IN THIS CELEBRATORY YEAR MARKING THE 300TH ANNIVERSARY OF PIERRE JAQUET-DROZ’S BIRTH, THE MAISON UNVEILS AN EXCEPTIONAL UNIQUE PIECE RESERVED FOR THE “ONLY WATCH” CHARITY AUCTION.

For the ninth consecutive time, Jaquet Droz is proud to donate a unique piece of its own creation, designed exclusively for Only Watch, a charity sale to benefit the Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies (Monegasque Association against Muscular Dystrophy), and featuring a degree of technical ambition and aesthetic never-before achieved: A Grande Seconde Skelet-One Tourbillon adorned with a plique-à-jour enamel dial.

The original idea was to extend the initial purpose of the Grande Seconde to provide its owner with the finest and most accurate reading of the seconds—hence its largely dimensioned and off-center dial at 6 o’clock, exclusively dedicated to this effect. How could this precision be achieved? By adding a tourbillon. This escapement, itself a genuine watchmaking complication, aims to compensate for the harmful effects undergone by a timepiece that performs across multiple planes, all subjected to the force of gravity which alters its precision.

The tourbillon of the new Grande Seconde Skelet-One Tourbillon “Only Watch” was born of Jaquet Droz’s in-house expertise, but entirely reworked in the purest chronometric approach. Thanks to its realization in titanium and the elimination of the sapphire bridges, the cage has been lightened and optimized with regards to its chronometric functions. The balance spring and pallet lugs are made of silicon. Highly open to let light pass through, the tourbillon gives the illusion of being both large and lightweight all at once. Completely revised and placed at noon, it accords the piece a dedicated identity of strength and technicality.

The underlying aesthetic architecture is as technical as it is unique. The skeleton structure is brand new: while the original Skelet-One favored soft and supple curves, the Grande Seconde Skelet-One Tourbillon “Only Watch” focuses on straight lines, angles, modernity and perfect symmetry. This very contemporary skeletonization is as technical as its highly precise tourbillon movement can be, furthering the technical and aesthetic consistency of the piece. Its bridges, finished in black, confer a powerful matte appearance. The tourbillon cage follows the geometry of the skeleton movement, with a triple cross shape which, once a minute, aligns perfectly with its bridges.

For Only Watch, Jaquet Droz put to work its Ateliers d’Art as well, in order to produce a highly exclusive plique-à-jour dial, made specially for the famous charity sale. Once again, whereas the Maison’s most recent plique-à-jour creations featured curves and soft, slightly domed lines, the Skelet-One Tourbillon “Only Watch” is made up of various straight and geometric sections separated by white gold, thus forming a dial which has been entirely polished flat. The Maison achieved this unprecedented result by applying an extremely fine diamond powder polish to each area of the enamel, the only kind capable of achieving this thickness.

Every tone of enamel has been painstakingly selected for the model and fired at a very high temperature several times in a row. The choice of these colors therefore owes nothing to chance: a color chart was proposed by Only Watch associating different tones with certain characteristics. The Maison thus translated these variations of red, orange and yellow into an expression of happiness, passion, optimism and even energy—all values that support the cause championed by Only Watch.

An aesthetic and technical achievement, the first Grande Seconde Skelet-One with tourbillon, the first with plique-à-jour enamel, a new geometry of skeleton movement, a fully updated tourbillon… the Grande Seconde Skelet-One Tourbillon “Only Watch” is many things. It’s also the perfect match between an age-old complication and craftsmanship on the one hand, and an eminently modern technique and geometry on the other. A rare, precise balance, like any Jaquet Droz timepiece, which foreshadows all the ambitions of the Maison’s future Skelet-One collection.

Vacheron Constantin - Client-First Service Expansion to Singapore and Australia

Client-First Service Expansion to Singapore and Australia

• Vacheron Constantin meets client expectations in Hong Kong SAR, China, Singapore and Australia with the launch of customer advisor supported phone sales, starting July 2021.
• This comes after successful launches in the United States, Europe, Japan and China.

Geneva, July 2021 – Vacheron Constantin, the world’s longest continuously operating watch manufacture will now offer phone sales service to APAC region starting July 2021.

