Introduced in December 2020, the Montres KF EI8HT is a tourbillon designed for everyday wear, housed in an angular sporty case. With a focus on precision and durability, it is powered by a hand-wound movement featuring intelligent, innovative technical solutions. This model is now available in a reduced women's version, which remains highly customizable through the Bespoke Only concept.
The Montres KF EI8HT, originally released in a large 44.5 mm case, is now offered in a scaled-down women's model. However, the Lady EI8HT is by no means small, as its distinctive faceted case now measures 42 mm. The octagonal shape with multiple facets offers ample opportunities for gemstone setting.
This new version of the EI8HT required a new movement. The Lady EI8HT is equipped with the Novamag 02 hand-wound caliber, which shares much with the Novamag 01 but has been modified for a smaller size. The column-wheel movement now measures 35.8 mm x 6.8 mm (compared to 37.7 mm x 7.4 mm). The hour and minute display is now slightly off-center, with the tourbillon visible through a large aperture in the dial at the '6 o'clock' position against a dazzling diamond, whose setting can be personalized.
From a technical standpoint, the new movement is now powered by a single barrel instead of two. As a result, the autonomy is 45 hours, though the power reserve is actually greater but limited by a Maltese cross mechanism, allowing only the optimal range of the mainspring to be used. The keyless mechanisms with a patented shock protection system have also been modified.
The tourbillon itself, adorned with gemstones, has retained its previous architecture. It uses an in-house developed escapement, a variable inertia balance, and auxiliary thermal compensation. The balance spring features an internal Grossmann curve and an external Phillips curve. A rare feature for a tourbillon, it is equipped with a stop-seconds mechanism (with an original technical solution). Last but not least, several key components of the movement are made from non-magnetic material, and the movement complies with the ISO 764-2020 standard established in 2020. Turning the watch over, you can see the Novamag 02 caliber through the exhibition case back. The main plate still shows off impressive skeletonization, and this side is also adorned with diamonds.
Of course, as you have come to expect from Karsten Fräßdorf, the Lady EI8HT watch is distinguished by its high technicality. But it is not just a technical mechanism. Like the larger EI8HT version, this new tourbillon is available only in the Bespoke Only version. Thus, the aesthetics of the watch can be fully personalized: the case and its material, the typology and motifs of the dial, the decor and stone finish of the mechanism, the tourbillon separator, the balance wheel, the crown, the strap or buckle - all can be customized according to the client's choice. The model was nominated in the 'Ladies' Complication' category at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève 2021. The price is 145,000 Swiss francs for the blue dial version presented in this article. For more information, visit www.montreskf.com.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – MONTRES KF LADY EI8HT
Case: diameter 42 mm x height 11 mm – case material of choice, with or without stones – sapphire crystals with AR coating – water resistance up to 50 m
Movement: Novamag 02 hand-wound caliber – 35.8 mm x 6.8 mm – 18,000 vph – 45-hour power reserve with Maltese cross stop mechanism – 41 jewels – hours, minutes, and tourbillon
Strap: leather strap of choice with triple folding clasp
Availability: bespoke only
Price: 145,000 Swiss francs for the blue dial version presented in this article