design at Parmigiani Fleurier when working on the Bugatti collection.
The process consists of isolating the car's most striking and distinctive feature – whether it is a shape, a colour or a technical procedure – then transposing this onto a watch, regardless of the technical and spatial difficulties which must be overcome. An ability to think outside of the box.
 Click on the mouse wheel to see the large size ...   






























The distinctive feature of the Aerolithe is the rivet that crosses it from front to end. This is what joins the bodywork and solved the problem of being unable to weld the magnesium; it is also what gives the car its unique character, its fluid and futuristic streamlined look. Therefore, it is this dorsal seam that was replicated on the watch, and which was chosen to be echoed on the four lugs of the piece. The profile of these lugs has not been changed, in line with the brand's visual codes, but their surface has been riveted, to symbolise the genius of Jean Bugatti and the technical prowess which gave rise to the car almost 80 years ag

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


LES ARTISANS BOÎTIERS TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE
Each time Parmigiani Fleurier starts to design a new Bugatti timepiece, the La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture Les Artisans Boîtiers braces itself for a new challenge. It knows that there will be many hours of technical meetings and numerous decisions to be taken before the project they receive – a designer's dream transcribed onto paper – can blossom into a veritable timepiece, a piece which has broken through constraints that the imagination couldn’t predict in theory.
In this particular case, it was discovered following the digital simulations, that it was not possible to polish the titanium case of the Bugatti Aerolithe as initially designed, to the desired standard. Its enclosed form did not allow the tools to reach the friction amplitude required for a finish of the optimum quality. This was more than just a mere detail as it was clear that the harmony of the piece, in particular the prominence of the riveted lugs and the very parallels with the car, rest on the delicate play of light that only the correct finish can guarantee.
 
  Click on the mouse wheel to see the large size ...  







































Les Artisans Boîtiers therefore came up with an ingenious solution which consisted of manufacturing the case with a gap around its base (thereby giving it the amplitude to allow all the high quality finishes required), which is then hidden using a "decorative" ring, ensuring the piece is hermetically sealed.

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



















What started as a constraint was transformed into an aesthetic feature. This titanium ring allowed the textures and colours of the piece to be varied, while at the same time making perfect finishing work possible. There is quite a deliberate parallel between this and the rivet on the car, which initially allowed the welding problem to be overcome, and ended up becoming the Aerolithe's key aesthetic attraction.

DEEP BLUE AND VIVID RED
"Abyss Blue": the most mysterious and captivating colour, and certainly the hardest of the spectrum to achieve. It was an obvious choice to adorn the dial of an exceptional watch like this Bugatti Aerolithe.
Abyss Blue falls within the expertise of Quadrance et Habillage, the watchmaking manufacture which specialises in dials. This hue is obtained by plunging the dial into a galvanic bath, under highly sensitive conditions. An electrolytic reaction takes place - actually an exchange of ions - resulting in a salt which is deposited on the dial material, generating the much sought-after deep blue colour. The true challenge lies in ensuring the repeatability of the process, since the galvanic bath is altered with each exposure.

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






































To regenerate it perfectly and guarantee consistency across the whole line of pieces, calculations and a mastery of the theory are key, but it also depends on expertise and sensitivity that only experience can provide. This is why the Abyss Blue created by Quadrance et Habillage cannot be reproduced outside of their walls.
Over the infinite depths of the dial sit the vivid red hands, which echo the red and black Bugatti logo at six o'clock. This contrast is further echoed in the Hermès strap, with its grained sapphire blue calfskin offset by edging in the high-shine vivid red of the dial.
Finally, the buckle has been completely redesigned to symbolise a car grille, so that the Bugatti DNA encircles the wrist from all angles.

A FLYBACK CHRONOGRAPH
The "flyback" complication is a special aeronautical feature which allows the wearer to stop, reset and restart the chronometer with a single press. It was used by pilots to precisely calculate their flying time for a given course without losing precious seconds manipulating a watch (on a conventional chronograph, the same operation takes three presses on two push-buttons).

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




























In line with the racing car that it represents, the Bugatti Aerolithe timepiece is equipped with the flyback module, which is specially offset at 180° to make it easier to use. The push-buttons are easier to grip and accessible to the thumb rather than the index finger, as they are located at 8 and 10 o'clock instead of at 2 and 4 o'clock as they would normally be.

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


































Thinner than the brand's other chronographs, the case of the Bugatti Aerolithe has a redesigned, more slender, more elevated profile, echoing the captivating curves of the car.
The Bugatti Aerolithe is a both a technical feat and a marvel of aesthetic creativity, in that it distils the distinctive traits of a vehicle whilst remaining, in essence, a Parmigiani Fleurier timepiece. The profile of the piece is identical to that of the entire collection, and the quality of its finishes meets the brand's impeccable standards.
The Bugatti Aerolithe is an intrinsic illustration of the potential an independent manufacture can offer. Its history relates the tale of a perfectly verticalised watchmaking centre, the constituent entities of which are in constant dialogue, ensuring a two-way exchange of assistance and inspiration which gives Parmigiani Fleurier its strength.

