DeWitt Twenty-8-Eight “Only Watch” Skeleton Tourbillon High Jewelry – Unique Piece for Only Watch 2013 Charity Auction

The Manufacture DeWitt is participating in the 2013 Only Watch charity auction held on September 28th under the high patronage and in the presence of H.S.H the Sovereign Prince Albert II. All proceeds from the sale will be going towards research for muscular dystrophy.

Having participated in the event in 2005, 2007 and in 2011 with the X Watch, an extremely complex watchmaking masterpiece, DeWitt will unveil its latest exceptional example of Fine Watchmaking: the Twenty-8-Eight Skeleton Tourbillon High Jewelry watch.

Dewitt reinvents the old traditional technology by making the skeleton movement DW 8028 with a vibration of 18’000 A/h, a variable-inertia balance, a 44° angle escapement and 72 hours power reserve.

Entirely made at the Dewitt manufacture, 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 Twenty-8-Eight Skeleton Tourbillon does not intend to compete with the ultra-skinny and fragile skeletons where as much material as possible was taken out of the construction. 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 a pearl white finishing and a tone-on-tone inscription of the calibre reference, is a marvellous labyrinth of curves, circles and straight lines emphasizing 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 18-carat balance and escapement wheel also strengthen the rich contrasting effects portrayed in this watch.

But however robust the foundations are, your eyes will inevitably be dragged deep into the movement and the captivating finesse of its ticking mechanics. You will marvel at the Tourbillon as it rotates on its axis, held in place by a slender, circular-grained and polished Art Déco bridge.

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 white gold. With a thickness of 10.78 mm and comfortable proportions with redesigned lugs and 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 match with the architectural lines of the skeleton movement.

The interior side of the bezel, a diamond-polished wall in 18-carat white gold with black gold surface finishing, surrounds the entire skeleton movement at a slight angle. The wall is decorated by four extremely precise and sharp “W” logos, displayed at the cardinal points. The case is set with 36 baguette-cut diamonds and 96 brilliant-cut diamonds. The flange is additionally decorated with 8 brilliant-cut diamonds, thus highlighting the hour indicators. Approximately 3.7 carats worth of diamonds adorn this Fine Watchmaking timepiece.

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 our watchmakers. Particularly eye-catching is the alternation of polished and satinbrushed finishing on the columns of the bezel.

Last but not least, a particularity of all watches made in DeWitt Manufacture, essential to the final quality: every watch is entirely assembled, adjusted and tested by a single master watchmaker.

Technical details
Model: Twenty-8-eight skeleton tourbillon high jewelry
Only watch special edition of 1 unique piece
Ref T8.TH.021

Movement
Mechanical and skeletonized manually wound movement integrating a Tourbillon manufactured by DeWitt. Handfinished
Only Watch limited edition: skeleton movement with pearl white finishings and 18-carat white gold flange with black gold surface finishing
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 (approx. 3,7 ct)
Material: 18-carat white gold
Diameter: 43 mm
Total thickness: 10,78 mm
Crown: 18-carat white 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: Hands in the shape of two-edged swords

Wristband
Wristband Alligator leather
Buckle: 18-carat white gold pin buckle, polished, engraved “W” signature