News: Pre-Baselworld 2014 Jaquet Droz Unveils Three New Ateliers d'Art Watches. Commemorating the Chinese Year of the Horse.

In 2014, Jaquet Droz will be launching three new Ateliers d’Art models that pay tribute to the sign of the Horse. The horse has been a key part of Man's history since the beginning of time. In 2014, China will mark the arrival of a new year with this sign, the seventh in the Chinese zodiac, which is celebrated by Jaquet Droz every year. It is a way of remembering the connection between the brand's founder —the first watchmaker to walk through the gates of the Forbidden City— and the Middle Kingdom. The brand thus continues its annual tradition by honoring this trusty companion and symbol of loyalty, creativity and daring in its Ateliers d'Art series. Three exclusive models have been created using the exclusive know-how of Jaquet Droz's master craftsmen, specialized in highly complex techniques: engraving, painting and Grand Feu enamel. Two Arab thoroughbreds – considered the most beautiful horses in the world – have been delicately painted on the ivory enamel dial of the Petite Heure Minute 39 mm.

Captured in full gallop, they seem to want to catch up with the sculptural mustang that appears on the dial of the Petite Heure Minute 43 mm. Extremely wild and difficult to tame, this horse from the American Northwest —depicted in red gold and engraved in bas-relief— seems to jump out from the black enamel. The champlevé technique, used here for the first time by Jaquet Droz, highlights the movement of the mane and the tail, both filled in with black Grand Feu enamel.

On each of these models, a horse's head is also represented on the back of the white gold oscillating weight.

The dial of the Petite Heure Minute 41 mm has been chosen as the showcase to depict a horse rearing up on its hind legs against a backdrop of the Great Wall of China, engraved and patinated by hand on a mother-of-pearl dial. Bold, powerful and elegant, this fearless horse in 18-carat red gold appears to protect the Great Wall, which is also hand engraved on the 22-carat red gold oscillating weight next to the Jaquet Droz signature of two stars.

Loyal to its spirit of exclusivity, Jaquet Droz is offering each of these new models in a limited edition of 88 pieces with a red gold case and available on a brown or black alligator leather strap. An opportunity to celebrate all the promises of the new year with constant refinement.

For more info on Jaquet Droz click here.

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Jaquet Droz, News and tagged Jaquet Droz Ateliers d’Art Jaquet Droz Year of the Horse Petite Heure Minute 2013.

Insider: Bell & Ross BR 126 Blackbird Limited Edition. A 500-piece Limited Edition is the Latest Addition to the Vintage Collection.

The recently released Bell & Ross BR 126 Blackbird is the latest addition to the Vintage collection and a watch that pays tribute to the legendary 1960s American spy plane, the Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" stealth plane, whose black paint absorbed radar waves. The Bell & Ross BR 126 Blackbird comes in a pelican case where the first thing that greets you way before you get to the watch is a Blackbird Flyback orange patch. The pelican case also includes a strap changing tool and an additional tropic rubber strap along with the watch. We really like when watch manufactures go the extra mile an add special packaging to a special watch in order to make it even more appealing. Kudos to Bell & Ross for this special packaging.

This watch is fitted with a stainless steel matte black PVD finished case measuring 43mm in diameter and equipped with a colorful bright orange heavy duty canvas strap lined with leather and fitted with a PVD pin buckle. The case is solid and well proportioned featuring a nice signed screw-down crown and chrono pump pushers that merely protrude on the case band. The case back is solid and properly engraved with the limited edition and depth rating —waterproof to a depth of 100 meters— information. The operation of the chronograph is nice and smooth when pressing the chrono pushers.

This watch is an aviation chronograph designed according to professional specifications and equipped with an automatic Flyback mechanism. The watch features a matte black dial that is very well balanced featuring recessed running seconds register at 3, a 12-hour chrono-register at 6, a 24-hour indicator at 9 and a date aperture between 4 and 5 o'clock. All chronograph hands are orange —matching the strap— for optimal readability while the hour and minute hands are black with white tips. The anti-reflective coated domed sapphire crystal provides excellent visibility under bright light conditions and the watch features luminescent material on the markers as well as on the hour and minute hands. 

On the wrist, the watch wears true to its size and very comfortably. While the movements inside Bell & Ross watches are not in-house calibres, we feel that the ETA calibres used are extremely reliable and great workhorses build to last a very long time. At the time we published this review, we have not received confirmation from Bell & Ross whether the beating heart inside this watch is a modified Lemania 1350 automatic calibre or an ETA movement with a Dubois & Dépraz module on it. Our best guess is that Bell & Ross decided to go with the ETA calibre instead of the Lemania.

Sticker Price $6,700 USD. For more info on Bell & Ross click here.

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Bell & Ross and tagged Bell & Ross Vintage BR126 Blackbird Bell & Ross BR 126 75 S Posts 2013.

Experience: Fabian Oefner Presents Exploding Cars Images at the MB&F M.A.D. Gallery in Geneva. Just Amazing.

The MB&F M.A.D. Gallery is delighted to present a series of prints by Swiss artist Fabian Oefner. Fabian has carved out his reputation by fusing the fields of art and science, creating images appealing to heart and mind. He is constantly on the lookout for capturing life moments that are invisible to the human eye: phenomena like sound waves, centripetal forces, iridescence, fire and even magnetic ferrofluids, among others. The artworks on display at the M.A.D. Gallery from Fabian’s series are mind-boggling.

The three images of the Disintegrating series are exploded views of classic sports cars that Fabian has painstakingly created by deconstructing vintage roadster scale-models, photographing each component, piece by piece in a very specific position, to create the illusion of an exploding automobile. The images show exploded views of classic sports cars: intricate scale models of an eye-wateringly beautiful Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé with gullwing doors from 1954; an iconic sleek, black Jaguar E-Type from 1961; and a curvaceous sensual Ferrari 330 P4 from 1967.

The three other images on exhibition form his Hatch series, which explores the theme ‘the birth of a car’. Inspired by a picture of a hatching chick, Fabian decided to show a manufactured object being born just like a living organism – in this case a Ferrari 250 GTO breaking out of its shell, to create a witty high-octane take on the beginning of life. While both series feature cars, they both also involve fooling the observer into seeing the images as computer-generated renderings rather than the real photographs that they are. Fabian says: “I have always been fascinated by the clean, crisp looks of 3D renderings. So I tried to use that certain type of aesthetic and combine it with the strength of real photography. These images are also about capturing time: either in stopping it as in the Hatch series or inventing it as in the Disintegrating series.” Fabian started by making a latex mold from the model car, which was then filled with a thin layer of gypsum to create the shell. Several dozens of these shells were made in order to complete the next step: smashing the shell onto the car to create the illusion of the vehicle breaking out. This step had to be repeated a great many times until the desired results were achieved.

Fabian Oefner explains that photography usually captures moments in time; but his Disintegrating series is all about inventing a moment in time. “What you see in these images, is a moment that never existed in real life,” says Oefner. “What looks like a car falling apart is in fact a moment in time that has been created artificially by blending hundreds of individual images together. There is a unique pleasure about artificially building a moment…freezing a moment in time is stupefying.” Fabian first sketched on paper where the individual pieces would go, before taking apart the model cars piece by piece, from the body shell right down to the minuscule screws. Each car contained over a thousand components.

Then, according to his initial sketch, he placed each piece individually with the aid of fine needles and pieces of string. After meticulously working out the angle of each shot and establishing the right lighting, he photographed the component, and took thousands of photographs to create each Disintegrating image.

