Only Watch Auction

Monaco, Sep 20, 2007

LOT 12

Frédérique Constant ?Heart Beat Zerodur?, Pièce Unique.

For "Only Watch 07", we are pleased and honoured to present an exceptionally unique and revolutionary wristwatch, featuring a Zerodur® Balance Wheel and a Silicium Escapement Wheel. In line with watch industry developments, Frédérique Constant has been researching the application of new high-tech materials for its manufacture calibres: Zerodur® is a glass ceramic with an extremely low thermal expansion coefficient and an outstandingly homogenous material structure. Because of its unique properties, Zerodur® is a preferred high-tech material for components used in astronomy and satellite technology such as mirror substrates of earthbound and orbital telescopes. Frédérique Constant has adopted the use of Zerodur® to conceive a balance wheel that is totally non-magnetic and insensitive to temperature changes. The use of a Zerodur® balance wheel will improve the accuracy and performance of the movement. An additional advantage of Zerodur® is its transparency: a balance wheel made of Zerodur® ensures an optimal visibility of the moving parts of the Frédérique Constant Heart Beat Manufacture movement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that Zerodur® technology is being used in watch manufacturing. Silicium is the chemical element in the periodic table with symbol Si. Silicium, a mineralbased material, is extremely light, has a good elasticity, is anti-magnetic and has a very low friction coefficient. In its crystalline form, silicium has a dark grey colour and a metallic lustre. Silicium has been used for many years in other industries - and is the principal component of most semiconductor devices. The accuracy of a mechanical movement depends on the accuracy of its regulating organ, i.e. the balance with its spring. The purpose of the escapement is to maintain the oscillations of the balance, and a crucial element in escapement design is to give just enough energy to the balance wheel in order to keep it swinging, yet to interfere with its oscillations as little as possible. As the lubrication of escapement ages, friction will increase, and less power will be transferred to the balance wheel. Apart from the increased energy efficiency due to its lower weight and inertia, the biggest advantage of the silicium escapement wheel is that it needs no oiling, increasing the movement's precision and longevity. Case : Two-piece, 18K rose gold, water-resistant to 3 ATM, convex sapphire crystal, sapphire crystal case back, case back engraved "Pièce Unique - Only Watch 2007" diameter: 41 mm, thickness: 13 mm Alligator strap, 18K rose gold buckle. Dial : Black and silver dial, engine-turned Frédérique Constant crest in dial centre, rose gold Arabic numerals and applied baton hour markers, circular moon phase and date indicator at twelve o'clock, large "Heart Beat" aperture at six o'clock to reveal the balance, "poire" type hour hand, "feuille" type minute and date hands. Movement : FC-935-1 Heart Beat Manufacture Calibre, Automatic, hours, minutes, moon phase and date, 142 components, 30,50 mm diameter, total thickness 5.25 mm, 48 hour power reserve, automatic winding, rhodium-plated, chamfered bridges decorated with "Côtes de Genève" and circular graining ("perlage"), blued steel screws, 27 jewels, Zerodur® balance, Silicium escapement wheel, 28,800 vph, Nivarox No.1 balance spring, Kif shock-absorber and fine regulation.