Amazing LaFerrari tribute watch more intricate than the real thing [w/video]

Fri, 26 Apr 2013

The Enzo had no companion watch, but its successor, the Ferrari LaFerrari, does. Created by Hublot "entirely in parallel with the car" and "alongside the Ferrari teams," the MP-05 LaFerrari tribute watch is a similar test of how much gobsmacking gadgetry can be packed into a chassis. The manually-wound watch has 11 barrels set in a spine down the center that work together to provide a 50-day power reserve. So yes, it does need to be wound, but only once every seven weeks.

Hublot says the movement, engineered in-house, has 637 components. It has more pieces than any other movement Hublot has ever designed, and it gets a tourbillon to further showcase the "demonstration of watchmaking virtuosity." The face is sapphire crystal, the case is black PVD titanium and features an open case-back, the strap is rubber with a PVD titanium buckle. Time is told via the barrels to the right of the the spine on the right – it's 10:05 on the watch above. To the left are the barrels displaying the amount of power remaining.

Hublot hasn't disclosed the price, so you know what that means. There will be 50 tribute watches made, each sent in a presentation case wrapped in Schedoni leather and carbon fibre and including the miniature power tool you need to wind the timepiece. You can read all about it in the press release below, and for true watch geeks there's also an in-depth wrists-on video of the MP-05, performed by ABlogtoWatch.com.

HUBLOT MASTERPIECE MP 05 "LAFERRARI"

50-day power reserve: A World Record power reserve for a hand-wound Tourbillon wristwatch.

Movement 100% designed, developed and produced by the Hublot Manufacture engineers and watchmakers

25/04/13 -- We are in the world of the exceptional. The MP-05 "LaFerrari" represents a very special series, entirely designed and developed by the Hublot Manufacture engineers and watchmakers in tribute to "LaFerrari".

In a demonstration and testimony that lives up to the car, it has achieved a historic record with its 50-day power reserve. It is also the watch with the most watchmaking components created to date by Hublot (637).

The watch and the car: The MP-05 "LaFerrari" was developed - in technical and design terms - entirely in parallel with the car, alongside the Ferrari teams. They share a number of common points. Able to boast no fewer than 637 components for the movement, which is also equipped with a Tourbillon, as well as a power reserve of approximately 50 days thanks to its 11 barrels, arranged in a line just like a spinal column and interconnected so that they do not each discharge in turn but support each other, this watch is closer to being a concept watch.

The watch is finely wrought in terms of shape, featuring a complex shaped sapphire crystal clearly reminiscent of the car's outline, as well as an open case-back, and is made from black PVD titanium. It is topped by a titanium and carbon insert in its centre, revealing the winding crown. The time-setting crown is positioned under the case. Both are completely integrated into the design, and therefore practically invisible.

The movement has an original display, featuring first off on the front vertical face the small seconds indicated by means of an aluminium cylinder fastened onto the suspended Tourbillon cage (significantly bigger than usual with a cage diameter of 14.50 mm, for even better appreciation of the mechanical parts).

The hour and minute are displayed to the right of the barrels, also indicated by means of one anodised black aluminium cylinder each. On their left is the cylinder indicating the power reserve. Reinforcing bars either side, made from anodised red aluminium, bring to mind Ferrari's red signature.

A small detail, but one which makes reading the time easier; on each cylinder the size of the numerals has been maximised with white SuperLuminova™, to enhance the display for ease of reading. This is all rounded off by a rubber strap with a special folding buckle in black PVD titanium.

The desire for a truly exceptional watch has been extended to the design of the presentation case, made from schedoni leather and carbon fibre, containing the specific tools for winding the watch, and whose design was also inspired by the world of motoring. Limited edition of 50 numbered pieces.

WATCH TECHNICAL DETAILS
Reference 905.ND.0001.RX
Series 50 numbered pieces
Case Black PVD made of titanium
Functions Hour and minute indicated by anodised black aluminium cylinders
SuperLuminova™ markings
Power reserve indicated by an anodised black aluminium cylinder
SuperLuminova™ markings
Seconds indicated by an anodised black aluminium cylinder
SuperLuminova™ markings
Suspended vertical Tourbillon
Ergonomic time-setting system under the case middle (wrist side)
Invisible manual winding
11 series-coupled barrels

MOVEMENT TECHNICAL DETAILS
Movement dimensions: Ø 45.8 x 39.5 mm
Thickness 15.30 mm
Tourbillon cage diameter Ø 14.50 mm
Number of jewels 108
Number of components 637
Frequency 21,600 Vib/h (3 Hz)
Power reserve 50 days

By Jonathon Ramsey