New World Record for diving watchesCX SWISS MILITARY WATCH™ 20’000 FEET
After winning the world record for water resistance in automatic diving watches in 2005 with their 12'000 FEET by CX Swiss Military Watch™ model Frank M. Bürgin and his team of watchmakers and engineers were contemplating their next move. Only one goal seemed acceptable – not only to beat their own record but also the new world record a competitor had set in 2008 with 3’900 meters of water resistance. The R&D team around Frank M. Bürgin thus decided to annihilate all existing records by constructing the world’s first mechanical timepiece with a water resistance of a staggering 20’000 feet or 6’000 meters – and, again, with a chronograph and according to ISO norm 6425 which asks for a 25% safety margin regarding water resistance! Countless obstacles had to be overcome, many a sleepless night was spent pondering on whether the goal was in fact realistic – until, in early 2009, the prototypes finally passed all tests!
WORLD RECORD
CX Swiss Military Watch™ is known for its uncompromising attention to the functionality of their timepieces – their watches are not accessories, but instruments the professional can rely on. With the 12’000 FEET CX Swiss Military Watch™ held the World Record for water resistance of automatic diving watches from 2005 to April 2008 with a water resistance of 12’000 feet or 3’657 meters. At the BASELWORLD 2008 Rolex™ presented their Sea Dweller Deep Sea, a three-hand diving watch water resistant to 3’900 meters – a new World Record which is now about to be obliterated: at the 2009 BASELWORLD CX Swiss Military Watch™ presents the 20’000 FEET with an incredible water resistance of 20’000 feet or 6’000 meters, winning back the world record by a 50% margin and reintroducing CX Swiss Military Watch™ to the Guinness Book of Records. The 20’000 FEET by CX Swiss Military Watch™ has thus reached a new, hitherto unthinkable dimension for diving watches – the challenge of the abyss was met by combining state-of-the-art technology with a highly innovative approach and a dedicated team of watchmakers & engineers.
WATER RESISTANCE
The 20’000 FEET by CX Swiss Military Watch™ is water resistant as per ISO norm 6425 to an incredible 20’000 feet or 6’000 meters – a new world record. The Oceanographic Institute of the University of Southampton / Great Britain has successfully tested and certified the water resistance in a specialised pressure tank. Conforming to ISO norm 6425 the 20’000 FEET by CX Swiss Military Watch™ is constructed for a water resistance of 7’500 meters and thus indeed offers you the required safety margin of 25%.
The world record water resistance of the 20’000 FEET by CX Swiss Military Watch™ is achieved by a state-of-the-art technology, using chosen materials only and welding them into a massive and yet comfortable to wear diving watch. Screw-down crown, screw-down pushers and a scratch-proof, anti-reflective sapphire crystal are but some of the extraordinary technical attributes of your unique timepiece. The helium relief valve allows for the use of your timepiece in the helium-saturated environment as used in depths of more than 250 feet.
LABORATORY TESTS
The Oceanographic Institute of the University of Southampton in Great Britain has been a trusted research partner for CX Swiss Military Watch™ for years. They successfully tested and certified the water resistance of the 20’000 FEET by CX Swiss Military Watch™ in their purpose-built pressure tanks on the basis of the ISO norm 6425. More tests will be conducted at IFREMER, the French Research Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea. The laboratory “Laboratoire Dubois” in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland successfully tested the resistance of the crown, the pushers and the safety buckle of the 20’000 FEET by CX Swiss Military Watch™.
REAL LIFE TESTS
Apart from the tests under laboratory conditions CX Swiss Military Watch™ decided to invite the discerning consumers to come up with test ideas of their own. A jury picks the most challenging ideas, which will are realised in the presence of a film crew and shown on www.20000feet.com as well as on www.youtube.com. Three tests have been chosen so far and filmed before the opening of the 2009 BASELWORLD: the 20’000 FEET was subjected to the incredibly powerful water hose of a 40 ton fire engine of the Zürich airport fire brigade – the watch withstood the 6’000 litres of water. The 20’000 FEET was then run over by a truck – twice. The watch withstood. On Friday the 21st of March the 20’000 FEET was subjected to its most challenging ordeal so far: it was shot at with a shot gun from a distance of 8 meters. The watch withstood again. We therefore challenge the public to come up with more ideas of real life tests – at the end of 2009 the jury will chose their favourite test and the winner will receive a brand new 20’000 FEET.
SAFETY
For professional divers safety is the primary concern and we kept this in mind when constructing the 20’000 FEET by CX Swiss Military Watch™. The massive fold-out buckle with safety catch ensures the bracelet will not open unintentionally. The bezel – sporting a 60 minute graduation - rotates uni-directionally only and may be used even when wearing thick diving gloves. Crown and pushers are screw-down and the pushers indicate by a red marking when unscrewed. However, the water resistance is maintained down to 300 meters even with unscrewed pushers. The crown itself is protected by massive side-guards. The domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal is 10mm thick and can thus withstand a pressure of 750kg per cm2. Superluminova™ is used both on the hands and the indices to ensure perfect readability even in complete darkness. Even the small second hand uses Superluminova™ and thus allows the diver to ensure at any time that his timepiece is still working. The chronograph hands sport a distinctive red marking and can thus be clearly distinguished from the hour, minute and small second hands. The minute hand –the most important feature when diving – is distinguished by its special shape and size from the hour and the second hand. The 20’000 FEET by CX Swiss Military Watch™ is also fully anti-magnetic as per ISO norm 764.
TRADITION
The original CX SWISS MILITARY WATCH™ timepieces are manufactured in Switzerland by Montres Charmex SA and have been used successfully by a multitude of Army, Navy and Airforce units worldwide. The history of this family-owned and –run company goes way back to 1926. The brand name CX SWISS MILITARY WATCH™ is a synonym for bespoke Swiss Made® watches; superb engineering and the use of choice materials only are a treasured legacy born out of a long tradition of craftsmanship. The brand name CX SWISS MILITARY WATCH™ is registered worldwide. More information on the company and the products can be found on www.swiss-military.com.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Movement:
. Chronometer-certified automatic chronograph ETA cal. 7750 Valjoux COSC
. 25 jewels
. 28'800 oscillations/h
. Power reserve 48h
. Etachron regulator system
. Glucydur balance bridge
. Nivaflex mainspring
. Antichoc with Incabloc shock-absorber
Functions:
. Hour; minute; small second at 9h
. Chronograph with 30 minute counter at 12h, 12 hour counter at 6h, central second counter
. Date at 3h
Case/bracelet:
. Solid titanium case/bracelet, Ø 46.0mm, thickness 28.5mm, weight 265gr total
. Water-resistant to 7’500 meters (25’000 feet; 6’000 meters or 20’000 FEET & 25% safety margin according to ISO norm 6425)
. X-large crown with side-guards, allowing for diving with thick gloves
. Screw-down crown and pushers
. Red safety marking on pushers (visible when unscrewed)
. Domed, anti-reflective sapphire crystal, thickness 10mm
. Unidirectional rotating bezel, 60 minute graduation, Superluminova™ indices
. Solid titanium bracelet, lug-ends and links screwed
. Solid titanium folding clasp with safety catch and micro-adjustment
. Separate genuine rubber strap & rubber extension strap for dry-suit diving (wrist circumference up to 35cm)
. Screw-driver
. Screw-down caseback, Limited Edition engraving
. Helium relief valve
. anti-magnetic ISO 764
Dials:
. Silver, black carbon, blue or yellow
. Superluminova™ indices
. Counters sunburst decorated
Hands:
. Oversized minute hand
. Superluminova™ coated
. All chronograph hands in red