Clients from Hong Kong SAR, China, Singapore and Australia will now have the opportunity to select and purchase their timepiece of choice from those styles currently available on Vacheron Constantin’s website, www.vacheron-constantin.com. In a centralized effort, timepieces on the Maison’s website are available for sale over the phone, with a specific tab indicating the number to call to place orders.


Service-first customer advisors are now available to guide clients in their choices, answer questions, and facilitate a comfortable and easy purchasing journey. Once the phone order has been confirmed, c lients c an choose to pick up at a nearby boutique or complimentary shipping with turnaround times ranging between one and three days for Hong Kong and Singapore, and four to eight days for Australia.

Ever-focused on providing clients the services they deserve, Vacheron Constantin will also propose express delivery to clients in Singapore and Hong Kong. If the phone order is confirmed before noon on a weekday, the delivery will be scheduled on the same day, during the afternoon.

“It is part of Vacheron Constantin’s mission to offer a superior service to its clientele of connoisseurs, thanks to our concierge team and boutique sales associates who are now available over the phone or in-person. We are therefore delighted to be introducing new ways to purchase a Vacheron Constantin timepiece to APAC region”, says Laurent Perves, Vacheron Constantin Chief Marketing Officer.

ONE CLICK AWAY FROM CHANGING THE GAME

ROGER DUBUIS – ONE CLICK AWAY FROM CHANGING THE GAME

Excalibur Spider Pirelli

Heart racing, tarmac scorching, the wheels scream into life. When visionary engineers meet incredible watchmakers, iconic timepieces are born.

ONE CLICK AWAY FROM CHANGING THE GAME

Excalibur Spider Pirelli

3, 2, 1: Introducing the new Excalibur Spider Pirelli, the first Roger Dubuis fully versatile timepiece fuelled by adrenaline and crafted with winning motorsport tyre rubber.

The latest Roger Dubuis innovation to emerge from an exclusive collaboration with Pirelli, Excalibur Spider Pirelli shows what happens when the finest minds from different industries come together to share their unrivalled know-how, breakthrough research and boundless creativity. Driven by a desire to create adrenaline-charged masterpieces for a fearless tribe, serial innovator Roger Dubuis and motorsport performance pioneer Pirelli present the newest interpretation of the Excalibur Spider collection, which sees iconic calibres heightened by interchangeable straps that features rubber inlays from certified race winning Pirelli tyres.

A ROGER DUBUIS WORLD-PREMIERE: INTERCHANGEABILITY IN ONE CLICK

On the road to victory, a few seconds is crucial. It makes all the difference. Inspired by the renowned motorsport Pit Stop, each element of the new Excalibur Spider Pirelli is interchangeable, from strap to crown and bezel – all with a simple click. A Roger Dubuis world-premiere, not only is this an extremely customisable timepiece, it also features innovative lock technology. With an uncompromising focus on a clicking sensation and sound both reassuring and thrilling, the Quick Release System on the strap and crown is now taken to the next level at the bezel, with a precise position alignment that fixes the clock with one click. A click that tells you it’s time to go. When suddenly you’ve accelerated beyond the limits– ahead of the game.

ONE CLICK AWAY FROM CHANGING THE GAME

Excalibur Spider Pirelli

A SIGNATURE SKELETON

The Excalibur Spider Pirelli is an adrenaline-charged mechanical masterpiece. With a calibre that includes Roger Dubuis’ first automatic skeleton, the transparent view of its self-winding movement is held directly on the inimitable Roger Dubuis star. It also features a micro-rotor, one reduced to its strict essence at 11 o’clock, turning seamlessly with that of the wrist. The perfect balance of weight to wind the RD820SQ is further achieved through the use of innovative materials, such as DLC Titanium, both lighter and more luxurious than stainless steel. As notorious for avant-garde aesthetics as for traditional craftsmanship, Roger Dubuis’ Excalibur Automatic Skeleton is a signature of the Maison.

Of the hundreds of hours of manufacturing time for this 45mm timepiece, as much of a third of this time is devoted specifically to the prestigious Poinçon de Genève, with each and every component carefully finished by hand at the Roger Dubuis Manufacture in Geneva. Equipped with a 60-hour power reserve, this impressive feat of mechanical engineering is just a further example of the horological boldness of the Maison.

