Konstantin Chaykin, the independent watchmaker who made Russia's first tourbillons, wanted more complexity for the Time Eater he shares with Louis Erard: specifically, a tourbillon.
Louis Erard today introduces the Time Eater Tourbillon, its first with an open tourbillon and a spinning red tongue marking the seconds, limited to 78 pieces in green.
The dial keeps the saga's mono-eye hours disc and its rebellious central minutes hand. It adds a toothed mouth at 6 o'clock: a fixed jaw with a mechanical red tongue that spins to mark the seconds. The 42mm steel case frames the open tourbillon, decorated with circular Côtes de Genève and powered by the manual-winding Calibre BCP T02, its cage turning once every 60 seconds.
“It's two independents off the leash, building creatures, not just watches,” says Manuel Emch, who leads Louis Erard. A blue version of 28 pieces, sold only by Konstantin Chaykin, carries the same movement under a blue minutes ring.
The Basics
Brand: Louis Erard
Model: Time Eater Tourbillon Louis Erard x Konstantin Chaykin (Green; Blue sold only by Konstantin Chaykin)
Reference: 89241AA90.BGA088 (Green); 89241AA91.BVA170 (Blue)
Diameter: 42mm
Thickness: 12.65mm
Case material: Polished stainless steel, three-part construction; domed sapphire crystal, anti-reflective both sides; movement visible through the transparent caseback; signature Konstantin Chaykin crown
Dial: Shiny green minutes with white transfers (Louis Erard at 6 o'clock, Konstantin Chaykin at 12); silver-toned lower plate with sunray wave pattern; red tourbillon cage flange with white teeth. Blue: shiny blue minutes ring, otherwise the same
Water resistance: 5 bar (50m/165ft)
Strap: Black toad leather with green stitching, green rabbit leather lining; polished stainless steel pin buckle (Green). Blue: black grained calf leather, tone-on-tone stitching
Limited edition: 78 pieces (Green); 28 pieces (Blue)
The Movement
Calibre: BCP T02, tourbillon régulateur, manual winding
Functions: Tourbillon; hours in a counter at 12 o'clock, central minutes, seconds in a counter at 6 o'clock with a mechanical red tongue
Winding: Manual
Power reserve: Approx. 100 hours
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3Hz)
Jewels: 19
Images courtesy of Louis Erard.