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ANTOINE MARTIN WATCHES – Models with Technical Specifications, Price, Brand Details, History, News and Archives

NOVELTIES 2014

Antoine Martin Tourbillon Astronomique

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This new horology masterpiece developed by Antoine Martin hosts a number of astronomic complications such as Sunrise and sunset display (adjusted to a location of the customer’s choice), Display for the sign of the zodiac and season, Date display, Equation of time display, Retrograde moon with moon phase display and Day and night display on the front side of the dial. The Power reserve display, Declination display, featuring a graphic and the degrees in figures and Polar shadow line functions are displayed on the case back.

With the Antoine Martin Tourbillon Quantième Perpétual launched in 2012, master watchmaker Martin Braun already displayed his expertise and mastery over high horology complications. This fabulous tourbillon had already proved its efficiency and reliability in conjunction with a Perpetual Calendar.

The newly announced Antoine Martin Tourbillon Astronomique is a user friendly astronomical complication. The development team hit upon a solution that enables the sunrise and sunset times, the sign of the zodiac and season, the equation of time and the declination display to be set when the crown is in the rapid-setting position. Only the date and moon phase displays require a correction button.

The sunrise and sunset display
This is Martin Braun’s astronomic display par excellence and has emerged from years of intense study. In purely theoretical terms, sunrise and sunset within a given latitude and a 15°- wide zone of longitude occur at different times for every location, except at the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. For this reason, establishing the correct times for every customer calls for a wealth of complex calculations. The control cams are individually produced on the basis of these calculations before being integrated into the movement. The displays appear in the two subdials at 2 and 4 o’clock, respectively.

Every watch is supplied with a table from which the customer can read off the times for the location of his choice. Since sunrise and sunset occur at the same time twice a year, all we need to know is the current sign of the zodiac or the season.

After pulling the crown out to Position 2 (rapid setting), the user simply turns it to set the times of sunrise and sunset. If he stops turning the time shown in the table during the correct season, the times are automatically synchronized. And that is not all: because the Equation Of Time display and the declination displays synchronize themselves with the polar shadow. This reduces setting of the watch to a minimum and makes the watch particularly easy to use.

The display for the sign of the zodiac and the season
As described above, the main purpose of this display is to simplify setting the system. However, many individuals have a strong affinity to the signs of the zodiac and are deeply fascinated by astronomy. Enormous importance was attached here to the graphical interpretation with its three-dimensional elements. A version with a correct display of the seasons is available for customers who live in the southern hemisphere.

The date
The date display can be found at 1 o’clock. Unfortunately, there was no room for a Perpetual Calendar because the complex control mechanism for the astronomic displays took up all the available space. The mechanism is set using a correction button. Finding a position for the date display was difficult and, ultimately, only possible here. We therefore decided to enlarge the date display and take it into the edge of the glass, which has made it much more legible.

The Equation of Time display
This is one of the classics of astronomic displays. The earth’s orbit of the sun is an ellipse with the Sun at one of the ellipse’s two foci (the First Law of German mathematician and astronomer Johannes Kepler, 1571-1630).

The resultant effect is that the Earth has different relative speeds (Kepler’s Second Law) despite the fact that it completes its rotation in 23 hours and 56 minutes. It is, therefore, possible that when a standard timepiece shows 12 noon, the Sun reached its zenith around 15 minutes earlier; or, conversely, that it will take another 15 minutes or so for it to reach its highest point. As previously mentioned, setting the watch is synchronous with sunrise and sunset times.

The retrograde moon phase and moon phase display
The retrograde moon phase display is another of Martin Braun’s inventions. Space constraints and the tourbillon cage ruled out a conventional rotating moon phase disc. It is replaced here by a semi-transparent shadow that gradually moves across the moon until new moon (i.e. when no crescent is visible).

At this point, the disc changes direction and moves the other way until it reaches full moon. The moon phase display indicates whether the shadow is moving towards full moon, i.e. waxing (+) or towards new moon, waning (-).