A WINNING PIRELLI TYRE FOR THE WRIST

Just like in motorsports, it takes a team effort to make it easier, faster and simpler than ever before to switch gears and customise a timepiece. Now with three additional kits in red, white or blue – the iconic Pirelli colour codes – the Excalibur Spider Pirelli transforms from full black to a pop of bold colour in a click.

Petrolheads take note! Available in a limited run of just 88 kits per colourway, these are timepieces crafted from race-winning tyres for the wrists of life’s winners. Brimming with racing design codes, the inner design of the strap displays the recognisable Pirelli CinturatoTM Intermediate pattern and the additional colour kits are thicker than the base bezel to mirror the look and feel of the distinctive Pirelli tyres, those that squeal on their way to the finish line.

LIVE LIFE IN THE FAST LANE

What if a click was all the impetus needed to trigger change? A provocative sound resonating with the craziest minds, pushing them to act? Effortlessly interchangeable, this is a click that changes the game entirely, one that empowers those who hear it to experience the world exactly the way they want. Epitomising its larger than life attitude, Roger Dubuis believes wearing a strap made of Pirelli winning tyres is what will get troublemakers beyond the finishing line. So heat up the engine and get ready to live life in the fast lane. Ready to feel the thrill?

#NoRulesOurGame

CHOPARD

Red Carpet Collection

A jewellery ‘Paradise’

It is a uniquely magical moment, the most glamorous event of the year. For the Cannes Festival, which Chopard has been officially partnering since 1998, the Maison’s workshops annually rise to a new pinnacle of creativity by reinventing the miracle of the Red Carpet Collection.

A stunning demonstration of jewellery-making prowess lighting up a lifelong passion for the cinema and paying tribute to the actresses who embody its radiant energy during the legendary ascent of the staircase. With the opening of the Cannes Festival on 6 July 2021, Chopard’s Co-President and Artistic Director, Caroline Scheufele, is unveiling all 74 creations composing this collection, themed around a fabulous haven of fantasy. Paradise expresses all the dreamy richness of which Caroline Scheufele is capable, flinging wide open the doors to the palaces of the imagination.

Theatre of dreams

Each piece of jewellery stems from an emotion, each culminating from an idea in a creation. Then comes the sketch, the mosaic of precious stones, colours like destinations, and a wild desire to share. For the opening of the Cannes Festival  (6 to 17 July) , Caroline Scheufele is unveiling the traditional Red Carpet Collection.. A creative universe whose texture and density unfold in the dazzling landscape of her imagination. Like a director, this keen film-lover orchestrates each of her collections around a real narrative, a master canvas within which her creations come to life and give substance to her vision.

Paradise, a haven of marvels

The Paradise-themed Red Carpet Collection 2021 takes us into a universe dear to the Maison: that of unspoilt, generous and sublime nature. A dreamlike and fertile place, permanently accessible to everyone, free to imagine its contours and to go there to recharge their batteries as they please. A ‘Paradise’ to be found within oneself, according to one’s imagination and desires. A realm of all possibilities.

When instilling a baroque, fanciful spirit into the Collection, Caroline Scheufele drew inspiration from the lush nature of the mythological or real places populating her fantasy repertoire. A bountiful Garden of Eden, where precious stones are picked like berries, where plants and an

imals offer their songs and spectacular colours; a secret landmark, like the island of Pantelleria, where the telluric depth of the volcanic rocks is reflected in the crystalline transparency of the waters where Caroline Scheufele loves to immerse her gaze; or a supernatural, vision of nature resembling that of the fantasy film Avatar, a metaphorical space in which to find refuge, to escape the hostility of reality and to find a new lease on life.

Among the countless references enlivening Caroline Scheufele’s majestic world, the Artistic Director has brilliantly enlisted a whole range of creative resources. She explained: “The Red Carpet Collection always gives me the opportunity to give free rein to my creativity and this year I was inspired by the idea of Paradise: I wanted our creations to invite women on a journey towards a comforting haven, an imaginary world brimming with dreams and optimism.” She continued: “There are various ways of envisaging one’s personal Paradise and I have tried to give life to these multiple worlds within the Red Carpet Collection through creations honouring fauna, flora and the finest gemstones, as well as by designing jewellery that is part of the fantasy of movies.”

“The Red Carpet Collection is a jewellery masterpiece made possible by the skill of all the artisans who pool their talents in our Haute Joaillerie ateliers. Each of these creations is a work of art in itself.

