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Magnus (Moderator)
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Sunday 06 April 2008 7:11:47 pm
The Blancpain 'Carrousel Volant Une Minute' in detail: MANY pictures!
Dear All:
what at the first view looks like a new tourbillon, is indeed a veritable tour de force presented by Blancpain: The 'Carrousel Volant Une Minute' nothing less than:
- the first wristwatch Karussel in the world
- the first automatic Karussel in the world
- the first flying Karussel in the world
- the first one-minute Karussel in the world
- the first Karussel with centrally located balance
Blancpain chose a very technical approach to highlight the novel complication, by using the signatory transparent dial:
The back of the watch, while showcasing an exquisite finishing, resembles the well-known and appreciated Blancpain Tourbillon:
The dial itself features several layers with a remarkable 3-D effect, a magnificent stage for the truly haute de gamme finishing style:
The Karussel itself resides lordly atop the movement. Due to the design implications of a Karussel, it builds thicker than a Tourbillon. Initially, you might not detect difference to a 'common' Tourbillon. This is due the ironic approach Marc A. Hayek opted for: If Blancpain already has a Tourbillon which many declare being a Karussel due to its off-side location of the balance, why not creating a Karussel with a centrally located balance - just like most Tourbillons? If you see the cage in motion, you might notice that there is no fixed fourth wheel:
Further paying hommage to the Blancpain Tourbillon theme sharing the same precision-improving objective, the watch features a power reserve at the 6 o'clock and a date (short finger days 1 - 15, long finger dates 16 - 31):
I have to say that I first was quite neutral to this watch, but now, after two days: I love it!
More to come, with technical backgorund and pictures from the naked movement, in a couple of days. I need some rest!
Thanks and enjoy,
Magnus
Technical Data Ref. 00225-3434-63B
Case: Platinum - Diameter 43,5 mm - Thickness ??? mm - Water-resistance 100 m - Between horns ??? mm - sapphire back
Movement: Cal. 225 - Diameter 26,2 mm - Thickness 5,89 mm - Power Reserve 100 h - Rubies 356 - Components 262 handfinished parts
Price: Ref. 00225-3434-63B (CHF 200.000.-). Limited to 188 pieces.
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