The Reason
A manual wound, triple-access tourbillon, with peripheral hands.
Introduction
The central triple-axis tourbillon was originally launched in 2013. The version shown here has a round titanium case, with the sapphire crystal dome. It is an early example of the series that was made and sold, here being dismantled for servicing and refurbishment. The watch was called the Deep Space Tourbillon in tribute to the Star Trek TV series that Vianney followed.
Technical specifications
Movement dimensions: 40 mm diameter - 10 mm thickness. The overall case dimensions : 50 mm x 53 mm x 20 mm. Case material : Titanium. Crystal : 40,6 mm diameter sapphire glass with anti-reflect coating. Movement : In-house developed VH 113. Balance frequency : 21,600 v.p.h. Tourbillon cage revolution time : 40 sec. Crossbar revolution time : 6 min. Cradle revolution time : 30 min. Number of jewels : 41. Total number of component : 317 parts. Number of components of the tourbillon cage assembly : 75. Number of components included traverse assembly and cage : 111. Winding : manual. Power Reserve : 60 hours. Total weight of the watch : 90 gr.
The metal rivets on the winding crown are a similar to those of the Antiqua Perpetual Calendar, the first of Vianney‘s timepiece.
The case-back is held in place by 8 screws. Below they have been removed, the case back turned and the underside of the movement, usually hidden, now in view.
The glossy black finish on the inside of the case-back is a form of synthetic resin.
With the case back removed the winding system for the two barrels is in view. The two steel wheels with a single screw each, in the centre are the ratchet wheels, below them are the barrels.
In the centre of the watch are three screws circling a polished steel column head. These hold in place the ball race with ceramic balls upon which the blue titanium cradle sits that in-turn supports the tourbillon mechanism.
The movement removed from the case and the stem returned.
This cage is installed inside a transversal structure that takes 6 minutes to fully rotate on the horizontal axis. The structure is suspended in its titanium cradle that rotates clockwise around a vertical axis in 30 minutes.
The hands, index and cradle are made of blued titanium.
Removing the dial with wooden tipped tweezers to avoid marking the surface. The hands and tourbillon need to be in a particular positions to allow the dial to be freed with out touching any other parts.
The dial is held onto the movement by two long screws that slide through the movement from its rear bridge.
The ring dial is machined in solid silver and engraved with a traditional black chapter ring.
Below, images of the dial being made in Vianney’s homemade CNC machine.
Profile of the cage inside the transversal structure.
The bronze coloured wheel to the left transmits power to the toubillion mechanism via the vertical gearing below it. The power from the 2 mainsprings drives the blue cradle from gearing hidden underneath it.
The tourbillon mechanism removed from the cradle.
Close up of the tourbillon mechanism with the drive wheel removed and the pieces required to be removed in order to free it from the cradle.
The two barrels powering the cradle can be seen below it.
The barrel caps are black as is the resin on the inner case back to be able to accentuate the contrast of the upper mechanism as it turns.
The movement supported in a custom made movement holder.
The lateral assembly including the tourbillon being poised to assure the mechanism is evenly weighted as it turns.
More clearly seen below, is the tourbillon sitting inside the transversal structure, driven by the gears underneath it.
The Breguet over-coil balance spring is free sprung and the regulation of the watch made by the large chronometer style timing screws screwed in to the balance rim.
With the dial and upper mechanism removed the setting (at 3 o’clock) and part of the minute jumping system (at 1 o’clock can be seen).
The main-plate surrounding the cradle is made from German silver.
Hands : peripheral curved shape hands.
The minute hand is semi-instantaneous jumping.
The cradle removed.
The blued titanium cradle with its ceramic ball race in full view.
The ceramic balls require no lubrication and are smoother than steel equivalents. The mass of material being driven requires the most efficient and friction-reduced system possible.
Below are the two barrels that drive the movement. They are linked together via the central large silver coloured wheel. The tourbillon mechanism is then driven by the copper-barillium wheel under the right barrel.
Summary
In Vianney’s office and home are classic images from the Star Trek series, as well as a plethora of diverse art and early comic strips. He remains an avid lover of classic science fiction. His Deep Space timepiece is possibly the only watch to have ever been conceived in an individual’s imagination, during a dream following multiple viewings of Star Treks Deep Space 9 television series. This alone makes for an unusual birthplace of any timepiece.
The overall execution of the movement is simple once broken down. The simplicity of such a timepiece is in itself a positive attribution, it is easy to make a simple product complex, but rendering a complex product simple results in a more reliable product functionally, easier to assemble, the likelihood of an extended use between services. The mix of steel, brass, copper-beryllium and titanium both aesthetically and technically is well thought out. The watch although influenced by science fiction is executed using traditional watchmaking methods, decorated and assembled by hand.
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