Purnell: A Flaming New Absolute Sapphire Hancock Red To The Escape II Collection
3 min read
A timepiece for the future more than the past in the sphere of Haute Horlogerie? A rare breed in the world of gemstones? Yes, we’re talking about the newly launched Absolute Sapphire “Hancock Red” by Purnell, probably its most ambitious and limited-edition timepiece to date.
Only a year after unveiling the World's First Double Triple-Axis Tourbillon in a Full Sapphire Case, Purnell continues to strive for excellence with its latest addition to its Escape II Collection. True red diamonds are a rare breed in the world of gemstones, and one of the most sought-after and elusive valuable stones. To this day, gemologists are baffled as to how red diamonds get their colour. That remarkable crimson colour is reflected in the Absolute Sapphire "Hancock Red."
The famed Hancock Red, which was auctioned by Christie's in New York in 1987 and was then the most expensive per-carat gemstone ever sold at auction, was one of the most famous red diamonds. Its "fancy red" colour was a captivating shade of crimson that is still unrivalled today.
The sapphire is grown at 2,050 degrees Celsius."I remember seeing that auction on the news back in 1987, and how magnificent and vibrant the Hancock Red diamond was. I pushed the team to attain that same red diamond tone when we were constructing the Absolute Sapphire." It's never been done before and, in my opinion, will never be done again. It's truly one-of-a-kind", " says Purnell CEO Maurizio Mazzocchi.
The sapphire, which is grown at 2,050 degrees Celsius, can withstand temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Celsius and is scratch-resistant, with the exception of diamonds (Sapphire hardness: 2035 Vickers or 9/10 Mohs' scale). The machining and polishing process takes 150 hours in total, not including development and machine programming, as well as sapphire block unit growth.
With a Mechanical Hand Winding Caliber P03, this timepiece has a power reserve of 32 hours. The Absolute Sapphire "Hancock Red," a rarity among rarities, is the ultimate of savoir-faire, a convergence of energy and power perfected over decades of expert craftsmanship.
Price: CHF 2000000/ INR 163701755 approximately/ USD 2162068 approximately
