CHRONOSWISS Chronoscope CM

It All Comes Down to the Minute

Gerd-Rüdiger Lang, given the title—with equal measures of reverence and affection—of Mr. Chronograph by many, has always been one to speak plainly, never silent on the subject of who was and is involved in his ticking treasures and what they do. In fact, the trained master watchmaker tends to call a spade a spade. He has, therefore, named one of his iconographic timepieces and its exclusive inner workings not chronograph, but—quite correctly—Chronoscope.

In so doing, Chronoswiss, the Bavarian watch factory behind this timepiece is taking a look at the origins of that which is regularly referred to today—with a certain carelessness—as a chronograph. In 1844, a resourceful watchmaker from the remote Vallée de Joux by the name of Adolphe Nicole came up with a small heart-shaped disk that allowed the second hand, which could be stopped independently of the movement, to be reset instantaneously from every position. Nicole attached an equally clever control mechanism directly to the base plate under the dial, connecting the chronograph to the “motor” when needed—very much like the clutch in a car. Because the French word for “dial” is cadran, and French is of course the watchmaker’s language, such under-dial mechanisms are known as cadratures. Unlike the chronograph patented in 1821 by Nicolas-Mathieu Rieussec, which marked the stopped time in ink directly on the dial, Nicole’s creation only displayed it. Thus, logically, his invention had to be called a chronoscope if the name was to be accurate (from Greek skopein = to see, in contrast to Greek graphein = to write). For Gerd-Rüdiger Lang it was therefore a matter of honor that he christen his freshly developed chronograph—presented in 2002—with the elegantly simple, yet technically absolutely correct, term Chronoscope.

Recalling the chronograph pioneers of the previous century, Chronoswiss attaches its complex cadrature, which was developed in collaboration with Swiss watchmaker Andreas Strehler, directly onto the base plate of Caliber C.122 as was customary among the old masters. This is not just any old commonplace movement, but rather a highly exclusive affair that can only be found nowadays at Chronoswiss. This automatic movement, Chronoswiss Caliber C.122, has been thoroughly optimized, painstakingly finished, and ideally modified with the inclusion of an off-center hour hand at 12 o’clock. Chronoswiss has made a significant investment in the Chronoscope’s base plate, creating special milled and drilled areas for the added chronograph mechanism; the start, stop, and reset of the sweep chronograph seconds is handled by a single crown button. Inside the movement, a classic column wheel rotates intelligently around the staff of the continuously running second hand at 6 o’clock, ensuring that the event sequence runs smoothly when  using the chronograph function. The dependable vibrating pinion connects the movement to the  chronograph module. Chronoswiss regards its chronograph wheel as an expression of modern horology,  borne on ball bearings, it is the only one of its kind to date.

Since many timing intervals last longer than 60 seconds, the Chronoscope is finally now available including a  minute counter. One possible solution might have been a totalizator, which would have counted each revolution of the sweep chronograph seconds, indicating it on the dial with a hand. There were, however, concrete reasons not to settle for this solution.

For one thing, it would have, at the very least, detracted from the harmonious appearance of the regulator dial—if not to say that it would have been a major disruption of such. Aside from which, Gerd-Rüdiger Lang wanted to be true to himself and simply do something different—something out of the ordinary that would also create an entirely new look for Chronoswiss.

The result is the 2009 unveiling of the brand-new Chronoscope CM (Compteur Minutes). This chronograph wristwatch “with a twist” counts the minutes in a completely novel way once the stopwatch is started— and needs a quick additional step to get going. Once the prominent diamond-shaped marking on the easyto-grip rotating bezel has been set to the tip of the long minute hand, the duration of the timed event becomes available at a glance; and the days of peering at small, barely visible minute counters of conventional “chronographs” are finally a thing of the past. As a matter of fact, the form chosen by Gerd-Rüdiger Lang offers the additional advantages of a countdown timer. Let’s assume that the time running on a parking meter after inserting some coins is 30 minutes. In this case, it suffices to synchronize the 30-minute index with the current location of the minute hand without using the stopwatch; when the hand gets to the diamond-shaped marker, it’s time to either move the car or put some more money in the meter. That’s what perfectionist Gerd-Rüdiger Lang is getting at when he talks about functionality. At this point we’d like to draw your attention to the special design of the minute hand: it is exceptionally long and when the observer takes a closer look, he or she will notice that it actually has two tips. The first, shorter, one displays the minutes as usual, while the second one reaches to the edge of the dial, thus pointing directly to the minutes stopped by the chronograph on the rotating bezel’s minute scale when the chronograph is on.

