On a quest for better sound quality, the watchmakers at Audemars Piguet have made innovations in the system used for the strike of the Jules Audemars Tourbillon Minute Repeater Chronograph. Contrary to classical systems, the hammer does not freely strike the gong. The rod that carries it first hits a banking pin. This rod is both rigid enough to support this action but sufficiently supple to allow the hammer to move back immediately from the gong once it is struck, thus giving the sound a better resonance.

Full article in print copy of Europa Star BaselWorld magazine issue 2/2006
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