Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Bianchet B1.618 Grand Date Sapphire Edition Pulls Back All Covers
An airy sapphire crystal exterior fully reveals the openworked dial and movement of the B1.618.
Bianchet has been carving out a name for itself for crafting high-tech shock-resistant sports tourbillon watches, with a signature tonneau shape. The curved profile, integrated rubber straps, and ultra-resilient construction ensure optimum comfort and performance under pretty much any circumstance. To showcase its watchmaking capabilities well beyond the complex openworked movements, Bianchet now presents the fully transparent B1.618 Grande Date Sapphire Edition.
Where Bianchet would normally opt for high-tech materials such as titanium and carbon fibre in previous editions of the B1.618, this one gets a full transparent makeover. The sapphire crystal case comes in the exact same dimensions, meaning you’re looking at a tonneau-shaped exterior of 43mm in width, 51mm in length and 14.35mm in height. The top and bottom halves of the case are separated by white rubber gaskets, a signature styling element in all of Bianchet’s watches. The titanium crown has a white rubber band for added grip and is protected by a pair of guards.
Given the transparency of the case and the fact its movement is completely openworked, the Bianchet B1.618 Grande Date Sapphire Edition relies on central hands and an outer hour/minute track to tell time. Everything is finished in either white or black, to provide the best possible contrast. Two tracks of luminous dots are positioned on the left and right side, aiding night-time legibility in combination with the Super-LumiNova inserts on the hands. Just above the central hands, a white frame outlines the big date indication that gives the watch (part of) its name.
The movement inside the B1.618 has been left untouched from a technical perspective. The proprietary, manually wound calibre has an openworked construction and is regulated by a flying tourbillon at 6′. Running at a rate of 21,600vph and offers a big date display indicated by two openworked discs alongside the hours and minutes. When fully wound, it will keep running for up to 90 hours.
Bianchet presents the B1.618 Grande Date Sapphire Edition on a white rubber strap with a grade 5 titanium folding clasp and in a production run of 21 pieces. The price for this fully transparent tonneau-shaped watch is CHF 85,500 before taxes.
For more information, please visit Bianchet.com.
