Tag Archives: hand

A new Prato model joins the Admiral Chronographe Flyback collection in partnership with Prato Automobiles

This year, Ateliers deMonaco has introduced a new model to its prestigious Admiral Chronographe Flyback collection; the Prato. The pieces – launched in March of this year – were presented as the fruit of the brand’s new partnership with Prato Automobiles. Further completing the collection, is a new timepiece in rose gold. A standout piece that asserts the brand’s luxurious standards and passion for mechanics.

An ideal partnership

If two worlds were made to collide, watchmaking and automobiles were the ideal candidates.

The two industries definitely echo each other on many levels – precision, a care for detail and a smart design are just a few mere examples. It is therefore no surprise that Ateliers deMonaco and Prato Automobiles came together in an effort to bring their ideals into a series of fine timepieces.

A rose gold marvel of mechanics and aesthetics

An addition to the chronographs released earlier this year, Ateliers deMonaco’s rose gold newcomer needn’t envy its predecessors.

Its shiny 18K rose gold polished case houses the brand’s automatic hand-decorated dMc-760 caliber – the heart of the patented Flyback complication which offers its wearer, a single gesture to go from one measurement of time to another. Protecting this complex mechanical core, a delicate carbon fiber and 18K rose gold dial. Thanks to a specific technique often used in the automotive industry, each dial is meticulously finished and, more importantly, unique.

A face further enhanced by black PVD treated applied roman numerals and the Prato logo.

Finally, the counters and Dauphine hands complete the timepieceoffering a powerful and playful contrast with the rich, textured dial.

Savoir-faire

Because beauty should come from within, Ateliers deMonaco takes pride and patience in preparing its components and assembling its movements. The dMc-760 makes no exception to the rule.

The in-house caliber is composed of 226 components split in two essential parts. The first is the base movement, intended to bring to life the hours, minutes and seconds of the watch. The second is the module carrying the flyback chronograph mechanism, which relies on 96 components.

The movement is assembled by hand by the brand’s skilful watchmakers, a long and delicate process which requires both experience and finesse.

Bespoke – Monaco 1968

Half a century ago, the 1968 Automobile of Monaco took place on the car circuit of Monte-Carlo. This prestigious event was won by the British, Sir Graham Hill and his Lotus Ford Cosworth. This year, is the 10th year anniversary of Ateliers deMonaco. In order to celebrate, the watch manufacture created a unique piece inspired by the official poster of this signed by Michael Turner. This watch is named «  de Monaco 1968 ». Always aiming to offer the utmost of excellence, technology and know-how are at the core of the brand’s values. This unique timepiece comes to reaffirm this position.

The most outstanding part of the timepiece is its dial. Hand-engraved by master-engraver Mr Bernard Ditzoff, one of the best. His trade required patience, dexterity and precision. The masterpiece’s dial is composed of three different plates made of 18K white gold. Applied on each other, this construction allows for an impressive relief effect. The first plate represents the Monaco 1967’s winner, Denny Hulme driving his Babham-Repco, he is closely followed by Graham Hill and his Lotus turning the gasworks hairpin. On the second plate lays the prestigious Monaco harbour and surrounding buildings. Lastly, the third plate is dedicated to the French Riviera’s partly cloudy speckled sky. To sublime the dial, dauphine shaped hands sweep by small lozenge indexes, the iconic symbol of Ateliers deMonaco.

The clock works are enveloped in a hand-brushed, hand-polished and hand-assembled 18K white gold 44mm diameter case. The sapphire case-back gives a window to the dMc 700 Ateliers deMonaco manufacture movement. This self-winding mechanical movement includes 26 rubies, has a frequency of 28’800 vibrations per hour and a 40-hour power-reserve. What distinguishes this movement is the delicate finishing such as a 22k hand-engraved gold rotor representing the crown of the Principality of Monaco, hand-decorated bridges: Gear-train bridge, balance-cock and barrel-bar are magnified by a circular-graining. The automatic device bridge is decorated with lozenge forms, the Ateliers deMonaco signature. The hand-stitched alligator leather strap and its 18K white gold folding buckle bring a refined finish to this unique piece. The technical know-how to execute such a complicated dial and the delicate finishing of this timepiece testify the expertise cultivated within the Ateliers deMonaco Manufacture.

A distinguished partnership between Prato Automobiles & Ateliers deMonaco

Coming from two distinctive industries, Prato Automobiles and Ateliers deMonaco have yet many common values. Passion, design, performance, technology, innovation, craftsmanship and know-how are the shared values of this car manufacturer and this watch manufacture.

Prato automobiles

Car manufacturer stem from the passion of two men: Bruno Prata, automobile designer and Rodolphe Tousset, mechanical engineer. Both wanted to create a car with an aggressive and dynamic look and thus giving raw and pure sensations.

Ateliers deMonaco

Ateliers deMonaco is a watch manufacture issued of a watchmaker’s dream, Pim Koeslag, about creating its own tourbillon minute repeater movement. Founded in 2008, the brand counts today 6 in-house movements blending tradition and watch making know-how with technical innovation.

When the automobile industry meets the watchmaking industry

Prato Automobiles and Ateliers deMonaco have worked on a spectacular project which becomes today a reality.

After several years of research and development, the supercar called Orage from Prato Automobiles is born. This car is a pure marvel which offers to its driver an experience and pure, raw and dynamic driving sensations. Thus respects the core values of the car manufacturer. Concerning the technical aspect, three technologies are turning this car to an innovative concentrate:

  • World’s most powerful naturally aspirated V8 engine mounted in a production car with 900 hp
  • World’s first car to use full OLED technology for its optics
  • World’s first car to use aerospace electronics with sterling 24 carat gold connectors for full reliability in extreme conditions

 

The car is intrinsically linked to the watch Ateliers deMonaco Tourbillon Oculus 1297 ORAGE. Indeed, this timepiece is in actually the hypercar ORAGE’s key. An electronic chip is placed in the watch strap and allow the opening of the car.

The Tourbillon Oculus 1297 Orage watch is equipped with the patented Tourbillon XP1movement which had needed several years of research and development and presents the below technical specifications:

  • One of the most precise tourbillon movement in the world with a tolerance between 0 to 2 seconds per 24 hours.
  • A perfect tourbillon’s cage balance
  • A silicium escape wheel and lever
  • A 22 karats gold hand-engraved rotor.

The car and its watch will seduce their users. They both made of ultra-light carbon fiber and are limited to 19 pieces. In addition, the car chassis’ number is carved on the watch dial. The whole making a combo of sporty and refined design.