Swiss Rolex replica watches manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen and brand ambassador Adriana Lima today inaugurated the new recreation areas and a modern library at the children’s hospital in Curitiba, Brazil. The extension was made possible by the proceeds from an auction in November 2014, when the sale of an IWC platinum watch raised CHF 40,000. Thanks to the commitment of IWC, which realized the project together with the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, hospitalized children and young people can now take a break from the everyday life of an inpatient and have an inviting space in which to meet family and friends.

“Come and play with me, I am so unhappy,” read Adriana Lima, playing the part of the little prince in the eponymous tale by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. “I cannot play with you,” answered 13-year-old Fabiele, imitating the voice of the fox, “I am not tamed.” An enchanted group of young patients hung on every word in the new library at the Pequeno Príncipe children’s hospital in Curitiba. As a brand ambassador of IWC Schaffhausen, the Brazilian supermodel read from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s work “The Little Prince” after cutting the ribbon at the official opening ceremony of the newly designed recreation areas. She was assisted by Fabiele, the children’s hospital’s guest of honour at the opening. The 13-year-old was afflicted by an extremely rare syndrome before her second birthday and has since spent her life travelling back and forth between home and the hospital. But she refuses to let her physical limitations get her down. She is a voracious reader, loves poetry and is a keen football fan.

Adriana Lima appeared impressed by the facilities. “I took a tour through the hospital’s various departments and visited lots of the children,” she said. “The medical care is first-class, but these children have to put up with a lot. They just want a bit of normality, a change from hospital life, and a place where they can meet up with each other or their families and friends. I’m delighted that our library has given them a best IWC replica space that meets those needs.” Selected books, computers and e-books will allow young patients to discover the joy of reading and culture, and take pleasure in constructive leisure time activities. The president of the hospital, Ety Gonçalves Forte, is grateful for the donation: “The new library now offers more than one thousand books, while four mobile library carts will grant access to books even to those patients who cannot leave their beds. This is fantastic!” The Pequeno Príncipe children’s hospital in Brazil is a respected centre specializing in highly complex heart operations, organ and bone transplants and the treatment of cancer. It treats children from all over Brazil as well as neighbouring countries. Around 19,000 operations are carried out here every year. The hospital also treats around 319,000 outpatients and admits another 24,000 as inpatients annually. About 70 per cent of the hospital’s capacity is reserved for patients who are eligible for treatment under Brazil’s universal free health service. This means low-income families are also able to benefit from the hospital’s outstanding health care services.

WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHILDREN

IWC entered into its partnership with Antoine de Saint- Exupéry’s descendants in 2006. Since then, the company has unveiled a series of special limited-edition Pilot’s Watches that have helped keep the memory of the extraordinary French author and pilot alive to this day. Several unique pieces in platinum have fetched top prices at auction, and IWC has used the proceeds to support many projects for the benefit of disadvantaged children. As recently as November 2014, the Swiss luxury Rolex replica watches manufacturer donated an expensive timepiece that went under the hammer at Sotheby’s Geneva. The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “The Last Flight” in platinum (Ref. IW388005) sold for a winning bid of CHF 40,000. The entire proceeds went to the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation, which used them to provide the children’s hospital in Brazil with a new library and renovated recreation areas. “It’s a privilege that by working with such reliable partners as the descendants of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry we’ve been able to achieve our goals for the good of the children. Reading is an important source of inspiration, and the new library will help children whose world has shrunk to the confines of the hospital ward to keep their minds open and alert,” said Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen. For him, corporate social responsibility is a pressing duty for any successful company today.

TWO PARTNERS – ONE MISSION

One of the many projects for which IWC and the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation have joined forces is their support of the humanitarian Vol de Nuit/Vuelo Nocturno institution in Argentina. Active in Buenos Aires and its suburbs, the charity liaises closely with schools, homes and organizations working with street children, helping to protect many of them from lives of crime, begging and neglect. “For our mission, we depend on the generous support of strong partners like IWC Schaffhausen,” explained Olivier d’Agay, great-nephew of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Director Saint-Exupéry – d’Agay Estate. “Last year, thanks to IWC’s help, we were able to complete two new school buildings in Cambodia and take active measures against illiteracy.” Proceeds from another auction financed construction of the “Ecole des Sables – Antoine de Saint Exupéry”, a school in the Mali desert. Here, boarding facilities mean nomadic children have the chance to attend school eight months of the year.

