Launched in the first half of this year, the 3 Gongs Minute Repeater, Regulator & Double Axis Tourbillon was the most complicated wristwatch ever made by Artya. Now the brand presents a Titanium Edition of this grand complication timepiece.
Crafted in grade 5 titanium and equipped with mechanical movement developed by complications specialist MHC, this special minute repeater wristwatch also accommodates Regulator & Double Axis Tourbillon complications. Inspired by the exceptional sound of the famous Bo Diddley 1959 Gretsch guitar, Arpa designed a unique case to amplify the sound and show off the incredible movement, the mainplate of which looks like the Gretsch guitar.
The sapphire back of the watch even has a space-expanding bubble in the crystal to add to the volume of the sound, and to allow the tourbillon to turn on its second axis. The minute repeater has three gongs – one to let the customer know that the minute repeater chiming system is engaged, one for the hours, one for the minutes and the two striking together for the quarter hours. The timber, the part the gongs strike, is specially designed for the case, winding through the movement and around the tourbillon cage.
The tourbillon itself is very complex, turning on two axes – rotating in 60 seconds in one axis and in 30 seconds seconds in the other axis. The cage of the tourbillion is comprised of 50 parts using ten different materials to make it light yet strong enough for the operation.
The grade 5 titanium case itself is a work of art, using sapphire crystal on the sides, the top and the bottom, to showcase the movement on all levels and to allow for the sound of the minute repeater to be phenomenal.
The watch is powered by two barrels, one for the movement and one for the minute repeater. The first barrel is big, as the double axis tourbillon requires a great deal of energy to operate, while the barrel for the minute repeater is smaller, and the spring is charged when the slide is activated.
The time display is a nod to the tradition of watchmaking – a regulator display was the ultimate in precision, as watchmakers used the large minutes to regulate the watches they were working on. In addition, the regulator display allowed Artya to keep the watch wearable, as a regular hour and minute hand would have made the case too thick and bulky, to allow the hands to pass each other.
Technical details
Model: 3 Gongs Minute Repeater, Regulator & Double Axis Tourbillon 1/1 Titanium Edition
Movement
Components: 450
Specific and uniquely shaped third gong signaling the activation of the minute repeater slide
Minute repeater gongs with a specific and unique shape
Central minutes indication, offset hours indication
Power reserve: 64 hrs
46 Jewels
Frequency: 21,600 vph
Tourbillon diameter: 13.60mm
Hours, minutes, seconds on tourbillon
Case
Dimensions: 64.6×47.3 mm, depth: 18.1mm
Grade 5 Titanium case
Five non-reflective sapphire crystals, front and back
Open back
Strap
Crocodile strap
