Monochrome Watches » Sarpaneva

MB&F Moonmachine – Max Busser and Stepan Sarpaneva join forces – LIVE photos

mono — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:02:21 +0000

MB&F Moonmachine – Max Busser and Stepan Sarpaneva join forces – LIVE photos is a post from: Monochrome.nl

This is something that doesn’t happen to often… Two of my favorite watch brands joined forces. Max Busser invited Stepan Sarpaneva to create his version of the MB&F Horological Machine 3 Frog, resulting in the Moonmachine!

Stepan Sarpaneva is well known for his signature moon phase/face. It featured on his Korona K3 Black Moon, can be admired on the Black Moon iPhone App and on several of his newer models like the recent Korona K3 Nothern Stars. And Max Busser is of course well-known for his extraordinary horological machines like the HM2, HM3 and HM4.

For readers of Monochrome, Stepan Sarpaneva isn’t a new name. But a quick introduction and some background info doesn’t harm:

Before launching his own brand Sarpaneva Watches in 2003, Stepan Sarpaneva worked with some of the most prestigious Swiss brands including Piaget, Parmigiani (where he worked alongside Kari Voutilainen), Vianney Halter and Christophe Claret.

The MB&F HM3 Frog usually indicates hours, minutes and the date is displayed around the axe-shaped rotor. The Moonmachine displays the moon phase in stead of the date and the rotor now resembles the sky with Sarpaneva’s Norther Stars.

Sarpaneva’s three signature themes are all celestial: his very distinctive moon face; the northern stars and constellations; and the typical shape of his Korona case (the korona/corona is the plasma atmosphere of the Sun). All three have been incorporated in Moonmachine. Sarpaneva’s two moon faces indicate the phase of the moon through a Korona shaped aperture, while the mystery winding rotor is actually a 22k gold disc with laser-pierced stars forming stars and constellations visible in the northern sky.

The stars are laser-pierced allowing light to reflect from the movement underneath and are not simply placed at random: they form the seven brightest stars in Ursa Major, more commonly known as the Big Dipper/Big Plough/Big Bear, plus the seven brightest stars of Ursa Minor, more commonly known as the Little Dipper/Little Bear, which includes Polaris, also known as the North star.

By covering the movement with the moon phase and sky, the Moonmachines becomes more poetic, according to Sarpaneva. The HM3 is transformed into a fairy tale. The bulbous minutes and hours indication domes of the Frog are reminiscent of how science fiction buffs have long imagined habitable domes on the Moon.

Rotating the large indicator domes posed a number of technical challenges. The domes are machined from solid aluminium to a paper-thin wall thickness of just 0.28 mm to reduce energy requirements to an absolute minimum. The semi-spherical sapphire crystal domes have to be very carefully machined and polished as the slightest imperfection might create unwanted magnification effects.

And the Frog’s unusual method of indicating time, meant that an entirely new gear train had to be developed for the HM3 engine. This was because the aluminium hour dome of the Frog rotates in 12 hours compared to the 24-hour revolution of the ‘normal’ HM3 hour hand.

Stepan Sarpaneva: “With Moonmachine, the HM3 doesn’t just look like it travels through space, it is now a part of space. It becomes a participant not just an observer.”

Moonmachine is available in three limited editions of 18 pieces each: red gold case with red gold moon faces in an anthracite sky, titanium case with white gold moon faces in a light blue sky and black titanium case with white gold moon faces in a dark blue sky.

And now the technical specifications:

Moon – While other planets have more moons (Jupiter has 62) and larger moons (Saturn’s moon Titan is twice the size of ours) the Earth’s moon is unique in our solar system because at ¼ the size of Earth, it is very large in relation to its planet, which is why it is so influential.

Average distance from Earth: 390,000km
Traveling time from Earth: three days
Gravity: 1/6th Earth gravity
Length of lunar day: 27.3 Earth days
The moon does not rotate in relation to the Earth
Influences on Earth: Causes two tidal cycles per day; often provides light at night; lunar cycle was one of the very first units of time; its gravity attracts many meteors and stops them hitting Earth; stabilises the tilt of the Earth in relation to the sun.

