The new DEWITT Twenty-8-Eight Skeleton Tourbillon model, equipped with DeWitt’s historical DW8028, the first 100% Manufacture movement, fully exhibits the Swiss Manufacture’s know-how in movement construction.
The DeWitt calibre DW8028 uses age-old, recognized and highly reliable technical parameters in its construction: 18’000 A/h, a variable-inertia balance, a 44° angle escapement and 72 hours power reserve. Entirely produced in-house, this manually wound Tourbillon is equipped with a Swiss anchor escapement and a Straumann Hairspring® with Phillips terminal curve made out of an unbreakable, self-compensating, non-oxidizing, anti-magnetic alloy and sequenced at 2.5 Hz. The perfect homogeneity and incredibly precise flat rolling of the Hairspring (0,0001 mm) guarantee an extremely high precision to the mechanism. The balance, as well as the escape wheel and the anchor are made of 18-carat yellow gold.
The architecture of DeWitt’s skeleton remains deliberately strong and is therefore very well balanced with the design of the case which features 48 imperial columns. The carved-out main plate, a sand-brushed nickel silver base with black gold surface finishing and a yellow gold inscription of the calibre reference, is a marvellous labyrinth of curves, circles and straight lines. Meandering across the movement, the lucky observer will suddenly land on a stunning skeletonised “W” logo positioned at 9 o’clock. The play on depths, perspectives and layers is a typical feature of DeWitt designs and the Twenty-8-Eight Skeleton Tourbillon is no exception. The skeletonised “W” logo is actually duplicated on the lower part of the movement in order to offer these interesting volumes when admiring the movement from either side of the watch.
The barrel, positioned at 12 o’clock, is also skeletonised in order to reveal the interior of the motor. The shape given to the open-worked barrel was inspired by the design of vintage car steering wheels. As the barrel wheel gently turns with the unwinding of the spring, the stems of the upper part will glide over the stems of the lower part.
The Twenty-8-Eight Skeleton Tourbillon is housed in a 43 mm round case made in 18-carat rose gold (white gold for the Haute Joaillerie version).
With a thickness of 10.78 mm, it is thinner than the Academia collection. Presenting particularly comfortable proportions with redesigned lugs and slightly more discrete imperial columns displayed on its flanks, it remains instantly recognizable and true to DeWitt’s strong DNA. Its balanced design offers the necessary combination of character and refinement for a successful wedding with the architectural lines of the skeleton movement.
On the interior side of the bezel, and surrounding the entire movement at a slight angle, a diamond-polished wall in 18-carat rose gold provides amazing reflections of the skeleton movement. The wall is decorated by four extremely precise and sharp “W” logos, displayed at the cardinal points. In the Haute Joaillerie version, the 18-carat white gold wall is additionally decorated with eight brilliant-cut diamonds, thus highlighting the hour indicators.
The Twenty-8-Eight Skeleton Tourbillon fully complies with the very demanding finishing norms of the DeWitt Manufacture. Entirely hand-made, the treatment and finishing-work on this piece are of a rare quality. Case, plate, bridges, wheels and even miniature screws are all angled, polished, satin-finished and treated to perfection in the patient and meticulous hands of watchmakers.
Technical details
Models: Twenty-8-Eight Skeleton Tourbillon – Ref. T8.TH.008 (Rose Gold Model) & Ref. T8.TH.009 (High Jewellery Version in White Gold Case Set with Diamonds)
Movement
Mechanical and skeletonized manually wound movement integrating a Tourbillon manufactured by DeWitt. Hand-finished
Functions: Hours, minutes
Reference: DW8028S
Power reserve: 72 hours
Introduction: 2012
Vibrations: 18’000 A/h
Balance: Variable-inertia balance
Spiral: Straumann Hairspring® with Phillips curve sequenced at 2.5 Hz.
Escapement: 44° angle of lift
Jewelling: 19 jewels
Diameter: 14,6’’ (33 mm)
Total height: 6,10 mm
Number of components :185
Case
Round-shaped, adorned with DeWitt’s imperial columns pattern on the flanks
36 baguette-cut diamonds and 104 brilliant-cut diamonds for the Haute Joaillerie version (T8.TH.009)
Material: 18-carat white or rose gold
Diameter: 43 mm
Total thickness: 10,78 mm
Crown: 18-carat white or rose gold polished crown adorned with a ring made in blackened titanium featuring the “W” signature
Distance between lugs: 21 mm
Case back: Sapphire crystal
Water-resistance: 30 meters
Hands
Hours and Minutes: Open-worked hands in the shape of two-edged swords
Wristband
Chocolate-brown or matt black alligator leather
Buckle: 18-carat white or rose gold pin buckle, polished, engraved “W” signature
