In a field often defined by tradition, the Expérimentale 1 stands out for its precision and purpose. It is a watch built to test boundaries, yet it remains firmly grounded in the design language of the Marine collection. At 43.5 mm, its case conveys presence without exaggeration. Every element, from case proportions to dial layout, serves function as much as aesthetic.
What sets it apart is its openness. The maison has placed its most advanced work directly on the wrist. The 10 Hz tourbillon with magnetic constant-force escapement is not a concept, it’s fully operational. It performs consistently, and it does so without calling attention to itself.
Engineering Against Limitations
Mechanical watches are remarkable for their precision, yet the Expérimentale 1 takes that precision further. Its 10 Hz tourbillon, paired with a magnetic constant-force escapement, delivers energy to the balance with exceptional consistency. Twin escape wheels and magnetic pallets provide stable, reliable impulses throughout the 72-hour power reserve. The movement operates with full amplitude across its range, maintaining accuracy and composure at all times. This is engineering refined to its highest standard.
High-frequency tourbillons are rare because of the strain they place on components. Here, the impulse mechanism is decoupled from the tourbillon cage and gear train, allowing the balance to operate off-centre without compromising rotation. The higher frequency enables the balance to recover quickly after shocks, while the tourbillon averages positional errors across each minute of rotation. Together, they achieve Scientific certification under the maison’s standards, accurate to within one second per day.
Materials typically reserved for precision engineering are used discreetly: silicon balance springs, nickel-phosphorus fourth wheels, and titanium components minimise magnetic interference, while an intermediate stop wheel ensures smooth operation. The result is a complex, highly capable movement that remains visually and mechanically clear.
Lines of Legacy
The case blends tradition with exacting craftsmanship. The double-stepped fluted caseband sits beneath six close-set lugs, two dedicated to the interchangeable strap mechanism, four faceted with alternating sandblasted and satin finishes. Open-tipped blue hands sweep across Arabic numerals drawn from Marine Chronometer No. 104.
The bridges favour sharp angles over curves. Surfaces are satin-brushed, edges polished. Gold and deep navy-blue finishing give depth and warmth. The sapphire dial rests on four gold pillars. Hours appear through three linked luminescent circles, the large minutes track encircles six o’clock, and the tourbillon intersects it at twelve. A polished bridge crowns the arrangement, framing the tourbillon, with the small seconds at its centre. Every surface catches light differently, every line is deliberate.
Water resistance reaches 10 bar, the blue rubber strap can be changed without tools, and the 104-gram watch carries a five-year international warranty. Magnetic resistance extends to 600 gauss, reassuring alongside the precision of the movement.
The Atelier on the Wrist
The Expérimentale collection opens the maison’s experimental work to collectors. These are limited pieces, showing ideas that often remain confined to the atelier. The movement beats at 72,000 vibrations per hour, and every glance reveals the research, care, and skill behind it.
This watch sits between history and innovation. The regulator display, the tourbillon in motion, the arrangement of barrels, the geometry of the bridges, it all carries the weight of 250 years of watchmaking while pointing to the future. It asks for attention quietly, but rewards it completely.