Split-seconds chronograph

The new Atelier de Chronométrie #8, a Split-Seconds chronograph

Introduction

The Atelier de Chronométrie #8 project started 2 years ago when a collector placed his trust in us to make his dream watch a reality. The challenge was to answer to the question of what an AdC rat-trapante would be like. Like all the AdC timepieces, it is a unique timepiece, one of a kind, which has been entirely handcrafted, exclusively using age old watchmaking techniques and hand-operated machines and tools.

This Split-second chronograph with 12-hour counter is based on a Venus 185 movement and it is pre-sented in a new case design made of 18k Grey gold with teardrop lugs. The Pulsations black galvanic “gilt” dial with silvered lettering and scales, and applied Breguet numerals, completes the overall look of this chronograph.

The calibre

The calibre is based on a Venus 185 movement (from a vintage split-seconds chronograph). From a total of 280 calibre parts, 50 new parts have been created completely by hand without using CNC milling ma-chines. The rest of the 230 parts have been modified and decorated by hand too.

The finishes include handmade grainage as well as black polish, anglage, perlage, polished counter-sinks, straight graining, etirage des flancs, etc. The calibre aesthetics combines a balanced mixture made of the combination of the pink gold plated bridges with the rodhium plated wheels and the steel accents of the levers and black polished parts as well the purple black polished beveled screws. At the center, a new rattrapante wheel made of Titanium with the shape of the Atelier de Chronométrie symbol brings finesse and delicacy.

The case

The case had to be a fancy organic one, where ergonomy was a key requirement of the customer. Due to the height of this rattrapante calibre, the main goals for its creation were to create a visual effect that make it “thinner” and secondly to make it comfortable on the wrist. For those reasons, the center part of this three-body case has a curved shape and is combined with a concave bezel and case back. Inspired by the vintage chronographs, the teardrop lugs give more personality to the whole watch design. The de-sign of the crown with the rattrapante pusher and the two pushers has been executed in order to not protrude excessively from the case profile to maintain harmony. It has been handcrafted in 18k Grey gold with a high Palladium alloy, which is why it doesn’t need to be rhodied.

The dial

For the dial, the idea of creating a medical dial with a pulsometric scale appealed to us. The black galvanic “gilt” dial with mirror polished silvered lettering and scales was made by a technique very common in the past but nowadays is really rare and highly laborious to be properly executed. The applied Breguet numerals and three engine-turned counters (30-minute counter, 12-hour counter and seconds counter) combine perfectly with the 7 leaf hands made in 18k Grey gold.