The equalising round table is key to the world of King Arthur’s legend. Though this essential set-up is non-negotiable, creating a design born from this concentric requirement provided a challenge the watchmakers were not afraid to take on.
Displaying true technical prowess, the monotourbillon emerges from the centre of the timepiece in a powerful demonstration of advanced mechanics. Becoming the shield against the gravitational force endangering the heroes and precision alike, the knights stand proudly around this iconic feat of engineering knowing they will tackle their common invisible enemy together.
Just as the 12 knights take their duty to protect the realm seriously, the Maison’s quest for peak performance is realised by expanding the diametre of the balance wheel to increase stability and ensure the movement is less sensitive to gravity’s effects.
Defending horological mastery from the threat of gravity is no easy task for the hour-marked heroes cast in pink gold and crafted individually through micro-sculpture. Small enough to fit in a timepiece but mighty enough to represent the commitment, passion and boldness, each knight is
just 6mm tall, created with his own personality and equipped with armour.
Such an exceptional timepiece had to feature equally exceptional hands, fully integrated into the circular design. That is why two gold markers were chosen to indicate the position of the minutes and hours with perfectly centred rotating discs. What is more, translucent purple blocks carved from Murano glass appear to levitate around the monotourbillon while the double surfaced flange is carved from a single bock of the same material.
Creating this effect involved playing with no less than eight layers of decor around the dial, a true feat considering the limited surface area. In keeping with the design, and to respect the position of the knight at 3 o’clock, the setting system is offset to a position at 2 o’clock. Push
down on this function and a small red flag indicates that the timepiece has moved from winding to setting mode.
Available in a 45mm pink gold case sealed by a notched bezel, the timepiece, rewarded with the Poinçon de Genève, is paired with an embossed black calf-leather strap.
Dubois Dépraz proposes a new calibre
“How can you remove a pushbutton or function corrector, without removing the function?” Such was the brief given to the technical teams of Dubois Dépraz in the spring of 2021. The quest for simplicity is a challenge with which the teams at the Manufacture in Le Lieu are frequently confronted, whether in developing their own designs or meeting specific customer requirements.
The specifications were then complemented by the desire expressed to be able to apply the solution found to a highly sought-after watchmaking complication: the dual-time indication commonly known as GMT.
The result is undeniably innovative and worthy of Dubois Dépraz’ creative reputation. For the new DD360 Gravity, a single pusher is sufficient to adjust the second time zone. An energetic rotation of the wrist enables selection of two different functions for one and the same pusher.
One can thus choose to move the local time hand forwards or backwards when travelling. An indicator on the dial shows in which direction the adjustment will be made – a simple and ingenious solution.
Home time is displayed by a central 12-hour hand combined with a day/night indicator in an aperture at 9 o’clock. It is located below the one indicating the local time. This design enables these two hands to be perfectly superimposed when the wearer is not travelling, a detail appreciated by purists.
The date display is linked to the local time display. When the time zone is adjusted past midnight, the date jumps in either direction. Based on a Sellita SW300 movement with a power reserve
of approximately 56 hours, the new DD360 Gravity has a diametre of 30mm and a thickness of 1.60mm (5.20mm with the base movement).
All steel parts are single-thickness, a fact that facilitates decoration. The calibre is also adaptable to any Manufacture movement.
Information courtesy of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH)