Perrelet has recently made the decision to use its proprietary “turbine” double-rotor technology as the centerpiece of most of its flagship models, including a number of limited editions — like this piece we discovered for our “Salute to America” week, the Turbine XL America Limited Edition.
As in Perrelet’s other Turbine models, the 12-bladed, jet-engine-inspired rotor wheel from which the collection derives its name spins over the dial as it provides energy to the mainspring; in this case, it’s pinwheeling over a patriotic red-and-white striped pattern on the dial, creating a dynamic swirl of color, punctuated by the blue squares, with white stars, positioned at six of the hour markers. Each square has either eight or nine stars, for a total of 50, the same amount as on the American flag. The other hour positions are represented by printed red numerals.
Click here to see a movie of the Perrelet Turbine XL America.
The watch has a decidedly masculine 50-mm-diameter case (hence the “XL” designation) in stainless steel with a scratch-resistant DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating, with glare-proof sapphire crystals in the front and back. Traditional, center-mounted hands, white with blackened outlines along the edges, indicate the hours and minutes while a center-mounted red hand ticks off the seconds. The movement is Perrelet’s exclusive P-181 automatic caliber with two rotors; the one that’s not on display in the front is visible through the caseback, as is the brand’s openworked black-coated rotor.
The Perrelet Turbine XL America is limited to 777 pieces (in honor of the year 1777, when the familiar stars-and-stripes was first adopted as America’s national flag). Those who wish to wave that flag simply by showing their wrist can be one of this watch’s proud owners for $7,150.
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I have Perrelet A5002/ and think it\'s a outstanding watch, frm an outstanding watch Co.