[AME]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMA6Jrn9mBc[/AME]
Rudis Sylva HD Video - RS 12 Harmonious Oscillator
Written by Zach Bush • Video by Anthony Detamore
2 months ago
"Today, the Tourbillon has been beaten by the Harmonious Oscillator" Those are fairly strong words spoken at the 2010 Elegant Watch press conference by the CEO of Rudis Sylva, Jacky Epitaux. Is there enough science to back up that claim and what has Rudis Sylva created since then? I was fortunate enough to sit down with Jacky during BaselWorld 2013 and he spoke about the technological advances of the Harmonious Oscillator as we viewed the newest addition to the Rudis Sylva lineup, the RS 12 Grand Art Horloger .
The Rudis Sylva RS 12
First, for those unfamiliar, Rudis Sylva launched its first creation in 2009 when it unveiled the Harmonious Oscillator. At that time it was touted by some as the most significant breakthrough in horology since the invention of Breguet’s Tourbillon in 1801. While we are all familiar with what a tourbillon is and why it was so important, it does have one slight but present technological flaw; while vertically positioned it takes a full minute to compensate for the effects of gravity creating an oscillation in its accuracy.
In theory, and as shown in the graphs that were on display while meeting with Jacky of Rudis Sylva, the patented Harmonious Oscillator compensates for the gravitational effect by positioning two connected balance wheels adjacent to each other, cancelling out the gravitational forces that cause this oscillation. Like a tourbillon, this mechanism is located within a cage that rotates 360 degrees every 60 seconds and it also has just one pallet fork and escape wheel (not two as some may expect with dual balance wheels). But by asymmetrically placing the hairsprings within toothed and connected balance wheels, the gravitational pull seems to no longer be an issue.
Close up view of the Harmonious Oscillator in action
People much smarter than I have been debating this innovation since its introduction. The most common argument is that gears, wheels and the like, all have a certain amount time when they are not fully engaged causing a small amount of slop within the mechanism. While I didn’t think to ask when speaking with Jacky Epitaux, one could argue that the hairsprings within the toothed balance wheels are the catalyst for a constant motion of the mechanism and due to that the slop is no longer an issue (or at least greatly minimized).
Aside from the technology behind this timepiece, there are many other valid reasons why this watch should be viewed as a horological masterpiece. While the company is using a new technology in an effort to dethrone an over 200 year old champion, Rudis Sylva utilizes artisans that have been trained with old-school techniques making each piece a labor intensive work of art.
When looking at the RS 12 you’ll immediately notice a pyramidial guilloche across the visible plate as well as the hour/minute dial. This work is done by craftsman Georges Brodbeck in his shop using special tools with the only electrical assistance coming from the presence of light. Enameling on the case back is performed by Sophie Cattin Morales. After the raw enamel is ground down, rinsed for any impurities and then applied, it is then kiln baked at 840 degrees before being honed to a flat surface and then placed back into the kiln for glazing. Finally, the enamel will be polished and also completely resistant to the degradation that sunlight could cause to lesser products.
Few companies display the passion and dedication of carrying out techniques that could easily be replaced by modern machinery and chemical processes, however Rudis Sylva is committed to not only using these traditional techniques now, but also seeing that these processes do not die out being replaced with modern technologies. Prices for these watches hover around $250,000, but considering all that goes into them I think they are priced well for what they have to offer. The Rudis Sylva Harmonious is not a tourbillon, and I certainly would not think to call it a gimmick.
To learn more about the techniques used by Rudis Sylva and be introduced to some of the artisans that diligently work to make them what they are, please take a moment to view the video below.