Oeps… those were the wrong technical specifications. Below the video are the specifications of the Moonmachine!

Moonmachine – Technical Specifications

Moonmachine is based on a specially configured HM3 Frog and the moon complication was imagined, designed and created by Stepan Sarpaneva. It is available in three limited editions of 18 pieces each.

Movement: three-dimensional horological engine designed by Jean-Marc Wiederrecht/Agenhor
Powered by a Girard-Perregaux base, modified by Stepan Sarpaneva
Balance oscillating at 28,800 bph.
PVD coated and star-pierced 22k gold automatic winding rotor
Hour and minutes information transmitted via ceramic ball bearings to rotating domes.
Number of jewels: 36
Number of components: 319

Functions:

Hour on one dome (aluminium dome rotating in 12 hours)
Minutes on second dome (aluminium dome rotating in 60 minutes)
Moon phase displayed by dual moons rotating under a Korona ring

Dimensions (exclusive of crown and lugs): 47mm x 50mm x 19mm
Number of case components: 55
Sapphire crystals: domes and both display backs with anti-reflective treatment on both faces

Swiss retail price is CHF 84,000 before tax.

For more information about the Moonmachine and other MB&F Horlogical Machines, please visit the MB&F website or official MB&F Facebook page.

More information about Sarpaneva’s watches can be found on the Sarpaneva Watches website and some updates are ferquently posted on his official Facebook page.

This article is written by Frank Geelen, executive editor of Monochrome Watches.

Sarpaneva Korona K0 – the Ruler of Water

mono — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:15:21 +0000

Sarpaneva Korona K0 – the Ruler of Water is a post from: Monochrome.nl

It’s already two years ago since Stepan Sarpaneva showed his prototype dive watch for the first time. It was at Baselworld 2010 and in the mean time he has perfected the watch, called Korona K0 – the Ruler of Water.

Sarpaneva created a new crown and moved it from the 3 o’clock position (on the prototype) to the 4 o’clock position. And now he is ready to officially launch his new dive watch. And as we have come to know Sarpaneva, he does it in style. Check out the new Korona K0 and the cool comic-story-press-release!

Before I ‘digitally’ shut up and give the floor to Sarpaneva’s comic-story-press-release, I’d like to share some specifications of the watch and some first impressions.

The Korona K0 is a true dive watch, made entirely according to the ISO specifications for dive watches. A unique feature is that the dive time ring is integrated in the movement and can be operated by the crown. This makes it possible that all functions are operated by one crown. Sarpaneva made three version: Korona K0 (stainless steel as pictured above), Korona K0 Two-Tone and Korona K0 DLC Black (both pictured below).

Like all Sarpaneva watches, the new Korona K0 is handcrafted at Sarpaneva’s workshop in Helsinki. And like all Sarpaneva watches, the new Korona K0 is also very limited in availability. My own Korona K1 was the last of 10 ever made of this model. So if you like this watch, do not wait too long. Sarpaneva won’t say how many he will make, however like engraved on the case back, it is one of a few. Better take that serious.

Another feature, also according to the ISO dive watch specifications, is the use of Superluminova indexes.

The Korona K0 is 46 mm in diameter and 11.2 mm in height. While it might sound like a rather big watch, I was pleased to see it wears very comfortable and not as big as other watches with these dimensions. This is mainly due to the short lugs that keep the strap close to the case and give the watch a smaller feeling. Another thing that is responsible for the smaller feeling, is the fact the height is just 11.2 mm! Considering the watch is tested to go as deep as 300 meter and because of that it needs a 2.5 mm thick sapphire crystal (with anti-reflective coating on the inside), the Korona K0′s thickness is quite impressive.

Now without further ado… the cool comic-press-release.

Finland, the land of thousand lakes, is actually counted to be a land of 188 000 lakes. There is a lake for every 29 Finns. In that sense, it’s no surprise that Finns also share thousands of tales about the unknown underwater.