All these individual photos were then blended together in post-production to create one single image. With the wheels acting as a reference point, each part was masked in Photoshop, cut and then pasted into the final image. “These are possibly the ‘slowest high-speed’ images ever captured,” says Fabian. “It took almost two months to create an image that looks as if it was captured in a fraction of a second. The whole disassembly in itself took more than a day for each car due to the complexity of the models. But that’s a bit of a boy thing. There’s an enjoyment in the analysis, discovering something by taking it apart, like peeling an onion.” However, he adds: “The hardest part was actually setting up the camera, lens and light, because the biggest frustration is when you can't get any beautiful image out of it!”

With Hatch, Fabian Oefner presents his interpretation of how cars might be ‘born’. The first two images show a Ferrari 250 GTO from 1962 – again a detailed scale model – breaking out of its shell. The third image shows one of the empty shells left behind among several others yet to hatch. To capture the very moment where the shell hit the model, Fabian connected a microphone to his camera, a Hasselblad H4D, and flashes, so that every time the shell hit the surface of the car, the impulse was picked up by the microphone which then triggered the flashes and the camera shutter.

Representing a car as a living, breathing organism that has been gestated is a neat twist on car conception; it could be said Hatch is to the automotive world what a stork is to delivering babies.

Fabian Oefner was born in Switzerland in 1984. Coming from a family with an artistic background, he attended art school and gained a degree in product design. At the age of 14, Fabian discovered Harold Edgerton’s photo of a bullet piercing an apple, and this prompted him to get his first camera. “I have always experimented with all different kinds of art forms at a very early stage,” he says. “Photography turned out to be the form of art that I was most interested in.” Fabian has gone on to blend art with science: beautifully photographing ‘nebulae’ formed in a fiber glass lamp and feathery or cotton candy-like puffs made by bursting balloons filled with corn starch. He has shot crystals of color rising in reaction to a speaker's sound waves; spectacularly captured the patterns created by magnetic ferrofluids pushing paint into canals and he has taken color-crazy photos of paint modeled by centripetal forces. “I am trying to show these phenomena in an unseen and poetic way,” he pauses, “and therefore make the viewer pause for a moment and appreciate the magic that constantly surrounds us. I am inspired and influenced by the world that is around me. I have a deep interest in all kinds of fields of science. When I start with a new subject I rarely know how the final images will look. After experimenting with it, I start to get a feeling for it and after a while an idea for images develops.”

Fabian has a photographic studio in Aarau, 40 minutes away from Zurich in Switzerland. His work has only been sold through direct private sales around the globe. He has worked on assignments for big international brands, on ad campaigns and art projects, including a number of free projects, available to view on 500px.com. Fabian recently demonstrated his ideas and artwork during a TED Talk, as part of the non-profit’s initiative devoted to ideas worth spreading. His reputation has been growing steadily for the past two years. Check the amazing video at the bottom of the post showing exactly how these images were created.

Fabian Oefner’s artwork will be on show at the M.A.D. Gallery in Geneva until May 2014.

For more info on Oefner click here and for MB&F and the M.A.D. Gallery here.

MB&F M.A.D.Gallery

Rue Verdaine 11

1204 Geneva

Switzerland

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Automobiles, MB&F and tagged M.A.D. Gallery Geneva Mechanical Art Devices Gallery MB&F M.A.D. Gallery Fabian Oefner Disintegrating Cars.

Insider: Patek Philippe World Time ref. 5130. The Best and Most Elegant World Timer Ever Created.

The Patek Philippe World Time watch ref. 5130 is without a doubt the best and most elegant worldtimer ever created. Fitted with a beautiful case measuring 39.5 mm in diameter available in yellow gold, rose gold, white gold or platinum, and a silvery white guilloché sunburst dial with gold applied hour markers and 24 time zone ring with day/night indicator, this watch is not only very easy to use but also extremely beautiful and elegant. The understated look and classiness of Patek Philippe is present in every detail of this timepiece that is a joy to wear.

The beating heart inside this Patek is the automatic calibre 240 HU composed of 239 parts, a 22K gold off-centered mini rotor, eight bridges, gyromax balance and which provides a power reserve of 48 hours while beating at a frequency of 21,600 vph. The calibre is fully visible via the display case back and the Côtes de Genève finish on the bridges along with the perlage are a real treat for the eyes. Only when wearing a Patek Philippe one understands why you merely take care of it for the next generation.

This exceptional timepiece is very easy to use and all it takes is for the wearer to push the button at 10 o'clock to tell the time across 24 different timezones. The hour and minute hands display the local time in the middle of the dial. Surrounding it are two rings, one with the names of 24 cities that stand for the 24 time zones, the other with a 24-hour ring featuring a darker part with a moon symbol for the nocturnal hours and a brighter one with a sun symbol for the daytime hours. Local time is the time in the zone represented by the city at the very top of the dial in the 12 o’clock position. The time in any other zone is displayed by the 24-hour ring opposite the name of the respective city. When traveling, the easiest way to tell time in the destination city is the push the button at 10 o'clock until the the city you are traveling to appears at the 12 o'clock position.

Fitted with an elegant matte alligator strap that is hand-stitched and equipped with a folding clasp, this watch is extremely comfortable and one that wears true to its size. Next time you are traveling around the world in 80 days and you look at this timepiece on your wrist, you'll understand even further why this heirloom will be passed down to your descendants.

Sticker Price $47,000 USD. For more info on Patek Philippe click here.

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Patek Philippe and tagged Patek Philippe World Time Patek Philippe 5130J World Timer Patek Philippe Calibre 240 HU Patek Philippe 5130J-001 Patek Philippe ref. 5130 2013.

Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Alinghi Team Limited Edition. A Beast in Rose Gold and Forged Carbon.

The other day, we ran into one of our favorite discontinued limited edition Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore models and decided to work on this quick review for our readers that are AP fans. Alinghi’s victory at the America's Cup in 2003 inspired Audemars Piguet to design an innovative chronograph watch  —the Royal Oak Offshore Alinghi Polaris— with a special new movement featuring a regatta flyback function, the first of its kind to date.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Alinghi Team Limited Edition ref. 26062OR.OO.A002CA.01 is a beast of a watch and one that you rarely run into in the wild. This watch of which only 600 pieces were made in rose gold, 1300 in forged carbon and 107 pieces in platinum —all three models with a forged carbon bezel. The Royal Oak Offshore Alinghi Team is fitted with an 18k rose gold case measuring 44 mm in diameter and 14.65 mm in thickness, a forged carbon bezel, a robust oversized ceramic crown, rounded ceramic pushers, and a black rubber strap with rose gold pin buckle. As expected, the case construction is very solid just as on any other Royal Oak Offshore and the solid case back is a work of art featuring a delicate relief motif of the 'Alinghi Team' in action and secured with special head screws not commonly present on other timepieces in the Offshore collection. As it is common with AP watches, the chamfers are to die for and just mesmerizing.

While the strap is very nice and supple —with a similar texture to the strap on the Rubber Clad—, unfortunately we can't say the same about the sharp special screws on the exterior of the buckle. These screws dig so much into the back of the wrist that it's almost impossible to wear this watch comfortably considering the top heavy 18k rose gold case.

The black dial with 'grande tapisserie' on the center and concentric circles pattern on the perimeter, features rose gold Arabic numerals, red chronograph seconds hand, red surrounds, the 'Alinghi Team' logo at 3 o'clock right next to the 10-minute regatta countdown aperture, a 20-minute register at 9 and a 6-hour chrono-register at 6 o'clock. The chrono and seconds hands are shaped like a ship's prow while the minute and hour hands are skeletonized with luminous material on the tips. The beating heart inside this watch is the automatic Audemars Piguet calibre 2326/2848 composed of 366 parts, fitted with 50 jewels and which provides a power reserve of 40 hours while beating at a frequency of 28,800vph. Even when most of the owners of this watch really don't use the watch for its intended purpose or even care about how the regatta functions work, we will explain it here for those that care.

