The manufacture caliber CFB A1000 - a mechanism of new generation

Remarkably rare mechanism by the legendary watch manufacture Carl F. Bucherer is the result of hard and painstaking work of skilled watchmakers of the same company for 3 years. Caliber CFB A1000 is the embodiment of new philosophy, which a new generation of watchmakers will adhere to. Such innovative ideas as a peripheral rotor, embodied in the new caliber, are already patented by the company. The dynamic system of depreciation has also found its worthy embodiment in this movement. Finally, the masters have managed to create something totally new in the form of a unique mechanism. It is absolutely a la manufacture Carl F. Bucherer: this watch manufacture creates its own movements in its own workshop, carrying out all stages of the production process.

A new page in the history of the watch manufacture Carl F. Bucherer!
In 2008 a new page has been opened not only in the history of Carl F. Bucherer, but the entire watch making. The company Carl F. Bucherer intended to develop and make movements for its luxury watches in its manufacture.
To the implementation of planned the company Carl F. Bucherer has acquired a well-known workshop that specializes in the creation of various complications, which is located in the Jura region in the French speaking part of Switzerland. This step was quite obvious that completed a successful and fruitful 10 - year cooperation with the atelier Techniques Horlogeres Appliquees SA (THA).
Today this atelier has fully integrated into the company Carl F. Bucherer. This step enabled Mr. Thomas Morphou, who is the CEO of Carl F. Bucherer, to adhere the two-way strategy of the development in the future: "On the one hand, we will continue to use tried and tested calibers, including those that have been developed through joint efforts. On the other hand, we are able to complete the list of our products by calibers and complications of own design". This means that the studio THA, which is known under the name Carl F. Bucherer Technologies SA, will assume several functions: the role of "think tank", as well as research, development and production. At this moment the company employs 17 staff, but their number will increase in coming years.

A new mechanism CFB A1000 is an important achievement of the watch company Carl F. Bucherer!
Work on the unusual mechanism with self-winding of own design the company’s masters began in 2005. Caliber was called CFB A1000 and was first introduced at the world-famous watch exhibition BaselWorld in 2008.
Today there are many watch companies that are "declared" themselves manufactories, but few can qualify for this status. In the Swiss watch industry there is an unwritten law stating that a company can be a manufacture if it produces at least one watch mechanism, created in its workshop from start to finish. The watch company Carl F. Bucherer has earned the status of "manufacture" in 2008 due to his own creation - the caliber CFB A1000. As stated above, the history of the mechanism CFB A1000, which created a furor, goes away in 2005. Then a new status of Carl F. Bucherer was defined.
It took the masters of the company three years for design and creation of its own caliber. From the start, the company has flatly refused the path of "cloning" the existing and unpatented mechanisms, deciding to create a revolutionary new automatic movement with unique characteristics. In the list of the main characteristics of the mechanism has also included a number of major objectives of the company:

• The use of appropriate, proven and tested technologies, such as classical control system, a Swiss anchor descent, traditional gear mechanism with ball bearings on the rubies • Modern caliber which design opens the bridges and other components of the mechanism
• Using the principle of the platform, which allows to equip a new watch movement with additional functions
• High reliability
• Semi - industrial production of procurement of the future mechanism
The new automatic caliber CFB A1000 fully complies with the above requirements. In addition to this set the watchmakers equipped the mechanism with a number of unusual and innovative features.

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The creation of the caliber CFB A1000!

