High Jewelry Timepieces by Harry Winston
The Ultimate Quadri Tourbillon by Harry Winston The Ultimate Quadri Tourbillon is the centerpiece of Harry Winston’s High Jewelry Timepieces 2020 collection. Suspended from an arched structure, similar to the one adorning the entrance to the Harry Winston Salon on 5th Avenue, this exceptional timepiece of haute horlogerie displays four distinct tourbillons on its dial.
In the tradition of precious objets d’art
The Ultimate Quadri Tourbillon is a masterpiece of haute horlogerie suspended from a sumptuous arch that happens to be a miniature replica of the entrance to the Harry Winston Salon on 5th Avenue.
It’s now a tradition: each year, as part of its new collection, Harry Winston unveils a unique objet d’art, an out-of-the-ordinary piece that marries a fine jewelry timepiece with an innovative and often unexpected setting. Exclusive creations such as the Broadway Glasses binoculars, the Precious Signature automaton or the Ultimate Kaleidoscope, demonstrate the exceptional talent of the craftsmen of the House of Harry Winston when it comes to imagining new scenarios to stage the passing of time.
Time in motion – History of Tourbillon 10
This new pocket-watch model in 18-carat white gold is a reinterpretation of the Histoire de Tourbillon 10 timepiece. Unveiled in 2019 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Histoire de Tourbillon saga, this creation features not one, but four tourbillons. Housed in a modern rectangular case, the four tourbillons of Histoire de Tourbillon 10 rotate counterclockwise in 36 seconds, while the hours and minutes advance in the classic clockwise direction.
To design The Ultimate Quadri Tourbillon, the House of Harry Winston had to rise to a major challenge. The extremely complex manual movement of the HDT 10 model had to be technically adapted to a round case, and certain elements of the movement had to be reworked to harmonize with the style and
essence of an haute joaillerie piece. In this new execution, the four tourbillons still occupy pride of place, performing their hypnotic dance under bright blue titanium bridges. The multi-level openworked movement reveals its complex architecture, including the sophisticated
structure of the tourbillons and parts of the gear train.
To accentuate the effect of relief and depth, some of the bridges and plates have a bead-blasted finish, while others have a satin-finish.
The edges feature hand-polished chamfers, an obvious finish for a timepiece of this stature. The Arabic numerals at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock, in a lighter shade of blue, are highlighted on raised platforms. At 12 o’clock, an emblematic emerald-cut
diamond completes this magnificent picture. The hour and minute hands, also in a different shade of blue, glide over the moving whirlwinds to display the time.
Time suspended
The Ultimate Quadri Tourbillon is suspended from a freestanding structure reproducing the neoclassical entrance to the iconic Harry Winston Salon on New York’s 5th Avenue. Acting as a display case for the timepiece, this 18-carat white gold structure is inlaid on all visible parts with a precious blue aventurine marquetry and 18 baguette-cut diamonds on its central arch. At the top, an aventurine push-button releases the case to be worn as a pocket watch, accompanied by an 18-carat white gold chain.
The very essence of Harry Winston
Various Harry Winston signature codes reaffirm the indisputable provenance of this extraordinary timepiece. The octagonal base and diamond at 12 o’clock are a nod to Mr. Winston’s favourite emerald-cut gemstones. The predominance of blue echoes the deep blue of the legendary 45.52-carat Hope diamond, the flagship of the famous jeweler’s personal collection. Finally, this timepiece would not be worthy of the House of Harry Winston without a sumptuous diamond setting. The inner flange and edges of the white gold case are sublimated with 254 baguette-cut diamonds.
A fascinating mechanical spectacle
The sapphire crystal protecting the back of the creation reveals the subtle hand-wound movement that drives the four tourbillons, the hours, the minutes and the power-reserve indicator. Two pairs of horizontally positioned quick-winding barrels provide a mechanical spectacle of up to 55 hours. The movement is beautifully finished with hand-chamfered edges and an openworked structure displaying the letters H and W on the central bridge.
The Ultimate Quadri Tourbillon is an exceptional timepiece presented in a dedicated case, echoing the noble tones and materials chosen for this piece of haute joaillerie.
To complement this unique timepiece, a second limited version of this revisited movement will also be available in 8 pieces.
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