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Here is the Gerald Genta Grande Sonnerie with a hidden Tourbillon. Clearly not a conservatively designed watch but one for the well heeled who wants something different from the rest of the crowd with high crowing factor of being a member of the rarefied million dollar watch club.
The movement is entirely conceived and crafted at the le Sentier workshop and offers:
- Grande Sonnerie and Petite Sonnerie (Westminster carillon with four hammers)
- Silence setting, which stops the sonnerie or carillon mechanism
- 48-hour power reserve display for the movement
- Power reserve display for the sonnerie-14 hours for Petite Sonnerie and 18 hours for Grande Sonnerie (automatic sonnerie, without manual activation)
- Minute repeater, and
- Retrograde hour and minute dial in a window.

Check out my series of images HERE.

-HT

 


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This Grand Sonnerie watch comes at the list price of S$1.56million. Genta is little known outside the circle of serious collectors for its prowess at complications. In actual fact, it shares a lot of its skills with its stablemate Daniel Roth and both have high street credibility for being watch houses that delivers serious watches for the discerning collector.
In part, it is probably due to the more designs today as well as its historical roots to Mickey Mouse but it is renowned in Europe for its more progressive R&D in materials and movement designs. Here is a comparison image of the Genta Sonnerie with a new Gefica Bronze.

Do come back soon to see my photomontage of the Genta Sonnerie.

- HT

(Thanks to Mr Alan Teo (Hour Glass Millennia) and to Hour Glass Singapore for allowing me to photograph these watches on their premises.)

 


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At the JLC 175th Anniversary exhibition of their historical collection, one watch stands out for me is the new Gyrotourbillon 2 which is the double plane tourbillon cage first seen on the Gyro 1 now in a Reverso case. While the Reverso Gyro 2 is somewhat large, it is discernably smaller than it older sibling, the Gyro 1. Unfortunately while thee tourbillon cage can clearly be seen and appreciated, the small skeleton dial of the watch dial makes reading time on the watch somewhat difficult. However, there is a growing trend in the watch industry that for some reason, telling time is of secondary concern for wanting such high end pieces.
Listing at over S$600k, this watch is reserved for the a very small group of collectors.
The image below shows how the watch sits on the wrist.

 


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Late last week was the opening of a weeklong of events conducted by Jaeger-LeCoultre in Singapore at the Ngee Ann City front. A pair of giant dome tents had been put up to house the rare JLC watch exhibits and to conduct the Watchmaking Masterclass for the assembly of the Caliber 7751 column wheel choronograph, decorative engraving, and seminar presentations on their latest achivements - the Gyrotourbillon 2 and the Duometre Chronograph.

For a detailed report and photographs over a few days of the week long celebrations, check out Raphmeister's report HERE.


- HT

 


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LG has released a report of their development of 6 inch TFT-LCD elliptical and 1.4-inch circular-shaped LCDs. This development would of course be an interesting change away from the mono LCD displays that is currently in the market. With the use of colour displays that can mimick precisely and accurate the dial and hands of popular designs, it also allows the manufacturer to easily place the brands on the LCD display dial.

The question, is whether the watch will allow its owner to have the option to change how the dial and hands look for different occasions. That could easily make it a best seller.

Curious that at BASEL 2008 - extreme efforts were made to create digital displays out of mechanical movements and here is a brand that easily replicates mechanical display with digital technologies. Which of the two is truly ground breaking?
Full press release from LC is found HERE.

- HT

 


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For serious collectors, a grand sonnerie is the pinnacle complication and only a very small handful of brands are able to produce such movements. Grand Sonneries are able to chime every quarter much like a grandfather clock. It can also perform on demand like a minute repeater. With so many watch houses that churn out tourbillons of late, it is the repeater and more so a Grand Sonnerie that is the ultimate complication to be acquired. Grand Sonneries whether new or old are themselves rare but one made with exquisite craftsmanship with less than 10 ever made - and in such pristine condition, makes this watch truly special - regardless of the brand.
While this grand pocket watch is not how most would wish to carry a timepiece, this antique is clearly a beautiful work of art which makes it all the more awe worthy to note that it was made almost a hundred years ago. One can appreciate the quality of the sound of the gongs - its pitch, clarity and resonance only after listening to several repeaters to understand the vast variance in quality of repeater gong chimes. I have heard a few and this Patek is a real surprise. Hearing it clearly chime every quarter during the photo shoot, it made me realise in retrospect how little has changed in terms of horological quality over past 100 years.
CLICK HERE to see my collection of images of this Grand Sonnerie.
- HT
Thanks and gratitude to the very fortunate collector and gentleman - who asked to remain anonymous - for permitting me to photograph his watch.

 


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This extremely rare and fine Patek Philippe Grand Sonnerie was acquired by a gentleman collector (who asked to remain anonymous) at a recent auction. Made in 1914, less than 10 were ever made. I am very grateful to its owner who kindly allowed me to photograph this very important timepiece. Here are some images for your enjoyment until the publication of the montage.


-HT

 





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