Cartier

SJX
[Purist]
8540

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Exclusive live photos of the Cartier Astroregulateur - rethinking gravity and the balance

Just a few hours ago today I was presented with what I believe will be the flagship complication for Cartier at SIHH 2011 - the Rotonde de Cartier Astroregulateur (or Astroregulator in English). The embargo for this watch passed just an hour and a half ago so this forum is possibly the first in the world to see this watch. Put simply, the Astro Regulateur was designed by Carole Forestier to combat the effects of gravity on timekeeping.

This is accomplished by fixing the escapement and balance to the rotor, meaning that they are constantly in a vertical, upright position. This eliminates the variation of frequency and amplitude caused by gravity on the balance wheel. In contrast a tourbillon averages out the variations caused by gravity due to the constantly turning balance wheel.

You will also notice that the seconds hand is what Cartier terms “pendular”, meaning it remains in a constant rotation relative to the rotor, in other words the seconds hand ticks along with the rotor while rotating around with the rotor. All of that is accomplished by a double differential. It is a remarkable complex winding and gear train mechanism with four patents pending in Switzerland. This video illustrates the idea but the watch shown is a prototype so the rotor does not spin freely.

This is a limited edition of 50 pieces in with a case in lightweight niobium-titanium, an alloy first seen in the ID One Concept watch. It is a whopper at 50 mm wide but it is more of a statement of technical innovation than a practical wristwatch.

While this watch is still being tested, and the one shown here is a prototype, I believe it represents an innovative concept that is reflective of what Cartier has become – an innovative, technically astute that is truly going places.

It is past 1 am now and I have a morning meeting then a flight to catch tomorrow, or actually later today, so I will leave more detailed explanation of the watch for next week when I return.

- SJX

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