Heavenly De Bethune

I’ve included this amazing piece from De Bethune as it seems to fall pretty much into the sphere of Art and whilst it’s ostensibly for ladies, at 40mm diameter it suits me very well, especially if I was into astronomy! With hand-polished and blued titanium, the sparkling twinkle of the white gold and diamond stars, and the muted glow of the curved blued steel hands . . . . . this is no ordinary watch.

The round sphere of the moon is set with diamonds and sapphires galore (plus Sapphires too) so a bit above the daily beater class, but hey – sometimes you’ve just got to splash out! I love the fact that you can have the star-studded sky personalized on request according to a specific geographical place and even date!

The movement is automatic (self winding), twin barrel with a 6 day reserve, with a special triple shock absorbing system, 27 jewels and 28,800 vibrations per hour and a silicon/platinum balance wheel – just shouts a technically excellent and serious piece of kit and very impressive.

Do I like it? – YES!

Can I afford it?- eh . . . . NO!

Would my Wife like it? . . . .actually she said – NO!

You have no idea how that pleases me and the reason is she tells me, that she prefers numbers on her watches, otherwise how can you tell the time – she says . . .!

Isn’t that sweet!

😉

DeBethune, make some amazing watches and complications that to coin a well known phrase, simply reach “where no man has gone before” (sorry Star Treck) – but they are quite astonishing – and if you have to ask the price – maybe they’re not for you – or me!

Ressence – disk

Been around for a while now, though this is the first time I’ve actually come across it – possibly as maybe I’m not in the right financial bracket – but anyway – it is a fact and not for the first time, that an old idea, such as disks instead of hands, comes to the fore, but more than often with little success. Perhaps another reason why it’s never taken my attention. – until now –

This time – Ressence have managed to turn this re-invention into a super modern concept that actually manages to excite an old guy like me. I mean, let’s face it, so many variations of portraying time can be either silly, overly complicated or darn right ludicrous.

The super cool Ressence Type 1 – Orbital Convex System – copywrite Ressence

Not so with this wonderful high quality model from Belgium – the Ressence type 1 watch. The first time I saw it I was hooked – it is just amazing! It’s a true mobile display that works on every level for me. Clarity is superb and so easy to read, day or night, instant calendar information, Date, Day, am/pm, hours, seconds and all in a truly inspired case, with a setting system that is both innovative, efficient and seemingly easy to manage.

The featured one is the Type 1, which I assume is the simplest of them and there are 5 models in all, each with a different aspect and look, but with the same integral patented three-dimensional complication or ROC – the Ressence Orbital Convex system.

The image here just gives an impression of the look. CHECK OUT the following link –

HERE

It gives you an idea of how it moves and gives a glimpse into the amazing system that could be on your wrist – though unfortunately for me – way out of my price range.

And the Type 5 is just something else! Especially underwater! You can see it HERE – amazing!

But I can dream!

Note – the images/ link are property & Copywrite of Ressence and I show them simply as reference to something special – I’m in awe!

Independent Artists (3)

My third foray into the almost conceptual world of Independent Watchmakers, who produce some of the most fascinating timepieces not seen on any High Street. So I like to share these masterpieces (that’s what they are) with everybody as often their web sites, unless you already know the name, are quite obscure and unseen.
I offer no critique (I’m not qualified to do so) apart from my admiration of these Masters of timepieces and simply present them for your interest and Link where possible directly to their web sites. This is the Red Gold “Logical One” from Romain Gauthier of Switzerland.

"Logical One" from Romain Gauthier — “Logical One” from Romain Gauthier

This Limited Edition model features a 60 hour power reserve, push button winding and an innovative and quite unexpected chain and fusee style constant force system – and I can do no more than point you towards his web site HERE.

Independent Artists (2)

Every week or so I have a look to see what the Independent Watch Maker has on offer. This is my second Independent Artist feature, which basically is just a taster without too much if any detail, but here is a LINK to their web site if further detail is required. A little out of my league of course, but artistry doesn’t come cheap!

Watchmaker Christian Klings is from Dresden, Germany and one of his marvelous creations is the
Tourbillon N.7 –

A 18 k yellow gold case Diameter 42, Height 12mm – Free sprung bimetallic balance:4 gold screws for regulation, blued hairspring ,18 000p/h
Anti tarnish silver dial: Guilloche`texture own design, winding indicator,40h power reserve,moon phase, Geneva stripes (1500 grain) satin gold plated movement.

Further information can be found on his web site HERE.

The Desmodromic
Wristwatch with shock resistant single beat Chronometer escapement with pivoted detent. Locking regulated through the escapement wheel, without spring returning the detent.

I quote from his website –

“His skill of making watches depends mostly on the touch of his hands, and not the machinery. The detail of the mechanism is visible through the exhibition back, and sometimes on the dial side of the watch. Some of his designs and innovations, like Tourbillon Nr.7, or modified versions of pivoted detent escapements in wristwatches (as above) which are resistant against shock, cover one of the most difficult aspects of watchmaking. Some of his complicated timepieces may have more appeal to the scientist than the watch collector”.

Well I’m no scientist, just a humble watch collector myself but I simply love his work – period!

A masterpiece

This started off as a note in my “Latest” page this week, but I simply had move it to this post, so it could be shared by everyone. IF you’ve not seen this and you love watches, timekeeping, mechanics and Art – AND a combination f all of those, then this is a treat. From master watchmaker Jaquet Droz comes something very special.

I know when I first saw this a year ago I was utterly blown away and as a collector of watches it was pretty obvious this was WAY out of my league – BUT hey! you can dream!

I hope to add a few more animation videos when I find ones that interest me – I’ll probably make a new page entitled “The Art of Time” featuring hopefully something a bit special each time.