Baselworld Preview: Perrelet Turbine Chrono


Perrelet Turbine ChronoPerrelet launched its first Turbine wristwatch, with its dynamic, double-rotor movement that resembles an aircraft’s turbine blades, in 2009. Since then, the company has introduced several variations on it, including dials inspired by the American flag and by erotic Japanese manga. This year, the Turbine gets its first complicated model, the Turbine Chrono.

For a watch like the Turbine, much of whose appeal lies in its distinctive dial, Perrelet’s challenge involved adding a chronograph counter to the dial without detracting from the collection’s identity. The solution is a series of superimposed effects: the chronograph measurements are indicated by a central chronograph seconds hand, which runs over a large inner bezel surrounding the dial, and by a central 60-minute counter composed of two juxtaposed sapphire crystal elements. One, a mobile, rotating disk, turns in the center of the other, a fixed ring marked with a red arrow bearing the inscription “min” and pointing to the recorded times.

Because these chronograph counter elements are transparent, the visually appealing, dial-side Turbine rotor, with its sweeping “blades,” remains easily visible on the dial. The spinning of the rotor creates discreet effects highlighting the unusual date display, which appears in an aperture at 6 o’clock and is in step with the movements of the “turbine blades” gliding over it.

The new Perrelet Turbine Chrono, which will make its formal debut at the Baselworld watch fair in April, contains Perrelet’s exclusive, automatic Caliber P-361, with a personalized Perrelet rotor. There are five versions, all with tachymeter bezels and in 47-mm-diameter stainless steel cases with exhibition casebacks that show off the movement.  The variations (all pictured below) include a steel case with a black-DLC-coated bezel ring and titanium turbine with black under-dial; a black-DLC-coated case with black titanium turbine and black under-dial; an “all-black” model with DLC coated case and black turbine, under-dial and numerals; a black-DLC case with 4N rose gold bezel ring and black turbine and under-dial; and a black-DLC case with rose-gold bezel ring and turbine, and black under-dial. Prices for the Turbine Chrono have yet to be announced.

Perrelet Turbine Chrono A1074_2Perrelet Turbine Chrono A1075_1

Perrelet Turbine Chrono A1079_1
Perrelet Turbine Chrono A3036_1
Perrelet Turbine Chrono_A3036_2
Leave a Reply