The decadence of Time !

SIHH 2013: Cartier

Complications revolve around Cartier’s style in this Astrotourbillon featuring delicate diamond and silicon components that never need adjustment

The Astrotourbillon Carbon Crystal is a limited-edition production model featuring several carbon crystal components, made of diamond-coated silicon and were originally developed for Cartier’s ID One and ID Two concept watches. The Astro-tourbillon’s carbon crystal tourbillon bridges, escape wheel and anchor require no lubrication or adjustment. The escapement of the Astrotourbillon rotates as an attention-commanding second hand around the watch mechanism, the centre island of which is skeletonised yet sleek and minimalistic. The timepiece’s 47-millimetre case is made of niobium-titanium, an alloy widely used for semi-conductor coils but well adapted to contain Cartier’s calibre 9460 MC movement. It is anticipated that only 50 of this watch will be produced.

SIHH 2013: Officine Panerai

Officine Panerai serves up a timepiece capable of resisting great watery depths and the even greater pull of magnetism

Named for its antimagnetic properties, the Luminor Amagnetic resists fields up to 40,000 amps per square metre – more than eight times the international standard established by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. Inside the 47-millimetre titanium watch case, Panerai’s P.9000 calibre movement is isolated in a soft iron Faraday cage to protect it from magnetic fields. The watch case is classic Luminor, with its trademarked crown-protecting lever, ensuring water resistance to 300 metres. The anti-clockwise rotating bezel now features ceramic indications inlays, enhancing Luminor’s style and durability. The dial displays small seconds at the nine o’clock position, while the date window is positioned at three o’clock. The in-house movement’s notable attributes are its jumping hour and date function for quick time adjustment, plus a three-day power reserve.

Greubel Forsey Invention Piece 2.
Greubel Forsey produces some of the world’s most complicated timepieces.

The Swiss watchmaker’s Invention Piece 2 epitomises the brand with a watch that has a staggering four tourbillons. The mechanisms run in tandem, balancing each other to produce a more accurate timepiece encased in a platinum or 18-carat red gold case that is 43.5 millimetres wide. Visually there is no separation between the watch dial and movement. The casual observer might see only two tourbillons in the watch, but a closer look reveals that each contains another tourbillon in this truly unmatched piece.

Greubel Forsey’s Invention Piece 2 was awarded the “Best Complicated Watch” prize during the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève on Thursday 15th November. The prize is awarded to the best watch in the Complicated category. Stephen Forsey, who received the award on behalf of Greubel Forsey, said: “We are very honoured to be awarded this prize for Invention Piece 2. This timepiece pays homage to our second Fundamental Invention, the Quadruple Tourbillon. Its open heart architecture reveals the intricate beauty of its complex mechanism and refined hand-finishing. This prize is independent recognition of Greubel Forsey’s constant quest to improve timekeeping performance and pursuit of excellence in horological art.”