Sarpaneva Korona K0 is inspired by a legend of a smith, whose daughters were pulled deep down into the murky mansions of a lecherous underwater creature Näkki. Anxious to save his daughters, the smith wrought himself a unique underwater instrument that told him the very limits of his life and the precise moment of his death, for it was the Ruler of Water.

Stepan Sarpaneva decided to bring the tale to life.

Specifications:

Movement: Modified Soprod A10 calibre, 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), automatic winding, 25 jewels, 42-hour power reserve, Rhodium-plated, perlage finishing.

The movement’s mainplate is modified to incorporate the diver’s timer ring. The timer ring (uni-directional) is manually adjustable by the first crown position.

Case: Stainless Steel, 46 mm in diameter, 11.2 mm thick, 2.5 mm thick sapphire crystal with multi anti-reflection coating on the inside, screw down crown, water-resistant to 300 meters.

For more information, visit Sarpaneva’s website.

Weekly Watch Photo – Sarpaneva Korona K3 Northern Stars

mono — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:24:59 +0000

Weekly Watch Photo – Sarpaneva Korona K3 Northern Stars is a post from: Monochrome.nl

The Weekly Watch Photo is back. After a hectic month (the SIHH) we found some great photos of one of our favorite watches of last year. For a second time the Sarpaneva Korona K3 Northern Stars features as our Weekly Watch Photo.

Stepan Sarpaneva shot these photos himself with his iPhone. I must say that I’m impressed, because these photos capture Sarpaneva’s magnificent golden moon phase/face with a lovely sunny glow. And suitable for a watch made in Finland, it’s shown in the winter snow.

Ever since Sarpaneva launched the first Korona K3 with its distinctive moon phase indicator, this moon ‘face’ has become a recognizable theme for Sarpaneva. The Korona K3 Northern Stars is now available in several combinations of cases and dials. Besides versions is stainless steel, gold and black DLC coated cases, there is also an ‘iced’ version with 1.92 carats of diamonds.

These photos show the beautiful finish of the case, which features a very stylish combination of polished and brushed finish. While the mid-case and lugs are brushed, the scalloped bezel and signature Sarpaneva crown are polished.

The 42 mm large case has very short and sculptured lugs, which make the watch wear smaller than one would expect. And comfortable, very comfortable!

At the upcoming Baselworld fair, Sarpaneva will show the final production version of the Korona K0 Dive Watch, of which he showed the prototype two years ago.

Sarpaneva Korona K3 Routa

mono — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:31:48 +0000

Sarpaneva Korona K3 Routa is a post from: Monochrome.nl

Sarpaneva introduces the Korona K3 Routa, a special edition of the Sarpaneva Korona K3 Northern Stars with 283 brilliantly-cut diamonds, and it’s limited to 5 pieces.

The new Sarpaneva Korona K3 Routa comes a few months after the release of the ‘iced’ version of the Korona K1, and is now entirely set with a total 1.92 carat of brilliant-cut diamonds…. perfectly pavé set!

Routa, a Finnish word for frozen ground. The vicious streak of Mother Nature, first numbs the land and then ruthlessly starts to ravage roads and other landmarks man has created. It is a breathtaking tribute to the calm perseverance of two master craftsmen.

The diamonds were set by Mr Gilles Meier, a master engraver who used bead setting technique to create a perfect pavé of diamonds. Due to the hardness of steel, this technique is extremely challenging and requires a meticulous mastery of gemstone setting. Some call it madness.

The stainless steel case has been diamond set with 214 diamonds (a total of 1.44 carat). The case is the recognisable Korona case, measuring 42 mm in diameter and 10.2 mm thick. It’s water proof to 5 ATM (or 50 meters). Because of the relatively flat case and the strap/lug construction the Sarpaneva Korona wears very comfortable. The crown is Sarpaneva’s own designed crown, is made of stainless steel and set with 7 diamonds (a total of 0.14 carat). Even the buckle is diamond set with 62 diamonds (0.34 carat). All brilliant cut diamonds are of very, very slightly included (VVS) quality!

