Swiss luxury watch brand Bianchet presents the Flying Tourbillon Grande Date B1.618, a new timepiece that blends ultramodern style with timeless design. As the name suggests this contemporary mechanical wristwatch meets the design principles of the Golden Ratio 1.618.
The aesthetic sensibility of Bianchet, inspired by age-old construction principles and Italian design, is recognisable from the pure lines of its refined tonneau case. Moreover, proportions the in-house-developed skeleton movement respect those of the golden ratio of 1.618.
Ensuring perfect harmony, the two complications of the new Bianchet calibre are perfectly positioned according to the golden triangles used to design the movement, while the architecture of the bridges originates at the central point of the tourbillon cage to follow the curves dictated by the Fibonacci spiral.
The back bridges for their part, form concentric golden circles, whose diameters respect the ratio of 1.618, while key elements of the movement front, including the tourbillon cage, the hour wheel and the big date, are positioned according to the geometric rules of the golden circles. This unique construction, which combines symmetry and asymmetry, gives the Bianchet B1.618 movement all its personality, depth and balance.
One of the few tonneau-shaped carbon watches capable of withstanding a pressure of 10 ATM (100 metres of water depth) and shocks of 5000G, the Flying Tourbillon Grande Date B1.618 has been designed to be versatile, and can be endorsed during sports and water activities.
The lightness of the cutting-edge material, the softness of the natural vulcanised rubber, combined with the perfect and sensual curves of the case, create a unique tactile experience.
Crafted from Titanium-Dust-High-Density-Carbon, an exclusive composite of carbon fibres infused with titanium powder, the case of the Flying Tourbillon Grande Date B1.618 combines the performance of a highly resistant and light material, with the preciousness of a noble metal.
The sleek, unadorned bezel of the new Bianchet flying tourbillon watch blends seamlessly with the case middle, following its curves down to its discreet lugs, which give the case its chic and elegant look.
The caseback, also in perfect continuity with the bezel and middle, adds balance and finesse to the case with its fluid and flowing shapes, whose balance is dictated by the proportions of the golden ratio.
The coloured rubber gaskets makes it possible to identify the boundaries of each element of the Flying Tourbillon Grande Date B1.618 case. This construction is subtly underlined by two strokes of colour, giving personality to this tonneau case.
The in-house developed movement features a flying tourbillon mechanical with titanium bridges and tourbillon cage as well as an open-worked big date. The transparency of the skeleton construction and the hand-made finishing reveal the refinement of the architecture.
Bianchet’s flying tourbillon movement rotates with a precision of -4+4 seconds per day, without any bridge obstructing the beauty of this fascinating piece of mechanical engineering. As if suspended in mid-air, the titanium tourbillon cage, which bears the Bianchet signature, has been designed to defy gravity in style.
Showcasing a perpetual motion, like floating at the heart of the openwork architecture, the Bianchet flying tourbillon mechanism is mounted on ball bearings, which give it fluid rotation and unequalled precision. The adjustment of the movement in six positions further enhances the accuracy of the watch, regardless of the position in which it is laying.
Revealing the intricacies of the calendar function, the fully skeletonised Big Date complication of the Flying Tourbillon Grande Date B 1.618 movement displays the date in a format that is both easy to read and aesthetically minimalist.
A simple colour accent on the aperture identifies the current date, without detracting from the mechanical subtlety of the two discs that rotate in time with the days. Bianchet chose to adapt the big date complication, invented by Lange &Söhne in 1994, in a contemporary and essential style, revealing its mechanical ingenuity.
Two suspended flanges supporting Superluminova blocks, which recall the hour indicators made in the same high-tech material, are placed symmetrically on both sides of the openwork dial. Already present in Bianchet Tourbillon B1.618 Openwork model, they give the movement a distinctive touch, while playing with light, depth and transparency to create a modern and sculptural architecture.
Entirely made in Switzerland and assembled in the Bianchet workshop in La-Chaux-De-Fonds, the Flying Tourbillon Grande Date B1.618 movement is ennobled by hand finishing, which sublimates the beauty of its components.
Particularly difficult to achieve on titanium, hand-bevelling gives life to the contours of the bridges, reveals the shapes and adds sparkle to the winding parts. Various finishing techniques add light and changing reflections to the geometry of the arches and enhance the sophisticated architecture of the movement.
The “Flying Tourbillon Grande Date B1.618” watch will be produced in only 200 pieces in 2023, Bianchet offering its customers a choice of eight colour variations.
Technical details
Model: Bianchet Flying Tourbillon Grande Date B1.618
Movement
Manual wound Flying Tourbillon movement with Big Date complication
Flying tourbillon 60 seconds
Tourbillon cage in titanium, mounted on ball bearings
Adapted to 6 positions
Frequency: 3hz – 21’600 vibrations/hour
Skeletonized Grande Date complication
Titanium main plate and bridges
Non-magnetic tourbillon cage
Balance wheel with variable inertia
Power Reserve: 90 hours (+/- 5%)
Finishing
Hand-finished
Hand beveling on titanium bridges and tourbillon cage
Sand-blasting, satin-brushing on plates and bridges
Lacquer applied by hand on crown, tourbillon cap, and big date
Case
Carbon Version: Titanium-Dust-High-Density carbon, Crown in grade 5 titanium, Natural vulcanised rubber
Hybrid Version: Bezel & back in grade 5 titanium, Middle case in Titanium-Dust-High-Density carbon, Crown in grade 5 titanium, Natural vulcanised rubber.
Glass: Sapphire crystal on bezel and back with glare-proof treatment on both sides
Dimensions: W: 43 mm L: 51 mm H: 14.35 mm
Water resistance: 10 ATM (100 metres)
Finishing
Case finished by hand
Hand polished crown
Lacquer applied by hand
Strap
Natural vulcanised rubber
Titanium folding clasp
Weight
55 grams (excluding strap)
Guarantee
5 years