The moon disc itself is very natural and realistic-looking. The shadow-like disc does not blot it out entirely but is semitransparent. This means that the contours and craters of the moon are still visible, as in the night sky. The moon itself is handmade of solid sterling silver and depicts all the Moon’s most important craters and seas as naturally as possible. The lively interplay of the individual components leaves conventional moon phase displays far behind.

The day and night display
Graphically adapted to the watch’s layout, the day and night display shows the 24 hours of the day and complements the astronomic displays.

The reverse side of the watch
Here we see the power reserve. Like the Tourbillon with Perpetual Calendar, this too is six days. In the same place, we find a unique plaque, which is made especially for individual customer and shows the geographic coordinates on the basis of which the sunrise and sunset times are calculated and adjusted.

The declination display
The last of the astronomic displays is Declination, which features very rarely in watches of this kind. Expressed simply, a Declination display indicates the latitude at which the sun at 12 noon stands 90° above the horizon and at which a stick standing upright in the ground would cast no shadow.

In other words, the red line moves up and down between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn in the course of the year: or between 23.5° northern latitude and -23.5° southern latitude. Declination is required for navigational purposes and is used with right ascension to locate heavenly bodies.

The red line is a graphic depiction of Declination, while the value is shown numerically on the left-hand side of the world map. At the same time, we see the polar shadow; i.e. the area in which the sun does not rise.

The world map is projected onto glass using a special graphic process known as quadrichromy. It is specially prepared and treated to convey a high-quality, three-dimensional impression. As mentioned, the Declination does not need to be set separately but is automatically shown with the sunrise and sunset displays.

Technical features of tourbillon mechanism are same as Antoine Martin Tourbillon Quantième Perpétual introduced in 2012.

Technical details

Model: Antoine Martin Tourbillon Astronomique TA01.710.1

Case, dial and strap
Case: rose gold 18K
Brown alligator strap
Silver dial
Deployant buckle rose gold 18 K

Movement
AM 39.003 caliber
– 39.5 mm diameter
– 8.00 mm movement height
– 52 jewels
– 144-hour power reserve
– 18,000 bps
– 428 individual components
– Flying minute tourbillon
– Adjusted in five positions
– High Performance Escapement (HPE)
– KIF shock absorbers
– Silicium pallet lever
– Silicium escape wheel
– Silicium impulse pin, mounted with no play on the balance staff
– Distortion-free stainless-steel tourbillon bridge
– Indexless precision adjustment
– Adjustment via two gold half-round-head screws
– Tourbillon cage poised with two gold rings.
– Precision adjustment for the beat
– Clamped balance spring attachment
– All toothed wheels fitted with sinks (prerequisite for Seal of Geneva)
– Cyclovent teeth
– Torque optimized by use of twin mainsprings
– Indirect gear train drive to uncouple energy from mainspring
– Extra-large 14.1 mm balance for oscillation stabilization
– Pallet lever cam that permits precise adjustment of the backlash, or “run to the banking”.
– Steel bushings for all bridge jewel bearings
– All bearings jewelled
– All bridges with bevelling

Functions
– Hour/minute
– Power reserve display
– 24-hour display
– Sunrise and sunset display, adjusted to location of customer’s choice
– Display for the sign of the zodiac and season
– Date
– Equation of Time display
– Retrograde moon with moon phase display
– Day and night display
– Power reserve display
– Declination display, graphically and in degrees
– Polar shadow line

Retail price
CHF 500,000.-

NOVELTIES 2013

ANTOINE MARTIN Slow Runner – The First and Only Wristwatch in the World to Operate At 7200 Beats per Hour

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Swiss luxury watch brand ANTOINE MARTIN unveils their Slow Runner Collection, the first and only wristwatch in the world to operate at 7200 beats per hour, or just one hertz.

With the idea of “slowing down time”, Antoine Martin has created a sensational counterpoint in mechanical watchmaking. Contrary to the underlying trend towards small, rapidly oscillating balances, the forward-looking watchmaking company on Lake Lucerne in Central Switzerland has made an unequivocal commitment to large dimensions, poise and longevity.

The balance of the new 36.001 calibre beats with an unbelievably leisurely frequency of 7200 beats per hour, or just one hertz. This is not even half as fast as the slowest-running designs currently available in the modern watchmaking industry.

