Blancpain Basel News: Blancpain presents 'Carrousel Volant Une Minute'!

Dear All: For I think understandable reasons I posted this on Blancpainforum.com first, but of course I will share with you here as well. What at the first view looks like a new tourbillon, is indeed a veritable tour de force presented by Blancpain: The 'Carrousel Volant Une Minute' nothing less than:

the first wristwatch Karussel in the world the first automatic Karussel in the world the first flying Karussel in the world the first one-minute Karussel in the world the first Karussel with centrally located balance

Blancpain chose a very technical approach to highlight the novel complication, by using the signatory transparent dial:

The back of the watch, while showcasing an exquisite finishing, resembles the well-known and appreciated Blancpain Tourbillon:

The dial itself features several layers with a remarkable 3-D effect, a magnificent stage for the truly finishing style:

The Karussel itself resides lordly atop the movement. Due to the design implications of a Karussel, it builds thicker than a Tourbillon. Initially, you might not detect difference to a 'common' Tourbillon. This is due the ironic approach Marc A. Hayek opted for: If Blancpain already has a Tourbillon which many declare being a Karussel due to its off-side location of the balance, why not creating a Karussel with a centrally located balance - just like most Tourbillons? If you see the cage in motion, you might notice that there is no fixed fourth wheel:

Further paying hommage to the Blancpain Tourbillon theme sharing the same precision-improving objective, the watch features a power reserve at the 6 o'clock and a date (short finger days 1 - 15, long finger dates 16 - 31):

I have to say that I first was quite neutral to this watch, but now, after two days: I love it! More to come, with technical backgorund and pictures from the naked movement, in a couple of days. I need some rest!

Thanks and enjoy, Magnus

Technical Data Ref. 00225-3434-63B

Case: Platinum

- Diameter 43,5 mm

- Thickness ??? mm

- Water-resistance 100 m

- Between horns ??? mm

- sapphire back

Movement: Cal. 225

- Diameter 26,2 mm

- Thickness 5,89 mm

- Power Reserve 100 h

- Rubies 356

- Components 262 handfinished parts

Price: Ref. 00225-3434-63B (CHF 200.000.-). Limited to 188 pieces.

This message has been edited by SJX on 2008-04-16 22:44:00