Friday, February 6, 2015

Girard-Perregaux – Tri-Axial Tourbillon White Gold


GIRARD-PERREGAUXTri-Axial Tourbillon White Gold Limited Edition NEW

Defying gravity Tri-Axial Tourbillon in white gold

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Girard-Perregaux, an uncontested point of reference in the production of tourbillon watches, introduces a white gold version of its Tri-Axial Tourbillon. A spectacular watchmaking mechanism designed to maximise timekeeping precision by eliminating the effect of gravity on the regulating organ of the watch.

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Although the tourbillon was introduced more than two hundred years ago, watchmakers still trying to improve its efficiency. Girard-Perregaux, a great historical specialist in this queen of complications intended to combat the negative effect of gravity, now increases its complexity and pushes the limits of innovation. The Haute Horlogerie Manufacture has developed a tourbillon with a regulating organ that rotates on three axes instead of the traditional single axis.

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The balance performs a ballet that is much more captivating because of the high rotation speed of the different carriages. The interior carriage, shaped like a lyre in the Girard-Perregaux tradition, rotates once every minute. It is fitted into a structure that rotates on another axis every 30 seconds.

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Lastly, a third structure enables the whole assembly to rotate on yet another axis every 2 minutes. This complex mechanism is flawlessly finished, and its 140 components total only 1.24 g.

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The complex architecture of this 13.78 mm diameter mechanism, and its multi-dimensional rotations led to a convex lens being incorporated into its sapphire crystal. This creates enough space for the tourbillon to revolve.

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A window in the side of the case at 9 o'clock lets light into the heart of the movement, allowing the fascinating mechanism to be viewed from there as well as from the back of the watch. A new feature in the white gold version is a dial with open areas that display even more of the precision mechanism and highlight the modernity of the watch.

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These different views of the movement reveal traditional and modern finishes of exceptional quality; mirror-polished surfaces and perfect bevelling indicate its pedigree, as do each of the components that are decorated and finished by hand with the greatest care.

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On the bridge side, the black-coloured plate, stamped with the Manufacture's symbol, underlines the modernity of the execution in a play of contrasts with the iconic Girard-Perregaux arrow-shaped bridges in pink gold. The brand logo area, also in pink gold carries the individual number of the watch while "Tri-Axial" is engraved on the satin-finish circular bridge supporting the differential of the tourbillon system.

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It takes almost 160 hours for the watchmakers to assemble the 317 components of the movement, which is now fitted into a 48 mm diameter case in white gold. Typical features of Girard-Perregaux Haute Horlogerie collections are its bevelled bezel, elegantly curved middle and streamlined horns. The watch is perfectly complemented by a black, full-grain, hand-stitched alligator strap with a folding clasp in white gold.

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The Tri-Axial Tourbillon in white gold is available in a limited edition of 10 pieces.


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Technical Specifications

Model: Girard-PerregauxTri-Axial Tourbillon
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Reference: 99815-53-153-BA6A
10-piece limited edition      

Case and dial
Case: white gold
Diameter: 48.00 mm
Dial: Vertical grid (sunburst finish for hour and minute subdial)
Crystal: anti-reflective sapphire with dome to cover the tourbillon
Case-back: anti-reflective domed sapphire crystal
Apertures on the side (9 o’clock) to reveal the movement / anti-reflective toric crystal
Water resistance: 30 meters (3 ATM)
Movement
Girard-Perregaux movement GP09300-0002
Mechanical, manual winding movement
Diameter: 36.10 mm (16 ''')
Thickness: 16.83 mm
Frequency: 21,600 Vib/h - (3 Hz)
Power reserve: min. 60 hours
Jewels: 34
Number of components: 317
Two-arrow Bridges: in pink gold
Tourbillon:
- Tourbillon cage: 140 components for 1.24 g
- 3 axes
- One rotation every 1 minute on the first axis, every 30 seconds on the second axis, every 2 minutes on the third axis.
- Poised upper and lower cages with pink gold counterpoise
- Beveled and hand-polished pallets bridge
- Balance wheel: variable inertia with pink gold setting screw
All components of the movement have hand finishing according to Haute Horlogerie criteria.
Functions
Tri-Axial tourbillon, hour, minute, power reserve indicator
Strap
Black alligator leather strap with hand stitches
White gold folding buckle
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Thursday, February 5, 2015

Ulysse Nardin – Hannibal Minute Repeater Westminster Carillon Tourbillon Jaquemarts














Ulysse Nardin Exceptional Hannibal Minute Repeater Westminster Carillon Tourbillon Jaquemarts Limited Edition NEW

Ulysse Nardin Marches Forward in Watchmaking Innovation with the “Hannibal
Minute Repeater Westminster Carillon Tourbillon Jaquemarts

Feared and revered by the Romans, the great Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca knew how to outthink the competition. Considered one of the world’s greatest military commanders, Hannibal was the ultimate strategist who knew how to predict his enemies’ every move, devising innovative tactics to use to his advantage. In his quest to take Rome during the Second Punic War, Hannibal achieved a remarkable feat: He crossed the Pyrenees and Alps with an army of soldiers and his secret weapon – elephants, taking triumphant victory in Italy.