Martin Braun, Partner and head watchmaker at Antoine Martin firmly convinced that fast beating movements and small balances should not be the aim of mechanical timekeeping. When it comes to frequency and miniaturization, quartz incontestably leads the field. This quantum leap towards a slower, more measured pace is not some trick effect achieved using an additional gear train, as in conventional one-hertz watches.

On the contrary: it is the theoretical outcome of a thorough analysis involving material and frictional characteristics and mathematics. On the practical side, there was the experience gained from the existing silicium escapement (HPE), which had proved its worth and was designed in-house by Antoine Martin.

Martin Braun recognized the possibilities for mechanical applications that were opened up by new materials like silicium. The silicium escapement comes with a silicium balance spring that is much more stable than a classic steel spring. At the same time, a balance with a 24-millimetre diameter builds up so much kinetic energy that small impacts or sudden, extreme movements no longer have any influence on it.

When developing the new movement, Antoine Martin did not rely solely on the new high-tech material, silicium, or the unusual dimensions. By making a number of selective design modifications, Antoine Martin’s team of engineers significantly improved the movement’s isochronism (evenness of the rate).

Further technical details:

• The balance wheel has two weighted screws to aid adjustment (in place of the usual index or arrow)

• The extreme precision involved in production of the silicium balance spring meant that both the position of the stud and the “knee” in the spring could be optimized.

• The balance rim of Grade 3 titanium oscillates on a balance bridge with an additional shock absorption system and six cabochon jewels.

The result is a perfectly stable rate combined with maximum run time and efficiency. The company’s wish to establish a connection between traditional and modern watchmaking prompted it to develop rarely used wolf (or helical) tooth gearing for the winding train.

Naturally, the AM36.001 movement integrates all the features that have proved themselves in previous movements made by the company as well as the perpetual calendar and the tourbillon. These include parallel-adjustable banking pins, toothing developed in-house with chamfered gears and sinks, and tempered steel threaded bushes.

Specifications of the movement

Name: Slow Runner AM36.001
Movement diameter: 36 mm
Movement height: 8.6 mm
High Performance Escapement (HPE)
Kif shock absorber
Frequency: 7,200 bph
Additional shock absorption via 6 cabochon jewels
Adjusted in 5 positions
Distortion-free steel balance bridge
199 individual parts with 23 jewels
Freely oscillating balance spring
Silicium escapement (pallets, escape wheel, elliptical impulse pin)
Precision adjustment with weighted screws
Silicium balance spring
Precision adjustment of backlash
Grade III titanium balance
Winding train with wolf tooth gearing
96-hour power reserve with display
All parts polished and chamfered.

The Slow Runner Collection comprises three different models.

SR01.110.1
Case made of stainless steel, water-resistant to 50 m sapphire glass, antireflective on both sides, white dial
Black Louisiana alligator leather strap with triple-folding clasp in stainless steel
Price: CHF 19‘500

SR01.100.1
Case made of stainless steel, water-resistant to 50 m, sapphire glass, antireflective on both sides, black dial
Black Louisiana alligator leather strap with triple-folding clasp in stainless steel
Price: CHF 19‘500

SR01.710.1
Case made of 18K 750 rose gold, water-resistant to 50 m, sapphire glass, antireflective on both sides, white dial
Brown Louisiana alligator leather strap with triple-folding clasp in 18-carat (750) rose gold
Price: CHF 34‘500

NOVELTIES 2013

ANTOINE MARTIN Quantième Perpétuel au Grand Balancier Open Dial

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After the successful launch of the Quantième Perpetual Au Grand Balancier collection in 2012, Swiss luxury watch brand ANTOINE MARTIN introduces a new model with a partially cut-out dial, giving the watch a subtle technical touch.

The case is hardly to be topped in terms of complexity. In order to showcase the wondrous interplay of polishing and satin finishing, this case was conceived to include detachable strap lugs. Thus, the recesses are polished to a high gloss, while the upper parts remain matte. The strikingly designed flanks, which lend the case its unique lines, are also individually secured.

