Thursday, December 10, 2015

BLANCPAIN – Gombessa III – Expedition Antarctica














BLANCPAIN Gombessa III – Expedition Antarctica !

Blancpain and Laurent Ballesta launched the third Gombessa expedition, in association with Luc Jacquet and his Wild-Touch Expeditions - Antarctica! project.

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December 2015

Following on from the Gombessa I expedition, which revealed the secrets of the coelacanth, the greatest zoological discovery of the 20th century, and Gombessa II, which studied the spectacular spawn of the camouflage grouper, Laurent Ballesta and Blancpain have travelled to Antarctica for a pioneering exploratory, diving and photographic mission. This expedition is part of a wider meta-project initiated by movie director Luc Jacquet (who won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2006 with March of the Penguins) to measure the impact of global warming in this polar region, and to capture the attention of the general public.

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The HQ of the Gombessa III expedition has been set up at the French Dumont d'Urville scientific base
in Adélie Land. This is the first time a team of technical divers has been able to go beneath the sea ice
in this region. Each of the dives, never previously undertaken, represents an achievement on both
human and technical levels, and will deliver the very first naturalist images of Antarctica’s deep-sea
ecosystems. At the request of several research groups, particularly those at the National Museum of
Natural History
(MNHN) in Paris and the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in
Marseille, the Gombessa III team will contribute to an inventory of deep-sea fauna that is being
created in relation to the issue of global warming, and will share all of their footage with researchers
for use in scientific publications

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Gombessa III corresponds to the underwater element of the Wild-Touch Expeditions - Antarctica!
project initiated and directed by Luc Jacquet. Ten years after March of the Penguins, the director has
returned to the Antarctic with a highly talented artistic team, which includes renowned photographers
Laurent Ballesta and Vincent Munier, to deliver a touching testament to a territory threatened by
global warming. This immersive journey to the other side of the planet has been made possible by the
support of many partners, and with the help of the teams and logistics provided by the French Polar
Institute and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

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The expedition, which can be tracked on a daily video-blog on www.blancpain-ocean-commitment.com, will give rise to several documentaries, including those produced by ARTE in the
image of “Gombessa I – The Coelacanth, Dive Towards our Origins” and “Gombessa II – The
Grouper Mystery
”, both of which received prestigious awards. Other plans include an IMAX movie
by Luc Jacquet, books, including one for children, exhibitions, including one at the Musée des
Confluences in Lyon between April 18 and August 15, 2016, and a vast social media campaign to
raise awareness among the general public.

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Blancpain S.A.
International PR Team
Chemin de l'Etang 6
1094
Paudex - SWITZERLANDTel.  (+41) 21 796 3636
Fax (+41) 21 796 3637
E-mail: pr@blancpain.com
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Wednesday, December 9, 2015

ARMIN STROM – Tourbillon Skeleton FIRE Gold



















ARMIN STROMTourbillon Skeleton FIRE Gold NEW


ARMIN STROM Extends Founder's Legacy with Introduction of New Tourbillon Skeleton

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ARMIN STROM’S new Tourbillon Skeleton celebrates the mechanical artistry of watchmaking's ultimate complication, the tourbillon. With this introduction, the independent Swiss manufacture continues to propel the brand into future while honoring the vision and passion of the brand's founder, master skeletonizer Armin Strom.


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Tourbillon Skeleton is a new timepiece specially designed to highlight its technical prowess.

An elite circle of watch Manufactures are capable of producing a tourbillon. With Tourbillon Skeleton, the skeletonizing of the tourbillon compounded the technical challenge for Armin Strom. Ultimately the skeletonizing enhances the movement's mechanical artistry, with PVD colorization of the main plate emphasizing the caliber's layered construction. Along with the constant rotation of the tourbillon, owners will observe the animation of the double going barrel while the watch is wound.

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Armin Strom founded his eponymous brand in 1967 and retired in 2011, after selling the company to the Michel family. Owner Serge Michel and chief horologist Claude Greisler have enhanced the brand's capabilities by establishing an independent Manufacture in Biel/Bienne that opened in 2009 to develop and produce movements. The company introduced its first manual-wind tourbillon in 2012 and a micro-rotor tourbillon in 2013.

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"I'm very proud that Serge, Claude and their team have realized one of my dreams - skeletonizing a tourbillon,"
said Mr. Strom. "For me, it is a joy to see the continued growth and success of the brand."

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Greisler added, "We're continually inspired by Armin's tremendous skill and vision. His desire to display the beautiful techniques and mechanics in every watch — the heart and soul of the timepiece—is our overriding goal."

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Technical details calibre 

CALIBRE ATS11-S 16½‘‘‘
Characteristics:  
Functions:
Hour, minute, small second, tourbillon
Winding-mechanism: 

Manual wind-up with crown wheels turning on the dial side
Impulse: Double going barrel
 
Plate and bridges:
Fully skeletonised main plate, gear-train bridges and barrel-bridges.
3D-PVD coatings of the main plate correspond to the respective element 

Escapement:
Escape wheel and pallets made of massive gold with hardened functional areas 

Regulating system: Screwed balance with Breguet overcoil  
Frequency: 18,000 A/h  
Number of Jewels: 24  
Number of individual parts: 184 

Diameter: 36.60mm  
Height: 6.20mm  
Power reserve: 10 days
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Technical Specifications


Ref. RG15-TF.5N  Tourbillon Skeleton FIRE Gold Case
 
Movement
ARMIN STROM Manufacture calibre A
TS11-S
Manual-winding,
calibre 16½‘‘‘
10-day power reserve,
Small seconds, off-centre time indications

Distinctions:
Fully skeletonised, main plate with dark brown PVD coating
Frequency: 18,000 A/h
Jewels: 24
Number of components: 184
Functions: Hour, minute, small second, Tourbillon
Power reserve: 10 days
Case 

FIRE - 18ct Rose Gold
Sapphire crystal and case back with anti-reflective treatment 
Diameter: 43.40 mm
Height: 13.00 mm
Water-resistance: 50 m

Dial ring:  Sapphire with founded appliques
Hands: Rose gold

Straps
Delivered with a genuine black or brown alligator horn-back strap and 18ct rose gold ardillon buckle as well as an additional black or brown rubber strap. 
A double-fold clasp in 18ct rose gold is available on option.

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For more information relating to this press release or to Armin Strom:
Bettina Fleury, Armin Strom AG,
Tel. +41 32 343 33 44, b.fleury@arminstrom.com
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