Preface; Superfast Tourbillon - Chopard Classic Racing Bedienungsanleitung

ENGLISH

PREFACE

SUPERFAST TOURBILLON

Your watch is fitted with Chopard's
first mechanical tourbillon calibre with
automatic winding. It has been entirely
designed, developed and produced in
Chopard's Fine Watchmaking work-
shops. The tourbillon is a device
designed to compensate for the effects
of gravity when the watch is in vertical
positions. The trick consists in mounting
the watch's regulating and maintenance
organs (i.e. the balance, balance-spring,
pallet and escape wheel) inside a rotat-
ing carriage that spins on its axis once
a minute. All Chopard tourbillons are
equipped with a patented four-spoke
"Variner" balance. This technology,
exclusively devised by Chopard, serves
to regulate inertia of the balance (thus
making the watch gain or lose time) by
carefully adjusting the position of the
four inertia blocks. These help mini-
mise aerodynamic disturbances as the
balance oscillates, thereby ensuring
optimal reliability and accuracy.
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Endurance inspiration
The design of the Superfast Tourbillon
is governed by the inspiration of an
unbridled automobile. The model is
undoubtedly the most extreme to date
in the Classic Racing collection and the
Superfast family. The dial is an open
worked grid reminiscent of the Porsche
919 radiator grille. Its engine is the
inspiration for the design of the open
worked 'cylinder head cover' topping
the dial and housing a large double-
disc date display.
Ergonomic steering
Exactly as with a racing car, the ergo-
nomics of the Superfast Tourbillon are
a core concern. A patent has been filed
for the crown. To avoid disturbing the
wearer during laps, it remains hidden
beneath the watch and interacts later-
ally with the movement. It is also fitted
on the left.
Extreme engine
Chopard Calibre 04.03-M is the first
automatic tourbillon calibre to emerge
from Chopard Manufacture, and is
protected by a patent relating to the
stop-tourbillon mechanism. Inspired
by a disc-brake system, the tourbillon
carriage is brought to a halt by axially
mounted levers that are activated as
soon as the crown is pulled out. The
movement can thus be set to the near-
est second, which is extremely rare for
a tourbillon.
Manufacture-style watchmaking
Chopard is a family Maison with a dis-
tinctive philosophy of independence.
The various stages involved in making
the Superfast Tourbillon are performed
in-house at the group's Geneva and
Fleurier production sites. Movement
development, finished product design,
gold smelting, case stamping and
machining, movement components,
traditional hand-crafted decorations,
surface treatments, polishing, assem-
bly, rating and quality control: Chopard
masters all the operations involved in
watch production and applies them to
all its Haute Horlogerie models, includ-
ing the Superfast Tourbillon.
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