AndrewD
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IGOTT2 Moments – DeWitt

I have already presented the DeWitt WX-1 Concept Watch [Click Here for the video and photos] and some miscellaneous shots from the formal presentations, but Nathalie and the DeWitt team also brought with them some quite special watches that we were able to get up close and personal with.

The first was the “Antipode”, a reversible watch with repetition minutes (linked to home time), tourbillon and GMT. Despite being 45.5mm in diameter, the watch is made from titanium and is relatively light. Titanium is, of course, an excellent material for the transmission of sound.

Next was the Tourbillon Differential which has been a favourite of mine since I became aware of it in 2005. We did a post a few years back on 'interactive' watches, and this was my nomination. When the mainspring is fully wound you can continue to wind, well 'play', with the differential system. This watch won the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve in 2005 and is shown here in platinum, but is also available in rose gold and either titanium with RG and black rubber or WG with RG and black rubber.

This third piece is the Tourbillon Force Constante a Chaine. We had already had the opportunity to try our hand at assembling the tiny chain which is made up of 192 components. Each link has a tiny (and I mean tiny) "W" logo engraved on it, and the chain is assembled and riveted together by hand.

Note that the Tourbillon is of the 'flying' design ...

This watch also features a constant force device, and I took the opportunity to snap a photo with F.P.Journe's solution to the constant force issue. In the DeWitt the constant force device absorbs the force generated by the barrel once every second and redistributes it to the tourbillon every 10 seconds. 43mm case (the FPJ is 40mm) available in Pt, WG and RG.

I wish I had more pictures of these three watches, because there is more here than you might think at first glance. On the right is the Twenty-8-Eight Tourbillon but with a dead beat seconds and automatic winding. A so-called Automatic Sequential Winding (ASW) system that keeps the movement functioning at 92-96% of the mainspring tourque. This is a patented system and this RG version measures 46mm. In the middle is the Tourbillon Force Constante a Chaine and on the left is the Twenty-8-Eight Tourbillon in WG. Can you see the front of a steam engine in the Art Deco-inspired dial? The watch measures 43mm and is in WG.

Perhaps it is Nathalie's influence, but DeWitt have a nice collection of ladies watches, a segment which often seems to be an afterthought for many Manufactures. This watch is called the "Golden Afternoon" and is in WG with a white MOP dial that mimics the cloudy sky. Lovely depth to the dial and note the leaf-shaped hands. Inside is an ETA 2892 and the case diameter is 39mm.