Bugatti Type 390

Description

Bugatti Type 390 An engine block on the wrist Incredible power, reliability and performance: qualities which come together to create the magic and unique character of the Bugatti Chiron, "the worlds most powerful and fastest car", the latest creation from the Molsheim-based luxury car manufacturer. Parmigiani Fleurier partner of Bugatti since 2004 has distilled the very essence of this supercar to create a unique timepiece. When all is said and done, the Bugatti Type 390 is an absolute triumph. Specially developed for this remarkable watch, and as exceptional as the 1500-hp quad-turbocharged W16 engine on the Chiron, Parmigiani Fleuriers patented calibre PF390 is housed in a cylinder boasting an 80-hour power reserve thanks to its two series-mounted barrels. The transmission of information from the tubular structure to the perpendicularly positioned dial is made possible thanks to a worm screw. Moreover, the modular construction of this movement means that it can be removed from its housing just as an engine would be removed from a supercar for important modifications. It is true to say that, just like the supercar which inspired it, the Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Type 390 has a lot going on under the bonnet! A true phenomenon in the traditional watch design landscape, Parmigiani Fleuriers new Bugatti Type 390 is primarily an engine block on the wrist. No frills, no purely decorative elements: everything is focussed on performance, on the essentials. "We have implemented technology right where it is needed", explained the manufacturers. That is to say, everywhere or very nearly but always with the end goal in mind: performance and reliability. This same mindset has prevailed since the start of the partnership between the high-flying watchmaker and the legendary car manufacturer. Back in 2004, Parmigiani Fleurier was rewriting the rule book, taking its inspiration directly from the technology implemented on the Bugatti Veyron. In fact, nothing quite like it had ever been conceived in watchmaking before the Parmigiani Fleurier manufacture designed a watch with a three-dimensional "engine" (the Bugatti Type 370) to accompany the launch of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4. The watch brand has continued along this pioneering path ever since and works tirelessly to firmly anchor its Bugatti collection the "court jester" in the Parmigiani Fleurier collections in this visionary 21st-century watchmaking. At Bugatti, they often like to say, "We begin where others stop"; Parmigiani Fleurier has appropriated this maxim for itself by designing innovative watches (such as the Bugatti Type 370, Bugatti Type 370 Centenaire, Bugatti Super Sport, Bugatti Vitesse and Bugatti Super Sport Sapphire in particular) with tried-and-tested technology, in the image of the sports cars produced in the workshops in Molsheim. The Bugatti Chiron in watch form The latest creation in this prestigious collection, and the fruit of four years of development, the Bugatti Type 390 is in the same vein. And with good reason: it would be impossible to be inspired by the worlds fastest car and not develop innovative solutions! In fact, to accompany the first deliveries of the stunning Bugatti Chiron, Parmigiani Fleurier is lifting the veil on the Bugatti Type 390. This timepiece is truly one-of-a-kind; its exceptional performance and on-board technology is designed to emulate the Bugatti Chiron in watch form. A hub of innovations and brand new solutions, this engine block on the wrist is unique in its horizontal cylindrical construction. On the one hand, we have the 8-litre 1500-hp quad-turbocharged W16 engine propelling the sports car to a top speed of 420 km/h (limited for road use); on the other hand, we have the Calibre PF390 with its cylindrical "engine" and two series-mounted barrels a nod to the saddle tank on the Bugatti and featuring a flying tourbillon boasting an 80-hour power reserve. This new type of "engine" has been slimmed down so that its diameter is no larger than the regulator of its 60-second tourbillon, which shows the seconds. Once the diameter of the regulator was determined according to the inertia required (the balance has an inertia of 10 mg.cm2), the entire construction (including the barrels which power the "engine") fit this measurement to form a regular cylinder. Key to this is the patent which was filed by the Parmigiani Fleurier manufacture when this unique hand-wound mechanical movement was being developed. While the "engine" pushes the boundaries of traditional watch design, the watch itself also rewrites the rule book in many respects. Inspired by the principles behind the construction of the Chiron, the designers chose an engine/interior/bodywork design. Specifically, the horizontal cylindrical movement (the "engine") is connected by a worm screw to the dial and the displays (the "interior") which are positioned perpendicularly; the entire assembly is enveloped in a gold or titanium case and sapphire crystal (the "bodywork") through which the moving mechanism can be admired. The smallest ball bearing in the world Its modular construction, which enables the movement to be removed from its housing as an engine would be removed for important modifications involves many ground-breaking solutions. In fact, this calibre PF390 stands out thanks to its gear trains and their arrangement. The objective is the same as on all watches: namely to transmit the energy from the barrels to the escapement. But in view of the cylindrical configuration of the movement, the usual alternating wheel-pinion-wheel-pinion configuration is replaced by a transmission using three planetary gear trains. Each of these three planetary gear trains is equipped with a central train wheel, three planetary gears and a metallised fixed ring gear. A new type of component, this planetary gear train has never before been used in watchmaking gear trains. This brand new planetary gear train uses the smallest ball bearing in the world: just 1.28 mm in diameter for 12 ceramic balls measuring 0.2 mm in diameter. The ball bearings used on the Bugatti Chiron may be very different in terms of size, but they are very similar in terms of technology! Each of the three planetary gear trains features three bearings, making a total of nine ball bearings in all. Another key point is the fact that the assembly requires no lubrication: a significant advantage in terms of reliability and maintenance. Moreover, the manufacturers have designed a rod clamp - by replacing four common components on an ordinary watch movement (setting lever, setting lever jumper, yoke and yoke spring on the winding mechanism) to perform the dual function of winding the two barrels and setting the time. This optimised development helps boost the performance of the mechanism. Using a single component instead of four makes it simpler and more reliable, thereby reducing maintenance. Exactly what we look for in any technological advance. This rod clamp mechanism is used to wind the two connected barrels (energy reservoirs), which are series-mounted coaxially. The triangular coupling used for the Calibre PF390 enables self-centring of the two barrels, while their series-type coupling guarantees a constant transfer of energy - just like the fuel pressure regulator on the Chiron - and rate regularity for optimal timekeeping. The energy is then transferred via the planetary gear trains to the flying tourbillon regulator, at the end of the transmission chain which oscillates at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour). The variable-inertia balance and the Breguet overcoil are made at Atokalpa, one of Parmigiani Fleuriers manufactures. Just like the Bugatti Chiron, the assembly offers an excellent size-power-weight ratio and remarkable rate stability which propels this Bugatti Type 390 into the exceptional timepiece category. […]

Supplied by the brand to the GPHG for its entry.