The Blancpain 'Carrousel Volant Une Minute' in detail: MANY pictures!

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Magnus (Moderator)	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 Carrousel in the world - the first automatic Carrousel in the world - the first flying Carrousel in the world - the first one-minute Carrousel in the world - the first Carrousel 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 Carrousel itself resides lordly atop the movement. Due to the design implications of a Carrousel, 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 Carrousel due to its off-side location of the balance, why not creating a Carrousel 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 14 mm - Water-resistance 100 m - Between horns 22 mm - sapphire back Movement: Cal. 225 - Diameter 26,2 mm - Thickness 5,89 mm - Power Reserve 100 h - Rubies 36 - Components 262 handfinished parts Price: Ref. 00225-3434-63B (CHF 200.000.-). Limited to 288 pieces. (Post updated on 12 October 2008 to show complete technical data and correct number of limited edition)

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Magnus (Moderator)

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 Carrousel in the world
- the first automatic Carrousel in the world
- the first flying Carrousel in the world
- the first one-minute Carrousel in the world
- the first Carrousel 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 Carrousel itself resides lordly atop the movement. Due to the design implications of a Carrousel, 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 Carrousel due to its off-side location of the balance, why not creating a Carrousel 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 14 mm - Water-resistance 100 m - Between horns 22 mm - sapphire back

Movement: Cal. 225 - Diameter 26,2 mm - Thickness 5,89 mm - Power Reserve 100 h - Rubies 36 - Components 262 handfinished parts

Price: Ref. 00225-3434-63B (CHF 200.000.-). Limited to 288 pieces.

(Post updated on 12 October 2008 to show complete technical data and correct number of limited edition)