Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The New Bianchet Flying Tourbillon Grande Date
High-tech materials and streamlined design for Bianchet’s second openworked tourbillon model, now with a big date complication.
Bianchet is a new independent Swiss watch brand founded by husband and wife team Rodolfo and Emmanuelle Festa Bianchet in 2017. Sharing a passion for tonneau-shaped watches and ultra-contemporary aesthetics and materials, the couple launched its first watch, the Tourbillon 1.618, in 2021. Incorporating a big date complication, Bianchet introduces its second watch, the Flying Tourbillon Grande Date B1.618. A limited edition of 200 pieces, the latest model will be showcased at the upcoming Geneva Watch Days event.
Although there are only two watches in the brand’s collection, Bianchet has demonstrated a preference for streamlined tonneau-shaped cases, something they share with brands like Richard Mille, Franck Muller, Cvstos, et al. Like the inaugural Tourbillon 1.618, the new watch flaunts a curved tonneau case crafted from a carbon fibre composite infused with titanium powder (titanium-dust-high-density-carbon). This highly resistant and lightweight material is composed of 500 compressed layers of 0.03mm thick carbon fibre injected with titanium powder to produce subtle reflections. The marbled patterns of the case are created by the orientation of the carbon fibres arranged at 45 and 90 degrees. Light-blue rubber is used as a gasket on the case and to sheathe the crown, adding an attractive touch of colour. The natural vulcanised rubber strap – in blue or black – accentuates the sleek, streamlined profile of the watch and is attached to the wrist with a titanium folding clasp.
The case, which has a diameter of 43mm, a length of 51mm and a thickness of 14.35mm, weighs just 55 grams (excl. strap). It might be lightweight, but the brand claims this is one of the few tonneau-shaped carbon watches capable of withstanding pressures of 100 metres and shocks of 5000G. The screwed crown guards, caseback and blue rubber gasket reinforce the case.
One thing Rodolfo and Emmanuelle like to highlight is how the design of their cases and movements incorporate the mathematical principles of Fibonacci’s Golden Ratio. The numeric designation 1.618 on Bianchet’s two tourbillons directly references Fibonacci’s geometric ratio. Perfect proportions are the name of the game, and the flying tourbillon and big date complications of the B1.618 are perfectly positioned according to the golden triangles used to design the movement. The architecture of the bridges originates at the central point of the tourbillon cage to follow the curves of Fibonacci’s spiral. The bridges on the reverse side also form concentric golden circles with diameters respecting the ratio of 1.618, while the dial-side elements – tourbillon cage, hour wheel and big date – are positioned according to the geometric rule of golden circles.
The flying tourbillon, with its titanium cage, performs its rotations at 6 o’clock, while the big date complication is displayed on two separate discs and stands out on the dial thanks to its blue frame and white numbers. The outermost flange bears the minutes track with blue accents at 5-min intervals. A second openworked flange attached to the minutes track has white Super-LumiNova dots indicating the hours. The baton hour and minute hands pick up on the blue accents of the case and dial.
The hand-wound calibre powering the B1.61 8 is a proprietary movement assembled and finished by hand in the Bianchet workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Beating at 21,600vph, the balance wheel has adjustment weights. When the barrel is fully wound, the power reserve is approx. 90 hours.
The Bianchet Flying Tourbillon Grande Date B1.618 is a limited edition of 200 pieces, and customers can choose from any of the eight colour variations available. The price is CHF 65,500 excluding taxes. For more information, please visit bianchet.com.
5 responses
I understand that – exactly like in music – similar ideas may rise in different places and in different minds, leading to similar results. However I am not sure this is the case, the similarity with RM is far too evident and hard to accept to be a random event, despite any commercial claim. Material, shape, architecture are carbon copy of the mentioned (much more expensive) brand.
This said, full respect to Bianchet for the work done; I really like the watch (with a preference for the orange one) unfortunately it is as well out of my economical reach.
Best regards,
Andrea
Dear Andrea,
Thanks for the compliments ! Nevertheless, I would like to respond to the allegation that this watch is a carbon copy of another Brand, which is clearly not the case if you look at the watch in details and defend our work.
The shape we use is a Tonneau, which many brands, not only RM. Our tonneau case is streamlined and designed with pure lines and perfect proportion ( as we use the golden ratio ) .We do not use screws on the bezel. Our case has two colored rubber seams (a first in the world) – that no other brands use and are Bianchet’s distinctive signature – which clearly divides the middle of the case from the bezel and the back using the golden ratio ( phi 1.618) proportion. The middle part of the case of our watch is not smaller than the bezel and the back, but in continuation with smooth rounded shapes, and presents no vertical columns on the flanks. We use lugs for the integration of the strap.
The titanium dust high-density carbon is exclusive of Bianchet and is the first time in the world that it has been used in a watch.
Many brands use various types of carbon nowadays.
Our skeleton movement is constructed from the ground up using precise golden ratio proportions and golden geometrical patterns. It has a FLYING TOURBILLON at 6 hours that no RM Model use.
This statement that we are a copy is a generalization based on very high-level similarities of forms, and in fact, we are always compared to a brand, never to a model of the brand. It is like saying all round skeleton watches are the same.
To conclude, I like the tonneau shape from when I bought my first Cartie Tortue and I always dreamed to have a tourbillon. I wanted to do a watch that is, above all, beautiful and inspired by form and not by function.Many people get our intention and design philosophy others don’t .
But as Leonardo Davinci once said :“There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.”Best regards Rodolfo Festa Bianchet
It’s a RM copy,and who will pay anything like the asking price are as interesting as those who bought RM in the early days.Just shows the wealthy are not immune to insanity. Good luck to both companies, but one really doesn’t need much luck anymore.
Beautiful watch.
Good for you, Rodolfo! I think your watch is exquisite and unique. Hopefully I’ll be able to buy one before all 200 are sold!