Grande Sonnerie

The Grande Sonnerie is the most mechanically complex watch Luminate produces. It took eleven years from initial conception to first delivery.

How It Strikes

In grande sonnerie mode, the watch strikes the hours at each quarter. At 3:47, it strikes: three blows for the hour, three double blows for three quarters, and nothing, because 47 minutes has not yet reached the next quarter. At 3:53, it would strike differently. At 4:00, the hours change.

The minute repeater is activated by pushing the slide on the left side of the case. It then strikes everything: hours, quarters, and minutes past the last quarter.

The Sound

Two hammers. Three gongs. The first gong produces a lower pitch for hours. The second produces a higher pitch for quarters. Both strike simultaneously for quarter chimes. The combination of high and low in the double chime is what creates the distinctive “ting-tang” sound.

The gongs are attached to the inside of the case, not to the movement. Their position, tension, and the mass of the case all affect the sound. A change to the case alloy , even between two pieces of the same specification, can alter the timbre. Each Grande Sonnerie is voiced individually during assembly.

The Rarity

We make two per year. Delivery time is eighteen months from commission.

The Mechanical Risk

A striking complication introduces a set of failure modes that time-only movements do not have. The striking train can over-wind. The minute repeater slide can be activated in a position that creates a count error. The grand sonnerie mechanism can strike at the wrong moment if the setting crown is pulled during a strike.

Every one of these failure modes has been engineered out. The design took eleven years. We are not rushing the next one.