Mario Scarpatetti, a graduate from the Zeit Zentrum Grenchen, has won the F.P.Journe Young Talent Competition 2021 for his innovative secular calendar mechanism based on his patented invention.

Since 2015, the Young Talent Competition allows discovering the next generation of most talented young watchmaking apprentices in the world, supports them in their route to independence by identifying their achievements and putting them under the spotlight. F.P.Journe organizes the Young Talent Competition with the support of The Hour Glass, luxury watch retailer in the Asia Pacific region. Both Maisons aim to perpetuate and support the art of haute horology and cultivate the appreciation of extensive horological craftsmanship.

The selection criteria are based on technical achievement, the search for complexity in their realization, the quality of craftsmanship as well as their sense of design and aesthetics. Applicants must have independently designed and created a timepiece and/or technical construction. The 2021 Young Talent Competition winner receives a diploma and a CHF 20,000.- grant from The Hour Glass and F.P.Journe, which will allow him to purchase watchmaking tools or finance an horological project.

The jury of the Young Talent Competition 2021 is composed of key personalities from the international horological scene: Philippe Dufour, Andreas Strehler, Giulio Papi, Marc Jenni, Michael Tay, Elizabeth Doerr and François-Paul Journe.

The secular perpetual calendar clock by Mario Scarpatetti features an additional wheel that turns once every 400 years. This perpetual calendar automatically corrects even the uneven secular years. During the production, Mario applied for a patent for this invention by the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property relating to a 400-year wheel and its indexing. In 2018, he received the patent N° CH 00400/18.

All parts of the movement, with the exception of four ball-bearings (Kugellager), were traditionally handmade. Most of the parts were made from brass and steel sheets, as well as brass and steel round bars. All movement parts were made without NC and CNC-controlled machines. The movement can be dismantled into 478 individual parts. It consists of a total of 570 components.

All components, such as the rocker switch (Schaltwippe), are exactly the same as in a known perpetual calendar with a 4-year wheel. The 4-year wheel is the first on this calendar that looks different. All 4 deepenings for February have the same depth.

The 4-year wheel therefore does not decide whether February has 28 or 29 days. A shift finger (Schaltfinger) is pressed into the front of the 4-year wheel. This finger thus makes one turn every 4 years and switches the 400-year wheel further. The whole thing also works with two shift fingers.

The 400-year wheel had to be manufactured slightly differently. The wheel is switched twice every 4 years, but not regularly every two years. The placement takes place a few months before a leap year (e.g. between April 2019 and January 2020). The next placement takes place after February of a leap year (e.g. between April 2020 and January 2021).

The 400-year wheel then remains in the same position for about 3 years. Only then does the next switching take place (in our example between April 2023 and January 2024). The switching is very energy-saving over several months. The shift finger grips in the outer gearing of the 400-year wheel (a fine gearing with 200-teeth). A pawl also grips in the same gearing for positioning.

The inner scope of the wheel has 97 elevations. The nose of the rocker switch of the perpetual calendar feels the 400-year wheel every February. If the nose falls into a gap, the clock switches from February 28th to March 1st. If the nose rests on one of the 97 elevations, the mechanics switches from February 28th to February 29th and then to March 1st the following night.

It gets interesting now at a century or a millennium. In the case of the gear wheel, there is a very large gap at the point where a step would be for three consecutive centuries. At this point, instead of two gaps, the gear wheel has only one gap in the width of three divisions next to a step. Only in the fourth century is there an elevation where the nose feels the century. Namely for those centuries which are a leap year. That is why the 400-year wheel has 97 and not 100 steps inside.

The Gregorian calendar is based on a cycle of 400 years, after one turn of the wheel the game starts all over again, just like with the Gregorian calendar. The owner of the clock never needs to adjust the date.

Measurement

• Mechanism: Height: 48 cm – Width: 48 cm Total clock height: 203 cm Total clock weight: 50 kg.
• Movement: Height 42 cm Dial: Height 41 cm Weight: 21 kg, Sassalbo stone from Poschiavo.