An unmistakable element of an ANTOINE MARTIN watch is certainly the crown, which is reminiscent of classic Bauhaus design. This case in its entirety is a lavish construction comprising 84 individual components. It is made of stainless steel with a black bezel DLC treated (diamond like carbon coated).

A modified Swiss lever escapement called HPE (High Performance Escapement) that includes silicium ensures increased energy yield; the brand-new Aerodynamic Amplitude Stabilization (ADAS) guarantees an even rate; and this movement boasts a free-sprung balance spring, which is one of the prerequisites in attaining the Seal of Geneva.

The manually wound Calibre AM 39.001 (originally introduced in 2011 in ANTOINE MARTIN Perpetual Calendar QP01 model), in which twin mainsprings ensure a power reserve of six days, is outfitted with a perpetual calendar and a large date. The visual cherry on top is the extra-large balance crafted in Grade 5 titanium boasting an incredible diameter of 17.5 mm.

The dial includes five opening allowing a glimpse of the movement. This gives the watch a more technical and sporty touch. The indexes are composed of black luminova.

The vertical placement of the perpetual calendar’s day and month displays and the leap year indication at the 12 o’clock position were only possible thanks to a few new tricks up the engineers’ sleeves.

This model is available in a stainless steel case with a black DLC coated bezel.

Technical details

Model: ANTOINE MARTIN Quantième Perpétuel au Grand Balancier Open Dial

Ref QP01.110.9
Model: Quantième Perpétuel au Grand Balancier „open dial“
Hand-wound movement with six days power reserve
Case: stainless steel with black DLC-coated bezel
Double anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Black rubber strap with deployment buckle
Suggested retail price: CHF 42‘000.-

NOVELTIES 2012

ANTOINE MARTIN Tourbillon Quantième Perpétuel

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In 2011 at Basel watch fair, Swiss haute horlogerie brand  ANTOINE MARTIN had announced their grand entry to the world of luxury watch making by introducing the Perpetual Calendar QP01 (“Quantième Perpétuel au Grand Balancier”) Collection.

This year, the enigmatic watch brand founded by watch making genius Martin Braun, presents their second and newest collection “Tourbillon Quantième Perpétuel”. This grand complication timepiece was unveiled at Basel world 2012.

The tourbillon revolves around its own axis once a minute, while the escapement in the rotating cage ticks away steadily at 2.5 Hertz, or 18,000 beats per hour. Martin Braun chose silicium as the material for the pallet lever, escape wheel and impulse pin, and opted for a balance of nickel silver.

Precision adjustment is achieved via the two half-round-head screws made of 18-carat gold, while the tourbillon cage is poised using two gold rings. The result is a tourbillion consisting of precisely 65 parts and weighing a total of 0.62 grams. Not only that, the rotating cage has the breath taking diameter of 14.1 millimetres.

The ANTOINE MARTIN Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar watch is equipped with the in-house movement Calibre 39.002. The collection has two models and features a choice of two different dials – silver in the rose gold – or black in the white gold case.

Technical details

Model: ANTOINE MARTIN Tourbillon Quantième Perpétuel

Reference TQP01.710.1

Hand-wound movement with six days power reserve
Case: Rose gold 18K
Double anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Genuine brown Louisiana alligator leather strap
Deployant buckle with rose gold 18K

Reference TQP01.800.1

Hand-wound movement with six days power reserve
Case white gold 18K
Double anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Genuine black Louisiana alligator leather strap
Deployant buckle with white gold 18K

 

NEWS

Introducing new Swiss watch brand, ANTOINE MARTIN

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ANTOINE MARTIN is a new luxury watch brand founded by celebrated master watchmaker Martin Braun in association with entrepreneur Antoine Meier. Bruno Jufer is the CEO of ANTOINE MARTIN. The first watch collection from the brand , developed and manufactured exclusively at the company’s modern workshops in Alpnach will be unveiled at Basel world 2011.

A watchmaker of exceptional talent, Martin Braun founded his company MHO AG (Manufacture Horlogère Obwalden) in 2009 with the declared aim of realizing his idea for his own watch movement, featuring the Swiss club-tooth lever escapement he had developed himself.