It goes without saying that the watchmakers at Chronoswiss pull out all the stops when applying their extraordinary craftsmanship to the art of finishing 26 mm x 6.69 mm automatic Caliber C.125. The skeletonized, gold-plated, ball-bearing rotor and bridges are resplendent in fine côtes de Genève. The careful polishing of the pallet lever, escape wheel, and screws also fall within the spectrum of distinctive finishing. According to their creator, such masterpieces deserve special hands—which are not only extremely slender and delicate, but also have that particular reddish-blue color typical of the hands found on the first mechanical pocket chronographs. Experts called this shade lie de vin in honor of the unavoidable sediment found in valuable old bottles of red wine. The solid case comprising 22 parts certainly has its own style, and although it has been much imitated over the past twenty years, it is simply an impossible act to follow. The distinctive rotating bezel is not only yet another upgrade to the timepiece’s precious water-resistant encasement, but also a further aspect that makes it unique. And in the end, each Chronoswiss watch is characterized by aspects of the unique.

Technical Specifications

Model
Chronoscope CM

Reference no.
CH 1541 R (18 carat red gold)
CH 1543 (stainless steel)

Model
Large automatic chronograph wristwatch with regulator dial and minute counter via rotating bezel

Displays
Hours, minutes, seconds, sweep chronograph seconds, tachymeter on the dial and minute counter via rotating bezel

Case
Solid 22-part case

Case options
18 carat red gold (5N)
Stainless steel

Water resistance
3 atm

Dimensions
Diameter: 42.5 mm; height: 12.4 mm

Movement
C. 125

Modifications (on the Chronoscope model and its variations)
Completely re-designed chronograph mechanism with vibrating pinion, ball-bearing chronograph wheel (a chronograph premier)
Diameter 26.00 mm (11 3/4 ’’’)
Height 6.69 mm (not including dial train)

Jewels
30

Balance
Glucydur, three-legged
Balance spring Nivarox I flat hairspring

Fine adjustment
Via eccentric screw

Shock protection
Incabloc

Frequency
3 Hz, 21,600 vph

Power reserve
35 hours

Remarks
Skeletonized and gold-plated rotor with côtes de Genève, ball bearings; polished pallet lever, escape wheel, and screws; plates with perlage; bridges with côtes de Genève and perlage; individually numbered

Special feature
Minute counter via rotating bezel

Source www.chronoswiss.com

LANGE ZEITWERK, white gold, dial black, time bridge made of untreated German silver. Manually wound, jumping hours and minutes, small seconds hand with stop seconds, power-reserve indicator. Lange manufacture calibre L043.1 with constant-force escapement.

With a new timepiece concept, A. Lange & Söhne ventures a bold step forward Often, it is a new face that ushers in new times. That was the case after the rift in Europe had healed and the LANGE 1 paved the way for the comeback of A. Lange & Söhne. Fifteen years ago, it enriched the realm of horology with a fundamentally new concept and unprecedented technical finesse. As a design icon, it has long conquered its place at the pinnacle of timelessness. Now, with a mechanical, precisely jumping hour and minute indication of singular clarity, Lange presents another milestone. So yet again, a new face ushers in the next era in timekeeping. Its name: LANGE ZEITWERK.

“I shut my eyes in order to see” – the creative maxim of famous French painter Paul Gauguin was adopted by Lange’s calibre engineers and designers as they resolved to explore uncharted territory and, from an unbiased viewpoint, devise a watch that would be evolutionary and progressive in every respect. Ultimately, progress is always a result of curiosity. The question at Lange was: “Can the principles of a mechanical watch and a modern time indication format be persuasively combined?” The answer is the first mechanical wristwatch with a truly eloquent jumping numeral display. It is a watch that reinterprets time in an era of change. It not only endows time with a new face but also defines a new direction in watchmaking. It is a timepiece that embodies the spirit of time and simultaneously transcends it. Indeed, it is a watch that lets its owner experience a totally new sense of time.