Indications

Months – moon phases – years / hours – minutes – seconds – equation of time / date – day.

Norifumi Seki, a Graduate from Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry in Tokyo, has won the F.P.Journe Young Talent Competition 2020 for his Spherical moon and drum calendar pocket watch.

Since 2015, the Young Talent Competition allows discovering the next generation of most talented young watchmaking apprentices in the world, supports them in their route to independence by identifying their achievements and putting them under the spotlight.

F.P.Journe organizes the Young Talent Competition with the support of The Hour Glass, luxury watch retailer in the Asia Pacific region. Both Maisons aim to perpetuate and support the art of haute horology and cultivate the appreciation of extensive horological craftsmanship.

The selection criteria are based on technical achievement, the search for complexity in their realization, the quality of craftsmanship as well as their sense of design and aesthetics. Applicants must have independently designed and created a timepiece and/or technical construction. The 2020 Young Talent Competition winner receives a diploma and a CHF 20,000.- grant from The Hour Glass and F.P.Journe, which will allow him to purchase watchmaking tools or finance an horological project.

The jury of the Young Talent Competition 2020 is composed of key personalities from the international horological scene: Philippe Dufour, Andreas Strehler, Giulio Papi, Marc Jenni, Michael Tay, Elizabeth Doerr and François-Paul Journe.

The Spherical moon and drum calendar pocket watch created by Norifumi Seki features a multiple complications. First one is the large spherical moon-phase display. Made entirely of titanium, the moon phase is 20 mm in diameter and set via a recessed pusher in the case band. A third of the sphere is blue heated, while the other two thirds are coated in gold.

Second complication is the vertical calendar display. Shown in two large windows, each containing two drums for the digits, the calendar is a simple one, with the month in the left window and date on the right; both can be set via the crown. Because the calendar display relies on drums, rather than discs, it is driven by gears perpendicular to the plane of the movement.

The movement is a mix of parts made from scratch as well as components from tried-and-test calibres. The base plate, bridges, and mechanisms for the calendar and moon phase are made by Norifumi Seki. Most parts of going train, from mainspring to fourth wheel, are taken from the Valjoux 7750, long a favourite base movement for complications because of its robustness and reliable energy delivery. However, the escapement is from the Peseux 7040 because, the young watchmaker wanted to run the movement at 3Hz instead of 4Hz to make the balance wheel larger.

He then produced the four-armed balance wheel and paired it with a hairspring from the 7750. As a result, the balance bridge still retains the Etachron regulator index of the 7750. The movement is coated in 18K yellow gold, and finished with perlage and Côtes de Genève. Both the balance bridge and escape wheel cock are hand engraved.

Norifumi also produced all of the external components of the watch. Though it appears to be engine turned, the dial was actually engraved on a lathe due to non-availability of a rose engine. But the dial colour was achieved the traditional way, having been silver plated using diluted sulphuric acid. The hands were also made from scratch with a combination of heat-blued steel and golden brass.

Technical specifications

Case
18K yellow golden brass
Width: 4.7 cm
Height: 2.3 cm
Length: 6.3 cm
Total weight: 140 grams
Crown and bow also in 18K yellow golden brass

Movement
Coated in 18K yellow gold, with perlage and Côtes de Genève decorations, balance bridge and escape wheel cock hand engraved

Dial
Engraved guilloche silver plated
Moon: 20 mm diameter in titanium partly golden
Hands: heated blued steel and golden brass.

On 15th March 2019, F.P.Journe celebrated the opening of the first Maison F.P.Journe in the EPIC Hotel located right along the Miami River in the heart of Downtown Miami. The new Maison F.P.Journe is poised to become the destination in Miami for visitors to share a passion for haute horology and exchange ideas with other enthusiasts or just have a coffee or a glass of champagne in an inviting and airy brand-new decor over 320 square meters.

