ANTOINE MARTIN - Quantième Perpétuel QP01

ANTOINE MARTIN AT BASELWORLD 2012 WITH THEIR NEWEST COLLECTION:„QUANTIÈME PERPÉTUEL AU GRAND BALANCIER“ 

 The case is hardly to be topped in terms of complexity. In order to showcase the wondrous interplay of polishing and satin finishing, this case was conceived to include detachable strap lugs. Thus, the recesses are polished to a high gloss, while the upper parts remain matte. The strikingly designed flanks, which lend the case its unique lines, are also individually secured. An unmistakable element of an ANTOINE MARTIN watch is certainly the crown, which is reminiscent of classic Bauhaus design. This case in its entirety is a lavish construction comprising 85 individual components.
The designers at ANTOINE MARTIN have also left nothing to chance with regard to the dial. A modern interpretation of classic guilloché embellishing the centre and a completely new style of applied numerals combine to create this watch’s very striking face. The vertical placement of the perpetual calendar’s day and month displays and the leap year indication at the 12 o’clock position were only possible thanks to a few new tricks up the engineers’ sleeves.

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

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

The new movement stages its bustling heart - which is also his finest component - the pendulum. After a stint in the art of watchmaking in which the balancers simple, standardized lurked in wristwatches rather than show, ANTOINE MARTIN puts new light on this fascinating technical component. Made of high-tech titanium grade 5 - whose primary function is to stabilize the amplitude - the swing of 39,001 AM is large: its diameter is 17.5 mm. No index, the control device with a spiral oscillating freely, can adjust by means of two small gold screws. This balance is also one of the largest ever carried out with this type of exhaust.

Underlining its impressive dimensions and infallible operation, a balance performing 18,000 semi-oscillations per hour (2.5 Hz). This classic rhythm reveals not only the size of the balance but also the majestic calm with which he assures his task.

From a technical standpoint, the large size makes perfect sense: the result is a kinetic energy greater. Moreover, if a shock jolts the movement, a large pendulum keeps better the desired amplitude and a small balance therefore avoids the shock does not affect walking.

Movement	Hand-wound, AM 39.001 calibre, 39.5 x 8 mm, 18,000 vib/h, 60 jewels, 324 components, 6-day power reserve
Functions	Hours, minutes, day, date, month, leap year, day/night indicator, power-reserve indicator
Case	18K pink gold, 18K white gold or black DLC steel Anti-reflective sapphire crystal Water-resistant to 50 m
Dial	Silvered Day/night indicator at 9 o'clock, leap year at 12 o'clock, centre days and months Large date window at 6 o'clock, power-reserve indicator on back
Bracelet/Strap	Silvered Day/night indicator at 9 o'clock, leap year at 12 o'clock, centre days and months Large date window at 6 o'clock, power-reserve indicator on back

------------------------------------
www.facebook.com - Antoine Martin
----------------------------------------

www.AntoineMartin.ch

TAG Heuer - Mikrogirder 10000

TAG Heuer - Mikrogirder 10000 NEW Basel 2012

For 2012, the pioneering MIKROGIRDER is TAG Heuer’s greatest achievement in watchmaking engineering to date. This game-changing technology revolutionizes the very heart of the watch — the regulator. More than the Pendulum or the Mikrotimer, the MIKROGIRDER represents a total departure from the conventional, three-centuries-old Christiaan Huygens system, which today still reigns over the mechanical watch industry.

Simpler, faster and more efficient than science dreamed possible, impervious to gravity and dramatically reducing isochronous error, potentially easier to manufacture and able to precisely measure time to a phenomenal 5/10,000th of a second today, and probably even more precisely tomorrow TAG Heuer challenges three centuries of hairspring/balance wheel mechanical regulation conventions to create a totally new mechanical regulator.

The legendary Swiss brand is now unveiling a first Concept version, a 5/10,000th of a second chronograph beating at 1,000 Hz or 7,200,000 beats per hour!

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

 Conceived, developed and manufactured in-house in the company’s R&D lab in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the MIKROGIRDER is the fastest mechanical regulator ever crafted and tested. Overturning three centuries of watchmaking convention in the way mechanical energy is generated, stored and regulated, the MIKROGIRDER opens a promising new era in watchmaking, with potentially powerful and energy-sparing new movements precise to ever-smaller fractions of time.

Accurate to an unprecedented 5/10,000 or 1/2,000th of a second, the MIKROGIRDER is a completely new regulator system — a coupling blade/girder and excitatory blade/girder system working with a linear oscillator (versus a spiral shape in a classical hairspring) that vibrates isochronously at a very small angle, as opposed to a traditional watch, which vibrates at an angle of up to 320 degrees.
The advantages are numerous. In a classic spiral hairspring system, the effect of gravity due to mass is a dominant issue. With the MIKROGIRDER, the problem no longer even exists. There is no loss of amplitude and the movement’s frequency can be modulated on a very large spectrum of frequency without overburdening the power supply. The result is a significant increase in precision (division of time) and performance (frequency accuracy and stability). The MIKROGIRDER energy performance will enable TAG Heuer chronographs to attain ultra-high frequencies

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

  
 The statistics are nothing short of astounding: 1,000 Hz = 1/2000th = 5/10,000th of a second = 7,200,000 beats per hour. In comparison, a regular watch functions at 4hz, or only 28,800 beats per hour. The MIKROGIRDER is 250 times faster!

 The MIKROGIRDER’s dual frequency system ensures precision and chronometry through 2 independent chains. As there is no possibility of interference between “normal speed” and “high speed”, there is better precision and accuracy. The power reserve is improved, too, and wear and tear dramatically reduced, as “high speed” is “on demand” instead of being always engaged. Finally, the dual frequency system offers the ultimate in readability.
The smallest fraction of time — 1/100th, 1/1,000th and _,000th (5/10,000) of a second — is displayed on a central hand that does a complete revolution around the dial a mind-boggling 20 times per second. Furthermore, and like the Mikrotimer Flying 1000, the dial display allows a quick and easy reading of the incredible measurement thanks to 3 scales, 2 external and one at 6 o’clock allowing to read 5/10,000 or 1/2,000ths of a second.

TAG Heuer Innovations
(L-R) Carrera Mikrograph 1/100th Second Chronograph (2011), Mikrotimer Flying 1000 (2011) and Mikrogirder (2012)
-----------------------
www.timezone.com
------------------------------

www.calibre11.com

----------------------------------------------
www.tagheuer.com