The first Midnight Minute Repeater was introduced during the last quarter of 2009. It initiated at the time the Midnight collection which is characterized by the use of a slender case, smaller than the Ocean case (42 vs 44mm) while being more consensual than the Premier case. In other words, the Midnight case is perhaps the one that is the easiest to be worn within the Harry Winston collection from the conmfort and aesthetics points of view.

The Midnight Minute Repeater was followed in 2011 by the Automatic and Big Date models, which were simpler and more accessible watches that defined more precisely the Midnight style. They introduced the specific hands of the collection, the subtle finishings of the  dials (circular satin brush, metallic smoked sapphire effect, broad snail finish) and a design based on simplicity and purity. The first Midnight Minute Repeater did not fall completely in this process and an aesthetic gap  became obvious as the "spatula" hands,  far  from the current hands of the collection or ther arabic figures around the dial can testify it. An update was therefore necessary.


If I speak about an "update" and not a redesign, it is because the 2009 Midnight Minute Repeater  already gathered some basic elements on which the new version is based. The principle of Midnight Minute Repeater is to attract as much the view that hearing of the proud owner of the piece if he activates the repeater thanks to a dial opening that makes visible the hammers and to the architecture of the  movement that isolates the elements dedicated to sound production.

However, the new Midnight Minute Repeater goes far beyond the concept  by also making visible the parts of the movement that activate the hammers.


The 2013 Midnight Minute Repeater shares a lot of common points with its predecessor like the use of  the Midnight 42mm case. The layout and architecture of the movement coming from Renaud & Papi are also similar. We are mainly talking about aesthetic differences.

The first Midnight Minute Repeater:


The off-centered subdial has been revised. The broad snail finish now occupies the entire area limited by the scale whereas with the previous version the section dedicated to the figures represented a significant portion of the dial surface. The dial seems to "breathe better" and to be bigger. The figures have been replaced by more discrete indexes that visually lighten the design. These indexes have another virtue: they can rebalance the dial because as the left side of the dial is open, the presence of figures only on the right side would unbalance the overall aesthetics. Harry Winston logo is rather discreet, almost tiny, which is a very good point.


The replacement of the "spatula" hands, too basic, by the "Midnight" hands is definitely good news. These fine needles are more elegant and refined and most importantly, they take up less space when they overlap the opening of the dial.

This opening extends almost to the needles to draw a kind of "fan" which reveals, in addition to two H and W hammers  the levers and rakes of the movement. The opening appears to be more discreet compared to the 2009 model one which was highlighted by a large rim set with a diamond. Decorating concentric tips that prolong the opening add vibrancy and a contemporary touch to the design. And what a pleasure to observe the entire mechanism at work and not only the hammers! This is definitely the biggest asset of the  watch!


To achieve such result, the opening of the dial is not sufficient. The architecture of the movement from Renaud & Papi also plays an important role. Its specificity is the clear separation of hammers and gongs from the main plate of the movement. When I turned over the watch, I found this special lay-out still very surprising even if I've known it for 4 years. It may seem disappointing because the movement is a bit lost in the case. However, the particular context of the minute repeater and the emphasis of elements dedicated to the production of the sounds explain that the dimension of originality prevails in my perception. The movement is excellently finished with various decoration styles  on the plate and bridges (Hand-chamfered, circular graining, fine shotpeened, Côtes de Genève)  and flawless hand-polished chamfers.



It has only one barrel and features a power reserve of 38 hours for a frequency of 3hz. Obviously I would have preferred a longer power reserve but the use of a movement with contained diameter (25.5 mm) and a reasonable height (5,5mm) was necessary to achieve the desired visual effect.

The minute repeater starts as usual by making the lever slide on the left case side. Unfortunately I will not be able to tell you more about the quality and strength of the sound. Indeed, the sound environment was too noisy for a fair assessment. The sound volume, however seemed correct. But there is a point that deserves some attention given the available space around the gongs. I hope that the facilitated spread of the sound will not be achieved at the expense of its purity. I hope that I will have the opportunity to see again this watch in better conditions to offer you a movie and to objectively judge the acoustic performance.


The success of the design evolution is appreciated instantly when the Midnight Minute Repeater is put on the wrist. The dial elegance and finesse are consistent with the proposed price (260,000 euros). The opening has a true justification  here and it is a real treat to observe not only the hammers but the whole of the striking mechanism. The 42mm Midnight  case is still comfortable and the traditional reserves that I express against the Ocean case are hardly appropriate here. The watch is slender and the overall refinement perfectly combines with the contemporary dimension of the design.


This new version is very enjoyable since it happens, even better than its predecessor, to mobilize the eyes and ears at the same time for our deepest pleasure. There is something fascinating to hear the notes and observe the movements of the hammers and of the movement parts. However, despite its advantages, I think it is a bit too expensive because the minute repeater remains classic with two notes. We don't have to forget that the watch is facing a rough competition at this price  level.


The Midnight Minute Repeater is available in 20  white gold pieces and  in 20 rose gold pieces.

Pros:

+ A successful aesthetic evolution
+ The enlarged opening that allows us to appreciate the whole of the striking mechanism
+ The elegance and comfort of the Midnight case
+ The finishes of the movement and  case

Cons:

-  That's the other side of the coin, the movement seems lost in the case
- The power reserve is short (38 hours)
- The price is high for a two notes minute repeater

Thanks a lot to the Arije boutique in Paris.

Fx