New: Perrelet x seconde/seconde/

French artist Romain André, aka, seconde/seconde collaborates to design an new, fresh look at Perrelet’s iconic Turbine movement.

Press Release information with commentary in italics.

New: Perrelet x seconde/seconde/

The Perrelet x seconde/seconde/ Ref/ A4067/S3 will retail at EUR / CHF 5,180. Limited Edition of 25 pieces.

Commentary

We do fancy ourselves as fans of seconde/seconde/, even though we are not particularly art enthusiasts. He has collaborated with several watch makers, always doing some sort of quirky work. In particular we are rather fond of the “hour glass” motif on the Louis Erard Grand Feu and the follow up number as the Horror Hour. And this Perrelet Turbine rework catches our attention as well. This is not a hint of seconde/seconde/ being left as part of the accent. Here, Romain takes the whole hog, so to speak.

Starting with the dial. The Turbine is turned in to a black monochrome. Always one to play with replacing the seconds hand with some graphic, for this novelty, the seconds hand is replaced with a “Keep Hands Clear sinage found in many factories in the form of a brilliant yellow sticker with the icon. And emblazoned on the crystal are emblazoned with the inscription “1777 days since last injury”, another reference to the typical “Safety First” sign found in many factories.

Also, an inscription in yellow with a strong black stroke font says “I truly love art. But it will always come second. And safety first.” and signed in the same font seconde/seconde/

The movement fitted is Perrelet’s P-331-MH, whch is claimed to being manufactured in-house. What is impressive is it holds two chronometer certifications: an official chronometer certificate issued by the COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres), as well as a Chronofiable® certificate from the Dubois Laboratory in La Chaux de Fonds to confirm long-term performance.

Release details

MAISON PERRELET ANNOUNCES ITS COLLABORATION WITH THE FRENCH ARTIST SECONDE/SECONDE/. TOGETHER THEY HAVE CREATED AN EXCLUSIVE TURBINE WATCH FULL OF SELF-IRONY AND HUMOUR. THIS EDITION IS STRICTLY LIMITED TO 25 PIECES.

One of the distinguishing features of Perrelet, the historic and influential Biel-based watchmaking company, is its ability to continually renew its Turbine collection. Over the years, it has become an authentic icon of the House, with countless iterations and different themes. It’s a testing ground for the creativity of Perrelet’s designers, who never cease to demonstrate their inexhaustible inventiveness.

Always in search of new and original inspirations, the Manufacture has recently begun collaborating with internationally renowned artists, offering them the opportunity to interpret the Turbine collection as a blank canvas to be modified at will. After entrusting The Dial Artist with the creation of the unique piece sold last December at the “Time for Art” charity auction in favour of the Swiss Institute in New York, the Manufacture has now teamed up with the artist seconde/seconde/ to create an unprecedented and very special Turbine watch: the Turbine Perrelet x seconde/seconde/. 

Turbine Perrelet x Seconde/Seconde/

 Known in watchmaking circles for the humour and irreverence with which he reinterprets existing models and transforms them into entirely new pieces, the French artist has given an industrial twist to Perrelet’s most emblematic timepiece. However, he does not interfere with the decoration of the sub-dial as one might expect, but instead plays with the turbine, amusing himself by highlighting its potentially dangerous aspect. He has replaced the traditional central seconds hand with the classic “Keep Hands Clear” sign, commonly used to prevent accidents in the presence of moving machinery or sharp-edged components.

But that’s not all. He also used the date of the Manufacture’s foundation to compose the inscription “1777 days since last injury”, a clear reference to the typical “Safety First” sign found in Anglo-Saxon factories.  A sign stating the number of accident-free days, precisely to demonstrate workplace safety. The sequel is ironically expressed in the autographed dedication on the case back: “I sincerely love art. But it will always come second. Safety first”. Limited to 25 pieces worldwide, the Turbine Perrelet x seconde/seconde/ is an eye-catching limited edition for collectors with a sense of humour.

 Bold style and refined aesthetics

The watch’s bold look is designed to enhance the elements signed by the artist seconde/seconde/: an all-black monochrome which highlights the yellow details of the lettering and the warning sign above the blades, which rotates with the passing of the seconds. As always, the watch has been designed and crafted with the utmost care.