Peripheral winding rotor
In creating of automatic caliber one of the main tasks is the location of the rotor. In the history of watch making was used four options for resolving this issue:
I. Placing of the rotor in the center involves rotor’s movement across the entire surface of the mechanism. Repeatedly proven this design has one drawback: it partially hides the mechanism from the eyes of the observer.
II. Placing a rotor is eccentrically. The only drawback is the same central location.
III. Micro-rotor is integrated into mechanism. This system of location allows seeing the work of the mechanism completely, but its implementation requires a large number of small components.
IV. Placement and rotation of the rotor on the edge of the mechanism. This placement of the rotor requires a high standard of design and development. This option combines the advantages of central and optical advantages of micro rotor.
In creation of caliber CFB A1000 the masters prefer the latest version of the rotor’s placement, realizing the full extent of renovation and adjustment to this method in a new mechanism. Unlike earlier versions of this method, the peripheral rotor of the caliber CFB A1000, registered for a patent, is equipped with an efficient cushioning system.
The bearing of the rotor is engineered to withstand even the most significant upheaval. It also has rolls with DLC coating, which in their turn are fitted with ball bearings made of ceramic, which provides the whole system extremely reliable and maintenance-free. The abbreviation DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) means that it is extremely solid and stable carbon coating. For some time this process is used in the manufacture of surgical instruments.
In addition this method helps to increase the service life of such tools as drills and milling machine. DLC coating has considerable hardness and resistance than PVD coating. DLC coating is especially widely used with stainless steel, which is covered by this coating at a temperature of 250 ° C. The thickness of the coating is a thousandth of a millimeter, and hardness - 2000 Vickers, three times more than steel.

Dynamic cushioning system (DSA)
DSA system protects the rotor from all sorts of impacts. In the CFB A1000 caliber all the blocks of ball - bearings are mounted on the moving balancers, which are well established with the help of springs. Installation of mobile balances is made by cam. The new dynamic system of depreciation is very effective. The wheel of transmission transfers the kinetic energy to wind-up. The watchmakers of manufacture Carl F. Bucherer equipped transmission wheel with two systems of cushioning to protect the wheel axle from impact. In this case, which is usual for a wristwatch, the walls of the bridge are limited by the radial displacement of the rotor. Any axial play is controlled by special screws. This prevents the rotor from the impacts to the bottom.

Bi-directional winding
Another outstanding feature of the new mechanism is the efficiency of the automatic winding. The rotor can transfer energy in any direction during watch winding. Motion of the rotor is polarized by a small system of winding, which consists of a clutch wheels with eccentrically installed clamping rollers. A pair of wheel springs operates on a queue and their design is simple and reliable. They do not need lubrication, and thus there is no need to service.

The central dual control system (CDAS) for maximum control of precision
The heart and soul of any mechanical watch is its balance and the spring in conjunction with escapement. Here, the masters of the company have work hard, providing innovative design - the central dual control system (CDAS). The main advantages of this "smart" system with precise control with its central elements of control are:
• Balance and escapement are regulated one time. Later, after adjustment, the system is fixed in position, which fully protected from impacts.
• To ensure long-term work of this system and accuracy of adjustment is carried out with a special key, which is available exclusively at authorized service centers.
Balance and stem bearings on both sides are fixed by identical system of depreciation, which allows optimal set fuses.

The modern interpretation of traditions
Design and finish of the mechanism with a breadth of 30 mm and a height of 4.3mm fully embody class technology and philosophy of the legendary brand Carl F.Bucherer. Bridges and walls are located at different levels, performed in a sophisticated design and distinguished by a matte and polished surface with diamond facets. Such a surface provides a high quality of other components. However, the main function of any movement is to measure and display time.CFB A1000 caliber displays hours and minutes with central set of hands. Seconds are indicated by the small hand on the position 6 o’clock.
Naturally, the company Carl F. Bucherer will equip its creation with all sorts of useful functions, such as the big date, day, and even the power reserve indicator.
And finally, want to notice unique specifications of this mechanism CFB A1000:
– Diameter: 30 mm
– Height: 4.30 mm
– Rubies: 29
– Oscillation frequency of balance: 21.600 pc / h (3 Hz)
– Power reserve: about 55 hours
– Escapement: Swiss club-tooth lever
– Pre assemble: subassembly Nivarox type ASUAG No. 8
– Balance: ring-shaped, gold-plated Glucydur beryllium alloy
– Double roller: nickel-plated brass
– Impulse pin: jewel, red
– Balance spring: flat (volute), CGS 71, Anachron, thermally treated ‘Etastable’
– Collet: Greiner
– Escape wheel: steel, polished flat, 1 chamfer, polished impulse face, epilame-coated
– Pallet: steel, polished flat, fork notch rounded off
– Pallet stones: red, synthetic ruby, epilame-coated
– Impulse angle: 50
– Index: classical.