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DonCorson's post introduces an engaging pre-Basel contest for the Heritage Watch Manufactory's new high complication, the Firmamentum, challenging the community to decipher its complex dial with 11 hands. This article captures the excitement surrounding independent watchmaking and the anticipation of innovative releases. It highlights the intricate design and astronomical functionality of the Firmamentum, a watch designed as a valid navigation tool.
Heritage Watch Manufactory Pre-Basel Contest BaselWorld time is coming up soon. From March 8th to the 15th the world will again pilgrim to Basel to see what the watch and jewelry brands have readied for the year 2012.
One of the big announcements this year will be the new high complication from Heritage Watch Manufactory (HWM). As HWMs first models, the Tensus, Magnus, Centenus and Viator are now in preparation for production their chief watchmaker Karsten Frässdorf needed a new mission to head off incipient boredom. And what a project he did choose.
The main plate with the first couple of parts mounted.
Of
course before Basel everything is “Hyper-Ultra-Super Top Secret”, but I
was able to get HWM to agree to let us in on some of the pre-Basel fun
with a little project for you. Below you will see Karstens first hand
drawings of the “as yet unknown” watch’s dial and hands. Your mission
is simple. Fill in the list of all the hands and tell us what they all
indicate.
A piece of cake, no?
So here it is, the dial drawing with its only 11 hands……
(Please
note that this sketch shows the original idea for the watch, the final
watch has 13 hands and 2 windows, I think that would be too much to
figure out ‘though.)
Don’t ask afterwards for more hints, you will be getting them all now so look closely:
To
participate fill in the list below with your idea of what each hand
indicates. Then send the completed list to me by email:
DonC(at)PuristSPro(dot)com . Be sure to include in your email your
PuristSPro user name so I can contact you by PM. The winner of this
contest will be the person who comes closest to naming all the hand
functions correctly. In the case that multiple participants have the
correct answer the time of reception of the email will determine the
winner, the earliest answer winning. Each participant has one chance,
only the first email I receive from each participant will be taken into
consideration. I will be the final judge. The contest will end on
March 1st at 24:00 o’clock, midnight Swiss time. The official
announcement of the watch will be on March 2nd. I will then elucidate
and announce the winner and contact them by PM.
Completed parts ready to be mounted.
Every
registered member of the PuristSPro community has the right to join in
and guesstimate (moderators excepted). The winner will receive a prize,
of course. A HWM travel watch case made by Scatola del Tempo
especially for HWM and that accepts watches up to 43mm in diameter.
So now it is down to work, or should I say on with the fun?.....
Just
fill in the list below with the function/indication of the
corresponding hand and include this list in your response to
DonC(at)PuristSPro(dot)com .
Your PuristSPro user name …………………………
Your answers:
a- …………………………………………………..
b- …………………………………………………..
c- …………………………………………………..
d- …………………………………………………..
e- …………………………………………………..
f- …………………………………………………..
g- …………………………………………………..
h- …………………………………………………..
i- …………………………………………………..
j- …………………………………………………..
k- …………………………………………………..
Small print at the end:
HWM
will send the winner of this contest a HWM travel watch box and pay the
postage to any destination. The winner will be responsible to cover
any other costs, fees, etc. such as customs duties, delivery taxes, or
whatever the local authorities in their jurisdiction see fit to raise.
This message has been edited by DonCorson on 2012-02-25 13:30:56 This message has been edited by DonCorson on 2012-03-10 10:54:58
Key Points from the Discussion
- The new Heritage Watch Manufactory watch is named the Firmamentum, a complex astronomical timepiece designed as a valid navigation tool, delivered with a sextant and complementary tools.
- The contest winner, Ares501, successfully identified key functions like solar time, sidereal time, and the hour angle, demonstrating an impressive understanding of astronomical complications.
- The Firmamentum features arc seconds and arc minutes hands, which provide constant animation on the dial, with arc seconds turning every four seconds and arc minutes every four minutes.
- The contest was a clever way to introduce the watch, which was anticipated to be one of the top surprises at BaselWorld.
- The contest rules were adjusted to end earlier due to potential leaks, emphasizing the secrecy and competitive nature surrounding new watch announcements.
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