Apotheosis Temporis – a new milestone in watchmaking history

Apotheosis Temporis Equation Marchante Pure

Constantly nurturing all life on earth, the flamboyant day star moves within a complex system. Over the centuries, numerous scholars and astronomers patiently studied it in order to understand its nature, to grasp its quintessence and to master its most subtle movements. Then the finest watchmakers devoted their talents to miniaturising it. The greatest challenge was to incorporate within a single mechanism the difference between civil time and solar time, which ranges between the two extremes of –16 minutes and +14 minutes, depending on the time of year.

The equation of time was born, displayed in the extraordinarily miniaturised form of sundials which, in addition to the solar time, could serve in making complex calculations to determine civil time using a figure-8 “analemma” equation curve. Blancpain naturally wanted to go even further. After four years of development, the company presented in 2004 a world exclusive preview of the Equation Marchante, the first wristwatch capable of displaying both solar and civil time by two separate minute hands. Behind the simple readoff on the dial lies a prodigiously complex mechanism.

The Equation Marchante Pure “Apotheosis Temporis” model is a first within the Villeret collection. It is a masterpiece that is unique within the history of mechanical watchmaking.

Water-resistant to 30 metres, its 950 platinum case measuring 38 mm in diameter is fitted with a sapphire crystal glareproofed both sides and an anti-glare sapphire case-back. The latter allows one to admire the platinum oscillating weight, handengraved with a glowing sun and the inscription “JB 1735”. At he heart of this horological prodigy beats the exceptional Calibre 3863A and its 364 components, endowed with a 72- hour power reserve. This self-winding movement, in addition to displaying the running equation of time by means of two separate hands for solar and civil time, also indicates the date, the day of the week, the month, the leap year cycle and the seconds on a subdial at 6 o’clock. The hand-sewn black crocodile leather strap is fitted with a folding clasp in 950 platinum.

Apotheosis Temporis Minute Repeater

Awakening the senses and listening attentively to time. Because time is made to be experienced, measured, contemplated, touched, read, heard and also listened to. A truly precious and rare object, the Minute Repeater holds a place of its own with the world of horological complications. This model, in addition to arousing visual appreciation, keeps the sense of hearing fully alert. It took a great deal of daring and ingenuity for the masterwatchmakers to devise a mechanism sounding the hours and quarters on request, in addition to the minutes. Beyond the complex mechanical watchmaking techniques, this watch owes a great deal to the science of alloys and to acoustics.

Only an exceptional blending of many types of know-how could make it possible to incorporate a striking mechanism that is so clearly audible – thanks to two small hammers striking a gong to sound the hours, quarters and minutes – within such a small volume. In harmony with the noblest watchmaking traditions, Blancpain has risen to this incredible challenge and has become a past master in the art of making Minute Repeater wristwatches combining a complex mechanism and exceptional acoustics. The purity of its remarkable striking tone is echoed in the powerful, restrained lines of this timepiece that is pared down to essentials.

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