Maximus Tourbillon

Unlike other tourbillons, which require the use of a curved lever escapement for space reasons, the MAXIMUS, with its 27-millimeter cage diameter, allows the use of a linear pallet lever (straight stem). This significantly improves performance, as the energy loss with a linear lever is significantly lower than that of a curved lever.

The gigantic size of the MAXIMUS tourbillon and its central position in the middle of the dial, curved in the shape of an amphitheater and topped with an immense transparent sapphire dome, allow its owner to observe and better understand its operation.

The design, creation, adaptation and perfect integration of this gigantic MAXIMUS tourbillon into the movement, dial and case of the watch represented a phenomenal technological challenge for KERBEDANZ, while fully respecting the traditions of fine watchmaking.

Seen from the dial side, the tourbillon cage is fully exposed, allowing the observer to follow the oscillations of the escapement regulator system, as well as the complete rotation of the tourbillon. Due to the cage's unprecedented dimensions, this rotation is slowed to six minutes (compared to one minute for standard tourbillons). This slowing is made possible by an additional wheel or idler wheel—visible in the cage—that meshes with the escape wheel pinion.

The two hour and minute discs are also visible, with their respective hands attached to them. These two hands were specially designed and manufactured, then curved by hand to perfectly match the specific shape of the twelve indexes, reminiscent of the access doors to the stands that surrounded the arenas of Roman amphitheaters.

The gigantic transparent sapphire crystal, with an anti-reflective coating, which exposes and protects the dial and the tourbillon, was designed as a veritable dome. Its inner concave shape is parallel to the outer convexity, allowing enough space to accommodate the height of the tourbillon while reducing the height of the caseband for obvious aesthetic reasons. The caseband, which represents the profile of the watch, features vertical fluted decoration, alluding to the colonnades and arcaded openings of the exterior masonry of ancient Roman circuses and theaters.

The MAXIMUS caseback is distinguished by a uniquely shaped winding mechanism placed above the transparent sapphire crystal. This transparent, anti-reflective crystal offers a view of the four barrels arranged in parallel to drive a central gearwheel mounted on ball bearings—an assembly providing the torque needed to power the moving parts that make up the oversized tourbillon and the 40-millimeter diameter mechanical movement. The gears have been reinforced and sized to withstand very high torque loads.

The 54+ hour power reserve indicator is also placed on the caseback rather than the dial, which makes sense given that the movement is wound by the four barrels from the caseback using a very special winding mechanism, independent of the crown – the latter being used solely for setting the time.

The force required to wind the four barrels led to the design of a manual winding system via the caseback, operating the central ball-bearing wheel, which in turn meshes with the barrel wheels. The winding key was designed in the shape of a sort of octopus or spider, but with six "arms" that are fixed with the fingers to turn clockwise. Winding is carried out using a ratchet system, designed with a clutch to prevent a pawl or tooth from breaking in the event of a rotation error.

The exceptional movement of the MAXIMUS was designed, manufactured, and decorated by KERBEDANZ. Mechanically wound, it comprises a total of 415 components, 73 of which constitute the tourbillon and its cage, made entirely of titanium, with a weight of only 1.35 grams. The height of the movement reaches 8.35 millimeters (13.2 millimeters with the tourbillon cage). It was also necessary to master the design and manufacture of the balance wheel, the hairspring, and the assembly of the index with fine adjustment screws.