Christophe Claret The X-TREM-1
Christophe Claret is enriching its X-TREM-1 watch collection with a new variation. X-TREM-1 represents a major technical and aesthetic accomplishment: a flying tourbillon inclined at a 30° angle, mounted on a three-dimensional curvex titanium mainplate, equipped with a retrograde hours and minutes display system that is radically different from existing watchmaking conventions. Two tiny hollowed steel spheres, isolated within tubes on the left and right sides of the caseband, magically move with no mechanical connection thanks to magnetic fields.
Driven as ever by a determination to present avant-garde timepieces, 5N red gold and black grade 5 PVD titanium were the metals chosen to make the case of this new version of the X-TREM-1. The sapphire tubes have been replaced by cylindrical ring-bound tubes housing mobile stainless steel spheres indicating the time.
This version is produced in an 8-piece limited edition.
The Extreme Complications Watches line certainly deserves its name. It expresses Christophe Claret’s determination to continue pushing the boundaries of mechanical watchmaking, integrating certain fields of research never previously applied in this domain. X-TREM-1 is a fine example of this approach that involves using a system driven by magnetic fields display the hours and minutes.
The challenge was bold and some might say a little crazy: How could someone possibly think about introducing a magnetic field – the arch enemy of horological mechanisms – into the heart of a watch? The Christophe Claret team has done just that by creating a system where two small steel spheres – hollowed to make them lighter and encased within two tubes placed to the right and left of the caseband – are controlled by precision magnetic fields generated by two miniature magnets moved by cables. The cables are incredibly flexible, made from hundreds of Dyneema nanofibers all contained within an ultra-high-strength polyethylene gel, capable of withstanding tensile forces of up to a kilo. The entire thread is thinner than a human hair (4 hundredths of a mm in diameter). The resistance of the thread has been tested in the Manufacture Claret on an accelerated-wear simulator corresponding to six years of operation.
The spheres have no mechanical connection with the movement, with each one floating inside the two tubes and creating outstanding horological magic. This technology was developed with the School of Business and Engineering Vaud (HEIG-VD) in Yverdon-les-Bains, and a team headed by Professor Besson.
The entire construction and finishing of this timepiece meets the extreme demands systematically imposed by Christophe Claret. Ultra-light titanium was used for the three-dimensional curvex mainplate and the bridges. The flying tourbillon is fitted with double ceramic bearings to enhance its shock-resistance. It is inclined at a 30-degree angle in order to make it even more clearly visible to the wearer. The hand-wound watch draws its energy from two barrels enabling the use of a sophisticated display without disturbing the rate of the tourbillon, and thus the accuracy of the watch. The first barrel is reserved for the tourbillon, the second for the hours and minutes.
X-TREM-1 Technical Specifications
Movement:
Caliber: FLY11 - mechanical, hand-wound movement
Dimensions: 26.6 x 46.4 x 11.94 mm
Number of components: 419
Number of jewels: 64
Display-regulation escapement: The tourbillon movement and the time indication gear trains each have their own independent energy supply to optimize power distribution and duration.
Tourbillon: -Swiss lever
-Frequency: 3 Hz (21,600 vph)
-Tourbillon rotates once every 60 seconds
-Flying tourbillon inclined at 30° supported by a double ceramic bearing, with cone-shaped pinion transmission
Functions: -Mystery hours and minutes displayed with indications provided by hollowed steel spheres moving 23 mm inside two cylindrical tubes. The metal spheres are driven by magnetic carriages following a thread.
-Seconds displayed on the tourbillon cage
-Movement state-of-wind indication
-Fast time adjustment is via an integrated pusher on the caseband at 12 o’clock
Mainplate: -Curvex with sides inclined at 30° angle
-Mainplate and bridges in bead-blasted titanium
-Open-worked ratchet and wheel
Distinctive feature: -Use of precisely-shaped magnetic fields in a mechanical movement
-No mechanical connection between the indications and the movement
-Winding and time-setting via lift-out rotating “bows” on caseback
Case: -Rectangular with curvex profile
-Dimensions: 40.80 x 56.80 x 15 mm
-Water resistance: 3 ATM / 30 m / 100 ft
The price for the Christophe Claret The X-TREM-1 MTR-FLY11.150-158 is CHF 268,000(ex VAT).