During a regatta there are four warning signals that are given by the officials before the sailboats can cross the start line. Once the first warning signal is given 11 minutes before the crossing of the start line, the countdown should be started on the watch by pushing the top pusher —stop/start—, when the second warning signal is given ten minutes before the official start, the bottom pusher —flyback/reset— should be pressed advising the crew that there are only ten minutes left until the start of the race. When the third warning signal is given, the regatta aperture and the register at 9 o'clock will show that there are 5 minutes remaining. One minute before the official crossing of the start line, the regatta aperture shows the number one and the team knows that there is one minute left before the fourth warning signal is given announcing the beginning of the race. When the fourth signal is given, the regatta aperture will show the number ten and the wearer should then press the bottom pusher to start recording the length of the race without needing to stop the chrono thanks to its flyback function.

As mentioned before, the case back is a real treat for the eyes and one can stare at it for hours. The artists at Audemars Piguet really captured the spirit of the 'Alinghi Team' in action with an amazing level of detail on the relief.

On the wrist, the watch feels impressive and provides unparalleled wrist presence wearing way bigger than its actual size because of the protruding crown guards. While this massive watch is very sporty, the precious metal on it gives it enough elegance for it to be worn with a suit or even a tuxedo. For those of you wondering what happened to the partnership between AP and Alinghi, all we can tell you is that their partnership ceased a while back and now Hublot had become their official timekeeper. Go figure why?

Last known Sticker Price $61,100 USD. For more info on Audemars Piguet click here and for the Alinghi team here.

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Audemars Piguet and tagged Royal Oak Alinghi America's Cup 2003 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Alinghi Team ref. 26062OR.OO.A002CA.01 Posts 2013.

News: Pre SIHH 2014 Piaget Presents the Altiplano 38mm 900P. The World's Thinnest Mechanical Watch Merging Calibre and Case.

Neither entirely a movement nor exactly a case – or rather both at once: introducing the Altiplano 38mm 900P, the world’s thinnest mechanical watch. Merging the hand-wound calibre with the case elements, it is designed as a single entity in order to achieve record-breaking slenderness at just 3.65 mm thin. Representing a crowning achievement in over half a century of virtuoso skills displayed in the realm of ultra-thin watchmaking where Piaget reigns supreme, it conveys the excellence of the two integrated Manufactures run by the Maison. Places where the skills of the watchmakers, case constructors and designers converge in giving life to this masterpiece of reliability and precision.

2014 is a vintage year for Piaget! The Maison is celebrating its 140th anniversary and marks the occasion by launching a model that is set to defy the conventions of ultra-thin Fine Watchmaking for many years to come: the Altiplano 38 mm 900P. While clearly geared towards cutting-edge innovation, it is also a nod to history, since it gets the 900P part of its name from Calibre 9P, which was the first ultra-thin hand-wound movement made by Piaget in 1957. That particular mechanism measured just 2 mm thin and sealed Piaget’s destiny in the field of ultra-thin horology. By 1960, Piaget was ready to set a first record with its Calibre 12P, the world’s thinnest automatic movement at just 2.3 mm. The following years witnessed a spate of new slimness records in the fields of hand-wound and automatic models, with or without horological complications – like Calibre 600P, the world’s thinnest hand-wound shaped tourbillon movement; and 1208P, an automatic movement that was also the thinnest in its category, to mention just a couple of these feats. Constantly reaffirming its unconditional love of slim mechanisms, the Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Piaget has produced no less than 23 ultra-thin calibres out of the 35 movements developed and produced in-house, of which 12 have set new records for thinness over the past few years and are now part of the collection.

While the Altiplano 38 mm 900P merges the case and movement to establish itself as the thinnest mechanical watch ever, it also stems from another fusion without which such a feat would have been impossible: that of the two Manufactures Piaget – one based in La Côte aux Fées, where the movements are traditionally made; and the other in Plan-les-Ouates, where the cases are crafted. These skills are now inextricably intermingled, since within the Altiplano 38mm 900P, the mechanism and the external components form a single indivisible entity. For a full three years, watchmakers, case constructors and designers worked together at each stage of development, production, adjustment and finishing in order to give life to this slender marvel. Each technical choice had an aesthetic impact, and vice versa. While each of the 145 parts composing the Altiplano 38 mm 900P has been trimmed to a size sometimes barely thicker than a hair’s breadth –including some wheels measuring a mere 0.12 mm thin compared with 0.20 mm on a classic movement– special care has been devoted to clearances. In other words, the process involved cleverly arranging the components to within the nearest hundredth of a millimetre so as to create optimal play between the fixed and mobile organs, while being careful to ensure that the later move freely and thus guarantee the smooth running of the mechanism.

Nonetheless, the true secret of this extreme slenderness lies in the structure of the case itself, of which the back also serves as the mainplate. Thereby merging calibre and case, the latter was machined directly from the case back in order to house the mechanical parts. This highly complex architecture meant reversing movement construction so as to fit the bridges on the dial side —an approach that also has an aesthetic effect by keeping them visible. To save another precious few millimetres, the entire mechanism and the hand-fitting system are contained within the thickness of the balance-wheel itself, thus entailing an off-centered display of the hours and minutes entirely in tune with the iconic design features of the Altiplano line. These characteristics are further enhanced by the entirely visible wheeltrain that invites the owner of the watch to plunge into the very heart of this supremely slender and technically sophisticated mechanism. Working within this extremely confined space, Piaget has devised a suspended barrel hanging from a single bridge on the dial side, contrary to classic barrels that are also fixed to the mainplate side. This highly unusual device is no way detrimental to the performance of the mechanism, since the Altiplano 38 mm 900P has a generous power reserve of around 48 hours.

When a watch is subjected to strong pressure, such as when immersed in water, its glass or crystal is slightly deformed. While this physical phenomenon goes relatively unnoticed on a classic timepiece, the same is certainly not true of an ultra-thin watch. Given the extremely confined space available, the glass would be liable to press on the hands when deformed, thus causing the movement to stop. To avoid this challenge to any ultra-thin model, Piaget has come up with a revolutionary device —patent pending— representing a major breakthrough in ensuring the reliability of this type of watch. Instead of fitting the hands above the bridges, Piaget has placed them underneath, thereby freeing up space between the cannon-pinion and the crystal. When the latter is deformed by the effects of pressure, it presses not on the hands – placed below the bridge level – but instead on the wheel-train bridge, thus avoiding any consequences on the rate of the movement. While for Piaget, the extreme slimming down of the parts in an ultra-thin watch must in no way compromise its reliability, the same goes for the level of finishing. The Altiplano 38 mm 900P is no
exception to the rule. Even though some of its 145 parts remain hidden from sight, all of them have been meticulously finished in keeping with the noblest horological traditions, through countless hours of patient work rendered even trickier by the extraordinary slenderness of the components. The mainplate carved out of the watch case-back has been satin-brushed and sandblasted, while the wheels are alternately sunburst or circular satin-brushed. Hollowed so as to reveal the subtle mechanical
intricacies at the heart of the Altiplano 38 mm 900P, the bevelled and satin-brushed sunburst bridges are black-coated to create elegant contrasts with the white gold case. The index-assembly bearing the Piaget “P” strikes a resounding signature note within this subtly orchestrated Fine Watchmaking symphony.