-----------------------------------------------------
Technical details

MODEL  
Bugatti Aerolithe Flyback – Chronograph

MOVEMENT
PF 335
Self-winding movement
50-hour power reserve
Calibre 13’’’ ¼ − Ø 30.30 mm
Thickness: 6.81 mm
Frequency 4 Hz − 28,800 Vib./h
68 jewels
Two series-coupled barrels
Number of components: 311
“Côtes de Genève” decoration,
bevelled bridges
FUNCTIONS
Hour, Minutes
Seconds at 9 o’clock
Display of the date in a window
1⁄4 second chronograph
(large seconds in centre, 30-minute
counter at 3 o’clock), flyback
EXTERIOR
Round case: 41 mm. Thickness: 12.55 mm
Material: titanium and 18 ct white gold
bezel. Polished and satin-finished
Water resistance: 30 m
White gold shaped push-pieces at 8
o’clock and 10 o’clock
Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Polished white gold crown: Ø 7 mm
Open case-back
Consecutive number engraved
on the case-back
DIAL
Abyss Blue dial, satin-finished flange, opaline
centre, snailed counters at 3/9 o’clock
Rhodium-plated applique indexes with
luminescent coating, Delta-shaped hands
with luminescent coating
LEATHER
Hermès alligator with 18 carat gold ardillon buckle, polished finish
Hermès Epsom calfskin with adjustable
titanium folding safety clasp


-----------------------------------------
www.facebook.com - Parmigiani Fleurier
--------------------------------------------------------------
www.Parmigiani.ch

Monday, September 23, 2013

Frédérique Constant - Slimline Tourbillon Limited Edition


Frederique Constant - SLIMLINE Tourbillon Manufacture Limited Edition NEW


The Frédérique Constant Slimline Tourbillon Manufacture Range:

New Additions to a Famous Family


In 2012, renowned Swiss watchmaker Frédérique Constant launched a range of limited edition timepieces so visually stunning and so technologically advanced, they became an instant, worldwide sensation among watch aficionados.
This year, we are delighted to announce that, due to the unprecedented popularity of the Slimline Tourbillon Manufacture, we are expanding the range to include six models in total. Each model in the range will be individually numbered and offered in a strictly limited edition of 188 pieces; owners can be assured their watch will be as exclusive and unique as it is incredibly elegant, sophisticated, stylish and timeless in appearance.

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


Innovation and technical superiority at the heart of every Slimline Tourbillon Manufacture

Every model in the new Slimline Tourbillon Manufacture range is driven by the FC-980 Manufacture automatic caliber, which has been completely developed in-house at our manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva. The technological genius behind this movement, which in itself is made up of more than 200 individual parts, is further enhanced by the addition of a silicium escapement wheel and anchor, providing reliability and accuracy no one thought possible in a mechanical watch. The FC-980 movement also employs the unique, patented Frédérique Constant Smart Weight Balancing System; even the cage surrounding the Tourbillon is individually numbered.

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

The silicium escapement wheel and anchor is a revolutionary development, pioneered in-house by Frédérique Constant’s dedicated designers and perfected by our team of engineers. Not only does silicium provide unfailingly accurate timekeeping, but it is also a substance which is not susceptible to the same wear and tear as the materials traditionally used in watch movements; nor is it affected by elements such as excessive heat and humidity. This means we have been able to dramatically extend the service interval for the Slimline Tourbillon Manufacture, providing even greater assurance that your watch will continue to offer exceptional and trouble-free service for years to come.

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

Other features shared by each of the new models include the beautiful Perlage and Circular Côtes de Genève decoration on the movement itself, as well as the 33 jewels and an unrivalled 48-hour power reserve. The movement’s bridges are rhodium plated, and the screws are blue due to being tempered at extremely high heat. The highly hand-polished, three-part cases are an impressive 43mm in diameter; the case, however, is a mere 0.12cm deep, truly befitting the “Slimline” name. Dials are protected by a convex sapphire crystal, and the see-through case back also gives owners an amazing view of the Slimline Tourbillon’s “beating heart.”

As well as the hand-polished hour and minute hands, there’s also a day and night indicator, and all models feature a 60-second tourbillon, in which the seconds hand is actually an integral part of the rotating tourbillon cage, which sits between the 6 o’clock position and the centre of the dial.

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

Two in rose gold
The FC- 980C4S9 is the first of the two rose gold models on offer in the new Slimline Tourbillon range. The gleaming, highly polished rose gold case contrasts magnificently with the curved, rich chocolate dial, which in turn blends seamlessly with the dark brown, alligator leather strap and folding buckle.
The FC-980V4S9 combines the stunning rose gold case with a lustrous silver dial and a chic black alligator leather strap.

Two in stainless steel
These two models are offered with brightly hand-polished stainless steel cases. The FC-980G4S6 blends the stainless steel case into a dark grey dial, offering a timeless appearance and understated elegance. A dark grey alligator leather strap completes the utterly unique package.
The FC-980N4S6, on the other hand, presents a far more colourful option. The dark navy blue dial stands out wonderfully against the stainless steel case, and the blue alligator leather strap gives a truly modern look to this Slimline model.

Two in...both!
What a fantastic combination! Put together a shining stainless steel case and a gleaming rose gold bezel, and you have an ultra-attractive mix of materials that will be sure to attract admiring glances wherever you go.

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

The FC-980G4SZ9 matches this unique blend of case and bezel with a striking, dark grey dial and luxurious grey alligator leather strap, while the FC-980C4SZ9 completes the new Slimline Tourbillon range with a delicious dark chocolate dial and a stunning dark brown alligator leather strap.

Six new watches, each utterly unique and very rare. The only thing that may surprise and delight you more than their movie-star good looks is how reasonably priced this range is. You should hurry, though, because they may not be here tomorrow!
For more information about the new Slimline Tourbillon Manufacture watches, you can contact us directly.

Email Yasmina Pedrini at pedrini@frederique-constant.com, or see our website.

------------------------------------
blog.frederique-constant.com
-----------------------------------------------------
www.facebook.com - .Frederique.Constant
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
www.Frederique-Constant.com