The Franck Dubarry Crazy Wheel shakes up the codes of the traditional watch industry, by offering a completely different hour and minute display; provided by the Calibre FD01, which has been developed & produced in-house in the Swiss Mountains. This particular reference has a red crazy wheel and red crown accents and only 5 pieces will ever be made, exclusively available through About Timepieces.
The Crazy Wheel boasts a style dedicated to telling the time and its name pays tribute to the built-in sub counter that revolves around the dial. The hours are displayed on a counter that remains attached to the minute hand.
Housed in the familiar faceted 43mm wide x 50mm grade 5 titanium case with black PVD Coating, the bezel and crown guards are made of forged carbon.
Inside the really deep rehaut, where the chapter ring can usually be found, there are minute numerals marked in white for each 5 minutes from 05 to 60. Moving inwards, the dial is made up of multiple layers; mainly in black, but with white markings and some pops of silver and of course the red crazy wheel which indicates the hour. The date wheel is part openworked on both left and right hand sides, with a small magnifier at 3 o’clock which indicates the current date.
A 360° rotating module (developed with master watchmaker Dominique Renaud) is the star of the show. In the centre of the dial there are a multitude of gears and wheels visible, which guide the minute hand around the dial; the red hour crazy wheel effectively hovers above it, as it moves around the dial. The seconds hand floats above it all.
The design of the hands have been inspired by aeronautics, while their tips decorated with Luminova allowing ease for both day and night reading of time.
A single straight lug at top and bottom, where each strap connects to the case, has been specially designed to curve downwards for an ergonomic feel; the Elastogator® strap combined with a folding titanium deployment buckle secures to the wrist.
The case back is solid PVD coated titanium, with various engravings, including the brand’s name, Limited Edition, the reference number and limited edition number.
Franck Dubarry is not overly well known for limiting production of specific references, however, only 5 of this particular reference will be made available to purchase. Each piece is made to order and delivery time is in the region of 4 – 8 weeks.
Franck Dubarry Crazy Wheel CW-04-07 Technical Specifications and Price
Limited edition of only 5 pieces, exclusively available through About Timepieces.
Movement
• Swiss-made automatic
• FD01 Movement with 360° Rotating bridge.
• Developed & Manufactured by Franck Dubarry SA
• Satellite Hours
• Minutes/Sweep Second/Date
• 28’800 vibrations/hour, 33 jewels.
• Mechanical differential on hour dial, allowing the sub counter to remain horizontal throughout a 360-degree revolution.
• Flying bridge contains 46 components & wheels.
Case
• Titanium with Black PVD coating
• 43mm x 50mm Across
• 13.35 Depth
• Composite carbon bezel and crown guards
• Anti-reflective Sapphire Crystal
• Water resistant to 10 ATM / 100 M
Dial
• 5 levels of architecture
• Opening 32.5mm,
• Laser cut hour disc, luminescent markers & hands.
Strap
• Elastogator®
• Leather & Natural rubber
• Titanium with Black PVD coating deployment buckle
Price
£7,950 (plus UK VAT if applicable)
