A new design and brand by François Quentin, who was a main force behind Hautlence and other high-end fashion watches like the Louis Vuitton Tambour, may soon be available in a limited edition release. The new 4N wristwatch is a mechanical digital watch with a widescreen TV-esque look that displays time through four numerals on four different discs – thus the meaning of 4N.
The 4N watch has the MVT01 movement, which is an in-house made movement that is manually wound, and the hours and minutes are jumping hours and minutes. The only other watch that offers jumping movements similar to this is the A. Lange & Sohne Lange Zeitwerk watch, which in its own right was an engineering masterpiece. This speaks well for the engineering behind the 4N.
To properly accomplish jumping hours and minutes, a watch would need constant force escapement, which the 4N has. What this does is allows a steady surge of power from the movement that moves the discs while never affecting the rate of the movement.
The movement of the 4N is made of mostly titanium, aluminum alloys and carbon fiber. The digital numerals measure approximately 5.5mm each, and a frame, which is applied to the back of a sapphire crystal, instructs the wearer where to read the time. The 4N is expected to be available in 18k white gold, platinum and possibly two additional materials. Time is adjusted by two pushers on the left side of the case, with one push advancing either the hour or minute up by one increment.
When the 4N is available, it is believed to have a limited production run of only 16 pieces for each model produced (no word yet on the number of models the company will have). The 4N has created quite a buzz before its release, and many are excited to see the wristwatch in person.