Accessed through the lobby of the EPIC Hotel, guests enter a 2-story glass atrium with expansive views of the Miami River and the city. A circle of distinctive glass vitrines showcasing F.P.Journe haute horology precision chronometers commands the space they share with Bar Journe. The presence of a double living area and absence of a traditional sales environment speak to the philosophy behind the space, to encourage conversations that follow the F.P.Journe philosophy of A.R.T., Authenticity, Rareness, and Talent, beyond the world of watches.

In addition, a Terraza provides an outdoor cigar lounge, furnished by family-owned Spanish yacht builder Astilleros Astondoa, and offers fine and rare cigars. The second floor accommodates the headquarters of Montres Journe America and the domestic service center.

F.P.Journe introduces a new concept of theme evenings and will host frequent events highlighting the parallels between the philosophy behind fine watchmaking and spirits, automobiles, bespoke suits, Petrossian caviar, Astondoa yachts, and more. The 10-seat Bar Journe features the finest expressions in all areas of carefully curated selection of distilled rare and vintage spirits, wines, beers, coffees and teas for a heightened beverage experience.

What sets F.P.Journe apart from other horology brands in taking retail experience to another level by creating what no other watchmaker has done yet is to bring a one-of-a-kind horological destination combined with a heightened beverage experience to the city of Miami.

The art of entertaining is elegantly declined through a bespoke sense of welcome in this magic universe and visitors can expect only the highest-quality service and seasoned expertise. The F.P.Journe unique philosophy reflects the values of excellence as well as the art de vivre of the brand with its personal codes of haute horology.

As a master watchmaker himself, François-Paul Journe is considered a horological genius, producing watches one-by-one with exceptional precision, manufactured in the heart of Geneva. At the crossroads of arts and haute horology, F.P.Journe honors its artisanal work and prides itself in the attention to detail for creating only the most exceptional and fine watches. Their 18K rose Gold movements make perfect sense of the label ‘Invenit et Fecit’ and certify an in-house caliber entirely conceived and assembled in the Geneva Manufacture’s ateliers with a subtle balance between tradition and new technologies.

Address

Maison F.P.Journe Miami
EPIC Hotel, 270 Biscayne Blvd Way, Suite 101, Miami, FL 33131
P. +1-305-993-4747 – miami@fpjourne.com

The fascinating book that tells the legendary story of François-Paul Journe has finally been released. Over 360 pages, the author relates his childhood as an enfant terrible in Marseille; his wild adolescent friendships, his joys and indiscretions; his hopes and doubts for his future; and, finally, the revelation of the world of watchmaking – a universe that was to become his vocation and would open up wonderful new horizons.

The author narrates François-Paul’s research on precision; his love of creating, constructing, and innovating; his successes and victories; but also his doubts, frustrations and rebellions; the events that made him what he is today, why he practices his particular style of watchmaking, which collectors so admire. He writes about his constant search for perfection, from the niche he has constructed for himself, little by little, and with great dedication, to the brilliant watchmaker-constructor he has become. About his talent recognized by his peers and his rewards by countless international prizes and his deep need for independence.

Instinctive creator who constantly strives for excellence, François-Paul always avoids banality and facility; banality is deadly. He also writes about this distinctive know-how that favors quality over quantity and how he transformed his watches into works of art that sublimate the wrists of their wearers.

In the introduction, François-Paul Journe dedicates this book to his uncle Michel Journe, who got him started and allowed him to work in his atelier while tolerating his youthful recklessness while he created his very ambitious first watch and also to Jean-Claude Sabrier, who remained his faithful friend until the end of his life. He was a benevolent, jovial and generous scholar who became one of the greatest historians of watchmaking. François-Paul also thanks his friend Jean-Pierre Grosz, former manager of Marvin Gaye, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Ray Charles. Grosz tells Ray’s epic story in the book “Ray, my friend”. François-Paul knew Jean-Pierre was the only one who could write his story.

The preface to the book is written by his son Charles Journe who provides a different view. The book F.P.Journe – Invenit et Fecit will give you many delightful hours as you learn all about the unique destiny of François-Paul Journe. It will be available as from November 22nd in the 9 F.P.Journe Boutiques.

