Following Adagio and Soprano, Christophe Claret presents his latest musical masterpiece, Allegro. A master watchmaker with 25 years of experience, Christophe Claret has combined the finest horological complications in Allegro: a minute repeater with cathedral gongs, GMT, big date, small seconds and a day/night indicator. These features are all found in a completely redesigned movement featuring a unique regulator that was designed and manufactured in-house. The 45 mm round case harmoniously blends either 5N red gold or 5N white gold with grade 5 titanium treated with anthracite PVD. An opening in the sapphire dial reveals the striking mechanism. The transparent dial allows the wearer to marvel at the movement’s architecture, featuring Charles X style skeletonized, stepped bridges. With this new timepiece, the conductor of this musical horological orchestra from Le Locle proves he is at the zenith of his art.
Posts filed under News
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the MB&F Melchior L'Epée 1839 Table Clock. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Last year at Baselworld 2014, MB&F surprised everyone with its Starfleet Machine table clock in partnership with legendary clock maker L'Epée 1839 as we featured it here. This year at Baselworld 2015, in order to commemorate their 10th anniversary, Max Büsser and friends —MB&F— presented a new super cool table clock that looks like a robot out of a sci-fi scene named Melchior. Additionally, the Geneva-based Horological lab will present a number of Anniversary Pieces during the year, under the theme: ”A creative adult is a child who survived”.
Melchior, created with L’Epée 1839 is an impressive kinetic robot which may remind you of your childhood dreams, but also happens to be an impeccably finished, 480-component mechanical table clock with five barrels and a steel and brass armour. Fitted with articulated arms —the right one packing a rocket launcher and the left a Gatling gun that serves as the clock key winder—, jumping hours, sweeping minutes, double retrograde seconds and a 40-day power reserve this clock is a true tribute to refined, classic clock and watchmaking.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Jaquet Droz Lady 8 Flower. Live Pictures, Video and Pricing.
This year at Baselworld 2015, just like every other year, the brand wowed everyone with several watches featuring automatons. As you all know, Jaquet Droz's history was marked by his creation of automatons in the 18th century. In 1774, he successfully completed three humanoid automatons —The Writer, The Draughtsman and The Musician— that were presented in La Chaux-de-Fonds and a year later in France to Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. This year, we were surprised with three amazing timepieces —fitted with automatons— from Jaquet Droz and here's one of them, we are talking about the new Jaquet Droz Lady 8 Flower.
This remarkable timepiece featuring Jaquet Droz's iconic figure-eight shaped case, is available in 18K white gold —8 pieces— or 18K red gold —28 pieces. The 18K white gold reference we have here, comes with a snow-set diamond dial totaling 0.65 carats, an 18K white gold butterfly applique with 54 blue sapphires totaling 0.87 carats and a surprising automaton underneath the domed glass on the top part of the figure-eight with a flower that opens and closes on demand.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Armin Strom Manual Gumball 3000 Limited Edition. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Each year for 17 consecutive years, supercars, superstars and superfans across the globe unite for the Gumball 3000 annual supercar rally which sees 120 incredible cars drive a 3000 mile route around the world. After this year’s event, which travels from Stockholm to Las Vegas in just seven days, Gumball 3000 entrants can reclaim "Gumball fever" by owning a 2015 Gumball 3000 commemorative wristwatch by Armin Strom. The Armin Strom Manual Gumball 3000 ref. ST15-GB.90 in stainless steel black PVD is fitted with a case measuring 43.4 mm in diameter and a thickness of 13 mm. This new watch just released at Baselworld 2015 features a black, white and red theme to celebrate the logo of the Gumball 3000 rally. Fitted with a black leather strap with red contrast stitching, red lining and a stainless steel black PVD pin buckle, the watch is not only cool but quite sexy. This watch was perfectly made to celebrate at the Gumball 3000 finish line in Las Vegas on May 29th, 2015.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Tudor Fastrider Chrono. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Continuing with its partnership with motorcycle maker Ducati, Tudor released last week at Baselworld 2015, three new Fastrider Chronographs ref. 42010N matching the colors of the iconic Ducati Scrambler motorcycles. Now available with dials in yellow, olive green and red, the new Tudor Fastrider Chrono is now fitted with a satin brushed finished stainless steel case —instead of a matte black ceramic case as on the Fastrider Black Shield launched in 2013— with matte black ceramic bezel, stainless steel case back and a gorgeous leather strap or rubber strap with folding clasp with flip-lock with Tudor shield. The size of the case remains at 42 mm and the watch is still fitted with screw-down crown and chrono pushers that are black PVD treated. The date still needs to be set via the shield-shaped corrector located on the case band at 9 o'clock —something we aesthetically like on the watch but we find annoying from a functionality standpoint.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Linde Werdelin SpidoLite Gold and SpidoLite Titanium. Live Pictures and Pricing.
