ON THE OCCASION OF THE “WINDUP WATCH FAIR” IN CHICAGO, THE RENOWNED MANUFACTURE PERRELET LAUNCHES TURBINE SPLASH. A NEW ARTISTIC CREATION, PRODUCED IN AN EXCLUSIVE LIMITED EDITION OF 99 PIECES.
For its first appearance at Windup Watch Fair in Chicago, USA (12 to 14 July 2024), Perrelet will present an entirely new creation: the Turbine Splash. A limited edition watch with an artistic vocation, which is yet another demonstration of the boundless imagination of Perrelet’s designers, capable of creating ever new models for the historic Manufacture’s most emblematic collection.
Creativity in vivid colours
The Turbine Splash takes its name from the splashes of colour that characterise its lower dial. Irregular stains of fluo green, yellow, purple, fuchsia, light blue and orange stand out against a black background, recalling another Perrelet model: the 2022 Turbine Rainbow. Both recall Jackson Pollock’s ‘dripping’ technique of the 1940s and 1950s. But while the sub-dial of Turbine Rainbow consists of small, round drops of paint that seem to fall casually from the great American painter’s brush, Turbine Splash is reminiscent of his spectacular ‘action painting’ performances. When the artist threw the paints onto the canvases, either from the tin or directly with his fingers, with impetuous and choreographic gestures, to create dynamic compositions with dense and complex colours that released a disruptive energy. Similarly, Perrelet’s Turbine Splash, with its uninhibited use of colour, expresses a free and playful creativity, daring and totally original.
Innovative spirit
The Turbine Splash features a sub-dial dominated by the Turbine, whose rotation partly reveals and partly obscures the Pollock-like splashes of colour. As always, the famous device is made up of 12 blades that rotate around a central axis. When the watch is worn, they are activated with each wrist movement. As the turbine rotates, the empty spaces between the blades reveal the decorative image, which becomes clearly visible in proportion to the speed.
Conceived for purely decorative purposes and patented in 2009, the turbine nevertheless has a complex structure: the blades, made of black anodised aluminium, have five heavy tungsten micro-weights on the underside, which are necessary to ensure perfect balance. The assembly of the turbine therefore requires the utmost skill, so that the blades can rotate smoothly each time the gesture provides the energy to activate it. Although it has no functional value, this sophisticated technology reveals not only the skill and expertise of Perrelet’s master watchmakers, but also the spirit of innovation that has always characterised the Manufacture. A legacy passed down from the very beginning by its founder, Abraham-Louis Perrelet, to whom we owe the invention of the winding rotor, also based on human kinetic energy, like the turbine. Unique in the panorama of haute horlogerie, the turbine has become a true icon of the Manufacture.
Customised aesthetics
To enhance the chromatic effects of the sub-dial, the Turbine Splash adopts a black look. The design echoes that of the Turbine EVO, which entered the catalogue in 2019 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Turbine technology, renewing the line. The round case, measuring 44 mm in diameter and water resistant to 10 ATM, is incredibly comfortable on the wrist thanks to its ultra-light high-tech materials: polycarbonate and forged carbon fibre. Its hardness makes it resistant to impact, scratches and chemicals: qualities that make it almost immune to time. Thanks to its thermal insulation properties, the carbon fibre also protects the movement from temperature variations. While the flat bezel is in black PVD steel, the case middle in carbon fibre is decorated with the characteristic vertical grooves, on which the easy-to-grip, personalised crown, stands out.
The large dagger-shaped hands coated with white luminescent material ensure excellent legibility of the hours, while the red central seconds hand stands out against the turbine background. A further touch of colour comes from the outlines of the baton indices in the same shades as the lower dial (neon green, yellow, purple, fuchsia, light blue, orange), which contrast with the hour track. For this model, Perrelet uses tritium indices (T25) which are encapsulated in borosilicate tubes in the form of gas. Inside is a phosphor layer which, when activated by tritium electrons, emits a sharp, long-lasting glow.
Powerful and reliable mechanics
Turbine Splash is powered by the P-331-MH calibre, a renowned Manufacture self-winding movement, accurate and reliable, as certified by the COSC and Chronofiable®, having passed the rigorous tests that these two independent institutes subjected it to. Equipped with a 42-hour power reserve and beating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, it is impeccably decorated and can be admired through the sapphire crystal porthole set in the black PVD steel case-back ring: from the circular-grained bridges to the rhodium-plated, openworked oscillating weight, mounted on ball bearings and adorned with the Maison’s logo.
Limited availability
Turbine Splash is available from 12th July at selected retailers worldwide. In addition, customers living in Europe or the USA can purchase it via the Maison’s official E-commerce.
This model is fastened to the wrist with a black alligator-pattern leather strap with a folding clasp. It comes in a dedicated tactical box, which includes an extra black rubber strap and a fastening tool.
Exclusively limited to 99 pieces, it is expected to become an object of desire for the most discerning collectors.
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Ref. A8003/2
Movement:
In-house self-winding calibre P-331-MH, COSC and Chronofiable® certified
28.800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
Number of jewels: 25
Power reserve (fully wound): 42 hours
Open-worked, rhodium-plated oscillating weight with Perrelet logo, mounted on ball bearings
Functions:
Hours, minutes and seconds
Case:
Round, case body in polycarbonate and carbon fibre, flat bezel in stainless steel with black matt PVD coating
Diameter: 44 mm
Thickness: 13. 82 mm
Sapphire crystal glass with double anti-reflective treatment on dial
Fluted case band
Crown with Perrelet logo
Case back in stainless steel with black PVD coating, sapphire glass porthole with the inscription “Limited Edition X/99”
Waterproof to 10 Atm/100 m /328 ft
Dial:
Black sub-dial with coloured splashes in fluo green, yellow, purple, fuchsia, light blue, orange
Turbine technology
12 black anodised aluminium turbine blades with five tungsten counterweights
Central hour and minute hands with white Super-LumiNova
Red central seconds hand
Indices on the hour track with profile in the same colours of the sub-dial, luminescence with tritium (T25)
Strap
Black calf leather strap with alligator pattern and rubber lining
Folding clasp in black PVD stainless steel bearing the Perrelet logo
Notes:
Watch delivered in a tactical box with additional black rubber strap and fastening tool
Price: CHF/Euro 5.200 – USD 5.450
