The larger clock is a minute repeating clock, it chimes the time when the
moonstone button on the top is pressed. It has an 8 day power reserve, as does
the smaller clock. Coloured enamelled objects like these clocks were popular in
the late 19th and early 20th century, Faberge is probably the best known maker
of such items. Last year saw the first Cartier Fine Watchmaking event in
Singapore (click here for photos of the 2010 dinner). It was a success and
Cartier once again hosted a dinner to show the 2011 Fine Watchmaking collection,
at the same replica
cartier santos
as last year. This year's dinner featured a
international selection of guests, some of whom had flown between one and 18
hours to be here. Unfortunately for the guests who had endured a long flight,
attendees had to endure a lengthy talk by a Cartier forum moderator, just like
in 2010, explaining the excruciating details of watches like the Astroregulateur
and Astrotourbillon. Fortunately the 1998 Krug Vintage Brut served before dinner
and the 1999 Château Margaux helped alleviate the situation slightly.
The
food was outstanding. Les Amis set a very high bar last year, and everyone
agreed they did not disappoint in 2011. There were lots of Cartier watches
circulating around, both from the wrists of guests as well as from the
collection of prototypes replica
hublot big bang
in for the event. The favourites of the night were
the Calibre de Cartier Astrotourbillon and the Santos Dumont Skeleton Titanium
ADLC. In fact the titanium Santos Dumont had already been ordered in Singapore,
in a customised, unique execution, prior to the dinner. That will be revealed on
this forum once it's delivered.
I was having a discussion with a fellow
collector, a gentleman who is discerning and educated, about the Cartier
Astroregulateur. You can read my detailed explanation of the Astroregulateur
here but in essence the movement is designed to address the same issues of
gravity as a tourbillon, except in the modern context of a wristwatch. Remember
that the tourbillon was originally conceived by Breguet for a clock or pocket
watch, which were always standing upright. My friend had commented the watch was
expensive; retail is EUR250, 000 or thereabouts. I explained that the
Astroregulateur is as complicated as a tourbillon, the winding mechanism alone
(including the pendular seconds) has 130 parts, and is functionally replica
hublot big bang king
to a multi-axis tourbillon, at least in
theory. And conceptually it was innovative and creative, a novel approach to a
known problem instead of the conventional approach which is multiplying the axes
of the tourbillon. His response was, "But it's not a tourbillon! "
So
that brings me to the issue of perception. A tourbillon is perceived to be
complicated and consequently expensive. Yet that is not quite the case.
Traditionally a tourbillon was rare because the parts were small, thus difficult
to machine and finish. And subsequent assembly and adjustment was difficult.
Modern technology has made it easier to produce a tourbillon at all levels,
which explains why Jaeger-LeCoultre could make the Reverso Platinum 2 tourbillon
in a limited edition of 500 in three years. On the other hand, estimates vary
but it’s safe to say only a couple of hundred in total, including wristwatches
and pocket watches, were made from invention to the nineties. I have myself
disassembled a tourbillon. Well to be specific I disassembled the whole movement
and removed the tourbillon regulator as a whole without taking the tourbillon
regulator itself apart. I personally feel it is as complicated a taking apart a
chronograph, which i have done, and a perpetual calendar, which i have not. But
if you don’t believe me, Christophe Claret made a similar point when i
interviewed him in 2010. “The tourbillon is the most simple [movement] of my
production. It is a very nice complication, but for me it’s not very technical.
” In fact, Claret also said, “This is why many people like to make [tourbillon
watches] – to make money. ".