The three-part dial is made of stainless steel and features the Ursa Minor or Little Bear constellation. The hands are rhodium plated, half matte finished on one side and polished on the other side. This gives the hands enough contrast to be clearly visible above the stainless steel dial.

Movement – Modified Soprod A10

calibre, 11.5 lines
28800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
Mechanical, automatic winding
Phases of the moon (29.5 days)
fitted with oxydized sterling
silver moon faces
25 jewels
42-hour power reserve
Stainless steel winding rotor with white gold masses and single
oxydized sterling silver moon face
Rhodium plated, perlage finishing

For more information, please visit the Sarpaneva Watches website or the official Sarpaneva Facebook page.

The best option to see Sarpaneva Watches and to learn more about them, is to visit Sarpaneva at Salon de Belles Montres in the Louvre, Paris, from November 25-27. Check the website of Salon de Belles Montres for exact times and location.

Iced versions of the Sarpaneva Korona K1

mono — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:01:01 +0000

Iced versions of the Sarpaneva Korona K1 is a post from: Monochrome.nl

Sarpaneva just released two new versions of the Korona K1 with sapphires set in the bezel. Two new ‘iced’ Korona K1 versions from Finland.

End of 2009, Stepan Sarpaneva, an independent Finnish watchmaker, released the stainless steel version of the Korona K1 (2nd generation) and in the mean while he has released several special editions of the Korona K2 (Kaamos) and an entirely new version of the Korona K3 Northern Stars. Now Sarpaneva adds some stones to his watches… for the first time. Two ‘iced ‘ versions of the Korona K1.

There is a version with electric blue dial and bezel set with blue sapphires (48 pieces, in total 0.96 carat) and a version with a DLC Beryllium dial and orange sapphires set in the bezel (48 pieces, in total 1.22 carat). The dials are DLC treated and are also available on the non-iced Korona K1.

The Korona K1 is 42 mm in diameter and 10.2 mm thick. The diameter and relatively thin case add to a very comfortable wearing of this watch. The dial might seem ‘simple’ but there go many, many hours in finishing the dial by hand. I wrote an extensive review about all details of the Korona K1 (1st generation), which also includes how the dial, hands, movement and case are made and finished. The rotor is also hand-finished and has gotten the same DLC treatment that gives it the electric blue color.

Check out one of our previous postings for more details about the Sarpaneva Korona K1 or the Korona RG/WG which has the same specifications, except for the material of the case, which is made of red gold or white gold and this new versions are made in stainless steel.

One more photo of the new ‘iced’ Korona K1… a wrist shot, although not on my wrist.

For more information, you can contact Stepan Sarpaneva through his website or check the Sarpaneva Facebook page.

A requested one additional photo showing both new ‘iced’ Koronas… The color of both dials changes a lot depending on the angle you look at them, so it’s very hard to capture how it will look on the wrist. Just compare the ‘Electric/Imperial Blue’ and ‘Berylium/Rust Brown’ with a photo in this post.

Sarpaneva Korona K0 dive watch prototype – new photos

mono — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:59:52 +0000

Sarpaneva Korona K0 dive watch prototype – new photos is a post from: Monochrome.nl

We show you new photos of Sarpaneva’s prototype dive watch, the Korona K0.

Since Baselworld 2010 Stepan Sarpaneva, an independent watchmaker from Finland, plays with ideas to make a dive watch based on his Korona collection. We showed you photos of an earlier prototype that was executed in titanium. The newest prototype is made in stainless steel and measures 46mm in diameter and is 11.5 mm thick.

The crown has moved from the 3 o’clock position to the 4 o’clock position. The crown on the photo is not the final crown to be on the Korona K0! Technical drawings of the new crown can be seen below. Now that looks promising! And Sarpaneva says the new crown is water resistant up to 300 meters, which makes it possible to take the Korona K0 for some serious deep sea diving.

