The results of the 2013 International Chronometry Competition are finally revealed, announcing L.Leroy Osmior Tourbillon Régulateur Automatique watch, the winner in the Tourbillon” category. Tissot took two first places in the Classic watch category for its Calibres A86.502 and A86.501, while the third place went to Louis Moinet for its Mecanograph timepiece. The winner in the school category is Mr Mathieu Douik. The competition was under the supervision of the Musée d’Horlogerie in Le Locle (Switzerland) and in partnership with the Swiss Chronometer Control Office (COSC), the Besançon Observatory (France) and the Haute École Arc engineering college in Le Locle.
L.Leroy Osmior Tourbillon Regulateur LL104 Watch
Characteristic for this important competition which, through its scientific approach, supposes to highlight the expertise of watchmakers, is that only timepieces which pass all three chronometric tests enter a competition for the price. This was the third time that the International Chronometry Contest was organized, after its re-launch in 2009, with the goal to follow the tradition of observatory contests, established back in the 19th century. The competition started on May 30, including 38 watches submitted by 30 participants, and it finished some four months later.
Divided into three categories – tourbillon, classic watches and watches created by schools – competing models went through series of demanding tests which tried out their mechanical performances, including their resistance to different shocks and magnetic fields. Among 25 watchmakers’ models, 12 out of the 20 watches, classified into the “Classic” category passed all tests, while in the Tourbillon category, only L.Leroy’s model ‘survived’ and thus, won the first place. Twelve timepieces come from schools (CIFOM in Le Locle, CEJEF in Porrentruy, Carrousel des Montres in La Chaux-de-Fonds). Finally, one participant wanted to stay anonymous, which automatically kept it from the potential win. According to the rules of the International Chronometry Competition, only the names of the winners were announced, while information about other results stay confidential.
Louis Moinet Mecanograph Watch
As the President of the International Chronometry Competition, Claude-Henri Chabloz confirmed, the tests were extremely demanding. “You have to pass all three 15-day tests just to finish. To use Formula One as an analogy, we can say that the watches have to take part in three grand prix races in a row without a pit stop! Under such conditions, a podium finish is an even more remarkable feat”, said Mr. Chabloz.
L. Leroy won 794 of the maximum 1,000 points, which was enough for the first place. In the Classic Watch category, Tissot collected 878 and 850 points for its Calibres A86.502 and A86.501, while Louis Moinet’s Calibre LM31 won 728 points for the third place.
