Saturday, September 9, 2017

VACHERON CONSTANTIN – «La Création du Monde» Astronomical Clock


VACHERON CONSTANTIN – «La Création du Monde» Astronomical Clock

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An exceptional astronomical clock exhibited at the Louvre Museum, “La Création du Monde”, restored thanks to the patronage of the watch Manufacture Vacheron Constantin

Now restored, “La Création du Monde” belonging to the collection of the French National Châteaux de Versailles and Trianon Museum and officially deposited at the Louvre Museum, is exhibited in the former library of the Villemaré‐Dangé mansion, at the first floor of the Sully sector.

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As patron of this aesthetic and functional restoration process, Vacheron Constantin is proud that all the beauty and ingenuity of this exceptional clock, reviving after three years of work.

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One of the secrets of the success and longevity of the Manufacture Vacheron Constantin lies in its constant obsession with transmitting, advancing and perpetuating its expertise and its knowledge of horology. An obsession that now enables it to restore all the watches produced since its founding in 1755, while maintaining complete respect for the watchmaking techniques and professional ethics relating to all the watches produced since its founding in 1755. Moreover, in keeping with its motto “Do better if possible, and that is always possible”, the Maison is innovating through a progress‐driven approach by drawing inspiration form its own creations and from those of the grand masters of watchmaking history.

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This philosophy has given rise to a desire to contribute to restoring masterpieces of the worldwide watchmaking heritage that have inspired and will continue to inspire generations of watchmakers. It was in the Louvre museum that Vacheron Constantin discovered the “La Création du Monde” clock.

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The Manufacture expressed its desire to become the patron of the aesthetic and functional restoration of this masterpiece in partnership with the Louvre museum, who has mandated the Atelier Chronos, specialising in the restoration and conservation of watches and clocks for the French museums grouped under the “Musées de France” label.

An artwork with a rich history

Created in the mid‐18th century, at the expense and at the request of Joseph‐François Dupleix de Bacquencourt, then General Governor of the seaports in India, “La Création du Monde” was a clock intended as a diplomatic to Salabetzingue, Nabab of the province of Deccan.

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First presented in February 1754 at the court of King Louis XV of France in Versailles, the clock was sent by ship to Pondichery on August 25th that same year, accompanied by the horologist Dutertre. Meanwhile Dupleix had been dismissed from his post by King Louis XV and returned to France in October 1754. The clock was no longer to serve as a diplomatic gift. The clockmaker and the clock were shipped back from Pondichery on September 4th 1755.

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Restoration and renaissance of the tangible heritage

After lengthy restoration work, the exceptional “La Création du Monde” clock is once again ticking smoothly. Crafted by engineer and mechanic Claude‐Siméon Passemant, “La Création du Monde”, which was only partially operational, is a work of remarkable technical complexity and rare aesthetic virtuosity combining watchmaking techniques and artistic crafts. A watchmaker, bronze‐smelter, engraver, chiseller and other artisans all applied their talent to this work whose allegorical form depicting the four fundamental elements (Air, Earth, Water and Fire) imposed exceptional constraints on watchmakers.

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The restoration of this piece by a specialised workshop not only made it possible to bring up to standard the various mechanisms and complications required to ensure its smooth operation, but also made it possible to conduct historical research on the history of this clock and the watchmaking of the era.

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The three years of restoration were punctuated by various phases in the process. The restoration of the mechanisms and their liaison elements gave rise to the most challenges and discoveries. From the striking mechanism to the repair of the running equation of time, as well as the workings of the globe, the moon phases of the planetarium, each aspect of the endeavour called for hours of work, calculation and modelling in order to bring this high‐precision clock back to life.

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The restoration workshop – in line with professional ethics, in accordance with the conservation and restoration policy of the Louvre Museum, and with the support of Vacheron Constantin and its determination to oversee “the best possible restoration work” – conducted an entirely reversible conservation‐restoration process.

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This means that each newly made component can be removed and replaced by the one that had been previously damaged and/or degraded; or simply removed and left missing as it was prior to the intervention. None of the materials used are liable to damage the work over the medium or long term, and all are deliberately identifiable and recognisable by their markings, shapes or materials.

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TECHNICAL DATA

Model: «La Création du Monde» Clock
  •     Hours, minutes and seconds of mean time;
  •     True time or solar time in running equation of time mode, meaning indicated by a hand that follows or moves past mean time;
  •     Annual calendar of the days and months, engraved on the equation of time cam;
  •     Chime of the hours and half‐hours of true time;
  •     Phase and age of the moon in the form of a rotating globe;
  •     Depiction of the heliocentric system, of the first six planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn) with elliptical variation of the rotation speed according to passages through aphelion and perihelion;
  •     Indication on the planetarium dial of the line of orbital nodes, indication of the vernal point and of the Earth’s solstices;
  •     Duration of day and night on the surface of the rotating globe in 24 hours for all countries on Earth;
  •     Pivoting in the course of the year of the poles’ axis, following the seasons and serving to indicate the point of true noon on the globe, as well as reproducing the variable durations of day and night;
  •     15‐day power reserve for the mechanism (spring‐driven striking mechanism and weight‐driven timekeeping mechanism);
  •     Auxiliary driving force to accompany the rotation of the globe;
  •     Balance wheel beating the seconds;
  •     Graham lever escapement.