LANGE ZEITWERK

A fresh design concept underscores the paradigm shift: The German-silver time bridge unfolds its wings across the entire width of the dial to prominently frame the large numerals of the laterally aligned windows that present the hours and minutes. It extends down to encircle the subsidiary seconds dial as well, uniting all three levels of time measurement in a harmonious setting. With its easy-to-grip bevelled flutes, the knurled crown points up and away, predicting an upswing movement. And in the upper third of the dial, the continuous power-reserve indicator reliably tells the owner when it is time to re-energise the movement.

With its emblematic name, the LANGE ZEITWERK is a watch that stands for uncompromising clarity. Thanks to the unparalleled size of its numerals, it tells the current time at even a cursory glance. With a whispered click and within fractions of a second, the minute display advances step by step until the watch initiates the big jump at the top of the hour. At this point, all three numeral discs switch forward simultaneously and instantaneously by exactly one unit. Here, timekeeping is elevated to the status of an event. The perfect moment for the showdown is at 11:59 – “high noon” in a widescreen format. The seconds hand embarks on its leisurely trajectory along the periphery of the subsidiary dial. Time seems to slow down as its course is deliberately observed. Thirty seconds to go. Mounting suspense. Then: ten … three, two, one – click – 12:00. One small step for a watch, but a giant leap for horology.

Beneath the extraordinary face, an equally revolutionary movement with a diameter of 33.6 millimetres fully occupies the space inside the 41.9-millimetre gold or platinum case.

LANGE ZEITWERK, platinum, dial rhodié, time bridge made of untreated German silver.

The significant amount of energy required to simultaneously advance all three numeral discs once every hour is delivered by a newly developed barrel with an extra-strong mainspring. Its patented design literally turns the venerable wind/unwind principle upside down. Thus, the mainspring barrel bearing with the higher friction rating is involved when the watch is being wound, but the barrel wheel always turns in the minimised-friction bearing as the mainspring gradually relaxes. This makes more torque available for powering the watch as well as the ensemble of discs with the hour and minute numerals.

A constant-force escapement, also patented, between the barrel wheel and the balance acts as a pacemaker for the jumping advance of the hours and minutes – in its compactness, the mechanism is quite likely unprecedented. The forces that occur when the numeral discs are accelerated and braked are far beyond the magnitude normally encountered in a movement. To absorb them, a fly governor was integrated in the mechanism. As it rotates, its vanes must displace air like a fan; it is this resistance that dissipates much of the energy and assures gentle switching.

At the same time, the constant-force escapement makes an important contribution to stabilising the rate of the movement: across the entire 36-hour autonomy period, it drives the balance with nearly uniform power, regardless of the state of wind of the mainspring and unaffected by the energy-consuming switching cycles that take place in one-minute intervals. Incidentally, a balance wheel with eccentric poising weights and a hairspring manufactured in-house constitute the high-precision beat controller.

LANGE ZEITWERK, yellow gold, dial champagne, time bridge made of untreated German silver.

As progressive as this watch with the “A. Lange & Söhne” signature may be, it remains a staunch advocate of classic horological values. A glance through the sapphire-crystal caseback reveals the lavishly decorated L043.1 manufacture calibre that in addition to all its technical novelties of course also features a three-quarter plate, a hand-engraved balance cock, and screwed gold chatons – each element is an endearingly familiar and regal asset of every Lange watch.

Bernhard Lederer, the founder of BLU

Bernhard Lederer is the founder and chief watchmaker of the watchmaking brand BLU. He was born near Stuttgart, Germany in 1958, began a watchmaker apprenticeship in 1976 and qualified as Master Watchmaker in 1984.

A passionate desire to be independent encouraged Lederer to open his own atelier called ‘Uhrenmanufaktur Lederer’ (Clock manufacture Lederer). He specialized in the restoration of vintage watches and clocks, as well as developing his own timepieces. In 1985, Lederer’s horological talent was recognized by his peers when he was accepted as a founding member of the A.H.C.I, the Horological Academy of Independent Watchmakers.

