The house of Angelus presents its new U10 Tourbillon Lumière, a watch that marks the brand’s return to the forefront of contemporary high-end watchmaking.
Anelus is a Swiss watch brand, established around 125 years ago, in 1891, in a center of Swiss watchmaking - Le Locle. Initially, the brand was focused mainly on production of pendulettes and watch cases, with externally supplied components. From 1912, the company specialized in repeaters and chronographs, and even expanded its market to Germany, Italy, and all the way to Russia. During the 30s and 40s of the 20th century, Angelus established itself as a well-known, reputable brand. Unfortunately, just like many other watchmaking brands, Angelus was stuck by the quartz crisis of the 1980’s. After being inactive for more than 30 years, the brand was reestablished in 2015, by Manufacture La Joux-Perret. The relaunched brand debuted with the Angelus U10 Tourbillon Lumière, which is an elaborate luxury wristwatch equipped with a tourbillon, the dead-beat second mechanism, and no less than 90 hours of power reserve.
The visitors of the BaselWorld trade show will have a chance to admire this interesting creation with a radically deconstructed movement. The design of the watch is inspired by the industrial designs of the 1960s and ‘70s, while its modernist display pays tribute to Angelus’ historical travel clocks. The interesting, elongated case, is fitted with seven sapphire crystals, revealing the oversized, 60-second flying tourbillon, from five different angles. What is interesting is that the tourbillon is positioned outside of the movement, and showcased alone in its own sapphire crystal vitrine. The flying tourbillon is not supported by the bridges, and it appears as if it is suspended in the air, offering unimpeded views on the top of the regulator.
The U10 Tourbillon Lumière is available in a limited edition of 25 pieces in stainless steel, which launches the Angelus Urban collection. Four years in the making, the new model combines classic haute horlogerie complications such as tourbillon, and the dead beat seconds. The oversized movement, with its bridges and plates made from beveled and polished traditional German silver, beats at a frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour. The linear power reserve indication, featuring a rhodium-treated hand filled with blue-emission Super-LumiNova, is placed on the side of the case. Since the large, 16.25 mm diameter, tourbillon requires a significant amount of energy, two mainsprings are optimally sized to ensure the full 90 hours of power reserve.
The generously-proportioned – 62.75 mm x 38 mm x 15 mm – watch case is made of stainless steel, bead-blasted and treated with black PVD on the inside. The translucent-gray coated concave sapphire dial features a double white Super-LumiNova dot at 12 o'clock, and three single dots at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock. The dead beat seconds hand is white lacquered. The massive case provides just a basic level of water resistance – to up to 30 meters – which makes this watch suitable for everyday use but not for showering or water sports.
The Angelus U10 Tourbillon Lumière timepiece, 0LUAS.B01A.C001F, is mounted on a hand-stitched black alligator leather strap with a steel pin buckle. The watch is available in 25-piece limited edition, and priced at 100,000 Swiss Francs. For more information, please visit angelus-watches.com.