Martin Braun, Founder and Master Watchmaker

After almost two years of intensive work, the first in house ANTOINE MARTIN movement was introduced. The Calibre AM 39.001 is a fascinating hand-wound movement with an integrated perpetual calendar, large date display and six-day power reserve.

Development of the second movement, an automatic, will be completed by mid-year. Both movements, featuring unprecedented technical innovations, are absolute highlights in watch design and are available exclusively to the new brand, ANTOINE MARTIN.

The man appointed to manage the brand is CEO Bruno Jufer, who has enormous experience of the watch industry. He has previously held positions with Maurice Lacroix, Jaquet Droz, Zenith and, most recently, as a member of executive management with Carl F. Bucherer.

Bruno Jufer, CEO

The new ANTOINE MARTIN watch collection was born under Bruno Jufer’s management. The brand and its first watch collection will be presented to the industry and the general public at Baselworld, the world’s largest watch and jewellery fair.

The force driving ANTOINE MARTIN forward is that of innovation. The individuals behind ANTOINE MARTIN plan to develop state-of-the-art wristwatches featuring complications that make sense for a demanding target group: people who take an interest in technology, have high expectations as regards quality and are looking for unusual luxury products.

Official website : http://www.antoinemartin.ch

NOVELTIES 2011

ANTOINE MARTIN Perpetual Calendar QP01

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Swiss luxury watch brand ANTOINE MARTIN presents its first model, the Perpetual Calendar QP01 housing the manufacture’s own movement AM 39.001 that carries many innovative features.

A modified Swiss lever escapement called HPE (High Performance Escapement) that includes silicium ensures increased energy yield; the brand-new Aerodynamic Amplitude Stabilization (ADAS) guarantees an even rate; and this movement boasts a free-sprung balance spring, which is one of the prerequisites in attaining the Seal of Geneva.

Manually wound Calibre AM 39.001, in which twin mainsprings ensure a power reserve of six days, is outfitted with a perpetual calendar and a large date. The visual cherry on top is the extra-large balance crafted in Grade 5 titanium boasting an incredible diameter of 17.5 mm.

It’s modern and progressively designed case is hardly to be topped in terms of complexity. In order to showcase the wondrous interplay of polishing and satin finishing, this case was conceived to include detachable strap lugs. Thus, the recesses are polished to a high gloss, while the upper parts remain matte.

The strikingly designed flanks, which lend the case its unique lines, are also individually secured. An unmistakable element of an ANTOINE MARTIN watch is certainly the crown, which is reminiscent of classic Bauhaus design. This case in its entirety is a lavish construction comprising 85 individual components.

Caliber AM 39.001

The creation of this movement was preceded by years of study of the Swiss lever escapement, its motion, and its dynamic processes. The Swiss lever escapement is the single most widely used form of escapement used in modern wristwatches.

It was invented by Thomas Mudge in 1757, the genius who adapted the anchor escapement to the portable wristwatch, and improved upon by Georges Auguste Leschot in 1825, the inventor of the angle of draw. It has been utilized practically unmodified since this date.

For years, Martin Braun has thought about improving the Swiss lever escapement for his own movements. However, what he was envisioning was not possible with conventional production methods; the advent of silicium for common use has allowed him to finally realize the solution he imagined.

His modified escapement is called the High Performance Escapement, or HPE for short. The angles of the Swiss lever escapement have always represented a compromise between effectivity and retaining oil using the capillary effect of certain angles. This no longer needs to be adhered to since an escapement predominately comprising silicium components functions completely without oil.

Thanks to this, Martin Braun’s HPE escapement can now boast 100 percent more effectiveness. Changing the originally calculated angles of the impulse planes of the escape wheel; modifying the curved shape of the escape wheel teeth; and reconfiguring the pallets have increased the energy yield by about 7-8 percent.

The optimized shape of the silicium impulse pin also brings another 1 percent increase. The result of these modifications is an increase in amplitude from 300° to almost 330° in direct parallel comparison to the conventional escapement design.