Sticker Price TBC. For more info on Piaget click here.

Technical Specifications

Piaget Altiplano 900P
Case Diameter: 38 mm. Thinnest ever mechanical in 18K white gold.
Calibre and case merge to form a seamless whole with a black-coated movement
Strap: Black alligator leather strap with 18K white gold pin buckle
Power reserve: approx. 48 hours
Frequency: 21,600 vph /3 Hz
Thickness: 3.65 mm (case + movement)
Number of jewels: 20
Number of components: 145 (case + movement)

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under News, SIHH, Piaget and tagged Piaget Altiplano 38mm 900P World's Thinnest Mechanical Watch 2013.

Watch Shopping: 10 Watches You Can Gift This Season Priced Under $11K USD. A Little Bit of Everything for Almost Everyone.

Whether you want to pamper yourself with a new timepiece or you are just looking to find the perfect watch for that special someone —a true watchlifestyler or not—, these are ten formidable watches you can gift this season. We have included in this list a little bit of everything for almost everyone including a couple of chronographs, a GMT complication, a complete calendar, a watch fitted with a power reserve indicator, a very unconventional looking watch that takes its inspiration from a manometer, a robust diver's watch, the winner of the Revival Prize at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève, an upgraded Italian classic and even one of the best examples of watchmaking from Saxony.

The best part is that we have already reviewed them here and all are priced under $11K USD. If you want to check the full reviews by watch, just click on the name of the respective watch and you will be redirected to our review with live pictures.

Tudor Heritage Black Bay ref. 79220R, 41mm stainless steel case, automatic movement, depth rating to 200m, unidirectional rotating bezel, stainless steel bracelet and additional black nylon strap, gilt matte finished dial, Winner of the Revival Prize at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève. Sticker Price $3,425 USD. For more info on Tudor click here.

Bell & Ross Sport Heritage BR 126 Chronograph, 41 mm stainless steel case, display case back, automatic movement, 30-minute chronograph, date indicator, rubber strap with pin buckle, vintage looking luminova on dial. Sticker Price $4,500 USD. For more info on Bell & Ross click here.

Baume & Mercier Clifton ref. 10055 Complete Calendar, 43 mm stainless steel case, display case back, automatic movement, includes day, date, month and moon phase indicators, black alligator strap with deployant buckle. Sticker Price $4,950 USD. For more info on Baume & Mercier click here.

Giuliano Mazzuoli Manometro, 45.2 mm stainless steel case, automatic movement, raw natural color leather strap and design inspired by a tire pressure gauge. $3,500 USD. For more info on Giuliano Mazzuoli click here.

Glashütte Original Sixties Panorama Date ref. 23947030204, 42 mm stainless steel case, display case back, automatic movement, big panorama date indicator at 6 o'clock, black dial and dark brown alligator strap with pin buckle. Sticker Price $9,200 USD. For more info on Glashütte Original click here.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Réserve de Marche ref. 1378420, 39 mm stainless steel case, display case back, automatic movement, power reserve and date indicators, matte black alligator strap with deployant buckle and only 9.9 mm thick. Sticker Price $9,300 USD. For more info on Jaeger-LeCoultre click here.

JEANRICHARD Aquascope ref. 60400-11B401-11A, 44 mm stainless steel case, automatic movement, unidirectional rotating bezel, vertical satin-brushed finished blue dial with date indicator, depth rating to 300m and stainless steel bracelet. Sticker Price $3,500 USD. For more info on JEANRICHARD click here.

Zenith El Primero Limited Edition Chronograph ref. 03.2092.410/91.C496, limited edition of 500 pieces, 42 mm stainless steel case, display case back, automatic movement, 12-hour chronograph, day, date, month and moon phase indicators, black alligator strap with triple folding clasp. Sticker Price $10,600 USD. For more info on Zenith click here.

Panerai Radiomir Black Seal 3-Day Automatic ref. PAM 00388, 45 mm stainless steel case, display case back, 3-day power reserve automatic movement, black matte sandwich dial with super luminova, date indicator and black alligator strap with pin buckle. Sticker Price $7,700 USD. For more info on Panerai click here.

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M GMT GoodPlanet ref. 232.30.44.22.03.001 43.5 mm stainless steel case, display case back, automatic movement, GMT function with orange independent hand, rotating ceramic bezel, date indicator and stainless steel bracelet. Sticker Price $8,100 USD. For more info on Omega click here.

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Watch Shopping, Other Brands and tagged Glashütte Original Sixties Panorama Date ref. 23947030204 Giuliano Mazzuoli Manometro Baume & Mercier Clifton ref. 10055 Complete Calendar Bell & Ross Sport Heritage BR 126 Chronograph Tudor Heritage Black Bay ref. 79220R Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Réserve de Marche ref. 1378420 Zenith El Primero Limited Edition Chronograph ref. 03.2092.410/91.C496 JEANRICHARD Aquascope ref. 60400-11B401-11A Panerai Radiomir Black Seal 3-Day Automatic ref. PAM 00388 Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M GMT GoodPlanet ref. 232.30.44.22.03.001.

News: Pre SIHH 2014 Jaeger-LeCoultre Unveils the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1931 Chocolate Dial. Absolute Elegance in a Pink Gold Case.

Over the years, the Reverso has appeared in a number of different guises and been enriched with various unusual sizes and new horological complications – all the while remaining loyal to the spirit of the watch with two faces. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of this timepiece that has become a cult object, Jaeger-LeCoultre chose to return to the very origins of a legend by presenting the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Tribute to 1931, directly inspired by the aesthetic codes of the historical model. This creation, distinguished by an ultra-thin case, contemporary dimensions and remarkably faithfulness to the original, was enthusiastically received by devotees of the Reverso and by watch connoisseurs who expressed the wish that this vintage edition should not remain a one-off model. In response to their desires, the Manufacture already introduced the Grande Reverso Rouge with a deep red dial in 2012, followed the next year by the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Duoface Blue. For 2014, Jaeger-LeCoultre unveils the third member of this splendid trilogy: the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1931 with a chocolate-toned dial.

The new model, entirely in keeping with its historical ascendance, vividly evokes the finest hours of Art Deco. Its shapes, its color and its materials are the ultimate expression of a movement that heralded the inception of industrial design while favoring hand craftsmanship executed to perfection. Entranced by this delightful color palette, the eye naturally lingers on the pleasing contrasts between the glowing chocolate shade of the watch face and the pink gold of the case, including the traditional gadroons framing the dial. This irresistible association is further underscored by the judicious reinterpretation of the aesthetic principles governing the original. Apart from the 12 o’clock numeral, the hours are shown by baton-shaped hour-markers, while the hour and minute hands feature a dagger-type profile. The small seconds at 6 o’clock perform a once a minute rotation on the dedicated rectangular subdial. This picture of pure, restrained refinement would not be complete without a mention of the “REVERSO” inscription exactly reproducing that appearing on the historical model. Everything might seem to have been said, and yet it is only now that the distinctive emotional ties uniting an owner and his Reverso can begin to be woven.

