Wednesday, December 20, 2017

MIDO – COMMANDER Chronometer BIG DATE Anniversary


MIDO COMMANDER II Chronometer BIG DATE Automatic 100th Anniversary 2018

A series of exceptional timepieces 
to celebrate a BIG DATE

On 11 November 1918, Georges Schaeren founded Mido on the same day as the armistice. Since its creation, Mido has looked towards the future with confidence, sustained by the visionary strength of its founder. In 2018, the brand is marking its 100th anniversary by celebrating the values that have formed its DNA for a century: timeless design, quality materials and technical innovation.

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To open the celebration of its 100th anniversary, Mido is launching the Commander Big Date: a series of innovative models presenting a large date aperture at 6 o’clock. For these models, Mido has developed an exclusive movement with a large date aperture based on its Caliber 80.

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Offering unrivalled date legibility, this new line adopts the codes that have given the Commander its legendary status: a sunray satin-finished dial that is extremely pure, protected by an elegant round case in satin-finished stainless steel and enhanced by a polished bezel.

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Its slender, round case in satin-finished steel endows the Commander collection with an inimitable and immediately recognisable silhouette, just like the Eiffel Tower. And like this unique structure, it has withstood the effects of time to retain an eternally youthful aspect.

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Its exceptional longevity offers indisputable proof of its success – the Commander has been produced by Mido without interruption since 1959. It has thus spanned more than five decades, preserving the DNA that has forged its reputation. Much like Paris’s symbolic monument, the Commander has become a genuine icon, epitomising Swiss watchmaking tradition and expertise.

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To inaugurate its 100th anniversary celebrations and pay homage to the visionary spirit of its founder, Georges Schaeren, Mido is launching the Commander Big Date – a unique timepiece designed to commemorate an exceptional date.

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The new models joining this iconic collection feature a large polished and sandblasted date aperture located at 6 o’clock – one of the largest on the market in this price segment. They are fitted with the Caliber 80 with large date aperture, an exclusive automatic movement developed by Mido to mark this anniversary.

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The Commander Big Date therefore offers a generous date display while adopting the aesthetic codes that have made the Commander collection such a success. Their extremely pure sunray satin-finished dials – in anthracite or silver depending on the model – are revealed by a faceted and domed sapphire crystal. The indexes are coated with white Super-LumiNova®, as are the diamond-cut hour and minute hands, offering perfect night-time readability.

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These superb dials are protected by a round 42 mm-diameter case in satin-finished stainless steel, enhanced by a polished bezel. Delicate touches of rose PVD on the bezel, crown and bracelet give the two-tone model great refinement.

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Meanwhile the model with an anthracite dial has a stainless steel bracelet that reinforces its sporty character. Both bracelets are fitted with a stainless steel folding clasp with an extremely thin fastener to provide the wearer with maximum comfort.

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Beyond its aesthetic assets, the Commander Big Date celebrates a large date while housing an exclusive automatic movement. In addition to its original date display, the Caliber 80 with large date aperture offers formidable autonomy: up to 80 hours of power reserve.

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Finely decorated with an oscillating weight adorned with Geneva stripes and the Mido logo, it can be admired through the transparent case back. The Commander Big Date is water-resistant up to a pressure of 5 bars (50 m / 165 ft).

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This new line of four models will be launched on 1 January 2018 and will kick off the festivities marking Mido’s 100th anniversary, which will continue throughout the year.

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TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Model: COMMANDER II Chronometer BIG DATE 
Automatic Caliber 80 Steel 42mm

Reference:

  • M021.626.11.061.00: Anthracite dial - CHF 940.00
  • M021.626.22.031.00: Silver dial  - CHF 1.050.00
  • M021.626.36.051.00:  Black dial - CHF 990.00
Movement   
Automatic Mido Caliber 80 (ETA C07.611 base) ,
11½’’’, Ø25.60 mm, height: 4.74 mm, 25 jewels, 21,600 A/H,
NIVACHOC shock-absorber, NIVAFLEX NM mainspring,
ELINCHRON II balance-spring.
Finely decorated chronometer movement with blued screws,
decorated oscillating weight with Geneva stripes and engraved Mido logo,
Functions  
HMS+Day. Adjusted on 3 different positions for high accuracy.
Up to 80 hours of power reserve
Case   
Satin-finished 316L stainless steel, polished bezel,
Ø42 mm, height 11.97 mm 3 pieces, faceted and domed sapphire crystal,
screwed transparent case back revealing the finely decorated Elaboré-grade movement, engraved serial number, water-resistant up to a pressure of 5 bars (50 m / 165 ft).
Dial   
Sunray  satin-finished,
applied  polished  indexes  with  white  Super-LumiNova®,
large  polished  and sandblasted date aperture at 6 o’clock.
  • M021.626.11.061.00: Anthracite dial
  • M021.626.22.031.00: Silver dial
  • M021.626.36.051.00:  Black dial
Hands   
Flat diamond-cut,
hour and minute hands with white Super-LumiNova® for easy readability at night.
Bracelet   
Two straps:
Bracelet and folding clasp in satin-finished 316L stainless steel.
M021.626.22.031.00: two-tone bracelet,
316L stainless steel and rose PVD-treated 316L stainless steel
Black genuine calfskin, stainless steel pin buckle
M021.626.36.051.00:  Black dial, red gold-plated


