Ateliers deMonaco

History

Founded in 2008. In 2009, co-founders Pim Koeslag, Robert van Pappelendam and Peter Stas got official approval to start Ateliers deMonaco.

Founders

Pim Koeslag (1981) attended watch-making school in Amsterdam after which he did several internships at some watch brands. When offered employment at most of them, he decided to work for a small and lesser known watch company in Geneva that allowed him more freedom to experiment and develop new technologies: Frédérique Constant.

Robert van Pappelendam (1969) finalized his law study at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, after which he changed course and started a marketing career at Procter & Gamble, a leading fast-moving consumer goods company, lastly as a Global Brand Franchise Leader in their Haircare division. For this company, he worked in Rotterdam, Brussels, Cincinnati USA, Geneva Switzerland and Singapore. Since 2002 he has been active in the board of advisors of Frédérique Constant SA, Geneva.

Peter Stas (1963) studied Economy at the Erasmus University Rotterdam and after several intern-ships, he started his professional career at Philips Electronics in the Netherlands. He moved to Asia to take a commercial leadership role for the consumer electronics division out of Hong Kong. In 1988, he was the initiator and founder of Frédérique Constant, currently one of the leading Swiss watch manufacturers in the "affordable luxury" segment.

Products

Tourbillon "eXtrem Precision 1 Minute": Developed and manufactured in-house, and available in round and square. Movement includes the following patented innovations: a. Perfect Balance Cage - This unique technology allows the watchmaker to balance the weight of the Tourbillon cage by manually adding or removing small metal weights at the opposite sides of the escapement. This is to bring the gravity point of all 80 components to the exact centre of the cage to achieve the perfect balance. b. Silicium Escapement and Lever - This is a material normally used in aerospace, micro-processors and semi-conductor industry for its unique properties: low weight, extreme hardness and high corrosion resistance. The combination of making both escapement wheel and lever from silicium, results in significantly improved energy efficiency. The extreme hardness (almost twice as hard as steel) results in low friction and thus no need for lubrication. And lastly as the material is not magnetic, there is no interference that could cause irregularities in the precision. c. Deep Reactive Ion Etching - This super precision manufacturing methodology is able to make each component as a singular component. In comparison, the traditional method uses steel and ruby parts that require continuous fine-tuning of the machines due to wear and tear. As a consequence, the DRIE process has significantly improved manufacturing accuracy: up to 10 times more accurate then conventional machining methods.

As a result, the 28800 beats/minute are translated into a daily deviation that is regulated between 0-2 second/24 hours, which makes it one of the most accurate Tourbillon movements in the world today. Every watch is fully hand finished, ensuring all angles in the watch are set at 45 degrees, the best angle to maximize light reflection. Launched in 2009.

Tourbillon Répétition Minute: One of the highest complications available as the watch includes a complete mechanical chiming mechanism. Also this watch is developed & manufactured in-house and motored by the Tourbillion XP movement. Unique innovation consists, among others, of a special case construction to make the watch water resistance and a 18K gold speed regulation system that minimizes sounds caused by the chiming mechanism. The movement of the watch is fully hand-engraved on both the front and backside. Presented in 2010.

Quantième Perpétuel with "EaZy Adjust" system: The Quantième Perpétuel collection is made with a patented in-house developed perpetual calendar with an “EaZy adjust” system allowing to set the time, date, day, week, month and (leap) year by just using the crown.

Admiral Chronographe Flyback with "directe return to zero"mechanism: A pending patent for the “direct return to zero” mechanism: the latter is unlike any other chronographs directly activated by the 4 o’clock pusher. Its flyback hammer is programmed to action and disengage the chronograph clutch wheel, engage the brake, and turn the chronograph’s second and minute wheel all at the same time.

Poinçon de Genève with "Freebeat regulation" system: The patented “Freebeat” regulation system allows us to regulate the length of the hairspring with an adjustable crémaillère (straight bar with teeth on one edge, allowing it to be fixated at different length) obsoleting the need for the regulation pins and thus avoiding the interference.

Bespoke: Ateliers deMonaco is also bunging together watches. Ateliers deMonaco made a unique piece for: H.SH Prince Albert II of Monaco. A timepiece, La Sirène, inspired by Charlène de Monaco and her favorite flowers the King Protea from South Africa. A Tourbillon – Grand prix de Mai 1965 inspired by the official poster of the 1965 Monaco Grans-Prix. And finally the Tourbillon Wat Arun, created at the occasion of the Loy Krathong festival in Thailand.