Jacob & Co. announces the new Bugatti Chiron Blue Sapphire Crystal timepiece. The Bugatti Chiron is the result of a year-long collaboration between Jacob & Co. and Bugatti and reproduces the visceral sensation of the iconic Bugatti 16-cylinder engine.
The groundbreaking Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon was designed to honor the legendary Chiron hyper sports car, and in an engineering feat, inside the case is a fully operational recreation of the iconic Bugatti W16 engine. The movement powers the timing functions and a 60-second flying tourbillon. When the automation is activated by pushing the right crown, the engine comes to life with its 16 pistons pumping and two turbochargers spinning, creating an exhilarating visual of a Bugatti engine. Visually, the ultra sleek tonneau-shaped case was inspired by the flowing lines of the Chiron.
The Bugatti Chiron Blue Sapphire Crystal is peak luxury, priced at $1.5 million, it features a watch case made completely out of sapphire crystal. Accomplishing the working engine and sapphire crystal case are top achievements in 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.
Adding color to the sapphire crystal complicated the process of creating the Bugatti Chiron case further. However, the final results show that the effort is worth it as the case exhibits a unique blue color while maintaining its transparency. The fully transparent sapphire caseback reveals all of the exquisite details of the 578 hand-decorated and hand-assembled components which includes the two separate barrels and ratchet wheels: one for the engine animation and the one for timekeeping. Also visible from the back are many of the 51 jewels used in the movement of the timepiece. From every angle the Bugatti Chiron Blue Sapphire Crystal Case combines fine art, high craftsmanship and exceptional mechanics.
The Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon is also the first ever Jacob & Co. timepiece to feature an inclined 30º tourbillon, which allows for admiration of this complication through the replica of the Bugatti horseshoe-shaped grille. In keeping with the hyper sports car theme, the power reserve indication for timekeeping even has the universal gas pump symbol on the side of the gauge at nine o’clock.
Further drawing inspiration from the Chiron, the movement within the watch is completely suspended in four places, mirroring the actual automobile shocks. Framing the engine block within the watch are two “exhausts,” completing the engine theme of the design.
