Montres Charmex presents a stunning Diver’s watch “20’000 FEET by CX Swiss Military Watch” which has a staggering water resistance of 20’000 feet or 6’000 meters and holds a new world record. The Guinness Book of World Records also recognized the 20’000 FEET by CX Swiss Military Watch™ as the new record holder.
After winning the world record for water resistance in automatic diving watches in 2005 with their 12’000 FEET by CX Swiss Military Watch™ model Frank M. Bürgin and his team of watchmakers and engineers were contemplating their next move.
Only one goal seemed acceptable – not only to beat their own record but also the new world record a competitor had set in 2008 with 3’900 meters of water resistance.
The R&D team around Frank M. Bürgin thus decided to annihilate all existing records by constructing the world’s first mechanical timepiece with a water resistance of a staggering 20’000 feet or 6’000 meters – and, again, with a chronograph!
CX Swiss Military Watch™ is known for its uncompromising attention to the functionality of their timepieces – their watches are not accessories, but instruments the professional can rely on. The 12’000 FEET CX Swiss Military Watch™ held the World Record for water resistance of automatic diving watches from 2005 to April 2008 with a water resistance of 12’000 feet or 3’657 meters.
At the BASELWORLD 2008 Rolex™ presented their Sea Dweller Deep Sea, a three-hand diving watch water resistant to 3’900 meters – a new World Record which is now about to be obliterated: at the 2009 BASELWORLD CX Swiss Military Watch™ has presented the 20’000 FEET with an incredible water resistance of 20’000 feet or 6’000 meters, winning back the world record by a 50% margin and reintroducing CX Swiss Military Watch™ to the Guinness Book of Records.
The 20’000 FEET by CX Swiss Military Watch™ has thus reached a new, hitherto unthinkable dimension for diving watches – the challenge of the abyss was met by combining state-of-the-art technology with a highly innovative approach and a dedicated team of watchmakers & engineers.
First of all they had to develop a pressure tank capable of producing a pressure of 800 bar, the equivalent of a water depth of 8’000 meters. This alone proved to be a sizeable task as worldwide there are only two manufacturers of such manometers!
The team of engineers then started the intricate calculations of the measurements of the new world record holder – there can be no margin for error in a timepiece that has to withstand 750kgs per cm2 of surface area. The absolute reliability of the watch was paramount and no compromise whatsoever allowed – the safety of the diver comes first. After several attempts the virtual prototype finally took shape and prototype production started.
However, technical problems like the connection of the domed, a massive 10mm thick sapphire crystal to the titanium case had to be solved first and it took the dedicated team months to come up with viable solutions. Finally, after several nerve racking setbacks the first prototypes were produced towards the end of 2008 and the series of tests began. Crown, pushers and safety buckle underwent several static and dynamic pressure tests at the Dubois laboratory in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland – all tests were passed, the design & the calculations thus confirmed.
In a next step the prototypes were sent to the Oceanographic Institute of the University of Southampton, Great Britain. For years this institute has been a reliant R&D partner of CX Swiss Military Watch™; in their pressure tanks they tested the fully functional prototypes for a water resistance of 6’000 meters and certified the positive result as per ISO norm 6425.
Several more tests are ongoing at the IFREMER Institute, the French Research Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea. The laboratory “Laboratoire Dubois” in La Chaux-de- Fonds, Switzerland successfully tested the resistance of the crown, the pushers and the safety buckle of the 20’000 FEET by CX Swiss Military Watch™.
Apart from the tests under laboratory conditions CX Swiss Military Watch™ decided to invite the discerning consumers to come up with test ideas of their own. A jury picks the most challenging ideas, which will are realised in the presence of a film crew and shown on http://www.20000feet.com as well as on youtube.
Three tests have been chosen so far and filmed before the opening of the 2009 BASELWORLD: the 20’000 FEET was subjected to the incredibly powerful water hose of a 40 ton fire engine of the Zürich airport fire brigade – the watch withstood the 6’000 litres of water. The 20’000 FEET was then run over by a truck – twice. The watch withstood.
On Friday the 21st of March the 20’000 FEET was subjected to its most challenging ordeal so far: it was shot at with a shot gun from a distance of 8 meters. The watch withstood again. The company therefore challenges the public to come up with more ideas of real life tests – at the end of 2009 the jury will chose their favourite test and the winner will receive a brand new 20’000 FEET.
A few weeks’ ago serial production started after all preliminary tests having shown the expected positive results. Montres Charmex SA and their team of engineers and watchmakers thus managed to develop the ULTIMATE DIVING WATCH : the 20‘000 FEET by CX SWISS MILITARY WATCH™, an automatic diving chronograph holding the world record for water resistance, was developed for the serious diver looking for a virtually indestructible timepiece of superb quality, a timepiece the diver can rely on whatever the circumstances may be.
The 20‘000 FEET by CX SWISS MILITARY WATCH™ is manufactured in a limited edition of 1’000 pieces only.
Technical Specifications
Model: CX Swiss Military Watch™ 20’000 Feet
Movement
Chronometer-certified automatic chronograph ETA cal. 7750 Valjoux COSC
25 jewels
28’800 oscillations/h
Power reserve 48h
Etachron regulator system
Glucydur balance bridge
Nivaflex mainspring
Antichoc with Incabloc shock-absorber
Functions
Hour; minute; small second at 9h
Chronograph with 30 minute counter at 12h, 12 hour counter at 6h, central second counter
Date at 3h
Case/bracelet
Solid titanium case/bracelet, Ø 46.0mm, thickness 28.5mm, weight 265gr total
X-large crown with side-guards, allowing for diving with thick gloves
Screw-down crown and pushers
Red safety marking on pushers (visible when unscrewed)
Domed, anti-reflective sapphire crystal, thickness 10mm
Unidirectional rotating bezel, 60 minute graduation, Superluminova™ indices
Solid titanium bracelet, lug-ends and links screwed
Solid titanium folding clasp with safety catch and micro-adjustment
Separate genuine rubber strap & rubber extension strap for dry-suit diving (wrist circumference up to 35cm)
Screw-driver
Screw-down caseback, Limited Edition engraving
Water-resistant to 7’500 meters (25’000 feet; 6’000 meters or 20’000 FEET & 25% safety margin as per ISO 6425)
Helium relief valve
Anti-magnetic ISO 764
Dials
Silver, black carbon, blue or yellow
Superluminova™ indices
Counters sunburst decor
Hands
Oversized minute hand
Superluminova™ coating
All chronograph hands in red
Edition
Limited edition of 1’000 watches only
WARRANTY EXTENSION: As an additional service for its customers Montres Charmex SA signed a contract with the Swiss insurance company HELVETIA to insure the 20’000 FEET by CX Swiss Military Watch™ against theft for the first two years. As with all its mechanical watches Montres Charmex SA offers the 20’000 FEET by CX Swiss Military Watch™ with a life-long warranty.
All the consumer has to do is send in his 20’000 FEET every two years for a comprehensive service – during which the movement will be cleaned and readjusted according to its chronometer certificate and all sealing rings exchanged.
This service – which only costs the symbolic amount of EUR 295.- – ensures the 20’000 FEET will retain its full functionality for years and thus promotes the diver’s safety. As a unique added value CX Swiss Military Watch™ signed a contract with a leading Swiss insurance company: each and every 20’000 FEET is thus insured against theft for two years after the date of the initial sale.
