Ornatus-Mundi
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Rudis Sylva Oscillateur Harmonieux - the instantly compensating 'tourbillon'
Recent years have brought about a great deal of novel engineering tools and with them an abundance of watchmaking novelties. Multi-axis tourbillons anyone? Crazy constructions - no limits? It seems to me that many of those world firsts and revolutions somehow went into oblivion… Often it parers to me that the novelty factor was worn out faster than the makers could think.
Few however persevered the stormy post-2008 years, and I'd like to report on one of those fascinating constructions: The Rudis Sylva Oscillateur Harmonieux (Harmonious Oscillator):
The incept behind Rudis Sylva all started almost 10 years ago literally high up in the air: During a long Zurich - Sao Paulo flight lawyer (and painter) Nicolas Vaccaro drew up the first sketch of what would become the Oscillateur Harmonieux:
It was based on this sketch that Romain Gillet, an inhabitant of Les Bois in the Swiss Jura and member of the 6th generation of a dynasty of watchmakers, and Mika Rissanen, a watchmaker specialising in grand complications, dreamed up the first Rudis Sylva watch. ?After more than 4 years of research and development devoted to the complication movement, the watch was finally finished (picture credit: Tony Axelson):
The original technical construction of the watch itself merits a bit of theory upfront. What looks like a tourbillon with two escapements is actually quite cleverly different: The Oscillateur Harmonieux features a system with two mechanically interlinked balances driven by a single escapement. This combination ensures the same amplitude. The symmetry and energy of the balance springs are constantly opposed, enabling instantaneous average correction in the vertical position, which eliminates the effect of gravity. It is thus the first time that two toothed balances exhibit a resonance-like effect instantly from the first oscillations.
What makes this now different to a conventional tourbillon?
"As a general rule, and as long as it is in a completely stable state, a tourbillon requires 1 minute to compensate for the effects of gravity. The Harmonious Oscillator enables instantaneous time correction in a vertical position by means of the interconnection of the balances and asymmetric deployment of the balance springs.
In conclusion, the Harmonious Oscillator offers far better accuracy than conventional tourbillons or carrousels. This mechanism is close to perfection in terms of setting. Tests performed on various measuring instruments give exceptional results, in particular with regard to amplitude in all positions, or after 24 hours in a vertical position. The amplitude deltas measured on the timing machine are also excellent (difference in degrees of amplitude when changing positions)." [Press Material]
The watch is certainly not the sole attempt on an instantaneous correction of gravity errors. The manufacture Roger Dubuis for example opted four independent escapements arranged in a 90° angle (see: Roger Dubuis Quartuor ). It would be great (but I guess an unfulfillable desire) to conduct a comparative timing of all these constructions.
The dial is dominated by two elements of equal weight, the time sundial at the top and the oscillator cage at the bottom half. Since 2009 the watch has undergone a couple of iterations in terms of design. With this post I want to present a couple of them, amongst those the most recent version in white gold and an open-worked face called RS12 Grand Art Horologer :
The most immediate effect is clearing and exposure of the oscillator's cage (cage diameter: 17.40 mm!):
The bottom part of the eccentric time dial indicates the seconds, at least 12 of them equivalent to 1/5th of a minute:
The oscillator's cage carries a small tip used a seconds hand. Note the almost archaic brushed hands who resemble a fir tree, paying homage to the origins of settlement in the Jura valleys (settlers were awarded tax exemption for clearing the fir woods on the hills):
The second, also most welcome consequence is that Rudis Sylva freed room for exquisite decoration techniques executed by a number of craftsmen who exercise their talent on isolated farms. Their work requires such peace and quiet that isolation ensures excellence. Guilloche artists …
… hand bevellers …
… and enamellers work on their farms in La Corbatière, Le Peuchapatte and Les Barrières, 3 hamlets close to the headquarters of Rudis Sylva. The sundial on the back - crafted in enamel - seems to a be an odd addition to a mechanical timepiece …
… but in fact is a true representation of the sundial found at the front of the Les Rosées-Dessous farm. Moreover, the enamelling was done by Sophie Cattin who was born at the very farm!
While we are at it: The back of the Oscillateur Harmonieux was hand-engraved by Sylvain Bettex:
A side view reveals a considerable heft…
… and a fantastically finely done brushed case band, to which the delicately engraved crown offers a tensioning counter-point:
Thus it is even more surprising that the watch actually wears neither large nor thick - in fact: excellent!
I was also shown a few other versions, such as this open-worked watch in red gold with a black dial. It gives more emphasis to the oscillator due to the gold-coloured balances and cage bridge:
Perhaps the most 'harmonious' example is this red gold piece with a very simple yet elegant dial:
I just love this perfectly accentuated time dial with the guilloched centre:
Note hoe finely the chapter rings are applied and bevelled:
Red dot for the seconds indication - here with a full dial around the cage opening:
Detailed shots of the micro-brushed case…
Detailed shots of the micro-brushed case…
… and the crown:
Conclusion:Rudis Sylva is a watchmaker that focusses on a traditional watchmaking concept very much rooted in the history of the Swiss Jura, more precisely the region Franches-Montagnes. There, part-time horological artisans, most of them farmers in their main profession, were the key pillars of a boom in the watchmaking industry. Even today, more than 70% of all open professional position have to deal with horology.
Rudis Sylva not only pays homage to there artisans but also furthers the concept of assigning outside specialists to do what they do best: constructing, machining and decorating watch parts, cases and dials. The company makes no secret of it, on the contrary, they put those experts in the limelight of their communication:
"The artisans of our region, regardless of whether or not they contributed to the production of this timepiece, are the real founders of the Rudis Sylva concept. The sole objective of the brand managers is to connect history and technology to offer the world a product which showcases the expertise of the region in the best possible light." [Rudis Sylva website]
This is honest and very refreshing, particularly if the result is as impressive - aesthetically and technically alike - as the Oscillateur Harmonieux.
I have been very skeptical in the past towards such 'out there' concepts like this watch (and I still am!) but I have to voice my respect to the perseverance and stamina of the founders. For me as a mere layman the construction of two directly linked balances appear to pose more problems than it solves (friction and thus higher energy requirements at a critical point, for example), but the fact that this watch is offered since 4 years says something. I also have not understood yet why a rotating case has been chosen although the two balances alone seem to achieve the objectives.
I really would look forward learning more - and ore in-depth! - about the mechanism. Until then I think it is a thorough enrichment of the industry with an intellectual stimulus on top.
Thanks for reading,
Magnus
This message has been edited by Ornatus-Mundi on 2013-12-11 07:41:37
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Rudis Sylva Oscillateur Harmonieux - the instantly compensating 'tourbillon'
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