I’m sure you’ve heard at least one of these revered watchmakers.
If not, at least familiarize yourself with these names.
Presenting from left: Mr. Roger Dubuis of Roger Dubuis timepieces, Mr. Peter Speake-Marin of Speake-Marin timepieces and Mr. Christophe Claret of Claret timepieces
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Picture three of watch-making’s finest artisans working together to concoct unprecedented results in the history of horology.
Introducing Maîtres du Temps, a brand in which these master watchmakers blend their vast and diverse experience in a collaborative effort to create exclusive and unparalleled masterpieces.
The driving force behind Maîtres du Temps is Mr. Steven Holtzman, a man with nearly three decades of experience in the watch industry; created the Helvetia Time Corporation (HTC) to distribute high-quality Swiss watch brands throughout North and Central America.
“I saw my role as a connector and as a catalyst, bringing people together to come up with ideas and providing the template for independent watchmakers to be seen through a collaborative effort,” says Mr. Holtzman. “By blending the different styles and talents of the watchmakers, I was able to realize my vision—Maîtres du Temps.”
He realizes his vision by harnessing and maximizing each watchmaker’s incredible talent – by bringing together their ideas, style, and approach.
Each chapter in the Maîtres du Temps story is a symbiosis of experience, influence, art, craft, and technique, all harmoniously encapsulated in a single watch.
Their first and current timepiece is aptly titled, ‘Chapter One‘.
Chapter One is a exhilarating fusion of Mr. Claret’s undisputed mastery of high-end complications, Mr. Dubuis’ rich lifetime of experience in haute horlogerie, and Mr. Speake-Marin’s unique ability to bridge the very best of both traditional and modern watchmaking.
With ‘Chapter Two’ in the works, it will be a certain feast for our eyes.
The philosophy of Maîtres du Temps is symbolized by a tree, with each branch representing a fresh opportunity to work with new masters, another collaboration, a future project.
And as the branches intertwine and the tree bears fruit – a new timepiece is brought to life.
Launched this year, in a limited series of four different versions, during the week of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, Switzerland, Maîtres du Temps is a new luxury watch brand that is unique in its kind, with Chapter One being introduced to the market for a suggested retail price of $400.000.
The first piece from Maîtres du Temps is a world-first combination of complications with tourbillon, mono-pusher chronograph, retrograde date, retrograde GMT, and two idiosyncratic rolling bars at 6 o’clock and 12 o’clock, indicating the day of the week and phase of the moon, respectively.
The ease of both reading and adjusting Chapter One’s many indications disguises the fact that this is a world-first combination of complications crafted from 558 components.
A tour of the dial reveals central coaxial hours, minutes, and chronograph 60-second counter, tourbillon and day of the week roller at 6 o’clock; retrograde GMT at 9 o’clock; 60-minute chronograph counter and precision moon phase roller at 12 o’clock; and retrograde date at 3 o’clock.
“Maîtres du Temps is important to me because it allows several watchmakers to come together to create a new product,” Mr. Dubuis says.
“New design and manufacturing technologies allow fresh scope for different forms that were unimaginable only ten years ago,” Mr. Speake-Marin says.
“Maîtres du Temps puts the watchmakers first,” says Mr. Claret. “It allows the client, the lover of extremely complicated watchmaking, to get to know the creators of the product, those who have designed, made, and assembled the timepiece.”
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Technical Specifications of Maîtres du Temps Chapter One:
Manual-wind mechanical movement, one-minute tourbillon, mono-pusher chronograph, retrograde date indicator, retrograde GMT indicator, day of the week indication on roller, patented precise moon phase indication on roller.
Displays:
- Central hands indicating hours and minutes
- Central chronograph counterpoised second hand
- 60-minute counter at 12 o’clock
- Retrograde date at 3 o’clock
- Retrograde GMT at 9 o’clock
- One-minute tourbillon at 6 o’clock
- Day of the week indication on roller at 6 o’clock
- Patented precise moon phase indication on roller at 12 o’clock
Functions:
- Two-position winding crown: pushed in to wind the watch; pulled out to set the time
- Chronograph: start/stop/return-to-zero function activated by single pusher in the crown
Correctors:
- Date corrector at 2 o’clock
- Day of the week corrector at 4 o’clock
- Moon phase corrector at 8 o’clock
- GMT corrector at 10 o’clock
Calibre SHC02:
- Dimensions: 51.3 mm x 31.6 mm
- Number of components: 558
- Number of jewels: 58
- Power reserve: 60 hours
- Tourbillon rotation: 60 seconds
- Balance frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Case:
- 18K red gold
- Number of components: 104
- Dimensions: 62.60 mm x 45.90 mm
- Sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating
- Display back: sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating
- High polish and satin finishes on compound-curve surfaces
- Correctors with integrated locking system
Dial:
- 18K gold
- Number of components: 7
- Multi-faceted and beveled
- Printed Roman numerals
- Engine-turned sun-ray guilloche
- Red counterpoised chronograph hand
- Blue sword-shaped hands for chronograph counter, hour, minute, date, and GMT
Rollers:
- Day barrel: anodized anticorodal finished aluminum
- Moon phase barrel: anodized anticorodal finished aluminum inside a matte anodized cover with laser-pierced moon and stars
- Window between day roller and tourbillon
Strap: Alligator strap with 18K red gold deployant buckle
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Visit MaitresduTemps.com to learn more, and/or how to get your hands on one.
It would take some time (read: long time) for me to actually get my hands on a MdT.
Tourbillons are a good bet for heirlooms – they normally start at around $3000 for the brandless timepieces to $30,000 for respectable brands to astronomical values depending on their provenance, quality and workmanship.
It is actually originally designed for pocket watches in order to counter the effects of Earth’s gravitational pull.
♣ Pineapple Pinnacles is honoured to be approached personally by Maîtres du Temps to feature their exclusive and exquisite pioneer timepiece; Chapter One ♣
