Baselworld 2010: Cabestan Nostromo by Jean-François Ruchonnet and Eric Coudray

Mar 17, 2010,09:43 AM
 

Anchored in the segment of ultra-exclusive, revolutionary watchmaking, Geneva-based Cabestan presents Cabestan Nostromo , a new and bold design born of the boundless imagination of its creator, Jean-François Ruchonnet.

Created in collaboration with master watchmaker Eric Coudray, Cabestan Nostromo brings together, with absolute perfection, the best in technical and creative watchmaking. The savoir-faire of the exclusive Swiss manufacture is evident in the new interpretation of the Cabestan Winch Tourbillon Vertical, this time simplified, but always with a characteristically harmonious and masculine architecture. Cabestan’s DNA is perfectly respected.



Nostromo gets its inspiration from the world of science fiction, that of the spaceship in the unforgettable film, Alien, fruit of the collective imaginations of Sir Ridley Scott and H.R. Giger. Transposed in the world of ultra-exclusive watchmaking, Cabestan Nostromo is destined to become one of the cult timepieces most admired by collectors.

Reflecting the spirit of this incredible world, Cabestan Nostromo is housed in a sleek black case with a single crystal giving it a personality that is decidedly powerful and masculine, rich in emotion and surprises. The watchcase showcases the vertical wheels and drums along with the ingenious articulated drive shaft that transmits energy to the movement using bevel gears. The windows placed on each side of the case create transversal views of the mechanism’s amazing architecture possible as a result of the open design of the bridges.

The bridges serve not only to anchor the wheels, but also, at their extremities, they astutely wrap around the five drums: hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve and

barrel. The openings that are created, coupled with a jumping hour, result in displays that are simple, clear and elegant. In addition, there is a coloured, graduated scale that indicates the remaining energy remaining on the power reserve drum out of a maximum 50 hours. Finally, like its predecessor, this new model is equipped with four capstans, but this time one of them can be discretely unscrewed to reveal the watch’s crown.

The emotions continue on the reverse side of the timepiece. Jean-François Ruchonnet and Eric Coudray chose a sapphire back plate for Cabestan Nostromo to render visible the other clever ideas they incorporated. The balance, inclined at 30°, is coupled with a swan neck regulator to allow minute adjustments in order to ensure extremely precise timekeeping. The force in the timepiece is thus transposed from horizontal to vertical in a completely original way by using an interesting and inventive combination of classical and retro-futuristic mechanisms.

Other spectacular innovation, as the sun sets, Cabestan Nostromo begins its nocturnal transformation. The areas inside the bridges, the windows and other surfaces of the movement are discretely covered with a thin phosphorescent coating invisible in daylight. In the dark, however, the mechanism is magically illuminated. A subtle yellow-green light fills the space and flows around the strap creating an astonishing visual unity and a supernatural view of this prodigious timepiece. Like a spaceship illuminated against the intergalactic obscurity, Cabestan Nostromo proudly displays its innovative genius both day and night.

A new attestation of Jean-François Ruchonnet’s visionary creativity.

Guaranteed emotion for lovers of fine mechanical art.

A magistral second act for Cabestan.

Available in Titanium and Gold with Black PVD

Retail prices : starting at CHF 150'000 excl. TVA


Cabestan Nostromo

- Technical Data -

Functions

Hours, minutes, seconds read from three engraved rotary drums

Power reserve indicator on an engraved rotary drum (50 hours)

Movement

Fully mechanical movement Calibre CAB EC 102 with Swiss anchor escapement

Frequency: 21 600 alt/h or 3 HZ

37 rubies

Breguet-style overcoil; Geneva stud

Balance with 240° amplitude equipped with a swan neck regulator

Rewinding and time setting using an extracting crown

Vertical gear system with golden brass wheels, hollow bridges, drive shaft with conical gears, specially machined barrel

Superluminova coating inside bridges, windows, around Cabestan name plate

Fully hand finished : beveling, polishing, drawing, graining and hooping

Case

Black PVD titanium case

One functional capstan with extracting crown & three ornamental capstans

Two side windows with sapphire crystals

Case back in sapphire

One thermoformed, metalized Pyrex crystal hand-fitted to each case

Strap & Buckle

Folding buckle with dual capstans

High quality two-layer rubber strap with black Superluminova coating

  login to reply

Comments: view entire thread