As an independent contemporary master watchmaker, François-Paul Journe has constructed haute horology timepieces for over 40 years. His historical knowledge and expertise have enabled him to demonstrate timeless consistency in research and innovation. His authentic integrated Manufacture calibre produced in 18K rose gold is one of the unique characteristics of F.P.Journe watches. The brand has earned the highest horological distinctions around the world, including 7 awards at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, The Gaïa Prize for Best Watchmaker, numerous times the Watch of the Year prize in Japan, in China, Mexico and the United States, and last but not least, Chevaliers des Arts et Lettres by the French Minister of Culture.

In his never-ending quest for perfection, F.P.Journe stands at the crossroads between the Arts and Haute Horology, constructing innovative and timeless timepieces that enhance the traditional haute horology values. The Manufacture produces less than 900 precision chronometers per year, and the label « Invenit et Fecit », engraved on all the watches, guarantees an in-house calibre that is entirely conceived, produced and assembled in the Geneva workshop.

This time when you open F.P.Journe website on your browser you can enjoy the binaural sound of the Sonnerie Souveraine F.P.Journe, recorded in the anechoic chamber of the EPFL. This unique experience provides a total immersion in the heart of the exceptional striking watch’s movement.

Binaural is a recording technique performed to create a three-dimensional sound. For the binaural recording of the Sonnerie Souveraine, F.P.Journe used artificial ears with microphones. In the choice of components up to the shapes and proportions, everything is designed in this device to reproduce a sound as close as possible to a human experience.

For this horological World Premiere, F.P.Journe invested the EPFL anechoic chamber in Lausanne. The EPFL is one of Switzerland’s two federal polytechnics school, and the most innovative and productive scientific institution in the world. All the walls (including the floor) of the 200 m2 anechoic chamber is entirely covered with 1 meter high glass wool dihedral, allowing an optimal absorption of sound.

The Grande Sonnerie watch with minute repeater is the most complex of horological creations, one that demands the very utmost in both technical and artistic virtuosity for the watchmaker in charge of its assembly. In the past, it has always been risky to use a Grande Sonnerie watch. The slightest error – for example, adjusting the time while the watch is chiming – could seriously damage the watch’s delicate mechanisms.

Therefore, the first entry in F.P.Journe’s specification book for this watch was: “make the watch so that an eight year old child can manipulate it safely without damaging it. To meet this challenge I had to construct a movement based on new mechanical principles”. Thus, according to the brand’s motto, ten patents testify to the “Invenit” of this work of watchmaking art, while the “Fecit” took six years of research and development.

The privilege of a Grande Sonnerie watch is to translate time in music. The Maison Journe who became an expert in the mastery of the resonance striking watch, is aware of the importance of acoustic waves in the art of the time measurement. It demonstrates its mastery when it comes to retransmit time in sounds.

The sound signal emitted by the extra-flat gongs of 3/10 of a millimeter has been treated with as much importance as the function mode of this mechanism which requires a very specific hammer strike. Indeed, the striking weight of the hammer of the Grande Sonnerie is of 0.3 grams. This force is, to give an estimate, between 10 and 15 times less than that used to strike a classical minute repeater.

However, because the acoustics work has been particularly meticulous and the technical solutions perfectly adapted to this type of complication, the Sonnerie Souveraine F.P.Journe produces a better sound than any equivalent striking timepiece. In addition, a new selection mode by the 4-hour button allows you to choose between three options: Grande Sonnerie, Petite Sonnerie and Silence. The pusher at 2 o’clock activates the Minute Repeater on demand.

For its striking watches, F.P.Journe has exceptionally abandoned precious metals for its cases, for a noble cause, to ensure the best possible striking tones that make optimal use of the crystalline structure of Steel.

The Sonnerie Souveraine received the Aiguille d’Or prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2006. It was also named Watch of the Year at the Grand Prize of Japan in 2006.

