Christophe Claret wanted to pay homage to the princely family and Monegasque people.
«Monaco» from Legend Collection is a Westminster flying tourbillon minute repeater provided with 4 jacquemart automatons featuring HH.SS.HH. Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace of Monaco.
Entirely handmade miniature painting, by Mr Andre Martinez, is thus staged in the new painting of the Legend unique piece collection of Christophe Claret. The animation module was specially created to respect the 19th century work that served as a model for this timepiece.
The Westminster minute repeater mechanism allows you to play a musical tune when the quarter ring. Each quarter has a different tone: “C D E G”, “G D E C”, “E G D C”. This ringtone, resulting from a collaboration between Christophe Claret and a virtuoso violinist, offers notes with optional quality.
Monaco from the “Legend” collection is available in two unique pieces, one in red gold and one in titanium.
With this work, artist-watchmaker Christophe Claret once again confirms his excellence.
Genesys
Since the day when Christophe Claret, then a student, entered the workshop of a watchmaker-restorer, he has nourished a passion for complicated timepieces, in particular old pocket watches, often equipped with a locking mechanism. Minute-repeaters, real little “chef-d’oevre” of precision striking hours, quarters and minutes on demand.
He has continuously studied, understood and improved this grand complication which many consider to be the finest in watchmaking. Because to the technical complexity is added musical poetry. In 1989, the first calibre signed by Christophe Claret was a minute repeater. A series of watches with evocative names followed: Adagio, Soprano, Allegro, Concertino, Napoleon, Jinmu Tenno, Sheikh Zayed, Ibn Saoud, Suleiman the Magnificent and today Alamo, becomes the new flagship of these unique prestigious pieces.
The movement: NCB98 Calibre
The Legend Collection movement sets the tone in the family of traditional complications watches, the first of the four collections of the Christophe Claret brand. It is inspired by previous creations by the master watchmaker, while once again pushing the limits of what is possible in this area.
With a frequency of 3Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour) by means of its flying tourbillon, the NCB98 Calibre comes to life thanks to a single barrel. The mechanism has a power reserve of around 60 hours. the request for the minute repeater is traditionally made through a sliding pusher on the left of the case. We can therefore the animation of the Jaquemart automata while listening to the melodious sound of time by the Westminster cathedral ringing.
Christophe Claret is the designer of this four-branch balance wheel which offers an inertia / weight ratio close to the ideal balance: although very complex to manufacture, this aerodynamic balance is easy to adjust and balance.
The “cathedral” stamps of Legend Collections Westminster ringing have been the subject of special care – as always with Christophe Claret. This type of bell has the particularity of going around the movement twice in order to express sounds that are longer, clearer and more powerful…
Excellence is required for their manufacture in drawn steel, for their assembly and tunning. They benefit from a patented in-house invention which blocks significant vibrations despite their exceptional lengths and thus prohibits all parasitic noises.
Christophe Claret Monaco – Aesthetics
As with technical design, the aesthetic of the Legend Collection is the fruit of the work and creativity of Christophe Claret.
The case harmoniously combines the polished and satin finishes of 5N red gold or titanium, highlighting the play of lights.
Grade 5 titanium is hard and very difficult to machine, it has the advantage of being extremely light and above all sublimating the transmission of the ringing sound.
The dial also magnifies the light and dark, with its unique nuances of hues and personalised materials.
The Legend Collection watches proudly display a handmade miniature painting of a setting specific to each theme addressed.
Christophe Claret Alamo Technical Specifications
Movement
- Calibre NBC98, mechanical, hand-wound movement
- Diameter: 37.00 mm
- Height: 9.03 mm (without hands)
- Components: 511
- Jewels: 36
- Barrel: single mainspring barrel
- Power reserve: approx. 60 hours
- Escapement:
- Swiss lever
- 3 Hz (21.600 vph)
- flying tourbillon with cage decorated with the Texas Flag, Lone Star Flag.
- Tourbillon rotates since every 60 seconds
- Functions:
- Hours, minutes
- Hours, quarters and minutes repeater on demand,
- Inertia wheel
- 4-notes minute repeater playing Westminster chime
- 4-jaquemart automata animated when ringing
- Slide to activate the minute repeater function
- 2 positions crown:
- Drown: time setting
- Thrust: winding the movement
Case
- Diameter: 47mm
- Height: 15 mm
- Water resistance: 3atm / 30 m / 100 ft