This year at Baselworld 2015, Linde Werdelin didn't go as far as it did last year when it released the Oktopus MoonLite with a very special alloy called ALW, instead, this year Linde Werdelin decided to continue to capitalize on skeletonization of their movements and dials to enhance the look of their SpidoLite collection. This year, two new watches were unveiled, the SpidoLite Gold and the SpidoLite Titanium. Both watches in a limited edition of 75 pieces each, show remarkable skeletonization and ultra cool design. While the look of these two new watches is remarkable, one thing that we do need to point out —and we've said this before—, is that the sapphire crystals still don't come to with anti-reflective coating to improve readability and eliminate that unwanted glare that doesn't allow one to fully appreciate the skeletonized dials. Linde Werdelin, one more time, please add the AR coating to the crystals and either you soften the sharp edges of the crown guards or increase the crown size a bit so it's easier to pull out and operate.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Omega Globemaster. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Without a doubt, this has been a big year for Omega at Baselworld 2015. Not only the brand beefed up their dial options for the Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon, but also revamped the PloProf line and added several novelties within the ladies portfolio including a White Side of the Moon in white ceramic. However, the most expected release from Omega this year was the watch we have here, the Globemaster. Created in the true spirit of Omega, the Globemaster houses the brand’s most advanced mechanical movement and features a design inspired by early Constellation models from 1952 and 1968, even its name was originally used for the Constellation timepieces that were produced and distributed in the U.S. in the 1950s. For the first time, along with the traditional COSC —Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres— certification, this new watch also comes with the METAS —Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology— certification, which makes this timepiece a Master Chronometer instead of just a Chronometer.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Deadbeat. Live Pictures and Pricing.
A masterpiece of watchmaking precision, a Deadbeat Seconds timepiece is a very rare complication that takes some of the most skilled horologists to make. Long forgotten and mostly used by brands like Arnold & Son, the Deadbeat —Dead Seconds a.k.a. Seconde Morte— has now been rediscovered by Jaquet Droz and released at Baselworld 2015 in the new Grande Seconde Deadbeat. For those of you wondering what a Deadbeat seconds mechanical timepiece is, it is very simple. A Deadbeat timepiece is one in which the seconds hand advances by jumping second by second —ticking as in a quartz powered watch—, rather than by sweeping around the dial. The new Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Deadbeat ref. J008033200 is fitted with an elegant 18K red gold case measuring 43 mm in diameter and a rolled edge alligator black strap with matching pin buckle.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Zenith El Primero Chronograph Classic. Live Pictures and Pricing.
This year is a big year for Zenith manufacture celebrating 150 years. Along with other novelties from Baselworld 2015 that we have presented you here, we now bring you another watch released this last week, may we introduce the Zenith El Primero Chronograph Classic. The new Zenith El Primero Chronograph Classic features a pebble shaped case with a diameter of 42 mm and a quite slim profile at 12 mm thick. This new case —featuring a highly polished finish— comes with the nicest pronounced lugs— we've never seen before on any other Zenith El Primero— and with a very clean and timeless design that even includes a domed sapphire crystal. The watch is available in 18K rose gold in a limited edition of 150 pieces and in stainless steel as a regular production watch. The new Zenith El Primero Chronograph Classic is fueled by very strong Zenith DNA in its purest and most classic form.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Glashütte Original PanoReserve Blue and Black Galvanized Dials. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Along with the two other novelties we already presented you from Glashütte Original this year at Baselworld 2015, the PanoReserve and the PanoMaticLunar are getting new dials. The Glashütte Original PanoReserve is now available with a blue or a black galvanized dial depending on the metal. While the stainless steel reference is getting a strikingly beautiful midnight blue dial, the 18K red gold reference is now available with a gorgeous galvanized black dial. The Glashütte Original PanoReserve was originally launched in 2012 and up until now it only came with a silvered dial. For sure these new dial options will continue to drive excitement and sales of the brand.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Hublot Big Bang Chrono Perpetual Calendar. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Another exceptional piece released this year at Baselworld 2015 is a Hublot Grande Complication that fuses tradition and modernity. The new Hublot Big Bang Chrono Perpetual Calendar is the quintessence of the watchmaker's art in a Big Bang case and the first Perpetual Calendar for the brand. The new from Baselworld 2015 Hublot Big Bang Chrono Perpetual Calendar sums up Hublot's approach perfectly when it comes to fusing tradition and modernity. