Representing a contraction of the French words for resonance, sound frequency and mechanical energy (résonance, fréquence sonore et énergie mécanique), “resonics” was born in the brilliant mind of Denis Flageollet, watchmaker-developer and co-founder of De Bethune, combined with that of Siddharta Berns, a physicist from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL). Its prototype-stage application was revealed to the Swiss trade press at a demonstration staged in the brand’s technical department in December 2011. The astounded journalists were able to observe at close quarters the operating of the first magnetic escapement vibrating at a frequency of 900 Hz (which the brand intends to raise to 2000 Hz within months) and stemming from two years of mathematical simulations. Denis Flageollet sums up the mechanical principle in these terms : “a motor or driving organ transmits torque to a reduction-train. At the end of the train, a magnetic rotor transmits the energy to the oscillator which is fitted with permanent magnets. In certain conditions, the speed of the gear-train becomes synchronised with the frequency of the resonator. It is then kept in motion by the rotation of the magnetic blades, and its amplitude stabilises. The magnetic escapement offers the advantage of operating with a continuous rotation of the rotor, which means its strength is no longer transmitted by small impulses, but as a sine curve, thus ensuring excellent efficiency”. The main applications relate to mechanical chronographs capable of measuring 10,000ths of a second over periods of several hours, as well as precise and silent regulating gear-trains for minute repeaters or automatons.
Confirming its determination to spark debate while focusing on essentials, De Bethune is starting a blog on the results of this discovery at debethune-resonique.com

 

*David Zanetta and Denis Flageollet (co-fondateurs), Pierre Jacques (CEO)