The usual chestnut brown alligator leather strap with pink gold pin buckle is just one of the options proposed by the Grande Maison in the Vallée de Joux for securing the Reverso Ultra Thin 1931 to the wrist. Polo players, who have been wild about the Reverso for over 80 years, are no less demanding when it comes to choosing the pair of boots they will wear to compete in various prestigious tournaments. They show no hesitation in confidently striding through the doors of Casa Fagliano, established since 1892 in the worldwide polo capital, Buenos Aires. For well over a century, the Fagliano family has been dedicated to a single craft of which it masters all the mysteries and intricacies: fine leather work. The descendants of the company founder continue to share the many duties involved in an authentic family-style division of labor. Their creations are keenly sought-after by the best polo players who simply could not imagine playing a match without their favorite boots. For the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre, Casa Fagliano has agreed to produce hand-crafted straps in successive stages following the strict principles of time-honored tradition in working with cordovan leather, which is renowned for its exceptional resistance. Delivered along with each watch, the strap made in the Casa Fagliano workshops is distinguished by its elegant suppleness and hand-made mode of production that makes it truly one of a kind. The Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre is proud of this partnership that further strengthens the ties between polo and the Reverso. Over eight decades since its birth, aesthetes will be more delighted than ever to welcome the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1931, which combines passion and prodigious expertise with the legendary quality characterizing all timepieces bearing the Jaeger-LeCoultre signature.

For more info on Jaeger-LeCoultre click here.

Technical Specifications

Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1931 Chocolate Dial ref. Q2782560.

Movement: Mechanical manually-wound movement, Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822/2, crafted, assembled and decorated by hand. 21,600 vph, 19 jewels, thickness of 2.95 mm, 45-hour power reserve.

Dial: Chocolate dial with powdered numerals and hour-markers.

Hands: Baton-type, faceted, gold plated

Case: 18-carat pink gold with a height of 46.8 mm, a width of 27.4 mm and a thickness of 7.3 mm with a polished finish.

Water-resistant: 3 bars/30 meters.

Straps and buckle: Matte brown alligator leather 20/18 and 2nd strap in cordovan leather, crafted by “Casa Fagliano” of Buenos Aires fitted with a pin buckle in 18 carat pink gold.

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Jaeger-LeCoultre, News, SIHH and tagged Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1931 ref. Q2782560 Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822/2 Casa Fagliano Argentina 2013.

Insider: Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Hometime Aston Martin. A Very Nice and Understated Dual Time Complication.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Hometime Aston Martin ref. 162847N is perhaps one of the most elegant and understated dual time complications out there. With its Aston Martin-inspired design, this watch features a slim satin-brushed finished stainless steel case measuring 40 mm in diameter that wears relatively smaller on the wrist. The watch is very nice and quite useful for those traveling frequently between timezones.

The Master Hometime Aston Martin features a black sunray-brushed dial that appears more glossy than sunray due to its domed sapphire crystal and the reflections created by light. The dial is perfectly balanced featuring a nice symmetry between the 24-hour indicator at 12 and the running seconds at 6 o’clock that is divided in quarters and which features an overlapping date aperture. The two time zones are easy to read as the reference time is being indicated by a skeletonized hand with a red tip that provides unparalleled contrast. As it is common with Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces, this watch features classic and elegant dauphine hands with a small touch of luminescent material. The registers on the dial are recessed and nicely texturized with a guilloché finish as you will be able to appreciate in the pictures.

The beating heart inside this beauty is the automatic Jaeger-LeCoultre calibre 975H composed of 230 parts, 29 jewels and which provides a power reserve of 48 hours when fully wound. The calibre is very nicely decorated and fully visible via the display case back. One advantage of this watch over other dual time zone watches, is that the 24-hour hand is not the one that moves independently but the home time, allowing for easy adjustment when traveling between time zones. If you keep your hour hand and the 24-hour hand synchronized, every time you travel it will be easy to adjust your time to the new time zone and always keeping track of the hometime with the 24-hour red tip hand. If you are not traveling you could always synchronize the 24-hour hand to the second time zone you want to keep as a reference without the need of a bezel.

This watch is fitted with a nice grayish blueish matte alligator strap with double folding clasp. Opposed to other JLC watches we have reviewed, the length on this strap is perfect. The strap has a very unique and nice color but is somewhat stiff. We are confident that after a week-long break-in period, the strap will perfectly mold to your wrist.

As mentioned earlier, this watch wears slightly smaller on the wrist but quite comfortable. The biggest down side to this watch, is that the dial along with the untreated sapphire crystal create unwanted reflections that make reading time somewhat hard. Regardless, we feel that this watch is very nicely done and an extremely great value for your money.

Sticker Price $9,000 USD. For more info on Jaeger-LeCoultre click here.

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Jaeger-LeCoultre and tagged Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Hometime Aston Martin ref. 162847N 2013.

Experience: Spain's Winebota. The Perfect and Most Stylish Way to Carry Wine.

If you have been to Spain or grew up in a Latin American country, you already know what we are talking about and we are bringing back to life some very fond memories while drinking wine or partying around. A winebota is a leather pouch commonly used in Spain to carry wine and other beverages. The winebota was created centuries ago as an alternative to breakable containers and as a more convenient way to carry wine around. These leather pouches are either lined with latex or with a tree resin —named pez in Spanish and only suitable for wine— to prevent liquid from seeping through. The latex lined winebotas are always the best option as you can carry all sorts of beverages and they are maintenance free. Another great think about them is that you can fit a whole liter of wine in them —a bottle of wine is 750ml.

Now, if you decide to get one of these winebotas to take with you on your next skiing trip to the Swiss Alps or on a hunting trip to the heart of the Appalachian mountains, make sure you drink from it the right way. Once you remove the top cap shaped like a bell from the double endpiece, you need to lift the winebota and stretch your arms as far as possible to then squeeze the wine out and create a long stream shot just like Spaniards do when running with the bulls in Pamplona. These winebotas come in a variety of cool designs, colors and types of leather. The one pictured here is from their Iconography line featuring a wild boar.

Sticker Price $80 USD. For more info on Winebotas click here.

Posted on December 8, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Food Wine & Cigars, Sybarite Guide, Jaeger-LeCoultre and tagged Winebota Wild Boar Iconography Winebotas 2013.

Experience: Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Along with a Perfect Matching Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Scuba Blue Boutique Edition.

Our close friend and watchlifestyler Riley was taking his Aston Martin V8 Vantage for a ride when he realized that the blue flange on his Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Scuba Blue Boutique Edition ref. 15701ST.OO.D002CA.02 was an exact match to the color of his fancy automobile. Therefore, he decided to snap a few shots for us. Just like the Royal Oak Offshore continues to go through constant engineering and advancement, the Aston Martin Vantage has gone through 10 years of upgrades and engineering to be the high-performance iconic sports car it is today.

Combining an instantly recognizable design with exceptional technology, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage embodies all that is great about Aston Martin, just like the Scuba on the hood. Powered by a lightweight and compact 4.7 liter engine, the V8 Vantage outputs 420 hp and gets you from 0-60mph in just 4.9 seconds. Not bad for such a large automobile.

Opposed to what most people think, the interior of the V8 Vantage is very cozy and comfortable, not necessary what you expect from supercars or sportscars like this. The finest materials are used to create a driver and passenger environment of exquisite finesse, all created by expert craftsman. With hundreds of unique color and finish combinations available and a range of personalized options the V8 Vantage can be purchased exactly how you want it.

History, exclusivity, refinement and sportiness are the words that come to mind when getting into one of these cars for a ride. Interestingly enough, these are the same four words that come to mind when strapping an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Scuba Blue Boutique Edition to the wrist. For those of you wondering, the Scuba is quite rare as only 300 pieces of the blue edition were ever made. While the Aston Martin V8 Vantage is definitely not as rare, it is an automobile that you don't see as often on the streets.

These last shots will make you feel like you are on the wheel wearing the Scuba and taking those tight corners as fast as you can. If you can still find an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Scuba Blue Boutique Edition get it, just make sure you add an Aston Martin like this to match the blue flange on your timepiece —at the end of the day we watchlifestylers like to do crazy things like that when it comes to getting matching stuff to go with our watches and not the other way around.

