U-BOAT – CAPSULE Titanium Edition

U-BOAT – CAPSULE Titanium 50 mm Limited Edition

Italo Fontana presents a new version 

of the U-BOAT Capsule

Directly inspired by the first undersea exploration modules, Capsule, introduced for the first time at Baselworld 2015 comes in a new updated version.

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Fascinated by these depth gauges made in the early ‘30s, Italo designed this watch with their characteristic features in mind, from the rounded shape to the porthole windows with water pressure resistant glass to ensure that the people inside the cabin survived the dive.

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These spherical portholes made from strong glass were clamped to the outside surface of the capsule using a system of levers to ensure water resistance.

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The Capsule watch uses a patented system to clamp the glass to the grade 5 titanium case, featuring a system of external fixing levers guaranteed to withstand the pressure exerted by both outside and inside agents.

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The two main levers, blocked in place by a third one positioned at 3 o’clock and by special safety screws, press the domed glass in hesalite against the waterproof gasket beneath.

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This system secures the watch in the event of pressure changes.The entire process of opening and removing the hesalite glass can be performed without dismantling any of the watch’s main components (usually the bezel must be removed), but only the glass.

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Limited Edition 288 pieces, the 2017 watch comes with black color dial and features on the dial an additional counter showing the AM/PM 24 hours of the day.

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Technical Specifications

Collection: CAPSULE

MOVEMENT:
Automatic mechanical movement,
personalized to U-BOAT specifications for stem to be positioned at 9 o’clock.
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour, 4 Hz.
Power reserve: 38 hours. 25 jewels.
FUNCTIONS:
Hours, minutes, seconds,
24h indicator, date.
CASE:
Grade 5 titanium case
Diameter 50 mm, overall dimensions 63 mm. Thickness, 23.3 mm.
The two-piece case (middle and back) is joined by screws and has no bezel, which is replaced by the glass itself.
Special titanium screw crown positioned at 9 o’clock, designed and manufactured according to U-BOAT technical specifications.
The release mechanism on the right side of the case provides easy access to the dial and component parts.
A special titanium ring guarantees an airtight seal and total water resistance.
The ring is also fixed in place with 2 screws on the lugs for greater resilience and security.
BACK:
attached by 4 screws for rapid access to the movement for adjustment purposes.
DIAL:
black three-level dial with numbers and hands treated with luminova,
date indicator at 9 o’clock.
CRYSTAL: Hesalite
WATER RESISTANCE:  100 mt, 10 ATM.
STRAP:
Black strap, in rubber with lining in calf with Kodiak water repellent treatment.
Titanium tongue buckle. Width: 23/22 mm.


Edition
Limited Edition of 288 Units 

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Press release - 2017
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SALES DEPARTMENTsales@u-boatwatch.com
Tel + 39 0583 469288
Mob. + 39 348 7914639
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PR DEPARTMENT Gianfilippo Versari 
E-mail: press@u-­boatwatch.com - Mob. +39 338 9510499
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www.facebook.com - U-BOAT
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www.U-BoatWatch.com

VOUTILAINEN – Vingt-8 GMR Tritonet Gold Edition

VOUTILAINEN – Vingt-8 GMR Tritonet White Gold Edition – Unique Piece

A unique Voutilainen timepiece 

in the ”Métiers d’art” category

Presenting a watch « Triton and Mermaid » with an extraordinary double back boasting two exceptional craftsmanship engraving and enameling techniques, Kari Voutilainen participated in the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève this year.
Watchmaker Kari Voutilainen proposes a timepiece with a 24-hour second time zone and retrograde power reserve indicator. The movement, designed and handcrafted, as well as the dial were produced in the master workshop. Crafted in German silver, the topflight mechanism comprises no less than 250 components and 28 jewels.

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It cleverly allows the crown to adjust the second time zone so that it advances by the hour rather than rotating freely, thus maintaining accuracy with regard to local time. While the sapphire crystal makes it possible to admire the traditional finishing of the movement with Côtes de Genève decoration and hand-chamfering, the dial also boasts refined elegance. The GMT embraces the small seconds at 6; while the retrograde power reserve indicator is positioned at 12 o’clock.

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“Never before have I produced such a complicated piece”. For Swiss master engraver Eddy Jaquet, production of this unique watch will remain forever in the forefront of his memory. In addition to the various engravings on the pivoting white gold lid (several layers of successively cut and sculpted precious metals), the Voutilainen Vingt-8 GMR which he handled also boasts another, equally demanding, decorative technique: enameling.

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Specialist Inès Hamaguchi was responsible for the delicate enameling work that would create the aesthetic effect desired by Eddy Jaquet, a design with two silhouettes on both sides of the sea’s surface. While the traditional technique of champlevé enameling was called on to represent the sky and the sea foam, a unique, very complex method known as plique-à-jour was used to feature the sea itself in which a mermaid can be seen on both sides of the lid.

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Originating in the Byzantine Empire during the 4th century, plique-a-jour did not appear in Western Europe until the end of the 13th century before almost disappearing entirely due to the complexity of the technique. It was revived at the end of the 19th century but remains extremely rare up to this day; only a few experts are masters of the technique.

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This timepiece, thanks to the juxtaposition of the engraving and various enameling techniques, including the plique-à-jour as a decorative element, represents a benchmark in watchmaking.

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While the two artists maintain a veil of secrecy surrounding the creative process - “an experimental approach”, they claim -, Eddy Jaquet and Inès Hamaguchi admit that a series of discussions between their two workshops in the Neuchâtel canton were necessary before arriving at the final result. A painstaking and patient joint effort to produce an unparalleled effect, close to stained glass, of both movement and depth.

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Of the twelve Voutilainen Vingt-8 GMR pieces in the limited edition collection, only one watch will have an engraved and enameled lid, exceptional for the complexity of its manufacture.

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Technical Characteristics

Model: Voutilainen – Vingt-8 GMR Tritonet

Movement
Mechanical hand-wound, Vingt-8 calibre

Designed, made and finished in the Voutilainen workshops, 28 jewels, 

18,000 vib/h, new escapement with two escape wheels and direct impulse,  
German silver. 250 parts, Geneva stripes decoration, hand chamfered bevels and movement is rhodium plated.
Hours, Minutes, GMT in 24 hour indication and power reserve indication

65-hour power reserve

Balance: Free sprung balance made from CuBe
( with Grossman interior curve and Philips exterior curve). .
Diameter of balance wheel is 13,50mm.
Jewels: 28
Movement size: ø 30.00 mm x 5.60 mm
Dial
Guilloché silver - Matte blue color
Engine turned by hand with applied gold Large Roman numerals.
Power reserve indicator at 12 o'clock
Hands: Gold and steel, handmade
Additionals
All manufacturing, construction, fabrication, hand finishing and assembly in the Voutilainen workshop.
Additionals
18K white gold, 18-carat gold crown.
Case size: ø 39.00 mm  x 12.30 mm
Sapphire glass front and back, with anti-reflection treatment on front.
All design, manufacturing, construction,
fabrication, hand finishing and assembly in the Voutilainen workshop
Matching 18K white gold tang buckle and hand sewn crocodile strap.

Limited to 1 unique piece.

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Kari Voutilainen
Voutilainen Horlogerie d’Art
Comblémine 2
2112 Môtiers | Switzerland
Tél +41 32 861 4832
Fax +41 32 861 4833
voutilainen@voutilainen.ch
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Voutilainen.ch