Advancing an icon without ever betraying it is perhaps one of the most demanding exercises in our craft. The Divine clarinet embodies this philosophy perfectly. Since 2012, it has held a unique place among Buffet Crampon's finest instruments, carried by a reputation for balance and precision that few instruments can claim. To evolve it required a rigorous method: listen, before transforming.

That is precisely what unfolded over the past three years, work unveiled last June at our Paris showroom, before an international presentation at the International Clarinet Association (ICA) on July 9th, in South Korea.

Listen, then decide: the genesis of the new Divine

Teachers, international soloists, technicians: the new Divine was born from a continuous dialogue with those who play it every day and those who design it. Not a redesign decided behind closed doors, but a series of adjustments nourished by field experience, and by one simple conviction: an icon is not replaced, it is extended.

This development work was led alongside renowned clarinettist Paul Meyer, already associated with the creation of the very first Divine in 2012, in close collaboration with Éric Baret, the brand's expert technician and clarinettist. This rare continuity gives the evolution its full coherence. Every technical choice was guided by this principle. The result is not a new instrument. It is the same Divine, refined even further.

What remains unchanged: the Buffet Crampon acoustic DNA

The RC bore family remains strictly identical. It is what gives the Divine its unique sonic identity, that colour and timbre recognisable above all others. No evolution could come at its expense.

What are the technical evolutions of this exceptional clarinet?

A new bell profile for absolute response

The bell received particular attention, with a completely reworked interior profile. This evolution changes everything across the full length of the tube: emission becomes easier, response is immediate across the entire register, and consistency between registers is strengthened. Discreet work, but decisive in practice for the musician.

Intonation adjusted to modern playing

Intonation has been finely adjusted to align perfectly with the most widely used mouthpieces on the market today. A way of staying in tune, in the literal sense, with current clarinettists' practices, without ever compromising the instrument's sonic identity.

Fluid ergonomics and reworked keywork

Playing comfort has been optimised through several key elements. New rings and redesigned spatulas. Modified arms for increased velocity. Structural modification of the thumb rest for a more natural right-hand position, less prone to tension over time.

Mechanical stability and carbon thread

The tenon is fitted with natural cork and a toric joint specifically designed for easier assembly and improved mechanical stability. On both bodies, the bell and the barrel, carbon thread is retained to optimise the overall weight of the clarinet without altering its balance.

"Grand Siècle" finish: a new visual signature

Aesthetically, the new Divine adopts the Grand Siècle finish: gold-plated posts that lend it a new elegance, in perfect visual harmony with the Légende and BC XXI models. A new laser technology also redraws the logo and engraving, offering a sharper and more lasting signature.

A precise place within the professional clarinet range

This evolution does not upset the established balance. The Divine retains its place, its strengths, and gains in playing comfort without encroaching on the other models in the range.

The new Divine does not seek to impress through novelty alone. It seeks to better serve musicians, with the same soul, a more immediate response, and a more precise gesture. A faithful evolution, in every sense of the word.

Two pitches to meet every orchestral demand

To accompany soloists and orchestra musicians across their full repertoire, the new Divine is available in both essential pitches: B flat and A.

This pair of clarinets allows clarinettists to move from one instrument to the other while maintaining perfect consistency in feel, keywork and projection, each with its own clearly identified barrel.

Over 200 years of innovation and passion

Because an icon is not born by chance, this evolution is part of the continuity of a centuries-old story. Buffet Crampon innovates constantly, driven by more than 200 years of passion and refinement in service of artists worldwide.

Proud of its roots and unique expertise, our manufacture holds the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (EPV) state label, which distinguishes the excellence of our French artisanal and industrial know-how. Choosing the new Divine is also choosing this living heritage, entirely crafted in Mantes-la-Ville.