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Ulysse Nardin depicts this monumental journey in the Hannibal Minute Repeater. Presented worldwide as a limited edition of 30, the timepiece is crafted from platinum and genuine granite from the Alps. Of rare and exceptional artistry, the watch demonstrates Ulysse Nardin’s ability to push the envelope, yet again, in innovation in haute horology. From its use of original materials to precise engineering, the recent addition to this premier collection is as ingenious as its inspiration.

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The first – and most unforgettable – impression of this work of art is made when viewing its dial, set within a platinum case. Hannibal, straddling his horse, appears to be in swift action with one of his loyal elephants and regiment of warriors by his side. These main figures called Jaquemarts, as well as the mountainous backdrop and surrounding terrain, are all hand-carved from 18 carat white gold and are mounted on granite sourced from the very mountain chain Hannibal and his brigade crossed in the third century B.C. By making this material the foundational element of the watch’s design, Ulysse Nardin further illustrates its spirit of invention.

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Demonstrating an unparalleled level of skill and creativity in the piece, Ulysse Nardin delves deeper into its storyline by ensuring the detail is so realistic, wearers of the series will be transported back in history every time they, well, check the time. Hues of black, gold, bronze and silver shimmer with each cut, accentuating power and bold masculinity.

Water-resistant to 30 meters, its movement is a caliber UN-78 one-minute tourbillon, integrated and visible on the dial. Its bridge is created in the same shape as those used on the tourbillons James Pellaton produced for Ulysse Nardin at the beginning of the 20 th century. Each part of the movement is decorated, angled and hand-finished.

With its specialized movement comes very special sound. A connoisseur’s treasure, minute repeaters perfectly pair a watch’s ability to have time not only seen, but also heard.

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English clockmaker Daniel Quare patented the minute-repeating mechanism in the late 17 th century before the invention of electricity. With his minute repeater, Quare discovered a way that his clock could tell the time even after sunset. The first minute-repeating wristwatch was produced in the late 19 th century, and Ulysse Nardin was one of the earliest manufacturers to fuel its rebirth, making its creations finite and superb, its sound quality sublime.

The formation of the pure sound is an arduous process, with each minute repeater having to be individually tuned by a master watchmaker. Tone is often adjusted by removing a small amount of metal from the gongs, but each time this is done the movement must be re-cased since the sound can only be properly tested when the watch is complete. There is no way around this. Each completed and flawlessly tuned minute repeater that leaves Ulysse Nardin is reflective of a truly massive investment in human endeavor – and one that is assumed with vigor.

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The Hannibal Minute Repeater has four gongs, each with a different tone (Mi-Do-Re-Sol), sounding off on the hour when the repeater is activated. The hour sound is Sol and the minute sound is Mi.

All four gongs sound in three different sequences for the quarters:
1st quarter: Mi-Do-Re-Sol
2nd quarter: Mi-Do-Re-Sol/Sol-Re-Mi-Do
3rd quarter:  Mi-Do-Re-Sol/Sol-Re-Mi-Do/Mi-Do-Re-Sol

Further complementing the beautiful sound are the Jaquemarts on the dial. Uniquely, they are synchronized with the sound of the gongs and move to the minutes, quarters and hours, or to a combination of these units of time. In life-like form, the four JaquemartsHannibal on his horse, scenes of Hannibal in fighting stance, and Hannibal’s elephant and army – tell the narrative of Hannibal and his eminent achievement. Ulysse Nardin remains among the rare manufacturers in the world to use Jaquemarts on the dial of its wristwatch repeaters.

As Hannibal Barca was innovative in how he strategized to conquer Italy and other areas of southern Europe, Ulysse Nardin is pioneering in how it approaches haute horology. Determined and courageous, the manufacturer marches forward in revolutionizing the industry. It’s only fitting that Ulysse Nardin chose to commemorate such a progressive historical force.

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Technical Specifications
Reference: 789-00
Model:  Exceptional “Hannibal” Minute Repeater Westminster Carillon Tourbillon Jaquemarts
Limited Edition to 30 pieces 

Movement:
Caliber
UN-78
In-house designed movement
36 jewels
Power-Reserve:  Approx. 70 h
Winding:  Manual winding
Functions:
Westminster Carillon Tourbillon at 6 o’clock
Jaquemarts Minute Repeater
Striking of hours, quarters and minutes
Four different chimes (Mi-Do-Re-Sol)
Case:
Platinum
Dial:
Genuine granite dial
Diameter: 44 mm
Bezel: Unidirectional rotating bezel
Crown: Screw-down security crown covered with rubber
Water-resistance: 30 m
Crystal: Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Case-back: Open case back with sapphire crystal
Strap:
Leather strap, with folding buckle

Limited Edition to 30 pieces


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Ulysse Nardin SA
Marketing Department
Rue du Jardin 3
2400 Le Locle
Switzerland
T :+4132 930 74 00
F :+4132 930 74 21


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