Franc Vila has created the first tourbillon with column wheel mono-pushbutton chronograph movement in high-end watchmaking history, being the first chronograph in history with all the mechanism located on the dial side, which includes the column wheel at 12 o’clock. To highlight the complexity of the movement, Franc Vila has designed an inno-vative multi-layered transparent dial of smoked sapphire within the brand’s ‘Esprit Unique’ shape. Vila believes that “ … this extraordinary timepiece will become a legend in the world of high-end mechanical sports’ luxury chronographs.”




The movement of the ‘FVa Nº 4 Tourbillon Dial Side Column Wheel Monopusher Chronograph’




The chronograph
“All chronograph movements work like the drive train of a car: once you start it, a coupling system causes the chronograph wheel to contact with the moving transmission wheel and the sweep second hand starts to move,” Franc Vila explains. “In the FVa Nº4 it is a direct coupling system into the tourbillon cage. You can even see it operating on the dial side as suddenly all the wheels of the chronograph mechanism start to move. It's like the entire watch comes to life, it is incredible!”
The traditional elements that are so appreciated by Franc Vila take a form never seen before. For example, the column wheel has been inverted to make it visible through the dial. The mechanism has been subjected to many improvements to raise notably its performance – amongst which the inertial moment control, which regulates constantly and extremely delicately the regulator organ precision stands out.

The tourbillon
The tourbillon is equipped with a 5-day power reserve with the ‘Inertial Moment Control’ technology, that allows a precise adjustment through inertial moment, and incorporates the ‘Wheel Differential System’, a radically new spherical differential system used to wind the power reserve, with wheel arms directly incorporating the planetary gears. This innovative system allows a fast planetary winding function and reduces the time to wind this exclusive timepiece by two-thirds.
This complication is completed with a column wheel chronograph with direct coupling on the tourbillon, whose operation, controlled by a single pusher, can be seen through the dial.
The tourbillon and chronograph combination demand an extremely complicated movement built with 262 pieces, including 33 rubies, protected by an unmistakable case that withstands pressure equivalent to a depth of 100 metres.
The watch is manufactured in ultra-Limited Editions of 8 pieces each in Rose Gold, White Gold, DieHard Extreme Steel, Titanium with Gold, or Titanium with DieHard Extreme Steel.
Franc Vila’s timepieces reinvent forms, building into the future by respecting the past, and perpetuating the watchmaking tradition with its collections, including the most prestigious complications with the exclusive design ‘Esprit Unique’. The brand’s commitment is to present new classics through the understanding of the contemporary world. The Geneva firm specializes in the making of great watch complications in ultra limited series, guaranteeing a reduced and exclusive production of the highest quality.

Technical data
Case: Red gold, white gold, DieHard Extreme Steel, Titanium & Gold or Titanium & DieHard Extreme Steel. Special ‘Esprit Unique’ shape with elliptic and circular bezel. Crystal and caseback both in sapphire with double sided anti-glare treatment. Chronograph monopusher at 2 o’clock.
Movement: FV No. 4 Calibre. 262 components. 33 rubies. 5-day power reserve (120 hours). Chronograph monopoussoir function with dial side column wheel, directly coupled to tourbillon. Flying tourbillon with inertial moment control mechanism and wheel differential system. Mechanism manufactured in the brand's characteristic ‘Esprit Unique’ shape, hand-made and hand-decorated.
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Chronograph Monopusher and power reserve indication.
Dial: Multi-layer smoked sapphire crystal, half skeleton. 60-second and 30-minute chronograph counters at 2 and 10 o’clock respectively, power reserve indication at 9 o’clock. Water-resistant to 100 metres. Ultra-Limited Edition of 8 pieces


Source: Europa Star April-May 2007 Magazine Issue