Mastering Sound and Sophistication:
The Christophe Claret Soprano Revealed
The Christophe Claret Soprano is a masterpiece known only to collectors familiar with minute repeaters. As a super flagship model by Master Christophe Claret, the Soprano was one of the six watches nominated for the Best Striking Watch Award at the GPHG (Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève).
Master Claret is regarded as a magician of complex movements in Switzerland. Over 30 years, he has developed 120 complex watches for 65 brands. Many legendary complicated watches are the works of Master Claret. The Soprano, however, is his magnum opus, created with his genius for his own brand.
The core philosophy behind Master Claret's creation is all about sound quality:
To achieve a tone closest to real musical notes, Master Christophe Claret specifically used a Neuchâtel piano. Through the piano and specialized software, each gong spring was tuned to a frequency of 5 Hz. After grinding or adjusting the length, the final product was completed.
The gong spring, akin to the strings of a violin, is a crucial component determining the sound of the minute repeater. The striking of the gong spring by hammers, similar to playing a triangle or other musical instruments, seems simple in principle but represents the pinnacle of mechanical watch evolution and is among the most complex and top-tier functions.
Even within a gong spring made of the same metal and less than 1mm in diameter, it's possible to produce two or more different pitches, each with its unique timbre, duration, pitch combination, or resonance.
The number of hammers dictates the richness of sound: two hammers resemble a string orchestra, while four hammers striking four gong springs echo a symphony orchestra, bringing a richer melody through four scales.
