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U-Boat U-51 Rattrapante Complicated Watch – An Amplified Masterpiece

Italo Fontana

has very well figured out how to design big watches. U-Boat watches are between 45mm and 55mm in diameter and even reach 65mm in the particular case of the U-1942. One thing that has not been associated much with these gargantuan timepieces, however, are complications. Showing that they are at the height of more traditional watchmakers to produced complicated watches, U-Boat released the U-51 Rattrappante complicated model.

With a complex system of levers, springs, and pinions, the “rattrapante” or split-second chronograph movement is one of horology’s finest mechanisms. Its function is to allow the user to mark a time measurement without stopping the ongoing timer. This is done by overlapping two independent seconds hands. After starting the chronograph as usual, a third chronograph pusher can be used to stop one of the overlapping second hands and allow the user to take a reading. This can be used for timing lap times for instance. The English name for this type of chronograph is derived from the action of splitting the hands. Once the button is pushed again the hand that had stopped catches up to the primary chronograph seconds hand instantly. This gives the function its French name: rattrapante.

Mostly you will find such fine mechanisms in more traditional and elegant watches, but the U-51 is nothing like these. The colossal case is 51mm in diameter without counting the impressive crown cap and pushers. It is undeniably based on military styling with a protruding, protective bezel, five visible fastening screws, and a matte satin finish. Although the exact measurement is not known yet, the thickness of the case is evident. The screw-locking crown protector – on the left as always with U-Boat watches – has been greatly reworked from the company’s more basic models. So have the hinge system that secures the crown cover to the case and the start/stop pushers. A final, subtle touch of style is created by abandoning the lugs, making the strap seem integrated with the case.

What makes the U-Boat U-51 Rattrapante special is that every part of it has been amplified. Even the strap has been adorned with the most extravagant alligator leather and fortified with a rubber border. All these extras earn the U-51 a price tag of roughly US$15,000, which places the watch amongst the most expensive stainless steel U-Boats, but it is also amongst the rarest. The U-51 will be produced in very limited quantities and is in its own category amongst the U-Boat watch collection.

Written by Marco Gagliano. Marco is a specialist of U-Boat watches at Matt Baily.

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35mm case, manual wind.

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Rebellion Predator Watch

The two-year old watch company Rebellion has already gained a strong foothold in the world of horology. Encouraged by car racing, it has surprised the demanding audience by its extraordinary watches: chronographs, regulators and tourbillions.

Created in cooperation with the designer Eric Giroud, the brand's new brainchild, named Predator, has also inherited many features from racing automobiles: the brake discs and the pedals, the five-layer dial featuring a honeycomb base, as well as the bridges shaped as a push rod (the bridges are used to connect the chronograph counters to the dial).

Another eye-catching attribute of the new Rebellion watch is a double sectorial seconds hand, positioned at 9 o'clock. The shorter hand points to the seconds from 0 to 30. The longer one, meanwhile, shows the seconds from 30 to 60.

Blancpain Villeret Moon Phase Watch

On the occasion of its 275th birthday, the watch company Blancpain has launched its novel Villeret collection. It will experience its world premiere at Baselworld 2010. The first watch from this line to be introduced is a new complete calendar moon-phase model, equipped with a secure calendar mechanism and under-lug correctors.

This new assemblage from Blancpain represents a happy marriage of visual appeal and complication, reflecting the very essence of the brand. Noble, refined and elegant as ever, the models from the brand's new series have been reinterpreted in a contemporary composition, using the benefits of the most modern technologies: Blaincpain devoted several years of intensive efforts to movement development.

The Villeret collection has always been distinguished by its complete calendar moon-phase complication. The Villeret Moon Phase watch from the line relies on a unique manufactory-made self-winding calibre, equipped with a balance wheel, beating at the rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour. It is also endowed with an antimagnetic index assembly, as well as two barrels, which provide a 72-hour power reserve.

Glashutte Original Reveals PanoMaticLunar XL Watch

Glashutte Original has launched its new intriguing creation,PanoMaticLunar XL, to be officially unveiled at Baselworld 2010. Ultra-modern and elegant, this model has been designed in a minimalist style. Presented in a variety of grey overtones, the watch proudly exposes its classic lines.

The novel Glashutte Original watch is offered with astainless steel case, demonstrating both polished and satin-finished surfaces. It features the dimensions of 42 mm x 12.5 mm, diameter and height indicated respectively. The case also exhibits a sapphire crystal case-back, which opens the view to the Caliber 90-02 automatic movement.

The watch case is enhanced by a galvanized matt grey dial, protected by a sapphire crystal with a double-sided anti-reflective coating. The dial is completed with the iconic off-center hour, minute and seconds counters, finely milled and galvanized in the same dark grey tint. A graceful moon-phase indicator makes the Glashutte Original watch instantly recognizable. It depicts a shining silver moon and stars against a background of a fine-grained silver sky.