Chopard, sculptor of wonders

Among the Chopard Haute Joaillerie collections, Red Carpet is the one that embodies the ultimate dazzlement, nourished by Caroline Scheufele’s curious and lively view of the world. This collection also highlights the extraordinary work of the Artisans who exercise their skills in Chopard’s Haute Joaillerie’s Geneva workshops, the largest in Switzerland. From design to volume, from goldsmithing to gemsetting craftsmanship, these Artisans combine their talents in giving life to this collection of 74 creations corresponding to the number of years since the Cannes Festival first began.

Each year, the challenge of creating a collection of this magnitude in the same workshop is taken up by the Artisans, who apply their own genius and expertise to each creation. In this respect, the Red Carpet Collection symbolises the quintessence of classic jewellery-making expertise and carefully preserved tradition, nurtured by a fresh eye and a genuine avant-garde spirit. It is in this commitment of heart and mind, expressed through the nobility of hand craftsmanship, that the emotion of this new collection unfolds, impelled by the fertile spirit of fabulous odysseys.

Dongyu Zhou joins the OMEGA family


The world-famous Swiss watch brand welcomes award-winning Chinese actress Dongyu Zhou to its impressive roster of screen legends.

A winner of multiple domestic and foreign film awards, Dongyu Zhou is an accomplished actress capable of delivering convincing and critically acclaimed performances ranging in genres from crime thriller to romantic comedy.


After her outstanding 2010 debut in Zhang Yimou’s film Under the Hawthorn Tree, Dongyu starred in a string of successful films, including Soul Mate (2016), This Is Not What I Expected (2017), Us and Them (2018) and Better Days (2019).

Her many accolades include the Best Actress award at the 53rd Golden Horse Awards in 2016 for her impressive performance in Soul Mate, and best actress for Better Days at the 39th Hong Kong Film Awards and 33rd Golden Rooster Awards.

Dongyu Zhou is the youngest actress to have been honoured with the three most significant film accolades in the history of Chinese film, and OMEGA is thrilled to include her in its distinguished circle of stars, which includes George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, Eddie Redmayne and fellow award-winning Chinese actress Liu Shishi.

Clearly proud of the new partnership, OMEGA’s President and CEO Mr. Raynald Aeschlimann called Dongyu Zhou: “A phenomenal talent who embraces OMEGA’s spirit of reinvention and commitment to excellence. Hard working, gracious and original, she represents the best qualities of the emerging generation and we’re honoured to have her in the family”.

The latest star in OMEGA’s universe wears the brand’s 34 mm Constellation Small Seconds released earlier this year. The slender watches, in keeping with the recent 5th generation Constellation makeover, remain true to the collection’s iconic spirit, while also enhancing the design with extra diamonds and a number of unique details.

Speaking of her new role at OMEGA, Dongyu Zhou said:I am truly elated to be joining the OMEGA family. I have always felt that innovation and precision are at the heart of OMEGA, and I am beyond excited to grow with the OMEGA family in this collective pursuit of excellence as one of their brand ambassadors”.

The Planet Diamonds

BERNARD FAVRE – The Planet Diamonds

This luxurious edition gather Gold 5N plated rings with 116 diamonds 7.09 carats. Association required several trials to obtain a harmonious and balanced double axis movement special edition. The size and the position of each diamonds has been carefully considered by the most meticulous craftsmen of the Watch Valley, specialized in the watch diamonds setting.

The Planet Diamonds version is available with one or three diamonds setting rings, and a full diamonds setting base for an ultimate effect.

The Planet Diamonds

The Planet Diamonds

Christie’s Watches Online: The New York Edition

A selection of highlights from our upcoming sale

Patek Philippe, Perpetual Calendar, Chronograph, Platinum, Diamonds, Ref. 3990E

CIRCA: 1994
CASE MATERIAL: Platinum, Diamonds
CASE DIAMETER: 35.5mm
MOVEMENT NO’:876.839
CASE NO’: 2.945.342
DIAL: Black, Diamonds
MOVEMENT: Manual
FUNCTIONS: Perpetual Calendar, Chronograph
BOX: Yes
PAPERS: No
ACCESSORIES: Patek Philippe Platinum and Diamond Tang Buckle, An Additional White Diamond Patek Philippe Dial, A Patek Philippe Extract From the Archives Confirming Date of Sale: September 14th, 1994, Product Literature, Patek Philippe Service Box, Patek Philippe Presentation Box
$150,000-250,000


