I think the most "wow" thing to most persons who saw the new Portuguese Siderale Scafusia was how the back actually changes color as the time changes. This is something that really cannot be seen, let alone understood, from a static two-dimensional image. On the back of the watch, as you know there is a star chart the changes with the time of day. During the day it is blue, but at twilight it changes from blue to grey, and then at night it is is grey.
While the above image is too small, on the back there are four red pointers. Two two smaller ones closer to the time show sunrise and sunset (since night varies each day during the year). Slightly larger inner red pointers show the time, since you can see different stars at different positions depending on the time.
Now, we made a quick amateur movie of the change from blue to grey and then back to blue again. I held the watch while Thomas Gaeumann, head of research and development at IWC, twisted the crown, changing the time. Look carefully and you'll see the changes in color --amazing!
People asked how this could be accomplished, and it's basically two concentric polarized crystals that, when overlap, change color. These invisible crystal dials move as the time changes, and are triggered by sunrise and sunset.
A word of warning --the movie linked below is 30 seconds and involves a lot of data. So --be patient, and then be amazed.
2,996 Discussions and CommentsMember since April 2, 2011Hong Kong,
Hong Kong
great stuff Michael. And now we know how the markers work too. Sun rise and Sun set markers ? Amazing !!!
Regards, Shing | email iwcforme1976 (at) gmail (dot) com time does not change us. it just unfolds us. max frisch. all that really belongs to us is time; even he who has nothing else has that. baltasar gracian.
Ken --thanks so much. I've edited the link in my post, and I can't thank you enough. It's exactly this spirit of cooperation that makes this community great.
584 Discussions and CommentsMember since Sept. 5, 2010Singapore,
Singapore
Michael, Perhaps the straps are made 'alligator' on both sides so that we can wear the caseback side as well? That way, the back can be admired by those around...:-)
226 Discussions and CommentsMember since June 7, 2011Mumbai,
India
Wow...
This is amazing. Cant wait to show it to my kids at home. Its a beauty this one... MK
Michael Friedberg Wrote:I think the most "wow" thing to most persons who saw the new Portuguese Siderale Scafusia was how the back actually changes color as the time changes. This is something that really cannot be seen, let alone understood, from a static two-dimensional image. On the back of the watch, as you know there is a star chart the changes with the time of day. During the day it is blue, but at twilight it changes from blue to grey, and then at night it is is grey.
While the above image is too small, on the back there are four red pointers. Two two smaller ones closer to the time show sunrise and sunset (since night varies each day during the year). Slightly larger inner red pointers show the time, since you can see different stars at different positions depending on the time.
Now, we made a quick amateur movie of the change from blue to grey and then back to blue again. I held the watch while Thomas Gaeumann, head of research and development at IWC, twisted the crown, changing the time. Look carefully and you'll see the changes in color --amazing!
People asked how this could be accomplished, and it's basically two concentric polarized crystals that, when overlap, change color. These invisible crystal dials move as the time changes, and are triggered by sunrise and sunset.
A word of warning --the movie linked below is 30 seconds and involves a lot of data. So --be patient, and then be amazed.
1,870 Discussions and CommentsMember since Oct. 28, 2002
great feature these changing colours. The idea of the polarised discs is great, maybe it could be used for changing the colour of the dial in other watches too.
On the back of the watch, as you know there is a star chart the changes with the time of day. During the day it is blue, but at twilight it changes from blue to grey, and then at night it is is grey.
While the above image is too small, on the back there are four red pointers. Two two smaller ones closer to the time show sunrise and sunset (since night varies each day during the year). Slightly larger inner red pointers show the time, since you can see different stars at different positions depending on the time.
Now, we made a quick amateur movie of the change from blue to grey and then back to blue again. I held the watch while Thomas Gaeumann, head of research and development at IWC, twisted the crown, changing the time. Look carefully and you'll see the changes in color --amazing!
People asked how this could be accomplished, and it's basically two concentric polarized crystals that, when overlap, change color. These invisible crystal dials move as the time changes, and are triggered by sunrise and sunset.
A word of warning --the movie linked below is 30 seconds and involves a lot of data. So --be patient, and then be amazed.
click here for 30 second movie
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
Last edited: 5 April, 2012 - 19:53
clepsydra
ad fontes...
Last edited: 30 October, 2011 - 22:05
Regards, Shing | email iwcforme1976 (at) gmail (dot) com
time does not change us. it just unfolds us. max frisch.
all that really belongs to us is time; even he who has nothing else has that. baltasar gracian.
Last edited: 8 December, 2012 - 16:07
AL
Michael: I re-encoded the movie so that it is about 1/4 the size and should be the same quality level. I tried to email you a link but that bounced.
You can find a optimized version of the movie here:
Siderale Star Chart optimized
Last edited: 15 February, 2012 - 01:35
Ken --thanks so much. I've edited the link in my post, and I can't thank you enough. It's exactly this spirit of cooperation that makes this community great.
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
Last edited: 5 April, 2012 - 19:53
Perhaps the straps are made 'alligator' on both sides so that we can wear the caseback side as well? That way, the back can be admired by those around...:-)
KS Low
Join us at the IWC Collectors Club South East Asia/Australia
Last edited: 31 May, 2012 - 16:19
Last edited: 8 November, 2012 - 12:49
This is amazing. Cant wait to show it to my kids at home.
Its a beauty this one...
MK
Everything you need for a Happy Life is within yourself...
Last edited: 9 December, 2011 - 06:06
tonny.berteloot@pandora.be
