Only Watch 2013, the X-TREM-1 Pinball by Christophe Claret watches

“I like to see it through” states this perfectionist of complicated watch movements. Christophe Claret shares: “I wanted to make a really unique piece, connected to children’s universe, namely the game universe. It would also be an object with which the 50-60 age range would identify because the Pinball game means something to them.” Dead on! Several collectors are belonging to this age range and remember this mythic game played in the cafés after classes.

This combination of skill and cleverness under a zest of luck was the star of hobbies of this epoch, with its brilliant balls and its starter handle. Also with those pre-samplers electronic noises seemingly so obsolete nowadays.

Christophe Claret X-TREM-1 Pinball : Fun timepiece but high complications

Replaced by other fevers and other addictions, in particular those to game consoles or tablet-based applications, the iconic game has been brought back to life, in horology anyway. Christophe Claret drew his inspiration from it to modify his X-TREM-1 model into a Pinball version. “We have developed specific stainless steel grids instead of sapphire tubes, we have worked on the aesthetics of the colour codes by opting for blue and orange”, he adds with further details. He chose to personalise the movement aesthetics in order to give it the inside aspect of a pinball. Bumpers, slingshots and balls, orange digits: everything is there ! These references are linked all the way up to the architecture of the mechanical mechanism. “I had to privilege originality for a first participation”.

The exceptional character of the Monaco sale, its focus on the noble fight against myopathies as well the loyal patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, have boosted the teams of the master of high complications. Christophe Claret took it as a collective challenge: several months of development, a three-dimensional curvex mainplate and utra-light titanium bridges – a first for such a complicated calibre – a flying tourbillon inclined at 30 degrees, mounted on a double ceramic ball-bearing train, a blued personalisation loyal to the monochrome tint of the ratchets, of the wristlet and the case made in palladium white gold and perunal type aluminium…

Just as for Christophe Claret X-TREM-1, the hour and minute display is laid on a magnetic levitation mechanism, the first idea of which is owed, before its implementation, to the TimeVision studio constructor of Frédéric Richard. Who would have dared to voluntarily
introduce a magnetic field in a timepiece?

Exclusive video of the Christophe Claret X-TREM-1 Pinball

The sapphire tubes, in which two mini crossed-out steel spheres move, towed by two magnetic miniature carriages which are in turn moved by cables made of dyneema nano-fibres poured into a Polyethylene gel, have been replaced by two white gold wire-netted tubes in this Pinball version.

Levitating inside the tubes, the spheres do not have any mechanical connection with the movement, which adds to the magic of observing the functioning piece. It is a patented technology developed in Yverdon-les-Bains, with Haute Ecole d’Ingénierie et de Gestion du Canton de Vaud (HEIG-VD).

The X-TREM-1 will take-off in Only Watch 2013 Auction in Monaco

Finally, the most unbelievable thing about this delirious Christophe Claret X-TREM-1 Pinball is its wearability. Watchonista’s Alexander Friedman, who tested it during a privileged photo shoot, confirms: “Even more wearable than one could have imagined”. And to play, for one last time before handing it over to its charitable destiny, with its Tilt push-piece, which, at every pressure, corrects the time in a strong way by re-launching the ball. Evaluated at CHF 300’000, this fun hand-wound construction regrouping 419 components including 64 rubies and two barrels, oscillates at 21’600 vibrations per hour. Will it fly under the harangues of the official auctioneer? To be continued on the 28^th September, at the Hermitage hotel of Monaco.

More infos:

www.onlywatch.com

www.antiquorum.com