Patek Philippe, American Calendar Pocket Watch, 18K Yellow Gold, Ref. 725/4

CIRCA: 1969
CASE MATERIAL: 18k Yellow Gold
CASE DIAMETER: 46mm
MOVEMENT NO’: 931.257
CASE NO’: 327.503
DIAL: White
MOVEMENT: Manual
FUNCTIONS: American Calendar, Digital Display, Moonphases,
Subsidiary Seconds
BOX: No
PAPERS: No
ACCESORIES: A Patek Philippe Extract From the Archives Confirming
Date of Sale April 17th, 1973
$30,000-50,000


Patek Philippe, Retailed by Hausmann & Co., 18K Gold Wristwatch, Ref. 570, Formerly Owned by Andy Warhol

CIRCA:1954
CASE MATERIAL: 18k Yellow Gold
CASE DIAMETER: 35.5mm
DIAL: Silver
MOVEMENT: Manual
FUNCTIONS: Time Only
BOX: No
PAPERS: No
ACCESSORIES: A Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming date of sale on June 20, 1955, Sotheby’s 1988 Jewelry and Watches Catalogs, featuring this watch as Lot 264 of the December section ‘The Andy Warhol Collection’
$45,000-95,000


Cartier, Crash, 18K Pink Gold, Ref. W1544251

CIRCA: 2003
CASE MATERIAL: 18k Pink Gold
CASE DIAMETER: 38mm X 23mm
DIAL: White
MOVEMENT: Manual
FUNCTIONS: Time Only
BOX: No
PAPERS: No
ACCESSORIES: 18k Pink Gold Cartier Deployant Buckle, Cartier Sales Receipt Dated December 31, 2003, A Cartier Valuation Report for insurance value Dated September 27, 20
$40,000-60,000


Rolex, Triple Calendar, Chronograph, Steel, Ref. 6036

CIRCA: 1963
CASE MATERIAL: Steel
CASE DIAMETER: 36.5mm
SERIAL NO: 943969
DIAL: White
MOVEMENT: Manual
FUNCTIONS: Day, Date, Month, Chronograph
CALIBER: 72C
BOX: No
PAPERS: No
$80,000-120,000


Breguet, 18K White Gold, Skeletonized, Tourbillion, Ref. 3355

CIRCA: 2010s
CASE MATERIAL: 18k White Gold
CASE DIAMETER: 36mm
DIAL: Skeletonized
MOVEMENT: Manual
FUNCTIONS: Skeletonized, Tourbillon
BOX: No
PAPERS: No
ACCESSORIES: White Gold Tang Buckle
$30,000-50,000


Rolex, Chronograph, Steel, Ref. 6034

CIRCA: 1963
CASE MATERIAL: Steel
CASE DIAMETER: 36.5mm
SERIAL: 907700
BRACELET MATERIAL: Steel
BRACELET SIZE: Approximately 165mm Overall Length
DIAL: White
MOVEMENT: Manual
FUNCTIONS: Chronograph
BOX: No
PAPERS: No
$20,000-40,000


Rolex, Sea Dweller, “Great White”, Steel, Ref. 1665

CIRCA: 1978 CASE MATERIAL: Steel
CASE DIAMETER: 40mm
SERIAL: 5410564
BRACELET MATERIAL: Steel
BRACELET SIZE: Approximately 185mm Overall Length
DIAL: Black
MOVEMENT: Automatic
FUNCTIONS: Date,
BOX: No
PAPERS: No
ACCESSORIES: Original Crystal Included
$18,000-24,000


Patek Philippe, Nautilus, Steel, Diamonds, Ref. 3800/1

CIRCA: 1996
CASE MATERIAL: Steel
CASE DIAMETER: 35.5mm
MOVEMENT NO’: 3.021.860
CASE NO’:4.009.746
BRACELET MATERIAL: Steel
BRACELET SIZE: Approximately 175mm Overall Length
DIAL: Black, Diamonds
MOVEMENT: Automatic
FUNCTIONS: Date
BOX: Yes
PAPERS: No
ACCESSORIES: Patek Philippe Outer Box, Patek Philippe Presentation Box, A Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives, Confirming Date of Sale February, 26th 1997
$30,000-50,000