Light and comfortable, the 41mm round case is made of black DLC grade 2 titanium, making it more scratch-resistant. The flat and polished bezel contrasts with the satin-brushed case band, which boasts the traditional decoration of vertical grooves, while the crown is adorned with the P logo. The watch is water-resistant to 10 atm (100 metres/328 feet).

 The dial is dominated by 12 black anodised aluminium turbine blades, the emblem of the entire collection. Patented in 2009, the propeller device rotates on its own axis with every movement of the wrist. Although it is purely decorative and has no functional value, its assembly requires the utmost expertise, a skill that once again demonstrates the profound know-how of the master watchmakers working in the Perrelet workshops.

The hour ring features the characteristic mix of embossed hour markers and Arabic numerals. These are in white, as are the central hour and minute hands. The Super-LumiNova® coating on the black background of the dial ensures excellent readability in all light conditions. 

The black rubber strap is fastened with a pin buckle. The anti-reflective sapphire crystal protects the dial and the caseback, which has been customised by seconde/seconde/ and bears the progressive numbering of the limited edition. Beneath the inscription, one can admire the dancing rotor and the precious decoration of the movement.

 The in-house manufacture calibre

This exclusive creation is equipped with the renowned P-331-MH calibre. It is a self-winding movement with a 42-hour power reserve and a balance wheel that beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz). Designed and manufactured in-house, it is produced by Soprod, a company specialised in the manufacture of movements and headed by Miguel Rodriguez, president and owner of Perrelet. Soprod is part of a watchmaking pole comprising six factories, which guarantees the historic Maison complete autonomy and independence in the production of its timepieces.

The P-331-MH calibre has acquired a reputation for accuracy and reliability recognised throughout the industry and confirmed by certificates issued by two prestigious independent institutes. The official chronometer certificate issued by the COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres) guarantees its compliance with chronometric performance standards. The Chronofiable® certificate from the Dubois Laboratory in La Chaux de Fonds confirms its long-term performance.

The movement is impeccably finished. It features a colimaçonné main plate, circular-grained bridges and an open worked, rhodium-plated and brushed oscillating weight mounted on ball bearings and bearing the Perrelet logo.

Availability 

The Turbine Perrelet x seconde/seconde/ is presented in a personalised box. It comes with a certificate bearing the consecutive number of the limited edition and the COSC chronometry certificate. This exclusive creation will be available from 12 February 2025 at official Perrelet retailers worldwide and on the official Perrelet e-commerce website (in Europe and the United States).

Upon request, within 90 days from the date of purchase, the watch equipped with the COSC-certified P-331-MH calibre can benefit from an international warranty extended from the traditional three years to five years.

Turbine Perrelet x seconde/seconde specifications

Ref.: A4067/S3

Limited edition of 25 pieces

Movement

In-house manufacture self-winding calibre P-331-MH, Chronofiable® and COSC-certified

28.800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)

Number of jewels: 25

Power reserve (fully wound): 42 hours

Bridges: rhodium-plated, circular graining decoration 

Open-worked oscillating weight on ball bearings, rhodium-plated, personalised with Perrelet logo

Functions

Hours, minutes and seconds

Case

Round, grade 2 titanium with black DLC coating

Diameter: 41 mm

Thickness: 13.90 mm

Flat bezel

Fluted case band

Prominent crown with Perrelet logo

Sapphire glass with double anti-reflective treatment on dial and case back

Inscriptions on the case back: “I sincerely love art. But it will always come second. Safety first”, signed by seconde/seconde/, consecutive number of the limited edition.

Water-resistance:  10 Atm/100 m /328 ft

Dial

Black lower dial 

Turbine Technology

12-blade turbine in black anodised aluminium with five tungsten counterweights 

Arabic numerals mixed with indices, filled with white Super-LumiNova®, embossed on a matt black ring 

White central hour and minute hands filled with Super-LumiNova®

Customisation by the artist seconde/seconde/:

Central seconds hand in the shape of a yellow triangle, a clear reference to the typical ‘Safety First’ sign found in Anglo-Saxon factories and inscription “Keep hands clear”. 

Yellow inscriptions:  The year 1777, the date of the brand’s establishment, becomes the number of “days since the last injury”.

Strap

Black rubber strap, black DLC coated titanium pin buckle embellished with the Perrelet logo