SpotlightSafety In Mechanics: The Turbine Perrelet X seconde/seconde/ Watch

The iconic blades of Perrelet’s turbine have been reinterpreted in various ways—some staid and sporty, others psychedelic and hypnotic. And while each reiteration is a study in colour and contrast, the latest Turbine Perrelet X seconde/seconde/ is a cheeky statement about the turbine itself. A collaboration between Perrelet and French artist Romain André, who goes by the moniker seconde/seconde/, the Turbine Perrelet X seconde/seconde/ watch celebrates both brands. Perrelet’s black anodised turbine dominates the dial, and André’s seconds hand is displayed via a yellow triangle that warns of the danger of getting too close to the machinery. While tongue-in-cheek, the seconds hand celebrates the turbine, highlighting the year of the brand’s inception with another clever reference to the turbine.

Artistic Collaborations X The Perrelet Turbine

Recently, Perrelet have begun collaborating with artists, inviting them to reimagine the turbine. For the ‘TimeForArt’ charity auction last year, Perrelet collaborated with Chris Alexander, also known as The Dial Artist. The resultant timepiece was a revelry of culture, colour and luminescence.

This time, for the brand’s second collaborative timepiece, seconde/seconde/ reimagined the seconds hand in a way that highlighted the turbine. The French artist is known for displaying a sense of humour through the seconds hand on a timepiece, completely transforming the timepiece in the process.

Safety First: Turbine Perrelet X seconde/seconde/

On the yellow triangle is a pictorial warning: a hand with dismembered fingers because it got too close to a circular blade. An additional warning reads ‘Keep hands clear’ in yellow over the turbine makes the consequences of not doing so quite real. Behind the triangular yellow seconds hand is the turbine, its 12 blades in black anodised aluminium, supported by tungsten weights. At 12 o’clock on the dial is the brand name with its year of inception underneath. The year ‘1777’ has been repurposed to evoke safety signs commonly seen in factories with heavy machinery, where a sign displaying accident free days was supposed to be indicative of the factories’ ‘safety first’ rule. Arabic hour numerals and alternating indexes stand out in white on a matt black ring against the black layered dial. White sword-shaped hands and hour markers are generously filled with Super-LumiNova, because, well, ‘safety first’.

Wearable Machinery: Turbine Perrelet X seconde/seconde/

Sized at 41mm, the case of the Turbine Perrelet X seconde/seconde/ watch is crafted from grade-2 titanium. It features a black DLC coating that offsets the contrasts on the dial. A fluted case band and crown also display the same finish and the watch boasts a water resistance of 100m. The sapphire crystal caseback takes seconde/seconde/’s safety theme further. Here, an inscription reads, “I sincerely love art. But it will always come second. Safety first.” Also on the caseback are the artist’s signature, limited edition number, water resistance rating, reference number of the model, and the words ‘titanium’ ‘Swiss made’ and ‘sapphire crystal’. Behind the glass with all its text is the COSC-certified and impeccably finished automatic calibre P-331-MH, with a power reserve of 42 hours. The watch is paired with a black rubber strap that highlights the black aesthetic of the timepiece.

The sapphire crystal caseback takes seconde/seconde/’s safety theme further. Here, an inscription reads “I sincerely love art. But it will always come second. Safety first.”

Behind the sapphire crystal glass with all its text is the COSC certified and impeccably finished automatic calibre P-331-MH, with a power reserve of 42 hours

Turbine Perrelet X seconde/seconde/ in a nutshell

• Case: 41mm; grade-2 titanium with black DLC finish
• Caseback: Sapphire crystal etched with quote and signature by seconde/seconde/
• Dial: Black lower dial, black anodised turbine with 12 blades, hour markers on black ring around periphery; central timekeeping hands filled with lume; yellow triangular central seconds hand designed by French artist seconde/seconde/ with inscription ‘Keep hands clear’ printed underneath
• Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
• Movement: P-331-MH automatic calibre; 42 hour power reserve
• Strap: Black rubber strap

Aimed at collectors with a sense of humour, the 25-piece limited edition Turbine Perrelet X seconde/seconde/ watch cleverly highlights the brand and its many achievements, notwithstanding the number of days since the last accident resulting in an injury.

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