The dial of the Classic Tourbillon Manufacture Platinum is dressed in Gibeon Meteorite from Namibia. It fell to Earth in prehistoric times and was named after the nearby town of Gibeon. This material, one of the costliest meteorites available, was selected for its prominent pattern of interwoven lines. All sides of components – including the ones that are not visible – are hand-finished and decorated.
First devised in the late eighteenth century and patented in 1801, the tourbillon is designed to offset the effects of gravity on the watch movement by keeping the escapement in constant motion to maintain an ideal running rate. This meticulous procedure keeps timepieces more accurate.
Frederique Constant has improved on its complication by adding a silicon escapement wheel and anchor. As a result, owners benefit from a movement that is more resistant to the adverse effects of magnetism and temperature variations – and thus even more precise, true to the tourbillon’s original vocation.
For the finishing touch, a central seconds hand complete with a stop-second function glides over the tourbillon. The complication itself is visible through a generously proportioned window at 6 o’clock that offers an unparalleled and exhaustive view of the sophisticated escapement – with an additional perspective on its inner workings available from the reverse of the watch through a sapphire crystal.