[AME]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT8Jeb8vJJ4[/AME]
CasePink or grey gold 18K
44 mm X 14.3 mm
Vertical satin finish, polished bezel
Welded, polished and micro-blasted horns
Screwed case back, hand engraved with grand feu enamelMovementHarmonious Oscillator, patent no 575/09
Manual winding
70 hour power reserve
Hand guilloched main plate, 60 tapering pyramids
Two interlinked balances
21,600 vph 3 Hz
Titanium cage bridge
StrapGenuine alligator
Matching 18K gold buckle
Rudis Sylva HD Video - RS 12 Harmonious Oscillator
Written by Zach Bush • Video by Anthony Detamore
2 months ago
"Today, the Tourbillon has been beaten by the Harmonious Oscillator" Those are fairly strong words spoken at the 2010 Elegant Watch press conference by the CEO of Rudis Sylva, Jacky Epitaux. Is there enough science to back up that claim and what has Rudis Sylva created since then? I was fortunate enough to sit down with Jacky during BaselWorld 2013 and he spoke about the technological advances of the Harmonious Oscillator as we viewed the newest addition to the Rudis Sylva lineup, the RS 12 Grand Art Horloger .
The Rudis Sylva RS 12
First, for those unfamiliar, Rudis Sylva launched its first creation in 2009 when it unveiled the Harmonious Oscillator. At that time it was touted by some as the most significant breakthrough in horology since the invention of Breguet’s Tourbillon in 1801. While we are all familiar with what a tourbillon is and why it was so important, it does have one slight but present technological flaw; while vertically positioned it takes a full minute to compensate for the effects of gravity creating an oscillation in its accuracy.
In theory, and as shown in the graphs that were on display while meeting with Jacky of Rudis Sylva, the patented Harmonious Oscillator compensates for the gravitational effect by positioning two connected balance wheels adjacent to each other, cancelling out the gravitational forces that cause this oscillation. Like a tourbillon, this mechanism is located within a cage that rotates 360 degrees every 60 seconds and it also has just one pallet fork and escape wheel (not two as some may expect with dual balance wheels). But by asymmetrically placing the hairsprings within toothed and connected balance wheels, the gravitational pull seems to no longer be an issue.
Close up view of the Harmonious Oscillator in action
People much smarter than I have been debating this innovation since its introduction. The most common argument is that gears, wheels and the like, all have a certain amount time when they are not fully engaged causing a small amount of slop within the mechanism. While I didn’t think to ask when speaking with Jacky Epitaux, one could argue that the hairsprings within the toothed balance wheels are the catalyst for a constant motion of the mechanism and due to that the slop is no longer an issue (or at least greatly minimized).
Aside from the technology behind this timepiece, there are many other valid reasons why this watch should be viewed as a horological masterpiece. While the company is using a new technology in an effort to dethrone an over 200 year old champion, Rudis Sylva utilizes artisans that have been trained with old-school techniques making each piece a labor intensive work of art.
When looking at the RS 12 you’ll immediately notice a pyramidial guilloche across the visible plate as well as the hour/minute dial. This work is done by craftsman Georges Brodbeck in his shop using special tools with the only electrical assistance coming from the presence of light. Enameling on the case back is performed by Sophie Cattin Morales. After the raw enamel is ground down, rinsed for any impurities and then applied, it is then kiln baked at 840 degrees before being honed to a flat surface and then placed back into the kiln for glazing. Finally, the enamel will be polished and also completely resistant to the degradation that sunlight could cause to lesser products.
Few companies display the passion and dedication of carrying out techniques that could easily be replaced by modern machinery and chemical processes, however Rudis Sylva is committed to not only using these traditional techniques now, but also seeing that these processes do not die out being replaced with modern technologies. Prices for these watches hover around $250,000, but considering all that goes into them I think they are priced well for what they have to offer. The Rudis Sylva Harmonious is not a tourbillon, and I certainly would not think to call it a gimmick.
To learn more about the techniques used by Rudis Sylva and be introduced to some of the artisans that diligently work to make them what they are, please take a moment to view the video below.
[AME]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT8Jeb8vJJ4[/AME]
CasePink or grey gold 18K
44 mm X 14.3 mm
Vertical satin finish, polished bezel
Welded, polished and micro-blasted horns
Screwed case back, hand engraved with grand feu enamelMovementHarmonious Oscillator, patent no 575/09
Manual winding
70 hour power reserve
Hand guilloched main plate, 60 tapering pyramids
Two interlinked balances
21,600 vph 3 Hz
Titanium cage bridge
StrapGenuine alligator
Matching 18K gold buckle