Zenith presents the Elite 6150 model equipped with a new Manufacture movement: the Elite 6150 calibre. This new mechanical automatic movement is the contemporary version of the famous Elite base movement developed in the early 1990s – an ultra-thin calibre that earned the title “Best Movement of the Year” when presented at the Basel Fair in 1994. In response to the demands of our times, the Zenith engineers and developers have chosen to enhance its performance, as well as its versatility by means of a minimum 100-hour power reserve, a broader 30 mm diameter, along with a central sweep-seconds hand. They have also been careful to preserve the exceptionally slender nature of a movement measuring a mere 3.92 mm thick! Driven by the new Elite 6150 calibre, the Elite 6150 model is distinguished by its classicism and its understated elegance. Its slim 42 mm-diameter case frames a pure, cambered dial punctuated by sleek, graceful hands. A model clearly built to last.

With the Elite 6150 model and its new Elite calibre,Zenith returns to the very roots of the traditional expertise cultivated by the House: that of an authentic watch Manufacture capable of developing prestigious complicated calibres as well as precise and reliable classic movements. To achieve this, it is bringing back to the forefront its famous Elite base calibre presented in 1994. While this three-hand Zenith movement is still considered one of the most dependable on the market, it had hitherto remained in the shadow of its illustrious relative, the legendary El Primero chronograph calibre. Such a lack of exposure was quite unjustified, since this sturdy and versatile movement has for more than 20 years been impeccably driving both ultra-thin Rolex replica watches sale and gem-set models from the Zenith range. Determined to perfect its proven qualities and to deploy its virtually unlimited potential within its collections, the Manufacture has therefore undertaken to raise the profile of the Elite calibre. In its contemporary version, the new Elite movement is enriched with enhancements meeting current demands such as a 100-hour power reserve and a more generous diameter. Thereby raised to peak capacity, the new Elite 6150 calibre is destined to be interpreted through a number of upcoming new developments and to occupy the place it deserves within the offer from the brand with the guiding star.

HOROLOGICAL GENIUS EXPRESSED IN COMPLETE SIMPLICITY

Elite. A name that speaks volumes in terms of the ambitions fuelling this movement developed by Zenith in 1994, the goal being to provide a robust, reliable, accurate and ultra-thin complement to its famous El Primero chronograph. The first Elite calibre already signalled Zenith’s ambition to be a full-fledged Manufacture creating its entire range of movements, from the most complex to the most ingenious. This was a rare phenomenon within the Swiss Rolex replica watches industry at the time, especially since very few companies even had their own base movement. Studies on this ultra-thin, adaptable movement began in 1991 and the Elite calibre was born three years later. The brand’s first development to benefit from Computer Assisted Design (CAD) technologies, the multi-purpose movement also intended for other companies was issued in several different versions right from the start. This 11-ligne calibre with its more than 50-hour power reserve was envisaged as a long-term product destined to evolve constantly over the years. The Elite calibre made a strong impact at the time of its presentation during the Basel Fair in 1994. Experts lavished fulsome praise on its many assets and noted its exceptional slimness. The trade press even awarded it the title “Best Movement of the Year”. Despite the immediate interest it sparked and a reputation that has remained on a par with its undeniable qualities, the Elite calibre has not yet earned the same degree of fame as the El Primero chronograph movement. By modernising it and notably integrating the latest technical and aesthetic developments, as well as attuning it to current requirements, the Manufacture Zenith is displaying its determination to bring the Elite movement firmly back to the forefront and to give it a starring role in its future developments.

FOCUSING ON ESSENTIALS

With the aim of making the new Elite 6150 the basis of numerous future variations, the R&D team at Zenith opted to perfect its essential characteristics and to further enhance its performance. It notably addressed the task of doubling its power reserve – previously amounting to 55 hours – by adding a second barrel. The new Elite 6150 calibre now has a generous more than four-day power reserve. Throughout the development process, the movement thickness was the main focus of attention and safeguarding the movement’s original slimness was an absolute must. This challenge has been successfully met, since its 195 assembled parts form an ensemble no more than 3.92 mm thick. Meanwhile, the diameter of the calibre has been considerably enlarged so as to match the sizes of contemporary cheap IWC replica watches and thus provide a base movement that is more flexible to accommodate a variety of functions in the future. Another notable modification is that the seconds, formerly displayed in a subdial at 9 o’clock, are now displayed by a central direct-drive seconds hand, thereby ensuring improved amplitude, precision and reliability. Thus powering central hour, minute and seconds hands, the Elite 6150 calibre beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour.

SLIM AND RESTRAINED

The first timepiece to house the new Elite calibre, the Elite 6150 model features an entirely redesigned ultra-thin case of which the 42 mm diameter, a first for Zenith, will become a new benchmark size for the brand. The pure, restrained design of this case expresses the care devoted by the Manufacture to a process of constant self-renewal, driven by a will to endure and to pursue a quest for essentials. This new ultra-thin steel case redesigned in a pebble shape features slim, flowing lines accentuated by tapered, slightly sloping lugs. Water-resistant to a depth of 30 metres, the case of the Elite 6150 reveals through its transparent back the mechanism in motion and the steady dance of its oscillating weight delicately adorned with a Côtes de Genève motif. The timeless classicism of this timepiece exuding an inherent sense of elegance continues on the display side with a cambered silver-toned dial punctuated by extremely slender baton-type hands. In a striking trompe-l’oeil effect, the long, slender hour-markers hollowed out to form delicate grooves create a distinct sense of depth. These subtle refined touches are matched by a rubber-lined alligator strap fitted with a comfortable triple-blade folding clasp.

