Classic Fusion Cathedral Tourbillon Minute Repeater

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Classic Fusion Cathedral Tourbillon Minute Repeater

A new 100% Hublot Manufacture movement with double cathedral chime.
La Cote des Montres - November 1st, 2014

Born of the desire to pursue an independent route enabling Hublot to design and produce its own movements, the brand has now unveiled its second Minute Repeater coupled with a tourbillon. Exhibiting a marvellous balance between the classic style of its two major complications, a symbol of watchmaking art, and the dynamic, modern design of the Classic Fusion 45 mm, this piece is a fine exercise in style that demonstrates the principle of fusion between Tradition and Modernity.

Entirely designed, developed and produced by the micro-mechanical engineers, engineers and watchmakers at Hublot, and this new Grande Complication is the result of 24 months of R&D. Fully remodelled and optimised since the first version appeared in 2010, the new Tourbillon Minute Repeater retains all of Hublot’s DNA.

The sapphire dial reveals the HUB 8001 hand-wound mechanical movement, with its tourbillon escapement and the Minute Repeater mechanism. Among the notable new features are the newly designed time setting function and a traditional tourbillon with its 13.6 mm diameter cage, which rotates once every minute, and boasts a highly stable construction thanks to the barrette on the dial side.

The assembly of its 319 components - bridges, cams and springs, racks and hammers, gongs and snails, cage, wheels, jewels, screws - is a unique decorative element in itself, beautifully complemented by the watch’s hands, which are red gold- or rhodium-plated, like the case.

One of the technical feats achieved on the Minute Repeater, whose construction requires a level of expertise possessed by only a small number of manufactures, is the complete integration of the trigger piece in the left-hand bezel lug of the Classic Fusion’s case. This means it is no longer an appendage - as is usually the case - but rather a cleverly integrated function which results in a watch with a particularly harmonious appearance.

The power of the double cathedral chime and the exceptional clarity of its tone has already brought it to the attention of connoisseurs. Finally, the Tourbillon Minute Repeater, which has a power reserve of 5 days, is water-resistant to 30 metres - a highly complex achievement at this level, and much sought after by connoisseurs. The sound of the chime no longer relies on airborne transmission, but rather resonates through the material of the case.

The watch has an aesthetically pleasing diameter of 45 mm. The piece looks beautiful in King Gold (extra-precious gold containing 5% platinum) or titanium, the two versions in which this new model is available. It is completed with a strap, with a deployant buckle, in black alligator leather sewn onto tone-on-tone rubber for comfort, flexibility and increased leather durability.