By positioning the crown at 4 o’clock has advantages. The crown will not dig in your wrist anymore and also when diving the chance of unscrewing the crown by accident is reduced to zero. It looks like the shape of the case could work as a crown protector, but that will probably become clear when we see the final product. It all looks very promising…

Stay tuned via Sarpaneva’s Facebook page.

New versions of Sarpaneva Korona K3 Northern Stars

mono — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:14:52 +0000

New versions of Sarpaneva Korona K3 Northern Stars is a post from: Monochrome.nl

After the new Korona K3 Northern Stars was presented during Baselworld, Sarpaneva released a few new variations. Simply great to see how variations in metal and dial give the K3 Northern Stars all their own identity, yet stay so recognizable.

The moon is one of the most remarkable and recognizable features of Sarpaneva Watches. The debate is still going on whether the moon like agry, amazed, sad, smiling or aristocratic. One thing is for sure… it’s intriguing!

The new variations of the Sarpaneva K3 Northern Stars are simply stunning and I’m amazed to see that this watch can get so many different styles by using different metals for the case, moon and hands, different finish of the case and different colors of the dial. Here are five different options… which one would you choose?

The K3 Northern Stars with an electric blue dial in white gold case (or stainless steel) was already shown at Baselworld. The next also comes in a white gold or stainless steel case, yet the dial is not treated and remains in its natural color. The moon faces are in white gold. I love this version!

The following also has a white gold or stainless steel case, with the same metal dial, yet with rose gold moon faces and rose gold hands. Very elegant.

Another variation, not shown at Baselworld comes in a black DLC case. During Baselworld Sarpaneva showed a similar version with a black dial, now the black DLC case comes with the electric blue dial.

And last, but definitely not least… the Korona K3 Northern Stars in a rose gold case, black dial and hands with rose gold moon faces.

Now there are six versions show, four in this post and two in earlier posts (see links above) and I can imagine a few more variations. However which one is your favorite? Is it already shown or would you prefer different combinations of metals, colors, finish… Let us know!

Weekly Watch Photo – Sarpaneva K3 Northern Stars

mono — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:00:49 +0000

Weekly Watch Photo – Sarpaneva K3 Northern Stars is a post from: Monochrome.nl

I just returned from Baselworld and I’m still processing the loads of photos I took. This Sarpaneva Korona K3 Northern Stars is the first I had in front of my camera and Sarpaneva’s newest creation really impressed me.

The Sarpaneva K3 Northern Stars was released last month in white gold with an electric blue dial and in steel with black DLC coated case and dial. The Sarpaneva K3 is available in two versions, the Korona K3 Harvest Moon and the new K3 Northern Stars.

The new K3 Northern Stars has an open dial revealing the moon phase disk. Through small star shaped holes the movement’s main plate is visible. Both versions main plates are different, the stainless steel black DLC version has a rose gold plated main plate and the white gold version with electric blue moon phase disk has a stainless steel main plate, matching the design of the watch.

At the Monochrome Facebook page you can see more photos of the Sarpaneva K3 Northern Stars.

You can find more information at the Sarpaneva website and official Facebook page.

New Sarpaneva Korona K3

mono — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:01:02 +0000

New Sarpaneva Korona K3 is a post from: Monochrome.nl

Stepan Sarpaneva has become famous for his beautiful designed watches and the intriguing moon phase. Today Sarpaneva releases a new version of the Korona K3 in white gold.

After the first series of the Korona, with the K1, K2 and K3 Moon Phase, Stepan Sarpaneva launched the new Korona in red gold and white gold. This new Korona didn’t feature the infamous moon phase (or face?) yet, but it which was used for a limited set of cuff links and the Korona Moonshine. The moon phase first appeared in the new Korona Harvest Moon, a black DLC version, and now in the new Korona K3 in white gold.

For this new version, Sarpaneva made a new dial, moon wheel and outer dial. Another difference with the previous new Korona series, is that the hands are now polished. The case is still the same beautiful scalloped case. According to Stepan the blue dial is DLC coated and is called “Taivaankansi” dial (or cope of heaven in English).