A NEW ERA FOR ZENITH CALIBRES

In unveiling this new Elite 6150 calibre, Zenith reaffirms the brand’s determination to honour its status as a Manufacture and heralds the renewal of its range of “in-house” movements. This contemporary evolution of a sturdy and accurate historical calibre embodies a best Rolex replica watches solid and lasting foundation for future variations and developments.

Equipped with an exclusive movement incorporating two retrograde indications, the Day Night distinguishes itself with substantial technical innovations and by the Rolex replica watches fine craftsmanship of its disk. Once more Blancpain has reinforced its DNA and its tradition of innovation with this demonstration of savoir-faire in a new caliber created especially for its collection Women.

Based upon the caliber 1150, the movement of the Day Night is lager in diameter. The winding rotor, decoratively engraved and polished, has been enlarged to enhance the view of the complex movement through the sapphire case back. With a diameter of 40 mm, this timepiece offers an harmonious balance between its diameter and thickness as its height is less than 12 mm. The dial is fashioned entirely in mother of pearl and is divided into three parts on four levels. The differences in height create an impression of great depth. Careful work was called for to fashion the mother of pearl surface upon progressively descending levels, as the mother of pearl material on a base of German silver becomes progressively thinner with each level and, therefore, more fragile.

The Day Night disk turns twice per day. Each rotational change takes place over approximately four minutes, as the decoration presents itself, allowing the discovery of all of the details of the day and the night. Many different artistic techniques were used in its creation: la décalque (depositing material), le champlevé (contour forms in relief), and le marquetage (integration of superimposed motifs in mother of pearl). Gradations in the color blue, achieved by deposit upon the mother of pearl, marks the change from day to night. The moon is composed of 50 diamonds; the best IWC replica watches sun is fashioned with 50 yellow sapphires. Placed upon the surface are several yellow colored mother of pearl dots as well as 14 diamonds which represent the stars.

One of the unique features of this piece is the way that the two retrograde indications (seconds and hours) are combined with the minute hand. The minute is displayed with a regulator hand which continuously sweeps over its circle of rotation. As it completes its 60 minute march, the seconds hand is retrograding, which is to say that it has progressed along its arc and returns instantly to its point of departure to begin anew its progression. Similarly, the hour hand retrogrades twice per day, again in synch with the minute hand.

Blancpain has perfected the design of retrograde indications. Based upon snail shaped cams, Blancpain’s design ensures smooth movement of the hands along the arc of travel and a positive, swift, yet vibration free return to the starting point.

The gear train of the Day Night disk is secured, meaning that it can be set at any time of day. The setting of the time and the disk are independent. The setting of hours and minutes by the crown, through a lever, disconnects the indication from the running train of the Rolex fake watches for men.

Blancpain’s signature design elements such as the double stepped case with its rounded shoulders are found in this timepiece. The bezel is set with two spiral shaped rows of 140 diamonds around its exterior. The Day Night is fitted with a white ostrich strap.

The minute-repeater stands alone, even among the more coveted horological complications. Indeed, the transmutation of the passage of time into a series of crystalline notes takes on a poetic aspect and requires a great deal of technical dexterity. In addition to the precision and the regular rate of the model, cheap Rolex replica watchmakers have to consider the striking mechanism, the quality of the sound and the energy needed for it to function properly. Over the years, Breguet has introduced many chiming watches in which innovations improved the sound. This year the company’s technicians have taken an original approach with the Tradition 7087. If watchmaking were a tapestry and the watchmakers were its weavers, they would have had to undo each thread of the work in hand so as to create a new work made of the threads of more recent research with the addition of outstanding innovations. Thus, this timepiece is presented in a completely new light, both in terms of approach and result.

Breguet’s watchmakers and engineers made a clean sweep of the usual methods to design their exceptional timepiece around the sound it produces. Using simulations they first synthesised about a hundred thousand sounds, which they classified into categories according to psychoacoustic criteria. These sounds were listened to and evaluated to identify the two desired notes with the aim of revolutionising sound perception by modern harmonies and tuning. The construction of the timepiece was then undertaken to reproduce the selected sound mechanically. This unprecedented approach determined the choice of every aspect of the watch, the innovations inherent in the shape of the components and the materials used for decoration. The brand’s characteristic styling was therefore carefully planned so as not to interfere with the desired sound.

