Tag Archives: Concepto

Louis Moinet unveils FUEGO NUEVO: Sun’s Rebirth

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This timepiece recalls the feast of the New Fire (Fuego Nuevo), a ritual that marked the rebirth of the sun and the renewal of time cycles, symbolised by the Piedra del Sol, the Sun Stone, one of the most emblematic works of Aztec art.

For the FUEGO NUEVO, the engravings on the Piedra del Sol have been reinterpreted on an ancient meteorite, reasserting the powerful connection between cosmos and the passage of time in an especially mesmerising manner.

“I have always been fascinated by ancient civilisations, especially Mesoamerican cultures and their very advanced astronomical knowledge. They saw the cosmos as more than just a collection of stars but also as a great symbol of life’s eternal cycles.
To reproduce this vision on the FUEGO NUEVO, I opted the Muonionalusta meteorite as a backdrop and laser engraving as the technique to reproduce the Aztec Sun Stone. As for the mechanics, the flying tourbillon was the natural choice, because its rotations reminded me of the constant renewal of time and infinity.” – Jean-Marie Schaller, Owner and Creative Director

FUEGO NUEVO: The Sun Stone times the “New Fire”

The Piedra del Sol is a monumental sculpture of Aztec civilisation. Carved during the reign of Emperor Axayacatl, it was created to commemorate the Festival of the New Fire in 1479. This sacred ritual, celebrated at the end of each 52-year cycle, marked the rebirth of the sun and the perpetuation of the cosmic cycles that gave rhythm to Aztec life.

This giant disc, which measures 3.6 metres in diameter and weighs 24 tonnes, is carved out of a block of basaltic olivine lava. It is now on display at Mexico City’s National Museum of Anthropology, where its magical aura draws crowds of amazed visitors.

Ancient meteorite and technology combined

In homage to the Piedra del Sol, the FUEGO NUEVO dial is made of a disc cut from one of the oldest meteorites discovered on Earth, the Muonionalusta. Formed 4.5 billion years ago, this meteorite reveals those famous, remarkable, geometric Widmanstätten patterns created inside the rock by millions of years of space travel.

This cosmic gem has been transformed into a work of art using modern technology. Producing the dial’s decoration required enormous precision, which could only be delivered by a laser with ultra-short pulses in the femtosecond range. It took a whopping 9,800 lines of sketches to reproduce the many references to Aztec cosmogony. Then, to add depth and relief, the dial features three levels. A ring of aventurine adds contrast around the base, giving the whole work an air of mystery. The 0.5-millimetre meteorite disc is engraved at two depths, namely 0.2 and 0.1 millimetres. The impressive three-dimensional dial perfectly represents the intersection of history, art and technology.

An horological star: the flying tourbillon

The FUEGO NUEVO is equipped with the LM135 caliber designed and developed by Louis Moinet in collaboration with Concepto. The mechanism includes a flying tourbillon with off-centre cage at six o’clock, which defies gravity in a striking and captivating way. Its hand-wound mechanism is equipped with a double barrel. This particular system, known as “volte face”, enables the two barrels to be arranged serially head to tail and therefore to discharge simultaneously, producing a 96-hour power reserve.

A noble case

This exceptional work of art is delicately framed by a 40 mm-diameter red-gold case with well-defined, flowing curves. The sapphire dome, a true feat of high-tech, reveals the fascinating details of the Sun Stone engraving. The openworked lugs perfectly underscore the integration of the bracelet.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

FUEGO NUEVO Unique piece

CASE
Material 18k red gold, grade 5 titanium (inner case)
Diameter 40.7 mm

DIAL & HANDS
Dial Laser-engraved Muonionalusta meteorite
Aventurine
Hands Hours, minutes: facetted and skeletonised, with luminescent material (SLN)

MOVEMENT
Functions Hours, minutes
Complication Flying tourbillon
Type Manual winding, double spring barrel
Oscillations 28,800 vibrations per hour
Jewels 26
Power reserve 96 hours
Water resistance 30 meters

Test-tube Time – Rebellion

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Rebellion has done it yet again.

If glass tubes excite you here is what is going to blow your mind. The Weap-One biaxial Tourbillon is an ingenious creation that embeds the flying tourbillon in a neat package that turns out to be a wristwatch in a slender 25 mm diameter and 53 mm long sapphire and titanium case.

The tourbillion gyrates as if suspended on two axis while its flying tourbillion function negates the effects of gravity and manages to look splendid at the same time.

Once the mechanism is wound you have 50 hours of power reserve. Without distorting the cylindrical shape two flat titanium crowns are perfectly integrated, the left-hand one is dedicated to setting the time and the right-hand one to winding the calibre.

Two rollers at the two ends display the hours and minutes with the numerals coloured by Super-Luminova®.