For more info on Aston Martin click here and on Audemars Piguet here.

Posted on December 7, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Automobiles and tagged Aston Martin V8 Vantage Audemars Piguet Scuba Blue Diver Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Scuba Blue ref. 15701ST.OO.D002CA.02 2013.

Rare Bird: Pre-Vendome Panerai Luminor Marina ref. 5218-203/A Serial Number 0002. A Full Set Up for Auction and a Paneristi Dream Come True. (Update with Hammer Price)

Today, we stopped by Chicago's leading auction house Leslie Hindman Auctioneers and found several amazing timepieces going for sale during their Fine Timepieces Auction Sale 280 taking place this next Monday December 9th at 5:30pm CST. Among the rarities and special timepieces to be auctioned, we came across Lot 51, an amazing mint Pre-Vendome Panerai Luminor Marina ref. 5218-203/A in a full set accompanied by its outer blue box, wooden box, Panerai booklet with certificate dated November 9th, 1994, service documentation affixed to the booklet, additional brand new and unused Panerai Pre-Vendome strap, Panerai screwdriver and even a set of four new screws for those that tend to mar their screws when changing straps.

This amazing watch is fitted with a titanium nitrate treated stainless steel case measuring 44 mm in diameter, a matte black dial with small seconds at 9 o'clock and fitted with the manual wound Unitas calibre UT6497. Only 200 pieces were ever made of this timepiece and we consider this watch to be even more special because of its extremely low serial number 0002. This is what we call "a true Panerai collector's dream come true". Our educated guess, is that this watch will be selling on Monday around the low of the estimate which is set at $35,000-55,000 USD. Update: The watch fetched a hammer price of $30,000 USD yesterday evening.

We will know let the rest of our pictures, do the talking. Please do not use this images or our content as your buying guide or condition report for this watch, as only Leslie Hindman Auctioneers can provide you with such information.

For more info on Leslie Hindman Auctioneers click here.  

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Panerai, Watch Auctions and tagged Leslie Hindman Auctioneers Pre-Vendome Panerai Luminor Marina ref. 218-203/A Pre-Vendome Panerai Luminor Marina ref. 218-203/A Serial 0002 Unitas Calibre UT6497 2013.

Insider: Micah Dirksen Vintager Mauser Straps. A True Outfitter to the Paneristi Community.

Few leather straps come with so much history, love and passion for watches as the Vintager Straps handmade by Micah Dirksen. Micah is a very well known name in the Paneristi community. Who knows how many Panerais out there are fitted with his straps, but one thing we know, is that when you order one of his straps you fully understand why his reputation is so impeccable.

Micah started collecting Swatch watches when he was a teenager and at that time he was also very fascinated by Rolex; however, money wasn't there to buy one. When finances allowed, he purchased his first Rolex to coincide with the birth year of his son and after many years collecting Rolexes, he found out that Panerai and Rolex had an intertwined history and became quite interested in them. Ironically, he was a "bracelet only" kind of guy, today, he outfits most Paneristi with his straps.

Micah's vintage Mauser straps are made out of vintage —from the 1900s thru the 1950s but mainly from the 1940s— Mauser ammo pouches from Switzerland and the former Czech Republic. The rugged and vintage nature of these straps is present all the way from their look to the musky smell of their leather. All straps are hand cut, hand stitched and marked by Micah out of his workshop in Napa Valley. To make a Mauser vintage strap, he uses one whole Mauser ammo pouch. As he says: "one pouch, one strap".

Many straps out there are made by guys that make these as a hobby and others just put their names on them after having someone make them on their behalf. What makes these straps even more unique —other than the interesting provenance of the leather— is that Micah is a full-time custom strap maker; therefore, every order is personal, from the first email a customer receives to the postage label that was placed with Micah's hands. All straps are custom made to order and you can choose everything from the the Mauser pouch to be used for your strap to the length, the width, type of buckle, strap perforations and even the stitching. You could also just choose no buckle and use your own OEM buckle just like we did.

If you are looking to add a true vintage look to your PAM 388 Radiomir Black Seal 3-Day Automatic or to any other Panerai with strong historical influence, make sure you get one of these Vintager Straps from Micah. As you can see, the watch obtained more character and the fit of the strap is just perfect. On the wrist, the strap feels solid, comfortable and the desired vintage look is unparalleled. For those of you that want to darken your strap since day one, Micah will send you a small can of Dr. J's paste to get the patina and greasy look going.

Now, since we know that many of you are already wondering why Micah chose an octopus as his logo, here's the answer: because he felt that the octopus clearly represents what the original Panerai watches were all about, a rugged durable diver's watch.

Sticker Price Starting at $210 USD. For more info on Micah Vintager Straps click here.

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Fashion & Style, Panerai and tagged Vintager Straps Micah Dirksen Napa Valley Watch Straps 2013.

News: Pre SIHH 2014 A. Lange & Söhne Unveils the Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase. More Than 300 Laser-Cut Stars on its Moon Phase Disc.

Pre SIHH 2014, A. Lange & Söhne unveils the new Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase that gives the exactly calculated to 122.6 years moon phase display a shiny appearance on the dial. A patented method of coating the moon's disk gives this astronomical complication a highly detailed appearance. The moon is a fascinating celestial body. It determines not only the tides, but also affects the rhythm of life of many creatures and plants. A moon phase display is therefore highly appreciated by many watch lovers.

Since its relaunch, the Saxon manufacture has presented twelve models with such a complication. However, never before the moon phase display has been so prominent as it is in the new Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase. The popular astronomical display received a large stage on the dial. You can now clearly see how the moon phase display follows the actual phases of the moon in a remarkably realistic manner because it is linked to the continuum of the hour. Thus, it is — just like the moon itself— always on the move and in such small steps that you cannot detect this movement with the naked eye.

In addition, the moon phase indicator represents the time from new moon to new moon with an accuracy of 99.9978 percent. 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 3 seconds , the average synod lunar months. For simplicity, the cycle is therefore rounded in most classical moon phase displays to 29.5 days. This leads per cycle to a deviation of 44 minutes and 3 seconds, which adds up after two and a half years to one day. The much more accurately calculated seven-gear on the Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase reduces the deviation per lunar cycle to less than a minute. Once set up properly, you would have to correct the display by one day after 122.6 years. With a corrector pushpiece between 7 and 8 o'clock on the case band, the display can be adjusted. The solid gold moon disc testifies the perfection claim of the Lange product developers. The result of extensive research and development work is a patented coating process that through an unparalleled color brilliance and sharpness of all the details meets the highest aesthetic standards. Due to interference effects —the superposition of reflections— all non-blue color components of the incoming daylight are absorbed. So is in the eye of the beholder an intensely blue color impression. The more than 300 stars of different size are cut so sharply drawn with a laser that they act like a miniaturized representation of the Milky Way .

With the combination of decentralized dial design, large date and technically advanced caliber, the Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase bears all the marks of the most famous family of watches from A. Lange & Söhne. The calibre with an impressive power reserve of 72 hours is only 4.7 mm thick thanks to the use of only one barrel. The case, available in yellow gold, rose gold or platinum has a diameter of 41.0 mm. With a balance spring developed and manufactured in-house, a three-quarter plate made of untreated German silver and intricately hand decorated parts, the Lange calibre L095.3 features all the classic elements of the timepieces from this manufacture.

For more info on A. Lange & Söhne click here.

