Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Vulcain - 50s Presidents Chronograph


Vulcain - 50s Presidents Chronograph


50S PRESIDENTS’ CHRONOGRAPH STYL E, TECHNIQUE AND LEGEND

Building on a history offering a consistent blend of technical sophistication and precision, the Manufacture Vulcain is re-introducing a modern version of a single-pusher chronograph that became a legend. It was used by the coaches of the Real Madrid football club to time their training sessions, and they ascribed to it their victory in the Spanish Championship at that time. Named the 50s PresidentsChronograph, this technical watch is also available in a Heritage version.

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Following on from the 50s Presidents’ Watch unveiled in 2010, Vulcain is introducing an exclusive new range of self-winding single-pusher chronographs. Available in two versions, this timepiece highlights one of the major horological complications, combining a sporting and technical nature: the chronograph. Better still, this new Vulcain single-pusher chronograph is inspired by a model that became a favourite with the coaches of the Real Madrid football club when it won the National Championship in 1934. Those in charge attributed a share of credit for this win to the Vulcain chronograph they had used to time their training sessions. Thus pervaded by the spirit of sport and of history, the new range enjoys strong roots further consolidated by the use of a complication presented in what is now a rare and distinguished version: the single-pusher type.

The first version, the 50s PresidentsChronograph, is entirely in tune with the aesthetic codes governing the new range; while the second, the 50s Presidents’ Watch Heritage Chronograph is directly inspired by the dial of the 1934 model. Its calibre is chronometer-certified by the COSC.

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Celebrating the classic 1950s design codes, the 50s PresidentsChronograph features a blue, silver or charcoal grey dial curved at either end, as was typical in that era. The 12 o’clock numeral is surrounded by diamondpolished hour-markers. The dial displays two counters – a small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock and a 30-minute chronograph totalizer at 3 o’clock – in a “bicompax”* style that was much in vogue at the time. A slightly oversized window at 6 o’clock indicates the date.

Available in 18K rose gold or steel, the 42 mm case is water-resistant to 50 metres. It houses the mechanical selfwinding Vulcain V-57 movement driving the hours, minutes, small seconds at 9 o’clock, date at 6 o’clock, central sweep seconds chronograph hand, and 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock. Graced with Vulcain’s characteristic haute horlogerie finishes, such as Côtes de Genève motifs, blued screws and a rhodiumed coating, it is endowed with a 42-hour power reserve.

The new 50s PresidentsChronograph is available on a Louisiana alligator leather strap with pin buckle in 18K rose gold or steel, or on a steel bracelet.


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Technical specifications

CASE:
Steel 316L -/- 18K 5N pink gold 
Diameter 42.00 mm - Length 50.00 mm
Height 13.75 mm
Sapphire case-back
DIAL:
silver sunray dial with rhodium indexes
CRYSTAL:
domed shape sapphire
WATER-RESISTANCE:
50 meters/160 feets
STRAP: 
 Louisiana alligator
Dimensions: 22/18 mm
BUCKLE:
Steel pin buckle
CALIBRE  
VULCAIN V-57: 13¼-lignes mechanical
Automatic single-pusher type chronograph movement,
25 rubies, 105 components, lift angle 50°
FUNCTIONS:
Hour, minute, seconds counters at 9 o’clock,
date window at 6 o’clock, centre second chronograph, 30-
minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock
FREQUENCY: 
 28'800 vibrations per hour
POWER RESERVE:
42 hours
DECORATION:
 Côtes de Genève motifs, blued screws
MOVEMENT COATING:
Rhodium

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www.Vulcain-watches.ch 

Monday, October 1, 2012

A. Lange & Söhne - Zeitwerk Handwerkskunst Platinum

A. Lange & Söhne - Zeitwerk Handwerkskunst Platinum Limited Edition  NEW

THE LEAP INTO A NEW HOROLOGICAL EPOCH.

“I shut my eyes in order to see.” For once, the phrase coined by Paul Gauguin* was taken literally by Lange’s masters so they could gain a clear outlook on some fundamental issues concerning the future of precision watchmaking.


How can the principles of a mechanical watch and a modern time indication format be persuasively combined? What are the lasting values of a watch? 

 
And is it possible to visualise the flow of time such that it can be experienced or felt with other senses? In dealing with these questions, they began to assemble the mental image of a time- piece that explores new paths: the LANGE ZEITWERK.


With its all-mechanical numeric display for hours and minutes, the watch symbolises a leap into a new era – after all, both indications leap forth instantaneously, thanks to a disc configuration never before implemented in quite this way.The Lange principle clearly differentiates itself from the so-called creeping digital time displays in which the hands are merely replaced by permanently rotating discs. 


It also distinguishes itself from the genuine jumping numeral mechanisms found in pocket watches (Pallweber and Dürrstein principles) by introducing two key improvements: the first truly legible format of the numerals and the precise generation of switching steps based on a proprietary constant-force escapement.


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Technical specifications

Reference :140.048

Case :Platinum, caseback engraved by hand
Dial :White gold, black-rhodié;
hand-engraved in tremblage technique
Time bridge :German silver, rhodié
Hands :Gold, rhodié
Glass and caseback :Sapphire-crystal (hardness 9)
Movement :Lange manufacture caliber L043.4, manually wound, crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted in five positions; plates and bridges made of untreated German silver; three-quarter plate with grained surface and hand-engraved lettering; balance cock and escape lever cock engraved by hand
Movement parts :425
Jewels :68
Screwed gold chatons :2
Escapement :Glashütte lever escapement, lever and escape wheel made of 18-carat gold
Oscillator :Shock-resistant screw balance; superior-quality balance spring manufactured in-house; frequency 18.000 semi-oscillations per hour, precision beat adjustment system with lateral setscrew and whiplash spring
Power reserve :36 hours when fully wound

Functions :Time display with hours and minutes as jumping numerals, subsidiary seconds with stop seconds, power-reserve indicator
Operating elements :Crown for winding the watch and setting the time
Case dimensions :Diameter: 41.9 millimetres
Height: 12.6 millimetres
Movement dimensions :Diameter: 33.6 millimetres
Height: 9.3 millimetres
Strap :Hand-stitched crocodile strap, black
Buckle :Lange-prong buckle in platinum

Limitted edition :30 watches

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www.Alange & Soehne.com