Grande sonnerie

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Grande sonnerie (French, meaning 'grand strike') is a complication in a mechanical watch or clock which combines a quarter striking mechanism with a repeater. On the quarter-hour, it strikes the number of hours audibly on a gong, and then the number of quarter-hours since the hour on a second gong. In addition it can strike the hours on demand, at the push of a button.[1][2] The term is sometimes used erroneously for a mere quarter striking mechanism.[3]

It is more complex than the petite sonnerie, which merely strikes the hours on the hour and the quarter hours on the quarter, with no repeater function.[4]


[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Grande Sonnerie. Glossary. Foundation de la Haute Horlogerie. Retrieved on 2008-04-20.
  2. ^ Striking watches. Encyclopaedia. Foundation de la Haute Horlogerie. Retrieved on 2008-04-20.
  3. ^ Maillard, Pierre (April 13, 2006). "François-Paul Journe, sovereign timekeeping". Europa Star. 
  4. ^ Petite Sonnerie. Glossary. Foundation de la Haute Horlogerie. Retrieved on 2008-04-20.
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