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Press Release - 2017
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Headquarter MIDO
Mido SA
Ch. Des Tourelles 17
2400 Le Locle
Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0)32 933 35 11
Tel: +41 (0)32 933 35 00
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www.Midowatches.com

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

ARNOLD & SON – Royal Tourbillon Chronometer No.36 Gunmetal Edition

















ARNOLD & SONRoyal Collection Tourbillon Chronometer No.36 Gunmetal 46mm Limited Edition

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Beauty through contrast: Presenting the 
Tourbillon Chronometer No.36 Gunmetal

Dark grey and rose gold tones for a striking new edition of the Tourbillon Chronometer No.36. Drawing inspiration from the John Arnold pocket chronometer No. 1/36, Arnold & Son pays homage in a contemporary yet faithful manner to one of the most historically significant chronometers.

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The John Arnold Chronometer No. 1/36 or “Arnold 36 as it is more commonly called was not only the first pocket watch by John Arnold to use a larger movement with his “T” balance, but also the first to be referred to as a “chronometer” for its superior timekeeping capabilities. In this respect, the Tourbillon Chronometer No.36 is faithful, contemporary horological homage.

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John Arnold's pocket chronometer no. 1/36
© National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London


John Arnold (1736-99) successfully found the way to simplify Harrison's timekeeper design. This watch, No 1/36, made in 1778, went so well on trial at Greenwich that Arnold decided to give it a new name. In the pamphlet he published in 1780 advertising his achievement, he called the timekeeper a 'chronometer' and was thus the person who invented the term in its modern sense. The watch is in fact a pocket chronometer housed in a 22-carat gold case.
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The new sober gunmetal coating of the case further highlight the mechanical complexity and haute horlogerie finishing of these magnificent timepieces. The gunmetal coating also pays tribute to the old English fine gunsmith tradition, which is closely related to traditional watchmaking and share many common techniques.

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Following the classical codes of traditional English chronometer movements, the main pivoting elements such as the wheels, barrels, the tourbillon, and others are each mounted on their own bridge. The triangular, multilevel bridges (no less than thirteen) are mostly skeletonized, providing a more contemporary sense of three-dimensional depth to the entire timepiece.

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The tourbillon, a central element of this timepiece, is highlighted in a most magnificent manner. Held by a skeletonized and mirror-polished top bridge, the one-minute tourbillon features a typically Arnold & Son three-spoke design. Weighing mere fractions of a gram, the tourbillon cage consists of no less than 58 components.

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Prominently positioned on the dial side, the tourbillon can also be viewed from the back, thanks to an opening in the main plate. The same kind of opening is made below the small seconds display, adding to the symmetry of the Tourbillon Chronometer No.36. The apparent technical virtuosity of the Tourbillon Chronometer No.36 is not only a treat for the eyes, as the watch is a COSC certified chronometer; something of a rare achievement for a tourbillon-equipped timepiece.

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The decorative haute horlogerie arts are also lavishly demonstrated in the Tourbillon Chronometer No.36. The entirely in-house conceived and manufactured A&S8600 calibre features a smooth sand-blasted main plate and bridges with chamfered and polished edges. The main plate and bridges are treated with a golden coating, echoing the aesthetics of the historical pocket watches made by John Arnold.

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The main plate also is set with several mirror-polished 18k gold chatons, while the wheels in the gear train are embellished with circular satin finishing with chamfered and polished edges. Even the screws are beveled and feature with mirror-polished heads.

The heart of the watch, the tourbillon, features a traditional construction with a top bridge, while the mirror-polished cage has the signature Arnold & Son three-spoke design, making a complete turn in 60 seconds.

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The double barrels, embellished with laser-engraving decoration, provide a considerable power reserve of 90 hours when fully wound.

The Tourbillon Chronometer No.36 Gunmetal is limited to 28 examples.

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Technical Characteristics


Royal Collection


Model: Tourbillon Chronometer No.36

References:    1ETAS.B01A.T113S


Calibre:
A&S8600

Manufacture Arnold & Son calibre, hand-wound, 33 jewels,

diameter 37.8 mm, thickness 5.9 mm, power reserve 90 h,

double barrel, 4 Hz / 28’800, COSC certified
Functions:
Hours, minutes, small seconds, tourbillon
Movement decoration:
Nickel-silver and steel movement, 5N red gold treated bridges and

main plate with Haute Horlogerie finishing: sand blasted bridges with

chamfered and polished edges, 18k gold chatons, screws with bevelled

and mirror-polished heads

Tourbillon cage: mirror-polished with hand-chamfered polished edges




and circular satin-finished surfaces
Dial:
Inner bezel Rhodium treated with black indexes
Case:
Sandblasted stainless steel case with dark grey DLC (“gunmetal”)

coating, diameter 46 mm, cambered sapphire with anti-reflective

coating on both sides, see-through sapphire case back, water-resistant

to 30 m
Strap:
Hand-stitched brown or black alligator leather
Limited edition:
28 timepieces
References:
1ETAS.B01A.T113S



 Recommended Retail Prices: - Gunmetal case, CHF 36’400 (VAT excl.)

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Press releases - 2017
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Boulevard des Eplatures 38
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info@arnoldandson.com
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www.Arnold&Son.com