Simply Abu Dhabi XXII

2 1 5 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I I n the world of haute horlogerie, each year there are a handful of timepieces that are truly exceptional. These newwatches surprise, beguile, and ultimately push the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of high complications. These rare examples demonstrate the ceaseless drive for innovation and invention in fine watchmaking. Harry Winston is a brand that is synonymous with breaking barriers and inventing the unimaginable – and this year they stay true to formwith the unveiling of the remarkable Histoire de Tourbillon 7. As the title of the watch gives away, it features the most revered of complications – the tourbillon. Also acknowledged in the title, this is the seventh consecutive year that HarryWinston has launched a jaw-dropping high complication timepiece in the Histoire de Tourbillon Collection. Previous iterations in this family have showcased tourbillon variations such as biaxial, triaxial, double and paired with a carrousel – but nowwe are treated to the hypnotic ballet of two biaxial tourbillons. Harry Winston has set out to make an astonishingly technical timepiece and wholeheartedly succeeded. The left side of the dial displays the harmonious movement of the two biaxial tourbillons. The first tourbillon cage moves into a second cage and both turn on a different axis. The two biaxial tourbillons move the escapements of the Histoire de Tourbillon 7. The right side of the dial features a pyramid-cut reading area housing the hour and minute hands. This is surrounded by inserts that form a tilted three-dimensional hour circle. Extended by a long strip in either red aluminium or anthracite, depending on the version, and perforated for a better view of the two biaxial tourbillons, it overlooks a power reserve indicator in roll form that is flush with a domed sapphire crystal. The brand explains the extreme technicality of the functioning saying, “The tourbillon’s first cage completes its rotation in 45 seconds and houses a balance wheel that is tilted 30 degrees. The tourbillon and the balance wheel remain housed in the second cage, which has a different trajectory, as it lasts 75 seconds. The two cages nested one inside the other assume an infinite variety of positions relative to gravity – the nemesis of timekeeping. The two tourbillons, though identical in structure, frequency and speed, have their own behaviour, due to their different positions in space. To reconcile the operation of these two rotating time- regulating bodies, the Histoire de Tourbillon 7 uses a spherical differential that optimises performance by connecting the two tourbillons – which have subtly different operations – and creating an average. The Histoire de Tourbillon 7 leverages the accuracy of two exceptional tourbillons and extracts the best performance.” This watch is mind-bogglingly technically complex, involving an infinite sum of scientific calculations, but what is muchmore easy to grasp and instantly appreciate is its beguiling asymmetrical beauty. This technical masterpiece is housed in a 50mm case of white gold with a polished bezel, and the crown is guarded by the instantly recognisable Harry Winston logo – three arches representing the entrance to the House’s legendary Fifth Avenue flagship salon in New York. Harry Winston – Histoire de Tourbillon 7