As well as restoration, Lederer constructed unique pieces on commission: these included a table clock featuring a perpetual calendar and moonphase that it only needed correction after 1000 years. He also developed a sculptural clock called ‘Trojka’, which features clockwork concealed inside three tall, chrome-plated columns.

Lederer’s next project was manufacturing a series wristwatches called of ‘Time Dimension’ with orbiting Zeiss glass disks, which won the German Watch of the Year prize and became the inspiration for BLU’s popular Galaxy series.

BLU MT3, winner of “The Most Revered Watch 2007 in terms of design and technological innovation“

In 1997 Lederer headed to Brazil to manage a monumental clock project consisting of 24 large (14 meters/45 feet) countdown clocks placed in historical locations around the country. Then, in 2000, Lederer relocated to Neuchâtel, Switzerland and founded his own haute horogerie watch brand, BLU (Bernhard Lederer Universe).

BLU’s designs and innovation have been recognized by international awards, including the 2006 Middle East Watches and Jewellery award for Best High-End Jewelled Watch for the Baguette, and the 2007 Kuala Lumpur watch competition prize for Most Revered Watch for the MT3 orbiting triple-axis tourbillion.

Bernhard Lederer’s timepieces are united by the fact that they tell the time without imposing the constraints of time on the viewer. You can relax and appreciate the beauty of the watch without being stressed by time racing by.

Chronoswiss Saturelle 70

The Sauterelle sets the scene for a freshly developed manufacture caliber

Great events proclaim their coming in advance—after the spectacular announcement at Baselworld 2008 that Chronoswiss would be manufacturing its own movements within two years, 2009 sees Gerd-Rüdiger Lang already making his promise a reality. The brand is well on its way—you could say one “jump” ahead of the game—to becoming a manufacture. The Sauterelle is Chronoswiss’s first model with an in-house manufacture caliber—“Made in Germany.” Thus, Chronoswiss makes a clear distinction between the limited historical manufactory calibers utilized to this point and the Sauterelle, a completely new development that represents the first step on the brand’s path to becoming a true manufacture.

This caliber ticks not only in one watch, but more precisely, in two model variations, putting the connoisseur in the predicament of having to choose. The Sauterelle is available both as a classic three-hand watch (with either black or white dial) or with an unusual regulator dial that is reminiscent of the brand’s origins.

“Whoops! What’s wrong with that second hand?” This astonished query might spring from the lips of those who take a cursory glance at Chronoswiss’s new wristwatch. Has Gerd-Rüdiger Lang thrown his noble principles overboard? Is he suddenly turning his back on the “fascination of mechanics” that has been successfully celebrated at Chronoswiss for more than 25 years? Is the fallout from the financial crisis forcing him to use the electronic calibers that master watchmakers have always shied away from in their passion for classically ticking movements? We wanted to nip such rumors in the bud: naturally, not a word of all that is true; Chronoswiss still holds fast to its iron principles. However, to clear up any possible misconceptions it is best to explain: even though the latest creation emerging from Chronoswiss’s workshop catches the eye with its precisely jumping, centrally positioned second hand, oscillating quartz will not darken the door of the distinctive Chronoswiss watch case. Everything is—and shall remain—purely mechanical.

Chronoswiss Saturelle 70

In the new Sauterelle, a word that means “grasshopper” in English, the very large balance with its variable torque and accompanying Breguet overcoil balance spring complete 18,000 semioscillations per hour (2.5 Hz)—just like in the good old days. In these hectic times we like to call this skillful deceleration—actually a really good fit with Gerd-Rüdiger Lang, who one can confidently say is calmness and composure in the flesh. A conventional second hand would move forward in leisurely steps of one-fifth of a second; the fact that this hand marches forward only every full second with stately precision is due to the sophistication of the movement, which was developed in cooperation with watch technician Karsten Frässdorf. Its basic function is the same as that of any other mechanical caliber except that it possesses an additional small gear train, whose wide pallet lever and accompanying escape wheel feature prominently on the back. It counts five semi-oscillations of the balance in tandem with a small spring, which only then allows the second hand to make its precise jump to the next division mark on the corresponding scale around the edge of the extraordinarily clean dial. Identical numbering graces dial, case, and movement.

