Monday, October 19, 2020

Glashutte Original – SENATOR Alfred Helwig Tourbillon 1920 Edition

Glashutte OriginalSENATOR Alfred Helwig Tourbillon 1920 100th Anniversary Edition

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 Tribute to a genius in the Glashütte art of watchmaking Alfred Helwig Tourbillon 1920 - Limited Edition

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2020 is the 100th anniversary of one of the most sophisticated inventions of haute horlogerie: the design of the Flying Tourbillon by Glashütte master watchmaker Alfred Helwig.

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In his honour Glashütte Original presents the Alfred Helwig Tourbillon 1920 Limited Edition, featuring a classic, elegant face.

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Inspired by historic models built by Helwig and his students at the German Watchmaking School Glashütte, this new interpretation of the “whirlwind” is positioned, like its predecessors, with understated elegance on the reverse of the movement.

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Pure elegance and exceptional craftsmanship

The new timepiece from Glashütte Original is an example of pure elegance, technical sophistication and exceptional craftsmanship. 

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This splendid masterpiece is limited to 25 pieces and presented in a rose gold case. The dial is fashioned in solid gold and subsequently silver-plated by friction.

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A railroad chapter ring and rod index appliques lend the timepiece an elegant, classic appearance. The filigree baton-style hands in rose gold contribute to the understated look of the watch as a whole. 

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With this model, in fact, the famous Flying Tourbillon is hidden on the reverse of the movement – in keeping with the historic models of Helwig‘s era.

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Alfred Helwig and the Flying Tourbillon

The Flying Tourbillon was developed in Glashütte in 1920 by one of the most eminent of German watchmakers: Alfred Helwig. In contrast to the classic tourbillion anchored on both sides, Helwig’s elegant construction required only a single anchor on the underside, with the result that it appears to be flying within its cage.

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In an open frame, the balance and escapement revolve steadily around their own axis at precisely 360° per minute. In this way, the tourbillon effectively counters the negative influence of gravity on the rate precision.

The German Watchmaking School Glashütte – the domain of Alfred Helwig

The German Watchmaking School in Glashütte was founded in 1878. Through its training of a great number of master watchmakers, it achieved considerable influence over the art of German watchmaking as a whole. In 1913, at the age of 27, Alfred Helwig was appointed to a position as technical instructor at the famous training institute. There he dedicated himself – together with his master class students – to the development of particularly accurate timepieces featuring cantilevered tourbillons, which Helwig called "rotary gear watches".

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From 1920, a series of such watches was developed under his direction and in accordance with his concept. When tested by the German Naval Observatory in Hamburg, the general testing centre for precision clocks and watches, they achieved excellent results. 

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 lfred Helwig taught at the renowned watchmaking school for 41 years, in the course of which he trained more than 800 apprentice watchmakers. His publications remain important reference works for watchmakers, regleurs and watch collectors today.

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Since 2008 the historic building that once housed the German Watchmaking School Glashütte has been home not only to the German Watch Museum Glashütte, but also to the Historic Workshop of Glashütte Original, whose staff specialise in the restoration and maintenance of valuable timepieces made in Glashütte.

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Final assembly of the 25 pieces of the new limited edition will be performed by these supremely competent specialists, which means this masterpiece will not only bear the name of Alfred Helwig, but will have been produced at the original site of his work as master watchmaker and teacher.

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 Sophisticated technology

This timepiece is powered by the finely finished Calibre 54-01 manual winding movement, which features a remarkable running time of 100 hours. 

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The eye-catching element on the reverse of the movement is, of course, the filigree Flying Tourbillon.

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Numerous elaborate decorations and finishes such as the sunburst decoration on the spring barrel cover, Glashütte stripes on the three-quarter plate, blued screws and screw-mounted gold chatons, as well as a great number of polished steel parts, contribute to the fascination of this masterpiece of the Glashütte art of watchmaking.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Collection : SENATOR
 
Model: Senator Alfred Helwig Tourbillon 1920 Edition

Models with Louisiana Alligator leather strap

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Reference:
Ref. 1-54-01-01-01-01 

Case
Diameter: Ø 40 mm
Height: 11.6 mm
Material:  Rose gold
Waterproof up to: 5 bar
Glass: sapphire crystal, both sides anti-reflective
Bottom: sapphire crystal
Dial
Solid gold, silver-plated by friction, with railroad chapter ring and appliques in rose gold
Hands: Rose gold
Movement
Glashütte Original manufactory Manual winding movement 
Functions Small second (off-centre) Flying Tourbillon hour and minute (central)

