Fingers-On Frederique Fixed Slimline Monolithic Manufacture 40Hz Silicon Oscillator Watch

I used to be considerably stunned on the lack of watch fanatic fanfare when Swiss Frederique Fixed initially debuted the Slimline Monolithic Manufacture watch on aBlogtoWatch right here again in March 2021. If this watch was launched by a model with extra of a advertising push behind it or one of many “previous names” in watchmaking, then I believe the group would have appreciated the contribution this mechanism provides to the panorama of at the moment’s “subsequent era” mechanical watch actions. Whereas shoppers get enthusiastic about 5Hz “excessive beat” mechanical watches, due to their promise of elevated accuracy over time, how do you assume they may really feel about 40Hz? That’s the operational frequency of the mechanical oscillator within the in-house automated motion contained inside these Slimline Monolithic Manufacture watches.

Maybe the issue is one among naming and presentation. At a look, this classy-looking timepiece doesn’t seem like a lot completely different from Frederique Fixed’s normal Slimline/Basic Manufacture gown watch assortment. The product title itself is cryptic, at greatest, with the mere addition of the time period “monolithic,” which is a phrase that references an engineering ingredient of the watch, not its model or stance. Lastly, Frederique Fixed appears to imagine that the buyer even is aware of the best way to respect a product like this, not to mention the best way to examine it with different purchases. The truth is that even at round $5,000 USD, there are just about no different watches that do what the Slimline Monolithic Manufacture does — even when there are lots of different watches at this value level with silicon-based regulation methods. Thus, what I’ll try and do is clarify what’s “monolithic” in regards to the Slimline Monolithic Manufacture and the kind of innovation that Frederique Fixed gives to the luxurious watch market with a product assortment comparable to this.

Presently, Frederique Fixed produces the Slimline Monolithic Manufacture watch in three variations. These embody the references FC-810MC3S6 (silver dial) and FC-810MCN3S6 (blue dial) in metal and an 18k rose gold model (fairly pretty priced at $15,995, when you ask me) because the reference FC-810MC3S9. The instances themselves are 40mm-wide and kind of symbolize an iconic Frederique Fixed look with the Slimline Manufacture case and dial design. In some ways, the Slimline Monolithic Manufacture watches are the identical as these with out the brand new silicon components, so the addition is generally technical. What does give away that these watches are particular is the view at 6 o’clock of what clearly isn’t your typical regulation system with an oscillating wheel and hairspring.

Certainly, your entire Monolithic watch is mostly a modified model of what Frederique Fixed already produces, however now harnessing some very new and highly effective know-how. The in-house automated caliber FC-810 motion is a modified model of the in-house FC-710 with a very reworked regulation system. In any other case, many of the motion and working practice are the identical, preserving the problems that embody central minutes, hours, and seconds, together with a subsidiary date show (now below the 12 o’clock place, versus over the 6 o’clock place on the dial).

The brand new half is the in-house motion together with a one-piece (i.e. “monolithic”) silicon element that replaces your entire regulation system (there’s one major silicon half, however there’s at the very least one different half in silicon, too, within the type of the escapement wheel). That is doable as a result of silicon can bend and flex rather more so than metallic. This reality, mixed with some really superb manufacturing methods that permit for excessive element, permits for a single element to interchange a whole household of different elements. In manufacturing, it is a good factor as a result of effectivity and higher machines are sometimes the results of utilizing fewer components to perform the identical duties.

What makes Frederique Fixed’s silicon system fascinating is that we aren’t merely speaking about the identical element produced in silicon that was beforehand produced in metallic. That’s how most different silicon-component watches are designed, the place beforehand metallic oscillators are actually in silicon. This definitely has benefits in efficiency, however from an operational standpoint, a watch with a metallic (versus silicon) steadiness wheel behaves equally, usually shifting at a frequency of 4Hz (28,800 beats per hour). How does Frederique Fixed enhance this operational frequency to 40Hz (288,000 beats per hour)?

A rise in operations frequency signifies that the watch is ready to common out many extra timing errors, leading to extra correct timekeeping over time. That is along with silicon’s pure tendency to be immune from magnetic fields, expertise little or no interruption by variations in temperature, and require little or no lubrication. With the Frederique Fixed Slimline Monolithic Manufacture, the FC-810 has a regulation system that operates completely in a different way than conventional mechanical watches. The usual oscillating wheel has been changed by a specifically engineered piece of silicon that vibrates at a excessive fee when it receives energy impulses from the unwinding mainspring. These fast vibrations serve to show a small escapement wheel which is the center of transmitting energy to the remainder of the motion.

The results of this 40Hz operational frequency isn’t only a theoretically extra correct motion (Frederique Fixed truly doesn’t publish anticipated fee outcomes), but additionally one for which the working motion of the regulation system is so quick, our human eyes can barely see it shifting. If a standard mechanical regulation system seems to “beat,” then the regulation system developed by Frederique Fixed seems to “buzz.” It’s a neat visible impact and the results of what might be achieved by way of novel makes use of of silicon produced into unique shapes for these area of interest functions.

Whereas Frederique Fixed is at the moment owned by Japan’s Citizen Group, the Swiss model was initially based by the Dutch Entrepreneur Peter Stas and his spouse. Their head of technical growth Pim Koeslag can be Dutch, and it thus is smart that the particular provider they labored with to supply these silicon elements can be Dutch. That firm is named Flexous, and it is called a “Horology Expertise Firm.” Flexous produces the silicon components for Frederique Fixed, however I perceive that the design of the monolithic silicon regulation system was, largely, developed in-house on the watch model in Geneva.

What I believe is much more fascinating is how power-efficient the FC-810 automated motion is. Little or no energy must be channeled to the monolithic silicon regulation system for it to function. So regardless of its quick 40Hz working pace, the motion has 80 hours of energy reserve in a single mainspring barrel. The motion can be properly polished with perlage, blue screws, and different ornamental options that beguile this product as a cultured (versus extremely up to date) timepiece product.

Silicon watch components began with the controversial Ulysse Nardin Freak again round 2001. Over the past 20 years, we now have seen an infinite number of silicon elements being utilized in watches from the world’s hottest manufacturers together with Rolex and Patek Philippe. Silicon as a fabric is right here to remain in watchmaking, however that doesn’t imply innovation with the fabric and its utilization is wherever close to being over. If something, areas the place the precision-shaping and environmental-resistance capabilities of silicon shine are solely beginning to be well-understood. As an organization that very a lot values precise horology and watchmaking, it makes nothing however sense {that a} product just like the Slimline Monolithic Manufacture comes from Frederique Fixed. Now the trouble is one among advertising and positioning.

The Slimline Monolithic Manufacture is a business success provided that it actually doesn’t have any competitors out there at this value level and since there’s a sufficiently small group of watch motion nerds on the market who can respect these in limited-edition volumes. However what comes subsequent? I believe there’s a very actual advertising and communication alternative right here to raised inform the story of this fascinating know-how, in addition to to incorporate it in additional up to date watches that seize the creativeness and spirit of the monolithic silicon know-how higher. These are very cool watches, and I look ahead to seeing what Frederique Fixed comes up with on this house subsequent. The Slimline Monolithic  Manufacture watch in 18k rose gold is proscribed to 81 items in every of the 2 steel-cased dial colours. Value in metal is $4,795 USD. Be taught extra on the Frederique Fixed web site right here.