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under News, A Lange Sohne, SIHH and tagged A. Lange & Söhne Grand Lange 1 Moon Phase A. Lange & Söhne calibre l095.3 2013.

Insider: Badollet Crystalball Tiger. Because Green is the Color of Money.

As we told you a few months ago, Badollet is an independent brand with a strong pedigree that because of its exclusivity and high price range, is only accessible for the ultra elite watchlifestylers. Since they say that "green is the color of money" why not publish a review of one of our favorite Badollet timepieces that comes with plenty of green in it and also with a very green price tag.

The Crystalball Tiger is a timepiece featuring a tourbillon and fitted with a tripartite case in 18K rose gold and malachite measuring 44m in diameter. The dial is also made of malachite. Malachite is present in several historical landmarks around the world such as the 'Malachite Room' in Mexico City's Castle of Chapultepec, 'The Tazza' vase —gifted by the Tzar Nicholas II— at the Linda Hall Library in Kansas City and the over-sized  neoclassical vase at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, just to name a few.

The malachite dial features a hand engraved 18K rose gold tiger surrounded by bamboo sticks on relief that almost seems to be floating on top of the surface of the dial which happens to be part of the middle case. The tourbillon cage is located at 7 o'clock and the blued hands provide perfect balance to this work of art. The level of detail on the tiger and the bamboo is almost unfathomable and a real treat for the eyes.

The crown is very nicely crafted and properly signed with the Badollet griffin. The hollow angular horns on the case are extremely unique and as beautiful as it gets. All the rose gold elements used in the construction of this watch, provide the perfect amount of contrast to the beautiful dark malachite middle case and dial.

Now, let's talk about our favorite part. The display case back allows for full view of the amazing Badollet manual-wound calibre BAD5600 with aluminum and lithium bridges entirely hand-engraved to resemble bamboo scaffolding. The plate and gears are made from blackened gold and the movement provides a power-reserve of five days when fully wound. The intricate work on each of the bridges shows the love for horology and the level of detail obtained by the watchmaker when engraving the bridges is just out of this world. As a side note, Badollet offers ad-hoc personalization where the bridges or other components of the movement can be engraved.

The Badollet Crystalball Tiger watch is fitted with an elegant black safari crocodile leather strap that is handmade, leather-lined, hand-creased, saddle-stitched and available in matte or glossy finish. The strap features an 18K rose gold double-deployant folding clasp. The strap wears very comfortable and requires no break-in period.

On the wrist, the watch feels like a dream. Even though the watch has a very particular look and its dial could be perceived by a few as kitsch, all we can say is that it is not the case. While we consider ourselves big fans of simplicity and discreet timepieces, all it takes to fall in love with this timepiece is to see one in person and strap it on to the wrist, after you've done that, is just game over.

This time we skipped the wrist shot as we wanted for you to use your imagination and visualize how this fascinating watch would look on your on wrist.

Sticker Price $385,000 USD. For more info on Badollet click here.

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Other Brands, Badollet and tagged Badollet Crystalball Tiger Malachite and Rose Gold Badollet Calibre BAD5600 Posts 2013.

Insider: Jaquet Droz Urban London Grande Seconde SW Titanium and Red Gold. Just Because We Love Two-Tone Watches.

We really consider ourselves some of the few that still love two-tone watches just as if we were living in the late 70s or the early 80s. The Jaquet Droz Urban London Grande Seconde SW in Titanium and Red Gold ref. J029037440 is a very modern interpretation of the now less common two-tone watches. Fitted with a raw carbon dial, a satin-brushed finished titanium middle case with teethed bezel —measuring 45 mm in diameter— and satin-brushed finished 18K red gold claws and horns, this watch is not only ultra cool but also very sporty looking. This is the type of timepiece that you typically wouldn't expect when hearing the Jaquet Droz name. The Urban London collection pays homage to Pierre Jaquet-Droz's second watchmaking workshop opened in London in 1774. By opening a workshop outside of Switzerland, not only Pierre Jaquet-Droz provided a striking demonstration of his audacity but also of his vision.

This watch is fitted with a raw carbon dial with figure eight configuration featuring off-centered hours/minutes with white Roman numerals —the 7, 6 and 5 are Arabic numerals— on the top part and big seconds indicator on the bottom. The dial is fitted with 18K red gold applied ring plates with rhodium treatment. The 18K skeletonized hour/minute red gold hands feature superluminova on the tips and the seconds hand is almost fully coated with the luminescent material. The dial is really nice and the applied rings provide the perfect amount of contrast.

The screw-down crown is rubberized and features the two traditional Jaquet Droz stars. The crown is very solid and easy to use. The black rubber on the crown accentuates the red gold claws and horns and the titanium case making this timepiece extremely sporty and somewhat rugged —two words that hardly come to mind when talking about this manufacture.

The beating heart powering this sporty timepiece is the automatic Jaquet Droz calibre 2663A-S with ruthenium treatment, double barrel, 18K white gold oscillating weight and 30 jewels. This beautifully decorated calibre beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph providing a power reserve of almost three full days —68 hours. The calibre can be fully appreciated via the sapphire crystal display case back.

To round out the sporty look of this Jaquet Droz and in order to take advantage of its water resistance —50 meters— by taking it on a swim without feeling guilty for getting a nice alligator strap wet, the watch is fitted with a very nice black rubber strap with deployant buckle with apparent pin buckle look. The buckle features titanium and red gold and is fitted with a flip-lock mechanism to ease the adjustment of the strap length. The sharp angles on the buckle are very nicely finished and the perfect finishing touch to this sporty watch.

On the wrist, the watch wears true to its size and very comfortably. The weight of the watch can be felt on the wrist unlike most Jaquet Droz watches. The watch is somewhat thick and hard to fit under the cuff of a shirt but with great wrist presence. If you are ready to think about Jaquet Droz in a different way, perhaps is time for you to give this sporty JD a try. The only downside to this watch is the lack of a date function. This watch is also available in full red gold, stainless steel with  black ceramic, stainless steel with black rubber, full stainless steel, titanium with black rubber and also in a chronograph version.

For those of you that don't fancy the two-tone look, here's a wrist shot of the full stainless steel one and a group shot of three of the available models.

Sticker Price $19,800 USD. For more info on Jaquet Droz click here.

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Jaquet Droz and tagged Jaquet Droz Urban London Grande Seconde SW ref. J029037440 Jaquet Droz Urban London Grande Seconde SW Titanium and Red Gold Jaquet Droz calibre 2663A-S Posts 2013 2013.

Experience: H. Upmann Edición Limitada 2009. A Perfect Habano for the Winter Just Like This Girard-Perregaux on the Wrist.

Some people say that cigars are a summer treat and not meant for the cold months, we think that cigars can be enjoyed year round, especially when it comes to perfectly rolled Habanos rich in history and paired with a good whiskey or a nicely aged port.

Just like the Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL Large Date Moon-phases, the H. Upmann cigars are full of history. H. Upmann cigars take their name from the German banker named Herman Upmann who loved Cuban cigars so much that decided to move to Havana in 1844 to work as a banker and also became a cigar maker. His bank closed in the early 1920s but his cigars live on as a fine example of an elegant light to medium-flavoured Habano.

This exceptional cigar brand is only made with leaves from the renowned region of 'Vuelta Abajo'. The H. Upmann Edición Limitada 2009 is a limited edition 'vitola' slightly shorter than the H. Upmann Connoisseur No. 1. While the Connoisseur measures 5" long with a 48 ring gauge, the Edición Limitada 2009 is shorter measuring 4.25" in length with the same 48 ring gauge. This delicious cigar presents notes of leather, caramel and some pepper. Exceptionally rich but medium flavored. The flavor profile stays even for the whole cigar. Around thirty minutes of burning time in a perfectly rolled cigar with perfect draw and extremely even burn. 

