Power, reliability and incredible performance - words often
associated with a Bugatti Chiron, the world's most powerful and fastest car,
and the latest creation from the luxury automaker. The challenge that followed:
Transmitting this almighty feat of engineering into one watch: Capturing the
power of an eight-liter, 1,500hp W16 monster with four turbochargers in one
watch. I traveled to Molsheim in northeastern France, home of Bugatti, to
discover how the geniuses of the Swiss watch brand Parmigiani Fleurier got
there. techqueer
Chris Beastall,
Ape Editor-in-Chief, with the Bugatti Type 390 watch by Parmigiani Fleurier
We were invited by Michel Parmigiani, president of the
Parmigiani Fleurier watchmaking house of the same name, and the man responsible
for orchestrating the creation of said watch. This is not Parmigiani Fleurier's
first collaboration with Bugatti, the two firms have partnered since 2004 to
produce the ridiculously beautiful Aerolithe, Super Sport and Type 370 watches. digitalknowledgetoday
parmigiani-fleurier-bugatti-type-390-watch-6
The historic car watch crossover has a long history across
many brands. However, it doesn't get more qualified and "top of the
range" than the Bugatti Chiron, and similarly the Parmigiani Fleurier,
striving for excellence, is just as impressive. healthnutritionhints
bugatti_13
The creation that witnessed the presentation last week at
the impressive Bugatti headquarters is the Bugatti Type 390 watch by Parmigiani
Fleurier, "powered" by its unique and patented PF390 caliber designed
with a flying tourbillon and housed in a cylinder that offers a reserve of 80
hour march. The power of a Bugatti Chiron in a wristwatch. smartdiethealth
Drake's Relaxed Tailoring - Click to Buy
The Bugatti Chiron in the form of a watch
"Details"
Parmigiani Fleurier tells us that the Bugatti Type 390
watch took four years to develop,
a development time
similar to that of the Chiron, and offers many revolutionary solutions. Indeed,
this PF390 caliber is distinguished by its gearing and arrangement. The
objective is the same as with all watches: that is, to transmit the energy from
the barrels to the escapement. But taking into account the cylindrical
configuration of the movement, the usual configuration of alternating
wheel-pinion-wheel-pinion is replaced by a transmission of three epicyclic
gears. Each of these three planet gears is equipped with a center gear, three
planet gears, and a fixed metal crown. Component of a new type, this epicyclic
train has never been used in clockwork gears. healthfitnesschampion
This new planetary gear uses the smallest ball bearing in
the world - only 1.28mm diameter for 12 0.2mm diameter ceramic balls. The ball
bearings used in the Bugatti Chiron may be very different in size, but they are
very similar in terms of technology! Each of the three planetary gears has
three bearings, for a total of nine ball bearings. Another key point is the
fact that the assembly does not require lubrication - a significant advantage
in terms of reliability and maintenance.
In addition, the manufacturers designed a clamp,
which replaces four common components in an ordinary watch
movement (adjustment lever, adjustment lever bridge, yoke and yoke spring in
the winding mechanism), to ensure the dual winding function of the two barrels
and the fit. time. This optimized development makes it possible to increase the
performance of the mechanism. Using a single component instead of four makes it
simpler and more reliable, reducing maintenance. Exactly what we are looking
for in any technological advance. This rod clamping mechanism is used to wind
the two connected barrels (energy reservoirs), which are mounted in series
coaxially.
The triangular coupling used for the Caliber PF390 allows
for self-centering of the two barrels,
while its series-type
coupling ensures constant power transfer, just like the fuel pressure regulator
on the Chiron, and a regular cadence for optimal timing. . Then, the energy is
transferred through the epicyclic trains to the regulator of the flying
tourbillon, at the end of the transmission chain that oscillates at a frequency
of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations / hour). The variable inertia balance and reel are
manufactured by Atokalpa, one of the Parmigiani Fleurier manufacturers. Like
the Bugatti Chiron, the set offers an excellent size-power-to-weight ratio and
remarkable cadence stability. Another innovation of this Caliber PF390, a
torque limiter that protects movement during winding avoiding any breakage.