The emblematic F.P.Journe Sonnerie Souveraine will soon be discontinued. Clients are invited to place their order until December 31, 2018 to acquire this already rare and unique watch that will thus become a collector’s timepiece.

Swiss luxury watch brand F.P.Journe, in partnership with the legendary champagne house Laurent-Perrier, organized its fifth Golf Cup at the prestigious Geneva Golf Club with the Greensome Stableford type of play.

F.P.Journe presented the model of the lineSport, the Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante with manual winding and large date and metal bracelet assorted to their respective case, available in Titanium, 18K red Gold or Platinum. The lineSport is a collection of very light watches conceived for a sportive activity, with a movement in aluminium for the Titanium version and in 18 K rose Gold for the red Gold or Platinum version.

F.P.Journe rewarded the winners of the overall score, Nicolas and Corinne Rey, with a jeroboam of champagne Laurent Perrier La Cuvée. The winners of the net score, Arthur and Frédéric Turrettini, each received a magnum of champagne Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée and the seconds, Andrea Cavalleri and Marie-Christine de Werra, a magnum of Vieilles Vignes Château Le Rosey.

The winners in the Junior category, Thomas Delale and Nathan Vuilleumier, each received a golf bag F.P.Journe. The winner of the draw, Frédéric Couson, has been awarded a magnificent F.P.Journe clock Chronomètre Souverain.

The year 2018 marks the 35th anniversary of a project started by renowned master watchmaker François-Paul Journe in 1983 in order to manufacture worlds’ first mechanical wristwatch that incorporates the phenomena of Physical Resonance in its working principle.

Resonance is a natural acoustic phenomenon. Any animate body transmits a vibration to its environment. When another body picks up this vibration at the same frequency, it absorbs its energy. In watchmaking it means two independent movements set side by side which get in synchronization.

Christian Huygens (1629-1692), the great Dutch physicist, mathematician, astronomer, horologist and inventor, was the first to observe and make note that two pendulum clocks placed on the same wall synchronized their movements. By the coupling the system has two of its own modes that correspond to the phase movements and the opposed phase movements of the two pendulums. The synchronisation takes place on the first mode. Another great horologer who succeeded to use the principle in the art of watch making was Antide Janvier (1751-1835), the legendary French clock maker renowned for his “double pendulum clocks”, also called “Resonance clocks”, which he was the first to make.

The Resonance Regulator made around 1780 by Antide Janvier

At the entrance of the F.P.Journe manufacture’s ateliers, a fascinating clock occupies the place of honour, the second of three double regulators constructed by Antide Janvier. The first is kept at the Paul Dupuis museum in Toulouse and the 3rd at the Patek Philippe museum in Geneva.

Antide Janvier built his first moving sphere in wood at the age of 15, a feat that two years later received recognition from the Science Academy of Besançon. Young François-Paul started making his first tourbillon watch at the age of 20 and when he was 22 years old he designed a first planetarium.

Amongst the numerous masterpieces made by Antide Janvier, complicated astronomic clocks, planetarium and other remarkable spheres with equations, we are here reminded of his mastery of the physical resonance phenomenon in a regulator, a natural phenomenon that only F.P.Journe today perpetuates using this difficult and delicate technique with a modern conception, that of a mechanical wristwatch that was made to provide the greatest precision.

So far, no one had ever tried to accommodate a working double pendulum mechanism in the small space available in a wristwatch. François-Paul Journe took several years to meet this impossible challenge. During the early stages of research he made a prototype movement however that did not yet perform according to his expectations.

Prototype Resonance movement by François-Paul Journe, circa 1983

He then abandoned the project for a few years but he did not stop thinking about Antide Janvier’s pendulum. Hands, brain, calculations, sketches and prototypes all resonate in François-Paul Journe’s mind as he worked non-stop at his designer’s desk. This should function, and finally “this” does function.

The first wrist-watch with “resonance” ® (protected trademark), was commercialized as a world premiere in the year 2000.

