Last year at Baselworld Breva burst upon the horological scene with an excellent first effort – the Génie 01, featuring the world’s first mechanical weather station for the wrist. For 2014 Breva follows up with the sequentially named Génie 02 Air, a 100% Swiss-made timepiece created with award-winning movement constructor Jean-François Mojon of Chronode. Find the complete technical details and price inside.
The major difference between the new 02 Air and last year’s model is that the original’s barometric “weather forecast” indicator at 2 o’clock has been replaced with a large, fine-scale altimeter. The hours and minutes are still displayed on the other large subdial located at 8 o’clock.
Arcing around the top of the main display is the large-scale altitude indicator, which displays up to 5,000 meters (or 16,400 feet). The small seconds indication appears below that, at 12 o’clock. To measure altitude, the air valve must be open, and an indicator at 4 o’clock tells you whether the valve is open or closed. Below that is the 65-hour power reserve indicator.
The altitude indicators are driven by two aneroid capsules that measure air pressure. One of these can be seen in the background at the bottom of the dial. A high-precision arm multiplies the capsules’ expansion and contraction by a factor of 200 to generate the correct altitude indications.
Three engraved crowns wind, set, adjust, and operate the functions of the Génie 02. A two-position crown at 9 o’clock winds the movement and sets the time. The crown at 2 o’clock rotates the precision and large-scale altitude indications to adjust for variations in air pressure, which affects the readings. The screw-down crown at 4 o’clock either seals air out of the movement or allows it in for altitude function. An osmotic Teflon membrane filters moisture from air before it enters the movement, increasing longevity.
The Génie 02 Air is a limited edition of 55 pieces in grade 5 titanium and is available with calibrations in either meters or feet. The retail price is $132,000. Complete technical details appear below.
UPDATE
On Friday morning we met with Breva. Here are some live images of the Génie 02 Air in titanium with black DLC (top), in titanium (center), and the movement (bottom)…
Génie 02 Air Technical Specifications
Functions
Hours, minutes, small seconds, large-scale altitude indicator, precision-scale altitude indicator, power reserve indicator, air pressure valve, equalizer seal indicator, altitude scale adjuster.
Case, Dials and Strap
Case material: black titanium G5
Dimensions: 44.70 mm x 16.10 mm
Number of components: 88
Crowns: winding setting crown at 9 o’clock, altitude corrector at 2 o’clock, air valve at 4 o’clock
Crystals: sapphire crystal and display back treated with anti-reflective coating on both sides
Dials: black grained indexes and numbers in three-dimensional Super-LumiNova
Altitude scales: available in metric (meters) or imperial (feet) measurements
Water resistance: 30 m
Air valve with Teflon moisture-resisting osmosis membrane
Strap and buckle: natural rubber strap with titanium tang buckle
Calibrations: altitude calibrations available in either meters or feet
Movement
Proprietary movement developed exclusively for Breva by Jean-François Mojon/Chronode
Diameter: 38.10 mm
Number of components: 415
Number of jewels: 45
Balance frequency: 4 Hz
Dual aneroid capsules specifically developed to derive altitude from air pressure
Power reserve: 65 hours