The back of the watch is flat for that comfortable fit on the wrist. But overall, this looks like a vial of time on your hands.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Case materials: Black DLC titanium

Glass tube: Scratch resistant sapphire crystals with anti-reflective treatment

Case dimensions: 26mm x 52.85mm

Colors: Green, white

Water resistance: 10m / 1 ATM

Movement: Manual movement developed by Concepto; Biaxial flying tourbillon

Functions: Hours and minutes

Jewels: 39

Balance frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph)

Power reserve: 50 hours

Strap and buckle: Black textile, velcro closure with black DLC titanium buckle

Thin is in

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And when it’s a renowned watch brand like Bvlgari everyone sits up and takes notice.

Bvlgari has consistently been breaking records since 2014 and this year to mark its 10th Anniversary of Octo Finissimo Collection the brand dropped a watch that has created quite a stir not only in the world of watchmaking but NFTs as well.

The feat to master the thinnest ever mechanical watch was no easy task and a very patient and diligent dedication finally bore results that are not only aesthetically astounding but technically tenacious too.

The watch itself was a challenge but the integrated bracelet and the newly designed folding clasp had to match the thinness of the case. It took designer Concepto three years to accomplish something of this magnitude.

The Octo Finissimo Ultra measures 1.8mm with a 40mm diameter case in sandblasted tungsten carbide. The case back of the watch also serves as its main plate and carries the movement of the watch. The PVD-coated black hands stand out as a contrast against the grey background.

The first thing that you notice though is that the ratchet is engraved with a QR code unique to each of the 10 limited timepieces that are going to be made. The code is linked to an exclusive NFT and artwork that the watch owner will receive along with the watch opening endless possibilities to such digital partnerships in future and bridging the gap between real and virtual worlds.

The other thing you wonder is how to wind this thinner than a €0.10 coin masterpiece and then you notice the two rotating knobs for winding and adjusting the time.

While there is going to be a huge scramble to own the limited 10 watches made there will only of course be those lucky few who will proudly flaunt this wonder of a watch.

The rest of us will be left flat out and wanting more.

Availability: Limited edition of 10 pieces

Price: EUR 400,000

Featured Watches in the Article:-

Octo Finissimo Ultra Ref.: 103611

T-500 Ultimate Racing Machine

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With the T-500, performance enters a new dimension. It takes the form of a watch with an audacious design and uncompromising mechanics.

In 2010, with the T-1000 watch, Rebellion Timepieces shook up the codes and conventions of traditional watchmaking and at the same time signs its first achievement. Its sculptural titanium case (46.7×46.9×19.5mm), born under the inspired pencil of Eric Giroud, integrates a revolutionary manual winding movement. The caliber with double inclined balance has a record power reserve of 1,000 hours! Six barrels are powered in parallel via a central transmission shaft driving two chains, and discharge in series to provide linear power to the regulator. The hours and minutes are displayed in a new way using two rollers.

Rebellion Timepieces proves its ability to innovate with the T-500. Its direct affiliation with the T-1000 is unmistakable: a case with an original and stylish architecture is associated with a high-performance caliber with 450 hours of power reserve!

Under the curved sapphire crystal, an impressive mechanical display is revealed. The movement, designed by Concepto as a kinetic sculpture, adopts the same architecture as the T-1000 with its inclined balance. Assembled with 380 parts, this vertical movement, still hand-wound, is composed of six barrels that are recharged with energy using a lever. Each of them is decorated with a tire engraving that evokes the strong link between Rebellion Timepieces and motor racing. The hours and minutes are still displayed on parallel rollers.

In addition to its long autonomy, the caliber also gains in precision compared to the T-1000 thanks to the frequency of its balance which increases to 28,800 vibrations per hour.

The eloxed movement covers come in a choice of five colors: blue, red, green, orange and black. Their presence enhances the design of the rectangular case, in titanium or black DLC titanium, topped with a round sapphire crystal. For a comfortable wear, the T-500 comes with a leather or rubber strap closed by a folding clasp.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Case Materials: Glass:
Case back:
Case dimensions: Colors:

Water resistance: Movement: Functions: Jewels:

Balance frequency: Power reserve: Strap and buckle:

Titanium, black DLC titanium
Scratch resistant sapphire crystals with anti-reflective treatment
Scratch resistant sapphire crystals with anti-reflective treatment
43mm x 47.5mm x 11mm
Red, blue, green, black
10m / 1 ATM
Manual wind movement developed by Concepto; 6 vertical barrels / inclined balance wheel Hours and minutes
39
4 Hz (28,800 vph)
450 hours
Black textile, velcro closure with black DLC titanium buckle

Limited series

Featured Watches in the Article:-

T-500 ULTIMATE RACING MACHINE TITANIUM / RED
T-500 ULTIMATE RACING MACHINE BLACK DLC TITANIUM / GREEN
T-500 ULTIMATE RACING MACHINE TITANIUM / BLUE