Nouvelle Chronometrie Montre Ordinaire First Edition
This is a review of the First Edition of the Montre Ordinaire from Japanese independent watchmaker Nouvelle Chronometrie. The watch draws inspiration from 18th and 19th-century high-end pocket watches, particularly those by A.L. Breguet, reinterpreted for wristwatch wear with a 38mm case. It aims to combine the beauty of historical timepieces with the precision of 20th-century chronometers and 21st-century engineering.
- Retail price of JPY 30,000,000 excluding tax
- Limited to 20 pieces
The watch's philosophy is guided by Vitruvius's principles of FIRMITAS, UTILITAS, VENUSTAS, translated as strength, utility, and beauty.
The case features a cylindrical middle with a coin-edge profile, a convex bombé upper bezel, and a screwed-on, similarly convex rear bezel.
The lugs are soldered directly to the case middle and are described as long, slim, and curved.
The dial is handcrafted by American watchmaker J.N. Shapiro and features two intricate guilloché patterns on polished and brushed surfaces.
Production dials will feature chronometer markings at the 30s and 40s positions of the subsidiary seconds dial.
The hands are slim, blued steel Breguet hands with a 'pomme' circle detail.
The movement design, guided by Shoichiro Komasaki, features large components relative to its 32mm diameter, with gears from the second to fourth wheel crafted from 18k gold plates.
The tourbillon is large and incorporates inner and outer Phillips end curves on the hairspring.