As is so often the case, it was helpful during the conception phase of this remarkable watch to look back into the past. Pocket watches with jump seconds, known in watchmaking parlance as seconde morte, have been around since the late eighteenth century. This system can also already be found in wristwatches: during the second half of the 1940s, movement blank manufacturer Ébauches Chézard developed an 11½-line caliber family whose unique characteristic was the jump second. This “device for moving the second hand of a watch movement forward in steps” was patented in Germany on June 3, 1949. The ébauche was available in two different versions around 1955, followed later by a simplified version.

The above-mentioned development and the brand new manufacture caliber by Chronoswiss are, however, worlds apart, both technically and with regard to craftsmanship. This newest member of the Chronoswiss family is, after all, state-of-the-art, and as always, design concepts passed down through the years go hand-in-hand with interesting horological innovations. The fascinating jump second mechanism can certainly be regarded as just such an innovation and justifiably counted as a complication: forced control occurs with the help of an easy-to-set initial tension spring, and because its construction is so well thought out, it cannot become misaligned or “hiccup.” Chronoswiss has also thoroughly eliminated the galloping often observed in this movement’s ticking forefathers.

Ease of maintenance is of utmost importance, and in that respect Chronoswiss has come up with an ingenious idea: the Sauterelle has an integrated “spare-parts storage area” located inside the movement between the barrel bridge and the third-wheel bridge. Sixty hours of power reserve gives it almost three days’ worth of energy. The movement is designed to be especially longlasting with rolling cycloid gearing that is energy-efficient and creates less wear and pinions crafted from fully hardened steel (Vickers hardness of approximately 630). Other friction-reducing elements include gears crafted in hardened beryllium bronze (approximately 380 on the Vickers scale). The impressive energy efficiency of the ensemble allows a weaker mainspring to be employed, causing less pressure and friction in the pivot bearings and resulting in less wear overall. Speaking of the mainspring, a special type is utilized that cannot unwind eccentrically.

Chronoswiss Saturelle70

Because the coils no longer rub against one another, the stored energy relieving the gear train can once again be reduced by ten percent. Conical pivots for the pallet lever and escape wheel as well as domed and olive-cut bearing jewels also reduce the friction that is so detrimental to a watch movement. As opposed to escapements widely used today, the classic Swiss lever escapement has an impulse angle of only 42 degrees, which allows the use of wider pallets resulting in more uniform energy transfer and a longer path.

In spite of its considerable 16 mm diameter, the balance wheel is surprisingly light with a mass inertia of 108 mgmm². A balance of the same size beating at a frequency of 28,800 vph would need approximately five times the power to perform the same task. It is not possible to shift the regulating screws accidentally because they are press fitted, and along with four smaller weighted screws, have been aerodynamically sunk into the balance rim. It almost goes without saying that the Straumann-Breguet balance spring—incredibly rare today—oscillates absolutely freely, resulting in extremely high precision. This subgroup contains no index—it would just be in the way anyway—and regulation of the oscillation system occurs via the adjustable balance torque.

According to traditional watchmaking artisanry, the screws are all polished flat and not galvanized. To ensure more accurate height adjustment and oil retention, the bearings for the escape wheel, pallet lever, and balance all have cap jewels.

With manual winding manufacture Caliber C.70/C.71, Chronoswiss has given a new face to the valuable commodity of time and reached a milestone on the road to becoming a manufacture. The movement as a whole exudes tradition and precision craftsmanship, as evidenced by a glance through the sapphire crystal case back of the lavish case, available in purist steel or elegant red gold. With each tick, the Sauterelle shows its mettle—a breakthrough for Chronoswiss as the company “jumps” toward becoming a manufacture. With this development, Chronoswiss both blazes its own trail and proves its entrepreneurial courage.

The New 1815 from A. Lange & Söhne

Glashütte, April 2009 – Whether they are simple or complicated, all watches by A. Lange & Söhne are made according to the same high quality standards and display the same degree of flawless craftsmanship. One of them is the new 1815, which was presented at this year’s Geneva Watch Salon SIHH – a simple three-dial watch made in the best Lange tradition that will be available soon.

