U-BOAT News & Events

News

Lucca, February 2010

We are pleased to announce that U-boat Italo Fontana, which has been present for a long time at Baselworld, the most important international fair for watches and jewellery, is from this year onwards in the prestigious and exclusive Hall 1 with an imposing stand of 450 square metres, to be found in corridor D-25.

The stand is on two floors and is characterised by an unmistakeable style where the elegance of rosewood and black oak unite perfectly with amber-coloured crystals framed by the metallic rifle-barrel finish of the display windows, a style which the U-boat Italo Fontana brand has made famous across the world with its single-brand boutiques.

The U-boat Italo Fontana brand is present in almost all of the world’s markets, distributed internationally in the best specialist shops and most exclusives jewellers’, while 12 single-brand boutiques have already been opened, including those in Florence, Forte dei Marmi, Moscow, Hong Kong, Kiev, Singapore and Bangkok, which will shortly be joined by others in Beirut, Venice and the Philippines.

U-boat Italo Fontana will be presenting three new models at Baselworld 2010, the 1001, the Rattrapante and the U42.

The 1001, before its unusual features are unveiled, will be presented to the public in an aluminium technological casket, visible only through a riveted port hole, reminiscent of a deep abyss.

On opening the box, the unusual nature of the 1001 will be immediately apparent, starting with the 55-millimetre diameter grade 2 natural titanium box, with the distinctive position of the rim protection on the left, helium valve and titanium plate bearing the serial number.

The face is easy to read because it has hours, minutes, seconds and the date at 4 o’clock. There are supernova pigments with beige, orange or blue, which make the white U1001 writing in relief stand out.

Waterproof down to 1001 metres, owing to the anti-scratch sapphire glass which is 5.5mm thick, the 1001’s heart pulsates as a result of an automatic mechanical movement with a reserve of 40 hours.

The back is screwed on with engraved serial numbering 1001 pieces, a black non-allergic and harmless rubber strap with a titanium attachment and a deploying closing mechanism.

A truly special model which brings together deep passion and avant-garde technology.

The Rattrapante, in a limited number of 100 pieces, appears at first sight unique in the matching of the casing, made of AISI316 stainless steel Plus, with the thickness of the face increased by four counters and a strap in brown veal leather and inside covering of beige square-scale alligator skin.

The heart of this unusual model is the splitting automatic chronograph movement (derived from Valjoux 7750) Arola – Alfred Rochat & Fils, 30mm in diameter and 8.1mm thick. And 25 rubies.

The positioning of the stems is at 9 o’clock, the Start-Stop button at 8 o’clock, the Reset at 10 o’clock and the splitting function at 4 o’clock.

The imposing casing is 51mm in diameter and 19.6mm thick and is put together from three parts. It has an unusual lunette and bottom closing mechanism, by means of easily-replaceable external ties, and special types of tie screws, with a personalised key.

The exterior Crown is characterised by large dimensions so that it can be picked up more easily, and has a shoulder constraint system in a protected position at 9 o’clock and an internally-adjustable crown.

The buttons are exclusive and are screwed onto the shoulders. Hours, minutes and small seconds are controlled at 3 o’clock, the chronographic seconds hand and coaxial split in the centre, minute-counter at 6 o’clock, the counter at 12 o’clock and the date hand at 9 o’clock.

It is waterproof down to 120 metres and the visibility of the hour and minute hands is guaranteed by their treatment with luminous material and flat sapphire glass of great thickness, with a double seal compression fixing.

An intriguing and unparalleled model to measure time.

The U42 is the reduced-diameter version of the innovative 1942 model, which possesses automatic U-28 calibre Swiss movement and a reserve charge of 40 hours.

Like the model from which it has been derived, the U42 is unique in U-Boat’s production on account of its strongly retro appearance which is, at the same time, overbearingly contemporary, but above all great attention has been given to the choice of materials, with the casing, bottom and lunette made of grade 5 titanium, and the rewinding axis, rim, rim block lever, glass-lock brackets, lunette guides, quarter hands, 5-minute hands and strap pins all made of 316L AISI steel.

The bottom is attached to the casing by 6 hexagonal-head screws, while fixing to the swivel lunette is done by 3 screws encased in the bottom.

The choice of a brass face is unusual, with the serial number plate engraved on the mechanical pantograph treated in a galvanising process and filled manually with luminous enamel and paste.

The winding crown of the U42 watch consists of two parts:

An integral part with the movement tie, the other with the pick-up head; this is hinged to the other by a pin and is therefore a supple joint.

This type of rim answers to some specific uses: it is absolutely necessary for those activities which necessitate the use of gloves, as in some underwater operations, of both a professional and a leisure nature, and in some environments such as polar areas.

Before final assembly, each watch is put together without movement and face and put in an autoclave at a pressure of 40 bar in order to test its resistance to pressure and its tightness, which are guaranteed down to 300 metres.

It possess a brown leather strap with the finishing of a craftsman, a titanium buckle and double tongue. The U42 is available in a limited edition of 999 pieces for those who recognise the value of a synthesis of history and technology.

Events

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