There is a small watchmaking manufactory in Switzerland, a hidden gem of craftsmanship overlooking the mouth of the River Aare, where it flows into Lake Thun. Founded in 1642, it has since remained the pride and heritage of a single family, the one from which it takes its name: Haldimann. Since 1991, Beat Haldimann has continued a family tradition of excellence, producing extraordinary timepieces using machinery that operates without the aid of computers, guided solely by the hand of the master watchmaker. A manufactory in the truest sense of the word, where Beat has passed on his expertise and passion to his daughter Iris and son Niklaus, who now work alongside him and will ensure the company’s future.
FIVE PIECES FOR A SHARED VISION
A watchmaking philosophy that aligns perfectly with GMT’s vision, which has always been committed to seeking out and promoting independent brands of the highest horological calibre, placing quality, excellence and an original, personal concept of timekeeping at the heart of their work. A shared vision that led Haldimann to create a special edition of the H1-Flying Central Tourbillon dedicated to the Milanese retailer: the H1-Flying Central Tourbillon GMT Milano Edition. A traditional watch, yet one that immediately draws the eye to its heart: the central flying tourbillon with three barrels. Its lyre-shaped cage, Haldimann’s signature aesthetic, rotates ceaselessly with a hypnotic motion which, thanks to the tourbillon’s generous dimensions, steals the show at the centre of the dial.
For the H1-Flying Central Tourbillon GMT Milano Edition, Beat Haldimann has made a significant departure from his stylistic credo, replacing the Roman numeral hour markers (which he uses in all his creations) with western Arabicnumerals, specially designed with his daughter Iris. The central hour and minute hands, black and with heart-shaped tips, glide across the grené-finished dial, rendered in the 4N gold hue characteristic of the limited editions of the GMT.
At the heart of the watch lies the hand-wound ZEN-H1 calibre, featuring a central 60-second flying tourbillon, a frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour, a power reserve of approximately 38 hours, a Glucydur balance wheel, and a balance spring with a Phillips-type end curve and Haldimann pivots. Through the sapphire crystal case back of the H1-Flying Central Tourbillon, the mainplate reveals only the three barrels and, through a small central aperture, part of the gear train. Like the dial, the mainplate is also grené-finished in 4N GMT gold.
In this special edition, the classic polished case of the H1-Flying Central Tourbillon is crafted from platinum and measures 39 mm in diameter and 10.8 mm in thickness. The oversized onion-shaped crown, with its pronounced knurling, lends the watch a classic aesthetic. Apart from the dial colour, the only other element recalling the collaboration with GMT is the word ‘Milano’ engraved on the caseback. Nothing else. A choice by Beat Haldimann, an understatement in keeping with the philosophy of the Swiss master watchmaker. The H1-Flying Central Tourbillon GMT Milano Edition is completed by a hand-stitched black alligator strap with a platinum pin buckle.
By Jacopo Giudici