Ever since we debuted the Special Projects Cave in 2021, we knew we had to do something really special for our 5th anniversary, especially as this would also be reference #50.
Not long ago, we found the right movement - designed back in the 90s, by a group formed of Messers. Journe, Halter and Flageollet. It is a hand-winding monopusher movement that originally found fame in a tortue-shape case; it is an improved version of this very same movement which you will find inside our new 37.04 Monopusher.
The movements have been overhauled, updated and refinished by La Joux Perret in La-Chaux-de-Fonds to our specifications, with new skeletonized bridges receiving a classical grained 5N rose gold coating and hand-polished anglage in the style of our 19.02 and 19.05.
Topping this is a black guilloche dial by Comblemine – a dial producer that requires little introduction. This dial is in turn covered by a sapphire layer that embeds the various chronograph scales (minutes, pulsometer, tachymeter) at different levels and in Super-LumiNova X1 to further enhance depth and legibility. We sank the chronograph minute counter - also luminous embedded - into the metal dial and eliminated running seconds in the interests of minimalism.
All of this sits in a 37-series case, with signature flared and twisted lugs. It is made of grade 5 titanium with display back, multiple textured finishes, and reengineered for a crown-inline monopusher. Manufacture Schwarz-Etienne remains responsible for engineering and final assembly, with our usual partners Jean Rousseau and Koji Sato providing finishing touches.
We are painfully aware that due to exotic movement availability and engineering challenges, we have not been able to offer many SPC pieces to date. So this time around, we have enough movements and spares to make 100 of these watches available; with allocation priority given to existing customers on the SPC Interest List (though hopefully there are enough to satisfy a greater audience).
The 37.04 is priced at CHF 29,500 with a 50% deposit due on order confirmation and the balance on delivery - which is scheduled to begin March 2023 and continue through Q2-2023.
We will be collecting registrations of interest starting now until 1PM GMT, 28 August.
- Team MING
Published: August 2022