Sarpaneva sent these photos and says it’s difficult to capture it well, because the dial changes color in different angles and lighting. Here is another wrist shot Stepan sent.

At Baselworld I will visit Sarpaneva and make some more photos. One thing needs to be said… it’s a limited edition of 10 pieces only!

For more information you can visit the Sarpaneva website and Facebook page.

Sarpaneva Moonshine – the moon just makes me crazy

mono — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 09:47:27 +0000

Sarpaneva Moonshine – the moon just makes me crazy is a post from: Monochrome.nl

During Baselworld 2010 Sarpaneva showed a prototype that got massive positive response. After months of making it more perfect, Sarpaneva now releases the new Moonshine.

Short after Stepan Sarpaneva released the Korona K2 Kaamos, he has another new watch! Maybe you will remember Sarpaneva’s pre Basel competition, where he already showed the big moon. The new Sarpaneva Moonshine watch is a moon interpretation that’s more sculptural and bold than previous models, with a subtle yet clearly visible luminescent moon phase display and the unique Sarpaneva look that says ‘Not designed in Switzerland’.

The Sarpaneva Moonshine will be available in stainless steel, 18-carat red or white gold and like shown in the photo above it’s also available with a DLC black case. With a diameter of 42 mm and 10.2 mm thick this watch wears very comfortable. Because the way the lugs are constructed, this watches actually wears smaller than what you would expect from a 42 mm size and personally I think this is great. Pure wrist comfort!

In the aperture below the big moon, the hour disk and moon phase disk are visible. The movement’s mainplate is modified to incorporate phases of the moon function. The stainless steel moon phase wheel with luminous section that represents the moon’s position, rotates in 29.5 days. The typical Sarpaneva signature for his moon phase watches, is the skelletonized rotor of the automatic movement, featuring two red or white gold masses and in the middle the hand-engraved moon face.

Here’s what Stepan Sarpaneva has to say about his newest creation:

MOONSHINE IS JUST SUNSHINE IN THE DARK

The moon seems has many different meanings for many different people; enough to fill hundreds of tomes for the walls of libraries. Take a look at the Internet, start searching and you will you find everything about the moon you never even dreamed possible: Moon Tarot cards about the tortured soul and psychic disturbances, the moon’s correlation to the number 9, helping the seeker on the final stages of their journey, the moon as a philosophy of reflection, illusion, higher consciousness, harmony of purpose… Then there’s the astrological aspects, like how the moon phase at one’s birth shapes certain personal characteristics and the moon’s relation to the Zodiacal houses; whole lists of scientific aspects and data – for instance the way some plants, single celled creatures and many animals react to the moon’s phases… And after all this come the social aspects, like the moon holidays in the Far East, the moon based calendars that people still use in many cultures parallel to the regular calendar… The moon is something just endless in the complexity of its meaning.

Perhaps that is why the moon attracts us so much; it seems to be something that brings everyone together as well as being the astronomical object nearest the Earth that everyone can give a different meaning to, or attach a particular feeling to, without having to fight about their idea or judge who is right and who is wrong. Let’s face it, the moon was here long before we were, so it is only logical that it therefore has such an affect on nearly everybody and everything. What you can say is that Stepan’s moon is a Finnish moon, and not a happy smiley moon like some watches use… but that doesn’t make him badass. It is just that Finland is a tough place to survive in. When you live in darkness for about half the year and in continuous sunshine the other half, it has the tendency to bring out the extremes in you and his moon kind of represents that. It is a moon with a deep and serious countenance when the sun shines in his face, whilst we never know for sure if it might be partytime in the shadows…

The spirit of the Moon. Captured in gloomy woods during the darkest hours, in palest moonlight. Nurtured by noble artisans, distilled to perfection. A top note of northern melancholy, seasoned with lunacy. To be served only to the chosen few.

The price starts at 13,000 euro before taxes for the stainless steel version. In red gold the price will be 22,000 euro and in white gold 23,500 euro before taxes.

For more information check the Sarpaneva website or Facebook page.