Patek Philippe, Perpetual Caledar Chronograph, Yellow Gold, Ref. 5970J, Double Sealed

ψ This image is of a similar watch of the same model for display purposes only and is not the actual watch being offered for sale nor included in this lot. The endangered species strap is also shown for display purposes only and is not for sale. The actual watch for sale will be supplied with a calf leather strap.
CIRCA: 2008
CASE MATERIAL: 18k Yellow Gold
CASE DIAMETER: 40mm
DIAL: White
MOVEMENT: Manual
FUNCTIONS: Perpetual Calendar, Chronograph, Moonphases
BOX: Yes
PAPERS: Yes
ACCESSORIES: 18k Yellow Gold Patek Philippe Buckle, Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin, Patek Philippe Presentation Box, Leather Folder, Product Literature
ψ Please note the endangered species strap is shown for display purposes only and is not for sale. Upon sale, this watch bag will be cut and the watch will be supplied to the buyer with a non CITES strap (not shown). For further information please refer to the Conditions of Sale.
$100,000-150,000

GREUBEL FORSEY – BALANCIER S

Timepiece with four hands • hours and minutes • small seconds • power-reserve • 30° inclined GREUBEL FORSEY balance wheel system

This creation combines fully – and visibly –sport and chronometry. Circular from above, its case reveals the unique arched ovoid shape from other angles, and its slim profile reinforces its dynamic new momentum

The oval, arched sapphire crystal follows the curvature of the case. The perfect osmosis between the case and the movement is emphasized, technically and visually, by a daring double suspended arched bridge holding an inclined gear train and curved central hour and minute hands. These striking elements integrate and extend over the inclined balance wheel giving the timepiece its powerful identity, but also assuring its outstanding chronometric performance

The large inclined balance wheel at 7 o’clock stands out. Entirely developed and made within the Greubel Forsey Atelier, this balance wheel is distinguished by its oversized 12.6 mm diameter, ensuring excellent timekeeping performance. Its 30° angle provides this timepiece with excellent chronometric performance and is prominently visible in action thanks to the unique movement architecture

Balancier S

The exceptional chronometry of this creation is combined with an unequivocally sporty case. Made of titanium and water resistant to 100 metres, its powerful case shape is distinguished by its lightness and comfort on the wrist. Its robustness protects the movement’s reliability and chronometric performance at all times

Big Bang Integral Sapphir Tourbillon

BIG BANG INTEGRAL TOURBILLON FULL SAPPHIRE: A FEAT OF PURE SAPPHIRE

It is true that sometimes less is more – perhaps a lot more. With the Big Bang Integral Tourbillon Full Sapphire, Hublot has taken its Art of Fusion to its ultimate conclusion. A new integral bracelet and case custom-made from sapphire: this feat affirms yet again the technical proficiency and the exceptional expertise that Hublot has acquired in the working of sapphire.

 April 2021 – For some, this will seem a natural development. For others, it will be a total disconnect. The final result is a little of each. The Big Bang Integral Tourbillon Full Sapphire is the fruit of a long tradition. It is rooted in 2016, and the Big Bang Unico Sapphire, the first sapphire watch. With this piece, Hublot translated the expertise it had developed in machining very hard materials to create an exceptional series of sapphire watches. Today, Hublot is pushing these boundaries even further: the first Big Bang with an integrated case and bracelet, both of which are made from sapphire. A natural (r)evolution and a highly technical feat in equal measure.

Big Bang Integral Sapphir Tourbillon

Big Bang Integral Sapphir Tourbillon

” For such an exceptional creation, we opted for the new Automatic Tourbillon calibre with its sapphire bridges, the transparency of which creates a stunning spectacle. The act of creating an integrated case and bracelet from sapphire was, however, deemed impossible. But we were the first brand to gain perfect mastery of sapphire, industrialising it and making it reproducible in series production. It took us five years to bring our first sapphire cases to life – and almost as long for the bracelet. Producing both from sapphire and integrating them together is the pinnacle of the in-depth work undertaken by all of Hublot’s teams. We are proud to be the ones writing the first lines in this new chapter in the history of materials”. – Ricardo Guadalupe, HUBLOT CEO

Big Bang Integral Sapphir Tourbillon

Big Bang Integral Sapphir Tourbillon

Watchmakers are sometimes the only ones to know certain details of their watches. With a case and bracelet made entirely from sapphire, all secrets are revealed: the movement and casing fuse, and every aspect is visible.

