Following a year long collaboration Jacob & Co. together with Bugatti have unveiled a sensational new incarnation of the coveted Bugatti Chiron Tourbillion..
The long running partnership between Bugatti and watchmaker Jacob & Co. has spawned several special timepieces as a tribute to the Chiron designed to honor the Chiron hyper sports car, the sleek tonneau-shaped case is inspired by the flowing lines of the Chiron, the movement powers the timing functions and a 60-second flying tourbillon but most importantly inside the case is a fully operational recreation of the iconic Bugatti W16 engine, powered by the same movement. When the automation is activated, the "engine" comes to life with its 16 pistons pumping and two turbochargers spinning.
Hoever, the NEW Bugatti Chiron Blue Sapphire Crystal goes one step further by creating a watch case made completely out of sapphire crystal. It is one of the top achievements in high watchmaking. It was the result of several months of materials processing, high level machinery and hand polishing to produce a case that exposes every part of the 578 hand-decorated and hand-assembled components of the JCAM37 manual wound caliber, making this timepiece every bit as admirable as the car that serves as its inspiration.
Incredible to see and unbelievably complicated to realize (the movement is comprised of 578 components), the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon timepiece has done something no one has ever even attempted before - to seamlessly marry engines and watches.
The fully transparent sapphire caseback reveals more detail of the 578 hand-decorated and hand-assembled components of the JCAM37 manual wound caliber. This includes the two separate barrels and ratchet wheels: one for the engine animation and the one for timekeeping. The black box is the main plate of the movement. Everything is based on this. Also visible are many of the 51 jewels used in the movement. From every angle the Bugatti Chiron Blue Sapphire Crystal Case combines fine art, high craftsmanship and exceptional mechanics.
The movement is completely suspended in four places, with what looks like actual automobile shocks from the Chiron. Pushing the right crown activates a groundbreaking watch complication: a fully working replica of a Bugatti W16 engine. The crankshaft turns and 16 pistons pump up and down, just like a true internal combustion engine. Two "turbochargers" (down from four in the actual Chiron engine) on the side of the engine block spin while the engine runs, adding to the visual impact.