More than 60 highly qualified Lange employees – called finishers – focus exclusively on the finishes of parts made in Lange’s own workshops. They are proficient in all finishing techniques for metal surfaces, even some that had already been forgotten. When the brand was re-established in the 1990s, these techniques were painstakingly recreated, in order to instruct new team members. It takes a qualified watchmaker at least two years to master all cuts and polishes.

The flat polish on the escape wheel and escape wheel plate of the 1815, for example. The finisher creates the mirror finish by rubbing the part on special foils treated with a layer of diamond dust. In order to produce an absolutely flawless flat polish, the part is mounted on a small disc of elder pith and slid across the foils in a figure-eight movement. The finisher uses three foils with increasingly fine grains, down to just 0.5 micrometres. At first glance, it looks easy. But even the most talented finisher needs at least six months of practice before he or she has mastered the flat polish with consistent results. In addition, each step requires the utmost cleanliness. A single speck of dust is enough to ruin the work of several hours.

The New 1815 from A. Lange & Söhne detail

Chamfering is another example. The outer edges of the three-quarter plate in German silver are broken at an angle of 45 degrees and polished with paste and a rotating wooden disc. Lange tested dozens of different materials to find that limewood is the perfect carrier for the polishing paste if the part is made from German silver. Another challenge for the steady hand of the finisher: The chamfer must be exactly 0.2 millimetres wide along the entire length of the edge. Even the edges of the smallest openings, such as the one for the winding spring, are finished with this complex technique.

Many other finishing techniques, such as circular graining, band ribbing, linear finish, sunray finish, and perlage, are combined in the movement of the 1815, turning it into a small work of art. The result is an aesthetic composition of different material colours and textures. Polished surfaces and edges create beautiful reflections that can also be viewed through the sapphire crystal back, warming the heart of any true watch aficionado.

For further information:
Lange Uhren GmbH – Arnd Einhorn – Altenberger Strasse 15 – 01768 Glashuette – Germany
Phone: +49 (0)35053 440 – Fax: +49 (0)35053 445039 – Email: presse@lange-soehne.com – www.lange-soehne.com

Nivrel Special Edition Red 12 Automatic presented at the 2009 Baselworld

Saarbrücken, 03/16/2009 – With only a few days left until BASELWORLD will open its gates, NIVREL presents one of its news as a first highlight of the year 2009. Within the Edition Classique – one of four editions of the NIVREL collection – the already popular concept of the red-coloured 12 on the dial is published in a rather plain, three-handed automatic watch.

For the last couple of years, two NIVREL models have shown a red 12 o’clock indication on their dial: The ‘La Grande Manuelle Red 12’ and the ‘Répétition Classique Red 12’. The design of the disctinctive 12 is inspired by aviation watches of the older days. Today, the red 12 is an allegory for the spirit of its owner who shows love for the detail and has the sense for small extraordinary specialties.

The special edition „Red 12 Automatic“ will make its contribution to the great success of the NIVREL watches with the red 12 design. Elegance and beauty give the distinction to the extraordinary character of this plain three-handed watch. Deliberately, NIVREL realized this watch without any additional functions in order to create a watch that can be worn at every opportunity. Therefore, close attention was also payed to the interaction between case and dial.

Bezel and lugs are the gently curved case components that find its continuation on the dial in terms of form and density. Here, the generously curved arabic numbers are in wonderful contrast to the white lack that covers the dial. The red 12 o’clock indication places another special emphasis on the design. A single, short glimpse on the balanced hands in Breguet style is enough for the owner in order to capture the exact time in every situation.

Technical Dates:
Reference N 165.001, automatic movement calibre ETA 2892-A2 / Indication of hours, minutes and sweep second / Case made of steel 316 L, sapphire crystal, screwed case back with sapphire crystal, water-resistant to 5 bar, diameter: 42 mm, height: 9.6 mm.