The gong springs, invented in 1783 by Abraham-Louis Breguet to become the essential components of a minute-repeater, have been entirely reworked and attached to the bezel to favour the transmission of vibrations. The radiating glass that is found on the Reine de Naples Sonnerie au Passage 8978 is here replaced by a radiating bezel screwed to the caseband with three pillars allowing the bezel and glass to vibrate freely. This innovation results in improved sound emission, particularly at low frequencies. While the exterior parts of the best Rolex replica watches generally transmit mostly the higher frequencies, the radiating bezel offers a wider range with several frequencies below 4,000Hz.

Unlike many minute-repeaters in which the travel of the hammers is parallel to the movement of the watch, this Breguet Tradition 7087 has hammers that strike vertically from the movement towards the bezel. Thanks to this technique, the mechanical vibrations are very efficiently transformed into sound waves. The hammers entailed a supplementary innovation that has been patented: a semi-active buffer. Minute-repeaters usually have a buffer spring to prevent the vibrating gongs from being struck twice. However, because the buffer spring comes into play before the hammer strikes the gong it partially reduces the hammer’s force. The company’s watchmakers have therefore invented a so-called semi-active buffer that maximises the hammer’s energy while eliminating the risk of a double strike caused by the vibration. To achieve this they devised an articulated damper that is synchronised with the strike of the hammer, which is immediately pulled back by a spring.

As in the Classique La Musicale 7800 model, a membrane has been placed on the back of the case. Linked to the bezel, it vibrates the air in the acoustic cavity between the pierced caseback and the membrane. The volume of the minute-repeater is thus increased, while the sounds from the Rolex replica watches sale mechanism are filtered. Here Breguet’s research in acoustics resulted in a gold membrane affixed to a sapphire crystal providing an unhindered view of the movement, unlike the metallic glass membrane of the reference 7800.

The materials were also chosen according to the results of Breguet’s scientific research into vibroacoustics. The model thus comes in a white gold or rose gold case with a gong made from the same material. The baseplate and bridges of the movement are in titanium. Along with an appropriate sizing of the parts, this material serves to avoid propagating the noises from the mechanism by filtering their transmission to the exterior. Designed to spread and amplify the sound, the latter is distinguished by its ability to reproduce the sound of the gongs in all its majestic purity. The Manufacture Breguet is the first to use titanium in a movement for acoustical reasons, mainly because this material is so difficult to work with.

In addition to all these innovations is the use of a magnetic governor in this Tradition Répétition Minutes Tourbillon model, as was the case in the Classique La Musicale cheap IWC replica watches. Unlike a traditional governor, this patented system consists of silver weights passing beneath magnets and slowed down by magnetic fields. An adjustment spring allows the magnets to be moved closer to or farther from the magnetic field. The noise is thus reduced and wear avoided, while the speed is kept constant to maintain the strikes at a steady rhythm however many they may be. Although it’s essentially the same system as that in the Classique La Musicale model, this magnetic governor has been the subject of much calculation and optimisation to adapt it to the minute-repeating mechanism. This innovative device can be seen on the dial side through the sapphire-crystal glass.

Beyond its unusual technical features, this Tradition 7087 watch is made as a tribute to the company’s long history, which is why it is naturally endowed with a tourbillon. This emblematic compensation device, invented by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1801, has made a lasting impact on horological history by preserving the regulating organ from the perils of gravity. But the Tradition 7087’s real compliment to the pocket-repeaters of old is the bayonet pusher to activate the striking mechanism. After releasing the pusher by slightly unscrewing it, the user will be careful to lock it by screwing it in again. Thereafter a simple press will be enough to trigger the audible mechanism. And finally the transmission from the barrel for the strike to the minute-repeater is by chain, as in the old pocket-watches, notably the N°160 watch made for the queen of France, Marie-Antoinette.

Apart from the many innovations improving its acoustic qualities, this Rolex fake watches incorporates other already proven developments. In particular, this self-winding timepiece is fitted with a peripheral rotor. While this system was originally invented to save space, it was selected in this case to make the movement perfectly visible and to maintain the stylistic coherence of the Tradition collection. It is also equipped with the high-energy barrel, which first appeared in reference 5277 and 5377. Finally, this model has a silicon Breguet spring, an invention that is increasingly available in the company’s watch models.

To sum up, the Tradition Répétition Minutes Tourbillon is the fruit of entirely unprecedented research that brought together all the company’s latest innovations. This novel and pioneering approach enabled Breguet to design a product that has exceptional purity of sound and an original tone.

In terms of styling, this unique piece has a contemporary design, which, like the entire Tradition collection, offers the major parts of the movement on the dial side to the admiration of the viewer. The many decorative features cherished by the company are also present. The hours and minutes are shown by open-tipped hands in blued steel, while the dial is engine-turned by hand. The case is decorated with fluting on the caseband and has welded lugs.