Tuesday, October 9, 2018

CHRISTOPHE CLARET – X-TREM-1 – Ultimate Gold-Black Titanium Tourbillon


CHRISTOPHE CLARETX-TREM-1ULTIMATE Red Gold & Black PVD-treated Titanium Flying Tourbillon Edition

The new version X-TREM-1 Ultimate 
watchmaking by Christophe Claret

X-TREM-1 represents a major technical and aesthetic accomplishment: a flying tourbillon inclined at a 30° angle, mounted on a three-dimensional curvex titanium mainplate, equipped with a retrograde hours and minutes display system that is radically different from existing watchmaking conventions.

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO

Two tiny hollowed steel spheres, isolated within tubes on the left and right sides of the caseband, magically move with no mechanical connection thanks to magnetic fields.

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO

X-TREM-1, the fi rst model in this new generation of timepieces, represents a major technical and aesthetic accomplishment: a fl ying tourbillon inclined at a 30° angle, mounted on a three-dimensional curvex titanium mainplate, equipped with a retrograde hours and minutes display system that is radically different from existing watchmaking conventions. Two tiny hollowed steel spheres, isolated within tubes, have been placed to the left and right sides of the case and move in a mysterious manner with no mechanical connection thanks to magnetic fi elds

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO

The hand-wound watch draws its energy from two barrels – a necessity in this case, since they enable the use of a high energy-consuming display mode without disturbing the rate of the tourbillon, and thus that of the watch. The fi rst barrel is reserved for the tourbillon, and the second for the hours and minutes.

Click, to see the large size. FOTO

Driven as ever by a determination to present avant-garde timepieces, 5N red gold and black grade 5 PVD titanium were the metals chosen to make the case of this version of the X-TREM-1. The sapphire tubes have been replaced by cylindrical ring-bound tubes housing mobile stainless steel spheres indicating the time.

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTO

This version is produced in an 8-piece limited edition.

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Technical Specifications

X-TREM-1Ultimate Red Gold & Black Titanium

Ref. MTR.FLY11.150-158

Movement:
CaliberFLY11 - mechanical, hand-wound movement
Dimensions: 26.6 x 46.4 x 11.94 mm
Number of components:    432
Number of jewels:  66
Power reserve: 50+ hours
Dual barrels: one for the movement gear train, one for the time indications
Display-regulation escapement:
The tourbillon movement and the time indication gear trains each
have their own independent energy  supply  to optimize power
distribution and duration
Tourbillon:
-    Swiss lever
-    Frequency: 3 Hz (21,600 vph)
-    Tourbillon rotates once every 60 seconds
-    Flying tourbillon inclined at 30° supported by a double ceramic bearing, with cone-shaped pinion transmission
-    Black chrome-plated aluminum skull with natural red ruby eyes
Functions:
Mystery hours and minutes displayed with indications provided by hollowed steel spheres moving 23 mm inside two cylindrical sapphire tubes.
The metal spheres are driven by magnetic carriages following a thread.
-    Seconds displayed on the tourbillon cage
-    Movement state-of-wind indication
-    Fast time adjustment is via an integrated pusher on the caseband at 12 o’clock
Mainplate:
-    Curvex with sides inclined at a 30° angle
-    Mainplate and bridges in bead-blasted titanium
-    Open-worked ratchet and wheel
Distinctive features:
-    Use of precisely-shaped magnetic fields in a mechanical movement
-    No mechanical connection between the indications and the movement
-    Winding and time-setting via lift-out rotating “bows” on caseback
Case:
Rectangular with curvex profile
Dimensions: 40.80 x 56.80 x 15 mm
Water resistance: 3 ATM / 30 m / 100 ft
Material
5N red gold and black PVD-treated grade 5 titanium with 5N red gold metallized numerals
5N red gold cylindrical ring-bound tubes
Spheres
White chrome-treated stainless steel
Strap
Black alligator strap

Limited Edition of 8 timepieces


Price in Swiss francs (ex VAT): 268’000

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Press release - 2018
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Christophe ClaretAlexandra Beurier
Tel : +41 32 933 80 26
Email : a.beurier@christopheclaret.com
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www.ChristopheClaret.com

Monday, October 8, 2018

Grand Seiko – GMT Edition 25th Anniversary



















SEIKOGrand Seiko Sport GMT Edition 25th Anniversary



The first Grand Seiko 9F quartz GMT model. 
The perfect caliber for the international traveler.

