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The creation of a high-end movement is quintessential for fans of fine mechanical watchmaking. Until now, that pleasure was reserved for the luckiest buyers. Now, for their second project, the CODE41 team has decided to change all of that by offering an exclusive Haute Horlogerie movement with Grande Date and peripheral weight, all for a price that is accessible for the product.

The X41 movement showcases our expertise in watchmaking, with each component machined on demand in Switzerland, exclusively for the CODE41 community. The finishings and assembly are performed by hand. The result is a watch in which the time is read directly on the movement without a dial.

The peripheral oscillating weight fitted to the X41 movement is a technical feat achieved by only a handful of brands. It allows a reduction in thickness and more transparency compared to a standard weight. Many big-name brands have already attempted to integrate such a feature, often only to abandon it because the ball bearing was too loud, inefficient, and costly to implement. In the case of the X41 movement, after several years of development, these problems have been resolved by machining and handling the finishing (hardening and polishing) of the components of the ball bearing in-house, in order to guarantee perfect dimensions and finishing. 

At a rate of one chapter per month since April 2018, the CODE41 community — which is now made up of a staggering 200,000 members — has been invited to give their opinions on the development of the X41 project. As well as votes on design choices, the members have also opted for automatic rewinding, the addition of a Grande Date feature, and for the case to be made from titanium. 

CODE41 is not a brand in the traditional sense of the term; it’s more of a community project. The aim is to gather enthusiasts around a watchmaking project in order to help it to become a reality. In the process, said members become Project Creators. 

With their TTO label, standing for Total Transparency on Origin, CODE41’s approach is based around transparency. The X41 movement is produced entirely in Switzerland, exclusively for the CODE41 community, at a cost of $1,620 USD. The 42mm case is made from titanium grade 2 and is sourced from China for $145 USD. The total cost to build, not including VAT, is just around $1,900 USD.

The special launch price for the X41 watch starts at $4,075 USD (customs duties and shipment included),  whereas similar pieces cost $15,000 USD and often much more. The prototypes are now finalized, and the X41 launches today on code41.com. Over the course of 30 days, watch enthusiasts will be able to order one of the 500 X41 pieces in this special “Creator Edition” series. Delivery is scheduled for December 2019.