F.P.Journe Chronomètre à Resonance 38mm

This emblematic timekeeper is a clear demonstration of François-Paul Journe’s research for precision in watchmaking. He devised, developed and built this movement to meet the demands of actual wear on the wrist and thereby provide chronometric performance driven to extremes, this watch represents one of the wildest challenges in the field of mechanical watches.

Each of the two balances alternately serves as exciter and resonator. When the two balances are in movement, they enter into harmony thanks to the resonance phenomenon and begin to beat naturally in opposition. The two balances then support each other, giving more inertia to their movement.

F.P.Journe Chronomètre à Resonance with New York Dial

This result is possible only if the difference of the frequency from one to the other does not exceed 5 seconds per day cumulated on six positions. Their setting is an extremely delicate task. Whereas an external disturbing movement affects the running of a traditional mechanical watch, the same disturbance, for the Chronomètre à Resonance, produces an effect that accelerates one of the balances as much as it slows the other down. Little by little, the two balances come back towards each other to find their point of harmony, thus eliminating the disturbance.

This mechanism revolutionizes established standards and offers an amount of precision that had never been equaled in a mechanical wristwatch.

In 2004, F.P.Journe presented new edition of the Chronomètre à Résonance that features for the first time an 18K rose Gold movement.

In 2010, to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the emblematic Chronomètre à Resonance, F.P.Journe, presented a new version indicating 24 hours with a dial at 9 o’clock, precisely showing the hours of day and night.

The dial in Silver guilloche at 3 o’clock provides a second time zone indicating local time. The Chronomètre à Resonance was awarded the Grand Complication Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie in Geneva in 2010.

Since 2015, the Young Talent Competition allows discovering the next generation of most talented young watchmaking apprentices in the world, supports them in their route to independence by identifying their achievements and putting them under the spotlight. F.P.Journe organised the Young Talent Competition this year with the support of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH).

F.P.Journe awarded the Prizes for the third year to the winning young talents, on Wednesday, 17 January 2018, during the press conference at the SIHH in Geneva.

The jury of the Young Talent Competition 2018 was composed of key personalities from the international horological scene: Philippe Dufour, Giulio Papi, Andreas Strehler, Marc Jenni, Pascal Ravessoud, Michael Tay, Elizabeth Doerr and François-Paul Journe. Their selection criteria have been based on technical achievement, the search for complexity in their realization, their sense of design and aesthetics.

The 2018 winners received a diploma and a CHF 3,000 grant from Horotec.

The 2018 winners are: Charles Routhier, Rémy Cools and Théo Auffret.

Watchmaker: Charles Routhier

Creation: Halley – Wristwatch inspired by astronomy and bearing the name of the renowned comet Halley.

This watch carries the name of the famous comet “Halley” that can be seen every 76 years. Its inspiration was found in the many details linked to astronomy (comets, stars, constellations, planets).

Its night blue face with a visible pendulum (heart of the watch) and its bridge in the shape of a comet make it a very poetic, blended and attractive watch. The bridge mechanism is inspired by the ancient astrolabes. Orion’s constellation is hidden among the stardust. The pendulum bridge is in the shape of a comet.

Technical details

Case: Steel diameter 42 mm, height 13.00 mm
Movement: 28’800 V/h, anchor escapement, 14 jewels
Functions: hours, minutes Dial: Brass golden 5N and palladium, circled by hand, Onyx cabochon and metallic pearls, comet shaped balance Spring Bridge at 12h.
Specificities: Baseplate and bridges conceived and made by hand, the pin of the anchor is turned over and its small shaft is displaced in order to put the pendulum and its bridge into the shape of a comet on the dial. The time setting is made of only two parts which allows for a simple milling and assembly. The movement is made of 18 machined or reworked parts, without counting the cinematic, the sets of screws and pins.

Watchmaker: Rémy Cools

Creation: Mechanica Tempus Pendulette Tourbillon – A whirlwind clock set on a foundation with parts from a L’Epée clock and on a theme related to the great eras of watchmaking.

