Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Supersonnerie is the result of eight years acoustic research. The chimes, which are ten times louder than a tradition chiming watch, apply the principles of a string instrument, with gongs striking a ‘sound board’ and amplifying the chime, the same way a string works on an acoustic guitar. Called ground breaking in the design of chiming mechanisms, it certainly hit the headlines in all the watch magazine news.
Not known for their subtle works, Bulgari have the ‘Brighella’ in its new series of the ‘commedia del Arte’ paying tribute to Italy’s theatrical history. It includes intricately crafted dials, with tiny moving figures, set against lavishly painted and engraved backgrounds. When the watch chimes the characters on the dial begin to move in balletic movements.
The gong minute repeater is included with a jumping hour hand. A case of 18k white gold and an alloy called Magsonic were developed to amplify the chimes.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Thin Minute Repeater Flying Tourbillion does not have the shortest catchiest name. Its the first ultra thin Grand Complication model, award winningly slim for a repeater model, at a surprising 7.9mm. Equipped with many other spectacular complications and a flying tourbillion, the hammers for the chimes on this watch strike two crystal gongs which help amplify the sound.
Piaget unveiled their first ever repeater as recently as 2013, the Piaget Emperador Coussin. And announced a new version to be launched 2016.
With the gong designed to send the sound through the movement and on through the case. In order to preserve the purity of the sound the movement, Caliber 120P, is equipped with an extra flywheel to regulate the rhythm between start and end of the chiming.
Perfect for the ultimate romantic in your life, the very limited edition Ulysses Nardin Stranger actually chimes the melody of Sinatra’s legendary ‘Strangers in the Night’ on the hour or on demand. The movement took five years to develop and includes functions the same as a classical music box. Should you tire of viewing the beautiful front of the sliverised dial the music box details are visible through the sapphire crystal in the caseback.
