HH Magazine de la Haute Horlogerie - March 2010
Cristina d'Agostino
Invented in the late nineteenth century, after long years of neglect the carrousel complication rose from its slumber two years ago, thanks to the ingenuity of Blancpain. Identical to the tourbillon in its function, the carrousel has never enjoyed the same degree of success, dogged by its reputation for being excessively complex to make. In 2008, Blancpain was first to include a carrousel in a wristwatch, incidentally the world's first one-minute carrousel. This year, the company has again put exquisite mechanics centre-stage, with the carrousel in the title role, when it unveiled the Carrousel Minute Repeater Le Brassus, the highlight of Blancpain's 275th anniversary celebrations.
Four years in the making, this exceptional grande complication presents several technical innovations. The two sounding rings of the cathedral gong minute-repeater are one and a half times the diameter of the movement. They are attached to the inside of the case to produce a clearer, stronger sound. This new movement also features an innovative safety system that disconnects the crown to avoid damage to the movement should the crown be turned while the repeater is sounding... Read more