The case of this new Big Bang Integral Tourbillon Full Sapphire has been reconstructed in its entirety to house the Automatic Tourbillon movement. The goal: to remove almost all of the visible screws, overhaul the general geometry of the case to integrate it with the sapphire bracelet, develop a new case profile to house the sapphire bracelet, and rework the bridges and main plates to give them the illusion of being suspended in space. Hublot also developed inserts and attachments which were reduced to their simplest expression, to allow light through every component. The case is thus composed of no fewer than 37 components, five of which are made solely from sapphire.
Big Bang Integral Sapphir Tourbillon

Big Bang Integral Sapphir Tourbillon

The bracelet was also a complex challenge: it alone comprises 165 components, 22 of which are made from sapphire. Each component had its own industrial process. A third of these were specially designed to provide unique harmony with the transparency of the case, and to offer fluidity and flexibility. Of particular note are the titanium inserts Hublot developed, ultra-reduced to ensure they do not protrude either side of each bracelet link – a first for the manufacture, and probably for watchmaking.
Big Bang Integral Sapphir Tourbillon

Big Bang Integral Sapphir Tourbillon

In terms of the movement, the HUB6035 automatic manufacture calibre, entirely designed and manufactured in-house, is the beating heart of the piece. It demonstrates a perfect balance between the micro-rotor at 12 o’clock and the tourbillon at 6 o’clock, and also with its three transparent sapphire bridges, exclusive to this new Big Bang. The components appear to be literally suspended in space. Each gear train is not only penetrated by light coming in from the dial side and passing through the skeleton movement on the other side: now, and for the first time, light enters the heart of the Big Bang Integral Tourbillon Full Sapphire from all directions. It is diffused, refracted, reflected, twisted and twirled – a fragment of light encapsulated on the wrist.
Spirit-of-Big-Bang-Tourbillon-5-day-Power-Reserve-Carbon-White-3

The Tourbillon with HUBLOT’S signature codes Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon 5 day power reserve carbon white

“The Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon White… different, yet resolutely Hublot. It combines the distinctive codes of our brand: 6 H-shaped titanium screws, “sandwich” case construction, the Art of Fusion with carbon fibre and composite inclusions, an HUB6020 skeleton tourbillon manufacture movement custom-designed for its tonneau case, a jewel of innovation and expertise showcasing the aesthetic approach to movement design central to the Hublot philosophy, and, lastly, strap interchangeability thanks to its patented One Click system.

In the seven years since its launch in 2014, the singular and distinctive Spirit of Big Bang has been cultivating its differences whilst incorporating the signature Hublot codes – 6 H-shaped titanium screws, a “sandwich” case construction, and a demonstration of the Art of Fusion.

Spirit-of-Big-Bang-Tourbillon-5-day-Power-Reserve-Carbon-White-3

Spirit-of-Big-Bang-Tourbillon-5-day-Power-Reserve-Carbon-White-3

With the Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon 5-day Power Reserve Carbon White, Hublot combines black with white, proving opposites attract. The 42-mm case, case back and bezel are crafted from carbon fibre featuring white composite inclusions. These white inclusions are formed of glass microfibres created as a non-woven fabric (NWF), used mainly to improve the breaking strength of composites: This NWF is then co-impregnated with the carbon fibres using tinted epoxy resin when the composite preforms are created in a special mould.

Released in a limited edition of 100 pieces, the Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon 5-day Power Reserve Carbon White plays with contrasts and transparency with a sapphire case back and dial which reveal the ultra-aesthetic architecture of the HUB6020 manufacture movement. A skeleton tourbillon specially designed to sit within the tonneau case of the Spirit of Big Bang. A power reserve of 115 hours, hand-wound, with a 5-day indicator set at 8 o’clock. At 6 o’clock, the tourbillon cage completes one rotation per minute. Off-centre hours and minutes can be read at 3 o’clock.
Paired with a white lined rubber strap, the Spirit of Big Bang White embraces interchangeability thanks to its patented “One-Click” system.