lending the sensory, the cultural, the mathematical and the mechanical, Bianchet takes inspiration from the work of Italian mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci and the Golden Ratio of 1.618 and brings the mathematical proportions that underly the beauty of the universe to the world of watchmaking.

Both surprising and self-evident, this approach to the wristwatch finds its expression in the Bianchet Tourbillon B1.618 Openwork Carbon Earth.

The tonneau shape, the calibre design, the Italian aesthetic, the choice of carbon, titanium and rubber and the dynamics of materials, forms, textures and colours: everything in and about the Tourbillon B1.618 Openwork Carbon Earth expresses the energy, harmony and balance of a watch of our time for our time.

Perfectly proportioned and true to the Golden Ratio, the carbon tonneau case is braced with two soft vulcanised rubber ‘seams’ that underscore the case’s ‘golden’ arc. A Bianchet hallmark, they fulfil a design and engineering function while defining the chromatic theme, extending to the hands and hour markers as well as to crown’s rubber insert and the strap. Here, the earth tone chosen for the rubber underscores the connection to elemental materials and forces.

The timepiece will withstand shocks up 6000G and resist water ingress to a pressure of 5 atmospheres (50 metres). Its power reserve of 105 hours adds yet another dimension of comfort and everyday wearability.

The design choice of shorter lugs on the case enhances both the case’s compact, purposeful aesthetic and wear comfort. The supple strap made from natural rubber – available in ‘Earth’ and Black – naturally follows through in this spirit.

The carbon tonneau case measures 43 mm in width, 50 mm in height (length) and 13 mm in thickness. Not just any carbon, either: in this advanced, lightweight and incredibly strong composite, titanium powder has been added to the carbon fibres. The result is a moiré effect that alternates between shiny and matte in a random pattern unique to each piece. The combination with natural rubber, which also fulfils both a design and a functional role, only enhances the unexpected interplay of the primeval with the sophisticated.

Carbon, rubber and titanium: a contrast of colours and materials where form not only follows function – the two flow from each other. The Tourbillon B1.618 Openwork Carbon Earth makes a quiet yet forceful statement, with the poise and personality to match.

At the same time that it affords maximum protection, the case provides maximum visibility: sapphire crystals on the case front and back offer an unobstructed view of the horological marvel that is the Bianchet tourbillon in titanium.

At the heart of the watch, we find the Calibre B1.618. The plate, the gear-train bridges, and the tourbillon cage are all made of titanium. A challenging material to begin with, it is doubly daunting when applied to horology, specifically the tourbillon.

At the same time, its uncanny combination of extremely low weight and high strength makes it a ‘golden’ fit for the tourbillon’s whose purpose is to overcome the effects of gravity.

Just how this mechanism achieves this through its rotation is founded on a principle in which mathematics determine physics – and one that comes ever so close to aesthetics. For Bianchet, having it all come together with the Golden Ratio was inevitable.

The titanium calibre is adjusted to 6 positions, ensuring an accuracy of -2 to +6 seconds per day. The lubricants are enriched with nanodiamonds (diamond nanoparticles), taking friction minimization to the next level.

Yet this calibre is not satisfied with just a noble complication and a noble material. The execution, too, captures the imagination with graphic force and true originality. Instead of following a traditional design that builds on concentric circles, which in effect only reflects the requirements of the mechanics, Bianchet has decided to make the Golden Ratio an integral part of its creation.

As if a mathematical object in motion, the spiralling Fibonacci curves are found at the heart of the movement, evoking the double-mirroring of a mise en abyme, less a stylistic effect, and more a measure of the young brand’s depth.

Several variations of hand finishing on the plate and bridges, each quite distinctive, emphasize the depth and intricacy of movement’s architecture and its dramatic arches. Every surface has its own finish, even those areas that are not readily visible, way deep inside. Polish, satin-finish, microblasting and circular graining play off each other in the light, while the deep black PVD coating contrasts with the reflections of the rhodium-plated wheels.

Bianchet’s beginnings date back to 2017. Rodolfo Festa Bianchet was then a successful entrepreneur in the Fintech sector and CEO of Riflexo, the Turin-based software developer behind the first online trading app for smartphones. The app, Trade Interceptor, is built around the proprietary TrendRisk engine and analyses market psychology to detect trends. The brainchild of Rodolfo Festa Bianchet, it, too, is based on the Golden Ratio of 1.618 and the Fibonacci sequence.

Emmanuelle Festa Bianchet, Rodolfo’s wife, was born in Rome to a French family of artists and musicians and attended the Conservatory. A painter and sculptor, she shares a particular affinity for harmony, the same that emanates from the Golden Ratio 1.618 and the Fibonacci sequence.