Press contact:
Dr. Guido Grohmann
NIVREL Uhren – Gerd Hofer GmbH
Telefon +49 (0) 681 584 6576 | Telefax +49 (0) 681 584 6584 | E-Mail: grohmann@nivrel.com

Source: www.nivrel.com

Senator Navigator Perpetual Calendar © Glashütte Original

Press release, Basel 2009 – Just in time for Baselworld 2009, Glashütte Original presents the next model in its successful line of pilot’s watches: the Senator Navigator Perpetual Calendar. This high-flying timepiece soars with a robust 44 mm stainless steel case in typical pilot’s watch look, sporting a traditional matt black dial with large Arabic numerals and line markers for the minute and second displays as well as blued hour and minute hands. The added perpetual calendar functions have been seamlessly integrated into the dynamic design of this efficient timepiece.

The disks for both day and month and the typical Glashütte panorama date are displayed in white on a black background resulting in a visually clear and balanced dial. Nothing gets in the way of the dial’s legibility at night either; the hour numerals, and the blued hour, minute, and second hands are inlaid with the luminescent material SuperLumiNova. The Double G logo guarantees a counterbalance on the tip of the second hand.

In order to do justice to the dynamic character of the timepiece, designers at Glashütte Original decided to create a leap year display using a hand at 12 o’clock: when it points to the red L, it is currently a leap year. In addition to a perfectly legible dial, rate precision is vital in a pilot’s watch. Inside the Senator Navigator Perpetual Calendar, automatic manufacture Caliber 100-07 guarantees this precision.

Senator Navigator Perpetual Calendar © Glashütte Original

Automatic manufacture Caliber 100-07 commands a power reserve of more than 55 hours (+/- 10%) and sports a reset mechanism that allows for easy synchronization of the second hand with a time standard. Unlike other reset mechanisms, the second hand here is neither connected to the winding stem nor the crown. As a result, when the crown is pulled out the balance remains in oscillation and the movement continues to run, significantly reducing material stress. The reset mechanism is activated by pressing a separate button on the side of the case at 8 o’clock.

A soft, used-look calfskin strap with stainless steel buckle provides the perfect finish to the pilot look of the Senator Navigator Perpetual Calendar.

Glashütte Original represents a living, authentic manufactory, high exclusivity, traditional watchmaking since 1845, exclusive mechanical masterpieces, and “handmade in Germany.”

Further Information:
Christina Murczek
Public Relations

Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH
Altenberger Str. 1
D-01768 Glashütte / Sa.

Telephone: +49 350 53 46 239
E-Mail: pr@glashuette-original.com

Arctos Elite GPW K1 (Limited Edition of 50 watches) Unique Combination of Roman and Arabic Numerals, CAD$1,180.00 © Rufus Lin Designs

As of Dec 1, 2008, Arctos Precision Watches of Germany has appointed Rufus Lin Designs (which has offices in Vancouver, Canada and Tokyo, Japan) to be sole distributor in Canada and Japan for all Arctos watches. The Arctos brand has a history stretching back to 1923, and is known for its military watches. The watches are made in Germany, and incorporate in-house mechanical movements.

The watches shown in this news release have sapphire glass, front and back, and their cases are made of high-tech ceramic and titanium. The automatic movement can be viewed through the exhibition back. Arctos is currently being sold online at www.verynicewatch.com. Rufus Lin Designs intends to appoint several retailers across Canada in the first half of next year, and welcomes enquiries from established watch stores and jewelers.

Chief Designer Rufus Lin says, “In keeping with our concept of independent, artisan-produced watches, rather than mass-produced or conglomerate brands, Arctos is yet another high-end, German-made watch that we are introducing to Canada. Arctos military watches are already very popular in Europe, and are beginning to attract a lot of attention in other parts of the world.”

Arctos GPW Pearl White Ceramic High-tech ceramic watch with unusual overall white design, featuring a luminous dial, hands and index markers, CAD$2,111.00 © Rufus Lin Designs

FURTHER INFORMATION:
Please contact David Leo, Manager Business Development at canada@rufuslin.com or
tel: (604) 232-9765 or visit: www.rufuslin.com, www.verynicewatches.com.
Catalogue requests may be made to info@rufuslin.com.
Manufacturer information at: www.arctos.info