“FOUDROYANTE” (FLYING SECONDS)

The “foudroyante”, or flying seconds, is a hand that completes a lathe full turn in one second through a succession of rapid jumps — generally from four to ten per second — corresponding to the beats of the oscillator. It thus subdivides the second into visible fractions, in the manner of a high-resolution display. The “foudroyante” is most often associated with a chronograph, where it allows reading time measurements shorter than a second according to the frequency of the movement (for example, eighths of a second for a Balance at 28,800 vibrations per hour). Its synonym is the Diablotine (flying seconds). This spectacular and technical indication requires an adapted Train (wheel train) and sufficient energy, as the multiplication of jumps places greater demands on the movement. Long reserved for precision chronographs and exceptional pieces, the “Foudroyante” (flying seconds) remains a sought-after Complication, appreciated as much for its fractional readability as for the animation it brings to the Dial.