Christophe Claret X-TREM-1 StingHD Limited Edition
Unveiled in 2012 and since interpreted through a variety of limited editions, the X-TREM-1 series is one of the best sellers from Christophe Claret manufacture. This year, the watchmaker joins forces with American lifestyle brand StingHD and presenting a new variation of this watch in an 8-piece limited edition.
Like the original X-TREM-1, this new timepiece combines an inclined flying tourbillon with retrograde hours and minutes display system based on magnetic fields. The new X-TREM-1 – StingHD comes dressed in a black PVD treated titanium case, a skull on the tourbillon carriage, and a stingray leather or personalized strap. In an additional spirited touch, breathing on the sapphire crystal reveals a skull motif.
Based in New York, StingHD is trendsetter specializing in the production of accessories and high-end jewelry in leather and other materials.
The X-TREM-1 has always been an anti-conformist by nature, starting with the innovative technical refinement of its retrograde hours and minutes display. For the first time in the field of mechanical watch making, the X-TREM-1 timepiece makes use of a magnetic field – the arch enemy of horological mechanisms – into the heart of a watch.
It made possible with a system where two small steel spheres – hollowed to make them lighter and encased within two sapphire tubes placed to the right and left of the caseband – are controlled by precision magnetic fields generated by two miniature magnets moved by cables.
The cables are incredibly flexible, made from hundreds of Dyneema nanofibers all contained within an ultra-high-strength polyethylene gel, capable of withstanding tensile forces of up to a kilo. The entire thread is thinner than a human hair (4 hundredths of a mm in diameter). The resistance of the thread has been tested in the Manufacture Claret on an accelerated-wear simulator corresponding to six years of operation.
The spheres have no mechanical connection with the movement, with each one floating inside the two tubes and creating outstanding horological magic. This technology was developed with the School of Business and Engineering Vaud (HEIG-VD) in Yverdon-les-Bains, and a team headed by Professor Besson.
The entire construction and finishing of this timepiece meets the extreme demands systematically imposed by Christophe Claret. Ultra-light titanium was used for the three-dimensional curvex main-plate and the bridges. The flying tourbillon is fitted with double ceramic bearings to enhance its shock-resistance.
It is inclined at a 30-degree angle in order to make it even more clearly visible to the wearer. The hand-wound watch draws its energy from two barrels enabling the use of a sophisticated display without disturbing the rate of the tourbillon, and thus the accuracy of the watch. The first barrel is reserved for the tourbillon, the second for the hours and minutes.
The model boasts a large inclined tourbillon, majestically placed at 6 o’clock and adorned with a black chrome-plated aluminum skull designed by StingHD. To create this hypnotically fascinating sight by incorporating the ruby-eyed skull within the tourbillon required the creation of a new tourbillon cage – a technical development accentuated by the colossal case of the X-TREM-1 – StingHD.
Like a high-powered machine perched on the wrist, the imposing titanium rectangle exudes a particularly potent appeal thanks to a remarkable black PVD treatment. The pure sapphire tubes previously framing the case of the X-TREM-1 and housing the steel hours and minutes spheres have been replaced by black PVD-treated stainless steel ring-bound tubes – thereby creating a resolutely technical look echoed by red lacquered numerals.
Further, Christophe Claret has endowed the sapphire crystal with a special treatment that reveals a toothy skull when breathed upon.
This model comes with two straps designed by StingHD: one in black stingray leather, and the other which can be personalized by its owner. In addition, the presentation box also includes a matching, handcrafted bracelet adorned with a black diamond encrusted skull with ruby eyes.
Technical details
Model: Christophe Claret X-TREM-1 – STING HD
Movement
Caliber: FLY11 – mechanical, hand-wound movement
Dimensions: 26.6 x 46.4 x 11.94 mm
Number of components: 432
Number of jewels: 66
Power reserve: 50+ hours
Dual barrels: one for the movement gear train, one for the time indications
Display-regulation escapement: The tourbillon movement and the time indication gear trains each have their own independent energy supply to optimize power distribution and duration
Tourbillon
Swiss lever
Frequency: 3 Hz (21,600 vph)
Tourbillon rotates once every 60 seconds
Flying tourbillon inclined at 30° supported by a double ceramic bearing, with cone-shaped pinion transmission
Black chrome-plated aluminum skull with natural red ruby eyes
Functions
Mystery hours and minutes displayed with indications provided by hollowed steel spheres moving 23 mm inside two cylindrical sapphire tubes. The metal spheres are driven by magnetic carriages following a thread.
Seconds displayed on the tourbillon cage
Movement state-of-wind indication
Fast time adjustment is via an integrated pusher on the caseband at 12 o’clock
Mainplate
Curvex with sides inclined at a 30° angle
Mainplate and bridges in bead-blasted titanium
Open-worked ratchet and wheel
Distinctive features
Use of precisely-shaped magnetic fields in a mechanical movement
No mechanical connection between the indications and the movement
Winding and time-setting via lift-out rotating “bows” on caseback
Case
Rectangular with curvex profile
Dimensions: 40.80 x 56.80 x 15 mm
Water resistance: 3 ATM / 30 m / 100 ft
Material: Black PVD-treated grade 5 titanium with red Super-LumiNova lines on the sides and red lacquered numerals
Cylindrical ring-bound tubes in stainless steel, black PVD treatment
A skull appears on the sapphire crystal when breathed upon
Spheres
Stainless steel
Strap
Two watch straps supplied, one in black stingray leather strap and the other personalized
One complimentary matching, handcrafted bracelet adorned with a black diamond encrusted skull with ruby eyes
Edition
8-piece limited series
Retail Price
Price in Swiss francs (ex VAT): 278’000