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Press release - 2017
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Vacheron Constantin
Press Department 10, Chemin du Tourbillon
P.O. Box 95
CH-1228
Plan-les-Ouates/Geneva
Tel. +41 22 930 20 05
Fax +41 22 930 20 06
press@vacheron-constantin.com
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Friday, September 8, 2017

HUBLOT – TECHFRAME FERRARI 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph Edition



















HUBLOTTECHFRAME FERRARI 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph PEEK Carbon & King Gold Unique Рiece 

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The Hublot Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph in PEEK Carbon & King Gold: a very special watch to mark an important occasion.

"Ferrari represents the very pinnacle of automotive art, something that we at Hublot are proud to be associated with. The unique Hublot Techframe watch is the result of a team effort – this is a timepiece that combines our expertise in a process that started at Ferrari HQ in Maranello and ended with Hublot in Nyon.

It’s our way of wishing the Cavallino Rampante a happy anniversary."
Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot


On 9 September, Ferrari will celebrate its 70th anniversary in Maranello, during which there will be an auction featuring exceptional cars and accessories emblazoned with the prancing horse logo. The Swiss watchmaking brand has developed a limited edition watch for the occasion – a unique design based on the Hublot Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph.

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Unveiled at this year’s Baselworld show, this collection is the result of an intensive collaboration between car designers and high-end watchmakers. It’s also the first non-automotive object that has been designed by Ferrari’s in-house team, Centro Stile, led by Flavio Manzoni. Taking the movement of the Hublot Tourbillon Chronograph (the "engine") as a starting point, the Italian designers developed the watch following the same creative processes as those used for sports car chassis, to achieve minimal weight combined with a solid frame. The Swiss watchmakers then inserted a high-performance "engine" into this structure: the HUB6311 calibre hand-wound manufacture movement, containing a total of 253 components and with a 5-day power reserve. This one-of-a-kind mechanism is fitted with a tourbillon with exclusive operation, and also has a chronograph feature.

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Following this design, the unique model to be offered at auction is set apart by its skeleton case middle – the chassis – which is made from uni-directional carbon, PEEK (polyether), a multi-layer hypoallergenic material, and the case – the engine cover – made from King Gold, the celebrated gold/ceramic alloy developed by Hublot. The dial, which features both the Hublot and Ferrari logos, takes inspiration from the counters on Ferrari’s instrument panels. The open design leaves the movement visible, and allows a glimpse of the beautiful ruthenium anthracite finish.

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This exclusive watch will go under the hammer on the upcoming September 9th. The auction, organised by RM Sotheby’s, will be open to all guests attending the event, and it will also be possible to participate online via the link www.rmsothebys.com/ff17/ferrari--leggenda-e-passione.

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TECHNICAL DETAILS

Model: TECHFRAME FERRARI 70 YEARS – TOURBILLON CHRONOGRAPH

Reference 408.OQ.0123.RX.SCF17 Unique piece

Case
Skeleton in Unidirectional PEEK Carbon
King Gold, glossy micro-blasted (King Gold) or Unidirectional PEEK Carbon
Diameter: 45 mm
Thickness: 14.80 mm
Screws: 5N Gold H-screws, polished head, micro-blasted cavity and notches
Crown: King Gold, glossy micro-blasted
Insert in black PVD titanium with engraving of the Ferrari logo (Cavallino Rampante), indexed, double sealing system
Push-button: Lever in Black PVD Titanium micro-blasted; Switch in black PVD Titanium, micro-blasted, polished head
Case-Back: Black PVD Titanium, micro-blasted "UNIQUE PIECE" engraving in glossy black lacquer
Case-Back crystal: Sapphire with internal anti-reflective treatment, adorned with "Ferrari 70 Years" 
Water resistance:  30 metres or 3 ATM
Crystal
Sapphire crystal with internal and external anti-reflective treatment
Back cover crystal:  Sapphire with internal anti-reflective treatment, adorned with "Ferrari 70 Years"
Dial
Sapphire, highlight in matt black varnish
Hands: Satin finished, 5N Gold treatment and white SuperLuminova®
Crystal: Sapphire crystal with internal and external anti-reflective treatment
Movement
Caliber – HUB6311 - Manual winding Tourbillon Chronograph,
developed and manufactured by Hublot
Number of components:   253
Frequency:    3 Hz (21’600 Al/h)
Power reserve:   115 hours
Strap
Smooth black rubber (interchangeable);
Folding clasp in Black PVD Titanium; Hublot logo filled with glossy black lacquer

All Versions
References:
  • 408.NI.0123.RX (Titanium) – Limited to 70 pieces
  • 408.OI.0123.RX (King Gold) – Limited to 70 pieces
  • 408.QU.0123.RX (PEEK Carbon) – Limited to 70 pieces
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HUBLOT SA – Switzerland
T +41 (0)22 990 90 00
F +41(0)22 990 90 29
International Press Contact: 
Annabelle Galleya.galley@hublot.ch
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