Calibre AM 39.001 clearly builds a bridge between contemporary production methods and the era of the most beautiful and elegant mechanical movements: the beginning of 1900s, which is widely recognized in the humanities as the beginning of modernity. This movement showcases its most beautiful component,which is simultaneously its beating heart: the balance.

Following a time in horology in which the chiefly standard balances found in most watches were more often than not hidden, ANTOINE MARTIN puts this impressive component on centre stage. The extra-large balance wheel, whose primary raison d’être is stabilization of amplitude, measures 17.5 mm in diameter and is crafted in high-tech Grade 5 titanium. Boasting two little gold screws for fine adjustment, thereby freeing the balance spring from fine regulation by index, it is one of the largest balances ever used in this style of escapement.

Underscoring its charming girth and the soothing motion of its oscillation, the balance beats at a frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hertz). This “vintage” tempo brings not only the size of the balance to the fore, but also the majestic tranquillity with which it goes about its work.

Technically speaking, this size makes a lot of sense: not only does its considerable size build up more kinetic energy. Should the movement experience shock, the finicky balance is more apt to remain within its amplitude—thus keeping a stable rate—than would be the case with a smaller balance.

Additionally, the movement is outfitted with another ANTOINE MARTIN innovation for stabilizing amplitude: Aerodynamic Amplitude Stabilization (ADAS). This ingenious mechanism basically comprises a control cam guided by the power reserve display. When the movement is fully wound, the cam moves to within 0.01 mm of the balance wheel, whose ADAS arms then create congestion with air—which acts as a cushioned brake for the balance wheel.

As the mainspring loses its tension, the ADAS system ensures that the amplitude remains the same—regardless of its state. Amplitude stabilization is very important for keeping an even rate, which ensures that the manually wound movement remains as accurate as possible.

Despite its large balance, the manually wound movement reaches six days (144 hours) of power reserve thanks to twin mainsprings. Three of its 324 individual components are crafted in high-tech silicium—the pallet lever, escape wheel, and impulse pin—and 60 of them are jewels. The metal components are decorated with a high-quality finish including bevelling according to the best Swiss traditions.

A modern, solid piece of Haute Horlogerie, the watch case housing Calibre AM 39.001 possesses a diameter of 46 mm. It is strikingly filled out by the movement, and thus forms a holistic unit with intricate calendar displays for the wrist: a large date and a perpetual calendar displaying day, date, month, and leap year as well as a day/night indicator.

The designers at ANTOINE MARTIN Watches have also left nothing to chance with regard to the dial. A modern interpretation of classic guilloché embellishing the centre and a completely new style of applied numerals combine to create this watch’s very striking face.

The vertical placement of the perpetual calendar’s day and month displays and the leap year indication at the 12 o’clock position were only possible thanks to a few new tricks up the engineers’ sleeves.

The ANTOINE MARTIN Perpetual Calendar watch is available in a 18K rose gold , 18K white gold or black DLC-coated stainless steel case.

Technical details

Model: ANTOINE MARTIN Perpetual Calendar QP01

Rose gold version with black dial, Reference QP01.700.1

Calibre AM 39.001, Quantième Perpétuel au Grand Balancier
Hand-wound movement with six days power reserve
Case in rose gold 18K
Black dial
Double anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Genuine brown Louisiana alligator leather strap with rose Gold 18K deployant buckle
Price: CHF 72’000.-

White gold version with silver dial, Reference QP01.810.1

Calibre AM 39.001, Quantième Perpétuel au Grand Balancier
Hand-wound movement with six days power reserve
Case in white gold 18K
Silver dial
Double anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Genuine black Louisiana alligator leather strap with white gold 18K deployant buckle
Price: CHF 72’000.-

Black DLC Steel Version with Black Dial and red numerals, Reference QP01.501.9

Calibre AM 39.001, Quantième Perpétuel au Grand Balancier
Hand-wound movement with six days power reserve
Case in black DLC-coated stainless steel
Black dial with dark red numerals
Double anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Black rubber strap with deployant buckle
Price: CHF 48’500.-