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CALIBRE 54-01
Dimensions: Ø 30.2 mm, Height: 6.00 mm
Oscillating frequency: 21,600 vph, equivalent to 3 Hz
Power Reserve:  100 h
Shock protection: Incabloc
Jewels: 20 + 💎2 diamonds
 
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Additional details: 
Remarks Exquisitely finished movement bevelled edges polished steel parts blued/polished screws Glashütte three-quarter plate with stripe finish adjustment of rate by regulation screws
Strap
Brown Louisiana Alligator leather strapwith rose gold pin buckle
Width: 21/18 mm

Limited to Only 25 Pieces

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Press Release - 2020
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For further information please contact:
Glashütte Original I Press Office
Altenberger Straße 1 I D-01768 Glashütte i. Sa.
Telephone: +49 (0) 350 53 46 - 0
E-Mail: pr@glashuette-original.com
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Saturday, October 17, 2020

IWC – Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “SFTI”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IWC SchaffhausenPilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “SFTI” - 2020

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IWC PRESENTS PILOT’S WATCH CHRONOGRAPH TOP GUN EDITION “SFTI”
IN BLACK CERAMIC AND CERATANIUM

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Schaffhausen, October 2020 – IWC Schaffhausen complements its TOP GUN range of Pilot’s Watches with the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “SFTI”.  

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The new model takes inspiration from the “Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor” watch, which was created in 2018 in honor of the US Naval Aviation Community and is available only for TOP GUN graduates. Thanks to the combination of a black ceramic case with a Ceratanium® case back and pushers, the sporty chronograph boasts a tactical, matte black design code.

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In 2018, IWC created the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor” in collaboration with instructors based on Naval Air Station Leemore in California.

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Featuring a case made of black ceramic and the iconic TOP GUN patch on the dial, the rugged chronograph is available exclusively for graduates of the Navy Fighter Weapons School.

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The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph TOP GUN Edition “SFTI”, limited to 1500 pieces, takes inspiration from the acclaimed “Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor“ watch. It follows the tradition of IWC’s TOP GUN watches.

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It is made with extraordinarily robust materials to withstand the extreme strain that pilots experience in the cockpit of supersonic jets like the F/A-18 Super Hornet.  

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The large 44-millimeter case is made of black zirconium oxide ceramic. With a Vickers rating second only to that of a diamond, ceramic ranks among the hardest substances on earth. 

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It is extremely scratch-resistant and its stealthy black color is totally anti-reflective. The case back and chronograph pushers are made of Ceratanium®, a recent innovation from IWC’s materials engineers.

 
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This new material is as light and durable as titanium but at the same time as similarly hard and scratch-resistant as ceramic. Thanks to the combination of ceramic and Ceratanium®, the chronograph boasts an entirely matte black design.

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The tactical look is completed by a black dial and black hands coated with luminescence. The small second hand and the tail of the chronograph second hand, which takes the form of a jet, add a touch of red to the instrument-style dial.

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Ticking away inside the sturdy case is the IWC manufactured 69380 calibre. The robust chronograph movement in classic column-wheel design ensures precise timekeeping and the measurement of stopwatch times of up to 12 hours.

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Another function is a date and weekday display. The sporty timepiece is fitted with a green textile strap.

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Technical Specifications


Model   PILOT’S WATCH CHRONOGRAPH TOP GUN EDITION “SFTI”
 

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Ref  IW389104

FEATURES
Mechanical chronograph movement
– Date and day display
– Chronograph function for hours, minutes and seconds
– Small hacking seconds
– Soft-iron inner case for protection against magnetic fields
– Screw-in crown
– Glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure
MOVEMENT
IWC manufacture calibre 69380

Frequency 28,800 vph/4 Hz
Jewels 33
Power reserve 46 h

Winding Automatic
WATCH

Materials: Ceramic case, Ceratanium ® case back, crown and pushers
Glass: Sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides
Water-resistant: 6 bar
Diameter 44 mm
Height 15.7 mm
DIAL
Black dial, black hands
STRAP
Green textile strap with textile inlay

Limited Edition  to 1500 pieces

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Press releases - 2020
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 IWC Schaffhausen
Uwe Liebminger
Department Manager Public Relations
Mobile  +41 (0)79 957 72 52
E-mail  uwe.liebminger@iwc.com
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