If you consider yourself a real cigar aficionado and watchlifestyler, this is a cigar that you need to try at least once in your lifetime.

Posted on December 1, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Food Wine & Cigars, Girard-Perregaux, Sybarite Guide and tagged H. Upmann Edición Especial 2009 H. Upmann Connoisseur No. 1 Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL Large Date Moon-phases 2013.

Macros: Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Regatta. Enough Yellow to Make it Stand Out.

The Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Regatta ref. 212.30.44.50.01.002 comes with enough yellow accents to make it stand out in a nice way. Fitted with a stainless steel case measuring 44m in diameter, this Seamaster features a co-axial chronograph with regatta countdown indicator. The matte black dial features a yellow five-minute countdown tracker on the 30-minute chrono-register at 3, a 12-hour chrono-register with date aperture at 6 and a small running seconds register at 9 o'clock. The matte black ceramic unidirectional rotating bezel looks more graphite grey than black and the watch case band is equipped with a helium-escape valve and an integrated date corrector at 10 o'clock. The beating heart inside this robust watch is the automatic Omega Co-Axial calibre 3330 with column-wheel chronograph and free sprung-balance equipped with Si14 silicon balance spring. This calibre provides a power reserve of approximately 52 hours when fully wound. If you want a watch that is precise and solid at timekeeping and you happen to participate in Regattas, then this is the perfect watch for you.

Sticker Price $6,000 USD. For more info on Omega click here.

Posted on November 30, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Omega and tagged Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Regatta Chronograph Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Regatta ref. 212.30.44.50.01.002 Omega Calibre 3330 Co-Axial Chronograph 2013.

Insider: JEANRICHARD Aeroscope Black Chronograph. A Spectacular Black Timepiece for Black Friday.

Considering that today is 'Black Friday' here in the U.S., why not feature one of the nicest black watches in the market. This beautiful JEANRICHARD Aeroscope Black Chronograph ref. 60650-21J613-FK6A comes in a traditional cushion-shaped case with vertically satin-brushed finished DLC-coated black titanium case and bezel with pushers protected by carbon fiber composite surface. The case measures 44m in diameter and as we said it before when reviewing the JEANRICHARD Aquascope here, its satin-brushed finish is only comparable to the grain on the finish of Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks or Royal Oak Offshores. The case and bezel feature satin-brushed and highly polished areas and depending on the light, the watch tends to look more graphite grey than black. The look and feel of this watch is more of a black ceramic watch rather than that of a DLC titanium timepiece.

This watch features a beautiful black dial also finished with a satin-brushed vertical finish, circular satin-finished chrono registers, orange luminescent Arabic numerals —not very bright at low light—, a 12-hour chrono register at 6, a 30-minute chrono register at 9, a running seconds register at 3 o'clock and a date aperture between 4 and 5 o'clock. The dial is extremely nicely but somewhat busy, The arrow-shaped hands in orange also with luminescent material provide a nice contrasting touch and good readability.

The fixed bezel is also spectacularly finished and it features an orange minute scale with 5-minute increments with no luminescent material. The bezel along with the dial, makes this watch look ultra sporty and quite rugged. This watch features rectangular chrono pushers with carbon fiber composite and the start/stop pusher requires a strong push to activate the chronograph.

The beating heart inside this watch is the automatic calibre JR66 with 43 jewels, which provides a power reserve of 42 hours when fully wound. During our review the watch seemed to be keeping perfect time with a variation of +1 seconds over a four day period. The calibre is perfectly protected by a solid case back carefully engraved with the JEANRICHARD logo.

To round out its sporty look, this watch is fitted with a very comfortable rubber strap with JR markings near the lugs and a easy to operate deployant buckle. The strap is somewhat short but nicely finished. 

On the wrist the watch wears extremely comfortable and way smaller than its actual size. This is something really positive for those with wrists smaller than 7" that want to wear a 44mm size watch. Overall, this is a very nice looking watch with an ultra sporty character that comes with a very nice price tag. If you are looking for an understated chronograph that is exclusive and extremely well finished, look no further.

Sticker Price $5,270 USD. For more info on JEANRICHARD click here.

Posted on November 29, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Other Brands, JEANRICHARD and tagged JEANRICHARD Aeroscope Black Chronograph ref. 60650-21J613-FK6A Halloween.

Experience: Four Baume & Mercier Watches for the Holidays Under $5K USD. Celebrate Giving.

As part of the release of the first Baume & Mercier brand video titled "Home for the Holidays", we received a beautiful card in the mail with a built-in video player and a delicious snowflake-shaped shortbread cookie —unfortunately we ate the cookie before working on this post so you won't get to experience it. Since, today is the start of the Holiday season with Thanksgiving and Chanukah and you don't get to experience this part of the watch collecting lifestyle, we decided to work on a special post for you to see this awesome card along with four Baume & Mercier watches priced right under $5,000 USD that would make a perfect gift to celebrate giving. This is the first film in a series of films titled "Celebrate Giving" that will roll out in 2014. The film captures the spirit of family togetherness during the holiday season and the beauty of gift giving. The video is located at the bottom of this post.

Baume & Mercier Clifton ref. 10055 Complete Calendar with Moon-phase. This is one of our favorite watches from this manufacture. It features a stainless steel case measuring 43mm in diameter, an automatic movement, a silver dial with date indicator on the outer perimeter of the dial, moon-phase indicator at 6 and day and month apertures at 12 o'clock right above the central pinion of the hands. The watch is fitted with a very comfortable and elegant black crocodile strap with deployant buckle.

Sticker Price $4,950 USD.

 

Baume & Mercier Clifton ref. 10052. This 41mm stainless steel watch also features an automatic movement and a silver dial with minute track in blue, blue anodized hands, small seconds at 6 and date aperture at 3 o'clock. Nothing too fancy, but just perfectly elegant and with a nice display case back and black crocodile leather strap with deployant buckle. Also available with black dial or silver dial with gilt Arabic numerals.

Sticker Price $2,700 USD.

 

Baume & Mercier Clifton ref. 10112 Dual Time. This 43mm watch is fitted with an automatic movement and a silver dial with dual time track in red and date aperture at 3 o'clock. The second time zone is indicated by an independent hand with red tip and it is very easy to set just by pulling the crown out to the first position and rotating the crown clockwise. Also available with slate-gray dial.

Sticker Price $3,300 USD.

 

Baume & Mercier Capeland ref. 10065 Chronograph with Telemeter Scale. This beautiful stainless steel chronograph measures 44mm in diameter and features a La Joux Perret 8120 automatic calibre. The dark blue dial features a 12-hour chrono register at 6, a 30-minute chrono register at 3, a running seconds register at 9 o'clock, tachymeter and telemeter scales and a date aperture between 4 and 5 o'clock. Also available with black, silver or black dial.

Sticker Price $4,350 USD.

Now, if you find yourself struggling for which model to pick, you can just go ahead and get all four as these watches are very nicely priced. As we would say, you get a lot of watch for your buck. The #celebrategiving video is right after our mandatory wristshot. Enjoy!

For more info on Baume & Mercier click here.

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Editor & Publisher and filed under Baume & Mercier and tagged Baume & Mercier Capeland ref. 10065 Chronograph with Telemeter Scale Baume & Mercier Clifton ref. 10112 Dual Time Baume & Mercier Clifton ref. 10052 Baume & Mercier Clifton ref. 10055 Complete Calendar with Moon-phase.