Tourbillon Force Constante à Chaîne

Caracteristics

Description

The Tourbillon à Force Constante à Chaîne, an original and sophisticated innovation from DeWitt

Quite simply a renewal of the genre: the Tourbillon à Force Constante à Chaîne is just as huge a leap forward as its predecessor in 2006. This world-first had caused a sensation at the time by innovating with regard to the fundamental principles of a watch mechanism. The Tourbillon à Force Constante is now taking a huge new step with the addition of a miniature chain. Both entertaining and fully functional, this sophisticated and unprecedented system serves as a link between the available energy and its corresponding power-reserve indicator.

At its launch in 2006, the Tourbillon à Force Constante had already written a new chapter in watchmaking history by providing the answer to a question as old as the mechanical movement itself: how can one ensure the perfectly regular transmission of energy to the mechanism? This apparently simple question calls for a technically complex response. Between the state of full winding or an entirely depleted power reserve, the barrel spring supplies a steadily diminishing amount of energy as it uncoils. This difference naturally affects the regularity of a rate of a watch, and thus its precision. Despite the vast amount of research conducted in this sophisticated field since the 17^th century, no concept has so brilliantly solved the problem as the Tourbillon à Force Constante by DeWitt.

A resolutely novel solution

The principle of the constant force device resides in the insertion in a traditional movement of an additional mechanism which will favourably influence regularity: its purpose is to exchange a motive power which can be variable or irregular (effort of a gear-train or barrel spring) for another perfectly constant force, whatever the degree of winding of the barrel, or more simply of the watch movement. In other words, contrary to a classical movement which experiences a progressive decrease of the force transmitted to the regulator between the initial winding torque and the end of the power-reserve, the constant force device is designed to transmit impulses whose energy remains identical and regular whatever the degree of winding of the barrel spring. 
The constant force device absorbs the force generated by the barrel once every second and redistributes it every 10 seconds to the tourbillon. This principle can be observed by watching the elegant inertia weight of the constant force system, in the shape of a cross terminating in four hammers, as it completes 6 revolutions per minute. This device also features its very own balance-spring. This construction enables the mainspring to be constantly supplied with a level of energy superior to that required by the Tourbillon regulator (patented by DeWitt).

A further step

DeWitt shifts to a higher gear in terms of this development by enriching it with a clever system designed to relay the degree of energy to the power-reserve indicator. Rotating the crown when winding the barrel spring drives the miniature chain that is visible on the dial. Composed of entirely hand-crafted elements, this chain uses an intermediate wheel to activate the power-reserve indicator sliding on a worm screw. When the pointer is in the red zone, it indicates a reserve that is dwindling to almost nothing, whereas when it moves into the green zone, it signals an appropriate state of wind of the barrel spring.

The ingenious patented mechanical manually-wound Calibre DW 8050 is protected by a 43mm-diameter case featuring a bezel and middle graced with the brand’s exclusive “Imperial Columns” motif. The dial, composed of a black lower part and a silver-coloured striped upper section, features various openings revealing the complexity of the mechanism and its various devices.

 The Tourbillon à Force Constante à Chaîne is teamed with an alligator leather strap fitted with a platinum folding clasp. The sophisticated opening and closing mechanism ensures optimal user-friendliness and comfort on the wrist. The Tourbillon à Force Constante à Chaîne will be issued in a strictly limited edition.