More than two centuries of “whirlwind” were an appropriate occasion for Chronoswiss to express the fascination of mechanisms through the presentation of the “Régulateur à Tourbillon” in 2001.
In 2004, Chronoswiss launched the “Régulateur à Tourbillon Squelette.” For this tourbillon wristwatch, Chronoswiss’ watchmakers succeeded in paring away the greatest amount of material, thus revealing all the underlying functions. What remains is a masterfully filigreed, fully functional clockwork.
The distinctive handwriting of Chronoswiss’ owner Gerd-Rüdiger Lang is unmistakably evident in this new, limited-edition, top-of-the-line model from the Munich-based watch manufactory. This watch’s uniqueness derives from the design of its hand-skeleton, hand-engrave movement, its exposed wheels, and the both open barrels.
Skeleton art began in Vallée de Joux, the cradle of the Swiss art of watchmaking. Marc-Aurele Rochat, grandson of the eponymous firm’s founder, is the creator, designer and constructor of this skeleton openwork, which he crafts exclusively for Chronoswiss.
The bridges are lovingly hand-engraved by Rochat’s 60-year-old uncle Hervé Nelson, who has worked for more than twenty years with a hand-held burin. The final phase in his labor is to individually number each movement and to engrave the module on both sides: the dial side and the movement side. Nelson invests a minimum of 15 hours in hand-engraving each movement. The dial is crafted from 925 sterling silver. The dial of the platinum version is made of pure platinum.
Naturally, the craftsmanship used in making the complex and now also skeletonized Caliber C. 361 S upholds the highest technical standards. The tourbillon is cantilevered; each individual plate and bridge is skeletonized and hand-engraved (gravé à la main). Watchmaking tradition of the finest quality expresses itself in beveled and polished edges, blued screws, and three screw-mounted gold settings.
The 13 3/4-ligne movement (diameter = 30 mm, height = 5.40 mm, 23 jewels) was developed by SST. The movement’s two barrels store enough power to keep the watch running for ca. 72 hours. This means, for instance, that the “Régulateur à Tourbillon Squelette” can be set aside over the weekend and will still show the correct time when it’s picked up again Monday morning.
This is the first skeletonized Tourbillon with regulator dial. It’s truly a premiere because never before there has been a tourbillion wristwatch with a skeletonized, hand-engraved movement.
Technical details
Model: Régulateur à Tourbillon Squelette – The first tourbillon wristwatch with regulator dial hand-skeletonized and hand-engraved (gravé à la main)
Edition
Limited edition of 200 specimens
References
CH 3120 S, platinum 950 (55g), limited of 50 units
CH 3121 S W, 18ct. white gold (43g), limited of 50 units
CH 3121 S R, 18ct. red gold (43g), limited of 50 units
CH 3121 S, 18ct. gold (43g), limited of 50 units
Display
Hour, minute, second
Case
Massive 19-part case, ø 38 mm, height 10,60 mm, smooth ground brushed and polished, screwed, decorative bezel with non-reflective sapphire crystal, screwed back with full thread and non-reflective sapphire crystal, turnip crown, screwed-on strap bars with patented Autobloc safety system, water resistant to 3 atm (30 m)
Movement
Chronoswiss Caliber C.361 S (basis: STT), hand-wound movement with two barrels, cantilevered tourbillon cage rotates over a ball bearing, ø 30 mm, (13¾”’), plates and bridges are hand skeletond and hand-engraved, floral technique by Marc-Aurele Rochat exclusively for Chronoswiss, 23 Jewels, Incabloc shock-absorber,72 hours power-reserve, 4 Hz., 28.800 vibrations per hour (vph), individually numbered
Dial
Massive, skeletonized 925 Sterling-Silver dial, (platinum version has a solid platinum dial), blued steel hands pear (Poire)
