The SIHH 2014 salon sees the unveiling of Baume &
Mercier’s Clifton 1892 Flying Tourbillon watch. This particular wonder, offered
in a very exclusive edition of 30 pieces, aims to demonstrate the excellence of
Swiss watchmaking and remind the world that Baume & Mercier, the seventh
oldest watch manufacturer still in operation, has real expertise in the art of
making accurate and complicated watches.
This new model included in the Clifton collection gives a
fair idea of the true measure of Baume & Mercier’s art, expressed in its
motto since the Maison’s founding in 1830: «Accept only perfection and only
manufacture watches of the highest quality.» This timepiece, with its exclusive
hand-wound caliber is the epitome of Haute Horlogerie.
The name of this high precision watch, regulated by a flying
tourbillon, refers to the history of the Maison that won 10 grand prix and
seven gold medals at various international exhibitions during the nineteenth century,
won prizes in chronometry competitions and shone throughout the twentieth
century with the quality of its construction and the aesthetics of its
creations. But this very exclusive model is also an example of Baume &
Mercier’s excellence in the art of etablissage, an ancient watchmaking practice
dating back to before the first manufactures.
The Clifton 1892 Flying Tourbillon watch in 18K red gold
stands out as an exceptional piece in the heart of the collection whose name it
bears.
Driven by an exclusive manually wound mechanical caliber
(P591) controlled by a flying tourbillon produced by the Val Fleurier
manufacturer, this piece revives the tradition of the house offering visually
attractive and highly accurate complication watches manufactured in the pure
tradition of Swiss watchmaking. Its finish of the highest quality, with a
winding ratchet wheel inspired by those on traditional pocket watches, the
«Côtes de Genève» decorations on the bridges, beading on the main plate as well
as traditional finishes of the various components, all assembled by the same
watchmaker, are all displayed through the wide transparent sapphire glass.
This traditional timepiece, made following the rules of the
art, has been designed to be perfectly adapted to the modern world. It has a
power reserve of 50 hours. An opening at 9 o’clock in the silvered opaline dial,
with its riveted 18K red gold numerals and indexes, offers a view of the
delicate flying tourbillon carriage rotating once a minute, unobstructed by any
bridge.
In creating the case for this large caliber, Baume &
Mercier’s Design Studio made sure that this generously proportioned watch -
45.5 mm - fits perfectly on the wrist. The “chevé” shaped glass and curved lugs
give a refined elegance to the studied style of the piece, matching the spirit
of the collection. Complex and understated at the same time, the watch comes in
a limited edition of 30 with a hand-sewn alligator strap, closed by a buckle.
Enough to turn the heads of Haute-Horlogerie aficionados.
TECHNICAL FEATURES
Clifton 1892 Flying Tourbillon - M0A10143
Movement: Mechanical hand-wound caliber Manufacture Val
Fleurier P591 Flying Tourbillon at 9 o’clock (1 rotation per minute)
Finishings: Circular-grained finished plate, Bridges with
“Côtes de Genève” decor, Blued steel screws
Characteristics: Thickness: 4.66 mm - Diameter: 38.20 mm /
16 ¾ ‘’’
Frequency: 28 800 – Vib/hour=4 Hz
21 Jewels
50 hour power reserve (1 barrel)
Function: Small Seconds
Case: Diameter: 45.5 mm; Polished & satin-finished 18K
red gold; Scratch-resistant “Chevé”-shaped sapphire crystal, antiglare
treatment; Sapphire crystal case back, fixed with screw; Engraving “Limited
Edition - xx/30”
Dial: Opaline silver-colored, riveted Arabic numerals,
indexes and hands in 18K red gold, blued steel small seconds hand
Strap: Hand-made, premium quality black alligator
Buckle: 18K red gold pin buckle
Water-resistance: 50 m
Gold weight (estimated): 56 gr
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