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of its iconic Big Bang model, Hublot is revisiting a Grande Complication. Its manufacture Unico movement forms the basis of this exceptional calibre; here we see the fusion of three major complications: the chronograph, the perpetual calendar and the moon phase. The chronograph and calendar module has been completely redesigned and bears Hublot's hallmarks and finishes. Its skeleton movement is styled with the same look as the Aero, with an anthracite ruthenium coating, satin-finished steel elements and micro-blasted main plates and bridges.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon 5-day Power Reserve Indicator Full Magic Gold. Live Pictures and Pricing.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Hublot Big Bang, the brand surprised us at Baselworld 2015 with three exciting limited editions. For those of you that don't know, the first Big Bang to be launched in 2005 was the Big Bang Gold Ceramic, which quickly became the flagship and signature watch for Hublot. Well, 10 years have passed and perhaps over a 100 different limited editions —just guessing— have been presented since then. One of these three new limited edition watches just released this past week at Baselworld 2015 is the new Hublot Big Bang Tourbillon 5-day Power Reserve Indicator Full Magic Gold ref. 405.MX.0138.RX.
In Monsieur Jean-Claude Biver's words: "Nothing can be born without a good idea." His good idea came in 2005, when he came up with the name "Big Bang" based on an idea which is central to the art of fusion, the combining of objects and materials which never appear together under normal conditions, for example rubber and gold. The former is harvested from a tree, the latter mined from deep inside the earth.
Baselworld 2015: Bremont Jaguar E-Type MKI and MKII. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Continuing with their partnership, Jaguar and Bremont are solidifying their long-term partnership by releasing two new E-Type Bremont Jaguar watches, we are talking about the MKI and the MKII. While the MKI is a non-chrono, the MKII is a beautifully executed 30-minute chronograph. While we have never been the biggest fans of the brand, we can tell you that we absolutely love these two new watches and these pieces could easily turn us in the opposite direction. In working to capture the E-Type’s essence in a wrist watch, Jaguar’s Director of Design Ian Callum and the creative team at Bremont homed-in on another of Jaguar's signature features —the dashboard. While E-Types were typically fitted with Smiths instruments on their dashboard, Bremont captured the look of the speedometer and tachometer on these iconic vehicles, just remarkably. These watches are both dedicated to the road-going Jaguar E-Type which at its 1961 launch was not only the fastest production car in the world but, according to Enzo Ferrari, the most beautiful.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Finally, this week at Baselworld 2015 we were able to work on our hands-on review of the new Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon unveiled pre-Baselworld a few weeks ago. This time, Arnold & Son pushes precision chronometry ever further with the Constant Force Tourbillon, featuring a patented constant force device with 60-second tourbillon and true beat seconds. The symmetrical movement architecture of the Constant Force Tourbillon movement pays tribute to Arnold & Sons' historic marine chronometers. At the top, two visible mainspring barrels and the constant force device provide optimal power to the tourbillon at the bottom of the dial. The Constant Force Tourbillon has two symmetrical barrels in series, visible dial side on its anthracite open dial at 10:30 and 1:30, tourbillon at 4:30 and constant force mechanism with built-in dead beat seconds at 7:30. This elegant complication is fitted with a massive 46 mm 18K red gold case —that surprisingly doesn't wear too big, perhaps because of its double-step bezel—, satin brushed finished lug sides, equipped with a beautiful light brown alligator strap with double folding buckle and a display case back.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Blancpain L-Evolution Tourbillon Carrousel. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Here we present you another one of our favorite pieces this year at Baselworld 2015. We are talking about the impressive Blancpain L-Evolution Tourbillon Carrousel in platinum ref. 92322-34B39-55B. This new release from Baselworld 2015 with its distinctive bezel, the form of the applied numerals together with the asymmetric form of the bridges and base plate, give the timepiece a unique place in the within the Blancpain collection. This latest design has been finely crafted with a frosted finish as well as a NAC coating —a galvanic process that bestows a dark color on the bridges and base plate. The forms of two cages, that of the tourbillon and that of the carrousel, have been subtly reimagined and reshaped.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Blancpain Villeret Grande Date. Live Pictures and Pricing.
