Limited to only 20 pieces, the Central Impulse Chronometer White Gold 39mm watch by independent master watchmaker Bernhard Lederer is a timepiece of extraordinary prestige. Presented in a revised case size of 39mm, with both the case and the in-house movement having been redesigned to accommodate this new size reference, the model features an 18ct white gold housing paired with an elegant blue toned dial that is partially openworked to reveal the mechanisms of Lederer’s extraordinary chronometer movement.

An exceptional piece of contemporary haute horlogerie, which takes one of the most elegant solutions to the conundrum of constant force and reinterprets it in its purest and most precise level, the Central Impulse Chronometer represents years of development by its maker, and sets a new standard in the quest for chronometric perfection. A superb addition to this highly technical and refined series of wristwatches, this new edition sized at 39mm offers the discerning collector an opportunity to acquire an exclusive timepiece of profound technical innovation and breathtaking aesthetic beauty.

The watch carries a revised case of 18ct white gold sized at 39mm and, with a height of only 10.75mm, it has an elegant presence on the wrist. Its slender form is accentuated by a polished finish, and by restyling the bezel to a trimmer width than previous models, the visual pleasure of the dial has been enhanced.

Evoking a holistic design, the case is designed around the dimensions of the movement, with its expanses of sapphire crystal, above and on the underside, maximising the view of the astonishing mechanical masterpiece which beats in its unique rhythm within. Powered by a manual winding mechanism which has been fully conceived, designed and developed in the master watchmaker’s state of the art atelier in Saint Blaise, its eye catching, sculpted architecture is revealed in a stunning three dimensional vista beneath a sapphire crystal caseback which covers the entire width of the case.

A re-imagining of the natural escapement, as envisaged first by Abraham Louis Breguet, and more recently by the great George Daniels, the Lederer Chronometer Calibre is as complex in its conception as it is fascinating and captivating to observe. Conceived to deliver optimal precision by having the most direct connection between the escapement and the balance, the movement features two separate gear trains, each of which are individually energised by a dedicated barrel, and which terminate at the two escapements, giving the mechanism a striking visual symmetry. Configured either side of a pivoting anchor, each escape wheel is governed by its own ten second remontoir, a tiny spring at its centre, which stores and then releases its energy in alternating bursts, as they regulate the oscillations of the large titanium balance wheel between them.

Taking inspiration from Daniels’ accomplishments, which were created for use in his pocket watches, the German master watchmaker has taken those discoveries to the limits of their potential and realised the concept in this extraordinary wristwatch, which is designed to draw the eye in towards the alternating pulse of its mesmerising mechanical heartbeat.

The meticulously crafted components have been manufactured in-house to the most exacting tolerances, and to be as light and therefore less energy-sapping as possible, while also optimising the delicacy of contact where they engage with each other, all the while enhancing the isochronism and the consistency of the delivery of energy to the balance, in its technical sophistication and complexity, this is a mechanical masterpiece of superbly refined efficiency and precision.

Beneath the subtle convex dome of sapphire crystal, the dial is rendered in a sophisticated blue tone and is minimal in appearance, with an overlapping figure of eight, with a cutaway section at the upper that partially reveals the escapements that lie beneath. Each of the two circles has its own small seconds hand, with each perfectly synchronised with the other, and they rotate in opposite directions. Adding depth to the dial architecture, the interlocking circles are recessed while the hour ring is raised and each element is defined by a polished and bevelled edge. The slender openworked hour and minutes hands are accompanied by elegant faceted hour markers and a clean minutes scale at the outer dial, while a plaque at the 5 o’clock declares the provenance of the piece

Presented on a brown leather strap with folding clasp, the Central Impulse Chronometer White Gold 39mm is a rare and special timepiece for the connoisseur collector by one of the most respected independent watchmakers of our time. This superb piece of modern styling and horological innovation is manufactured in only twenty examples.