This clock features an imposing tourbillon to obtain more movement. The clock has an off-centre display as well as an inclining movement system inspired by maritime chronometers. It allows the movement to lean in all the various directions so as to see the movement from all angles. It follows all the codes for little office clocks one usually thinks of. It has a style with traditional shapes but is still very contemporaneous.

The clock features some of the finishing techniques such as chamfered polishing, blocked polishing, strapping as well as more modern finishing like sanding. The contrast between the golden parts and grey rhodied as well as with the sanding, the chamfering and the traditional engravings give it a rather interesting depth. The stand and the storage case for the key are made of jatoba (courbaril) wood.

Technical details

Display of the hour and the minutes, display of the seconds by the tourbillon, winding and time-setting by key.
Dimensions: H 30 cm x L 20 cm x D 15 cm Movement: Diameter 110 mm, thickness 30 mm
Dial: Diameter 60 mm, diameter sanded background 45 mm, circling on the periphery i.e 7.5 mm, fixation screws identify 3h and 9h
Indication: Hours and minutes, second indications from the Tourbillon, winding and time setting with key.
Specificities: Tourbillon cage 42 mm diameter doing a complete rotation in 60 seconds.

Watchmaker: Théo Auffret

Creation: Tourbillon à Paris – Handmade Tourbillon regulator chronometer “à Paris” with traditional techniques

The Tourbillon à Paris watch was entirely hand-made. The movement is composed of a flat central base plate in maillechort and bridges, front and back. A great wheel meshes a cage rotating in 60 seconds. The balance wheel oscillates at a frequency of 18000 V/h. The chronometric cylinder is very high and allows for a tall spring that is long and thin to prolong the ideal chronometric period as much as possible. The cylinder, and the centre gear and the free-moving pinion are from the Maison Peuseux’s 260 high-end calibre, who created this movement in the first part of the twentieth century.

The centre gear meshes with a large mid-gear and this construction is not found very often because the module used is larger than the preceding one, but this choice makes it possible to reduce the number of gears in the calibre so as to reach the cage pinion of the Tourbillon, in fact, each gear added increases friction and reduces the efficiency of the calibre. Also, the large modules make it possible to have a very precise gear at the level of the interaxe. So a strong force will easily get to the cage pinion. Besides, the mid-gear rotation is visible due to the size of the cut-out.

The display is of the “regulator” type, so the hour hand is off-centre on the face made of silver and the minute hand in the centre joins a face in “a path of dots” on the outside of the front face. The hands were manufactured on 8 mm tour in 20AP steel for a perfect escapement, then finished with a file. Due to certain height limitations on certain parts, the watchmaker used key-screws, so one is visible above the escapement. This old technique keeps it firmly stable at only one point, but each time it has to be adjusted by hand.

Only two bridges are made of steel, on the back of the watch, and hold the last level of the watch, which is the cage pinion and the large mid-gear. All the screws were manufactured on a Schaublin 102, in steel, soaked, angled, pulled then polished. The case and the loop were handmade by twisting 900/1000 silver and by welding silver bars. The case alone required one month of work. The crown is made of white gold and the traversing loop screw of titanium. The cases mineral crystals were custom-made by a craftsman in Paris who worked with a case blank.

Technical details

Case: Silver 38 mm diameter, thickness 11.5 mm, silver clasp Movement: 14.5 lines, maillechort and steel bridges, spiral with Phillips curve, 18’000 V/h Escapement: lateral anchor wheel from Jaeger LeCoultre approx 1920 Power reserve: 40 hours Functions: Hours, minutes and 60 seconds cage Dial: Hours in fine silver, circled, polished, hands turned by hand and filed, polished and blued Bracelet: Alligator navy blue.

Specificities: The construction was studied in roder to prepare the piece for Chronometry in the easiest way, poising, setting. The sensitive watch organs have been specifically prepared to be solid and reliable (time setting, winding, click with large recoil. The goal being to make a solid and easy to wear watch on a daily basis.