For the first time in the Villeret Collection, Blancpain is offering the complication of a grand date. This new watch Blancpain Villeret Grande Date is both elegant and practical. This new watch fitted with a perfectly sized case measuring 40 mm in diameter is available in stainless steel or 18K red gold. Fitted with an elegant opaline dial featuring Roman numerals, leaf hands and a double date aperture at 6 o'clock, this new watch uses a side-by-side calendar for optimal readability. When Blancpain’s watchmakers conceived the automatic caliber 6950, they had as their objective to maximize legibility of the date, while at the same time enabling an instant change at midnight. At the same time, they set out to ensure that the mechanism would not significantly increase the movement’s profile. The result, an automatic movement with two mainspring barrels and a date mechanism designed to resist shocks. It further distinguishes itself with its free sprung balance with a silicium spiral and regulated by gold regulation screws.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time ref. 5524G. Live Pictures and Pricing.
As soon as the doors opened up for 'Press Day' at Baselworld 2015 five days ago on Wednesday March 18th, 2014, we were some of the first journalists to head straight to the Patek Philippe pavilion to see for the very first time in person, the new Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time ref. 5524G-001. As soon as the first images of this timepiece hit the web, a wave of controversial comments started to arise. While the Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time caught more than one purist by surprise —in an unexpected move by the most traditional horological maison from Geneva—, we preferred to remain objective and enjoyed this new watch in its true form. While many felt that this watch didn't make any sense within the Patek Philippe lineup, we completely disagree with such take. The new Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time ref. 5524G-001 is definitely based on old Patek DNA from scientific instruments released by the brand in the 1930s and exhibited at the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva that we featured here.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Omega Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award. Live Pictures and Pricing.
On April 17, 1970, the world watched as the Apollo 13 Command Module landed in the Pacific Ocean after an unexpected crisis occurred 200,000 miles away from Earth. Apollo 13 was the seventh manned mission in the Apollo programme and the third that was intended to land on the Moon —a goal that was dashed when one of the two oxygen tanks on the Service Module exploded on route. The mission was aborted and the astronauts completed a number of mid-course corrections in order to achieve the trajectory that would allow them to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. This new Omega —just unveiled at Baselworld 2015— under the name Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award pays homage to that unforgettable mission 45 years ago and celebrates the teamwork, quick thinking, ingenuity and courage that brought Commander Jim Lovell, Command Module Pilot Jack Swigert and Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise home safely.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the HYT H3. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Known for blurring the lines, HYT the HydroMechanical Horologists have once again defied the limits of what is possible. As if mastering telling time with fluids wasn't already impressive enough, the new HYT H3 is even a more complex part of the HYT evolution and their continued pursuit to push the limits of horology. The H3 is a massive timepiece in terms of size but what's inside is even greater than the sum of its case size measuring 62 x 41 mm. Its movement —like out of sci-fi movie speaks for itself. HYT and its partners at APRP —Audemars Piguet Renaud & Papi— have succeeded in creating a timepiece with a highly complex architecture. One of the main challenges was the machining of the case and the special curved sapphire crystal. When it came to the movement, one of the most delicate steps in creating the H3 involved recovering the energy provided in the retrograde movement, which then powered the semi-instantaneous rotation of the watch's dial with use of the fluid going back and delivering the necessary energy.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Glashütte Original Senator Cosmopolite. Live Pictures and Pricing.
The new Glashütte Original Senator Cosmopolite is not your average multiple travel time type of watch. Not only this new watch from the German manufacture sports the brand new calibre 89-02 but it also gives you 37 time zones taking into consideration quarter hour, half hour and three quarter hour time zones variances. This new timepiece —following the launch of the Grande Cosmopolite Tourbillon in 2012— consolidates the ability of this Saxon manufacture at crafting spectacular timepieces from an horological feat standpoint as well as from a functional perspective. Fitted with a very nicely finished generous case with satin brushed and polished areas measuring 44 mm in diameter and a thickness of 14 mm, the beating heart inside this timepiece is a new in-house developed calibre. The new automatic calibre 89-02 with a power reserve of 72 hours powering this amazing timepiece, was fully conceived and developed in-house. Fitted with a silvered-grain dial this watch allows world travelers to keep two different time zones in check indicated by the airport IATA codes for each of the 37 cities via the apertures located at 8 o'clock.
