The Christophe Claret X-TREM-1 Pinball for Only Watch 2013
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.Taking its inspiration from pinball machines, Pinball is a highly distinctive interpretation of Christophe Claret’s X-TREM-1 with its tiny metal balls indicating hours and minutes through new, grilled sapphire tubes allowing the time display to be in direct contact with the exterior. The Le Locle-based watchmaker Christophe Claret has also reworked the appearance of the movement so it resembles the inside of a pinball machine: Bumpers, slingshots and balls are all evoked inside the highly visible mechanism. Even the cool blue and bright orange colours reflect the Pinball concept.
Case: rectangular with curvex profile, 40.80 x 56.80 x 15 mm, hours and minutes are indicated by two 4mm-diameter hollowed spheres weighing 0.100 grams that move past sapphire scales marked with thin orange Super-LumiNova graduations beneath the sapphir, 3 ATM or 30 m, polished white gold/blue anodised Perunal-type aluminium.
Movement: caliber FLY11, exclusive to Christophe Claret, mechanical, hand-wound, 26.6 x 46.4 x 11.94 mm, 419 parts, 64 jewels, power reserve: 50+ hours, 3 Hz (21,600 vph), flying tourbillon inclined at 30° supported by a double ceramic bearing, with cone-shaped pinion transmission and rotates once every 60 seconds, Swiss lever escapement, dual barrels: one for the movement gear train and one for the time indications, the tourbillon movement and the time indication gear trains each have their own independent energy supply to optimise the power reserve.
Pusher: fast time adjustment is via an integrated pusher on the middle at 12 o’clock.
Bows: winding and time-setting via rotating “bows” that fold under caseback.
Strap: blue alligator, orange stitching, equipped with an innovative two-screw fastening system that facilitates strap change and avoids damaging the case.
Requested price: CHF 290’000 – 360’000
(Photo credit: courtesy of CHRISTOPHE CLARET)
Gaetano C. @Horbiter – Watches & Luxury