When Caliber 9F was created in 1993, the goal was straightforward but ambitious. As the quartz caliber for Grand Seiko, it should set new standards of durability and precision and should allow all the aesthetics of Grand Seiko to be fully expressed. Innovations in every aspect of the movement design were required to achieve this. A backlash auto-adjust mechanism eliminates any shudder in the seconds hand, the date changes in the blink of an eye, a twin-pulse control system allows the minute and seconds hands to extend right to the edge of the dial and high precision is ensured by the use of aged and individually selected quartz crystals. Thanks to these unique characteristics, Caliber 9F can lay a strong claim to being the highest performance quartz watch in the world.

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Today sees the release of the first ever Grand Seiko 9F quartz GMT caliber. It is the perfect caliber for the international traveler. Caliber 9F86 is based upon, and has all the precision and durability attributes of, the original 9F but incorporates a GMT function that allows the watch’s precision to be maintained when the hour hand is adjusted independently. This is made possible by new components that have been created especially for this movement.

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Despite the addition of the GMT hand, the depth of the case has been increased only slightly, thanks to a newly designed main plate, a re-design of the gear train and the way the hands are attached, a process that is done by hand. Like the other hands, the GMT hand is mounted on an independent axis so as to ensure its smooth operation. Caliber 9F86 is presented in one limited edition and two other permanent creations in the Grand Seiko Sport Collection.

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In both performance and design, this new limited edition is the perfect embodiment of the values and high standards that 9F has always represented. The metallic charcoal dial features a unique pattern based on the traditional Quartz symbol to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Caliber 9F. It also carries the five-pointed star that symbolizes Grand Seiko’s special level accuracy and, at the 25 minute position, the dial pattern is subtly different; the symbols 9F and 25 are discreetly shown as a permanent reminder of the caliber’s anniversary.

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The outer rim of the dial, from three o’clock to nine, is picked out in vivid yellow to display at a glance whether the GMT hand indicates AM or PM.

This unique commemorative Grand Seiko watch is offered in an edition limited to just 800 and will be available in selected markets from October.


Caliber 9F86 enriches the Grand Seiko Sport Collection

In addition to the limited edition, two other new creations are to be released incorporating the 9F86 caliber. They add a new dimension to the Grand Seiko Sport Collection and share the simple but powerful design that characterizes it.

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The dials are three dimensional in appearance and are edged with a two-tone ring to allow the AM or PM time indicated by the GMT hand to be read instantly and easily.

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Similarly, the use of Lumibrite on the hour markers and hour, minute and GMT hands delivers the enhanced legibility that the international traveler needs. These two new creations are available in January, 2019.
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Technical Specifications

Movement
Caliber 9F86

Accuracy: ±5 seconds per year (at temperatures between 5℃ and 35℃) (SBGN001) ±10 seconds per year (at temperatures between 5℃ and 35℃) (SBGN003 / 005)
Instant date change
High-torque stepping motor
Protective shield construction
GMT function / Independent hour hand adjustment function

Specifications:
Stainless steel case and bracelet
High definition dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
Diameter: 39.0mm Thickness: 12.1mm
Water resistance: 10 bar
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Bracelet
Stainless steel bracelet
Clasp: Three-fold clasp with push button release
Approximate recommended retail price in Europe:
Ref. SBGN001 Caliber 9F 25th Anniversary Limited Edition (800 pcs) 3,600
Ref. SBGN003 and SBGN005: 3,200

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Press Release - 2018
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www.facebook.com - Seiko
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SEIKO WATCH CORPORATION
Mr­­ Noboru­­ Miyadera
2-8-10, Toranomon, Minato-ku,
Tokyo­­ 105-8467
Japan
Telephone+81 3 6739 2150
Telefax+81 3 6739 2071
seiko-pr@seiko-watch.co.jp
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www.SeikoWatches.com