Officine Panerai in partnership with the 'Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore' proudly presents the newly restored mechanism of the Paolo Uccello's clock located inside 'Il Duomo di Firenze'. This magnificent clock that everyone that has been to 'Il Duomo' cannot forget as it is located right above the main door inside the church, was exquisitely designed and hand painted by Renaissance master painter and mathematician Paolo Uccello in 1433. Uccello, is very well known for his paintings across multiple churches in Florence including the 'Life of Saint Francis' at the church of 'Santa Trinita', the 'Annunciation' at 'Santa Maria Maggiore' and the 'Lives of the Church Fathers' at the abbey of 'San Miniato Al Monte' which is located on a hill above the Piazzale Michelangelo overlooking Florence from which we took the picture of Florence right below Paolo Uccello's portrait.
News: Presenting the Richard Mille RM011 Flyback Chronograph 'Red Demon'. A 30-Piece Limited Edition for the Americas.
Richard Mille introduces the new RM011 Automatic Flyback Chronograph 'Red Demon' in a 30-piece limited edition to be exclusively sold through the Americas. Fitted with a sizzling red inner flange, hands, strap and crown protector the red gold top and bottom bezels get amplified in this new strikingly beautiful Richard Mille. Following the success of the RM011 'White Demon', the 'Red Demon' is fitted with the usual Richard Mille tripartite case measuring 50.00 mm x 40.00 mm x 16.15 mm with the front and back made of 5N red gold, a middle case made of titanium and with a crown and pushers set in NTPT carbon. Fitted with a skeletonized black dial, the 'Red Demon' features scarlet numerals, hands, date aperture and inner flange. The crown also features a red rubber ring to match the red rubber strap on this watch.
News: Presenting the Zenith El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Rolling Stones Limited Edition.
Zenith, creator of the El Primero movement in 1969, is teaming up with the famous British rock stars the Rolling Stones, with the launch of a new El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Limited Edition watch. The announcement was made on June 1st, by Jean-Claude Biver, Director of the LVMH Group Watch Division and Tom Bennett, Chief Executive Officer for Bravado, Universal Music Group’s global music merchandising division. The watch will be the first in a series of limited edition watches by Zenith. This 250-piece limited edition is a smart blend of DNA from Zenith and the Rolling Stones. Hence the two chronograph counters, 30-minute at 3 o’clock and 12-hour at 6 o’clock, are bedecked in the same colors as the original El Primero model of 1969, namely midnight blue for the former and slate grey for the latter. The 12-hour chronograph is also overlaid with the famed Rolling Stones logo, the iconic red tongue and lip design.
News: Presenting the New Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Rainbow. Live Pictures and Pricing.
During Baselworld 2014, Zenith presented to the press a significant number of novelties that included the Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Rainbow. However, this new watch was finally officially released two days ago. With our readers in mind, we took some pictures of this new watch during our meeting with Zenith in Baselworld that finally we are able to publish for your viewing pleasure. Nothing like looking at live pictures of new watches. Following the design of the Zenith El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th Tribute to Felix Baumgartner, this time the El Primero Stratos Flyback Rainbow is presented with a black dial with white Arabic numerals, colorful accents —yellow, green, blue and fluorescent pinkish— on its 30-minute chrono register at 3 o'clock, red numerals for the first 20 minutes of its graduated rotating bezel and a bright fluorescent pinkish seconds hand that rounds out the design equation.
News: Introducing the New Richard Mille RM 030 Le Mans Classic 2014. The Fourth Limited Edition Timepiece Honoring Le Mans.
The 7th Le Mans Classic will take place on July 4, 5 and 6 of 2014. Richard Mille has been the Main Partner and Official Timekeeper of the race since the first event in 2002. This retrospective of the “24 Heures du Mans” is the chance for thousands of car enthusiasts to meet around the Bugatti track. Le Mans Classic revives more than 80 years of automobile sport history by bringing back the cars and the pilots who created the legend of the most famous race in the world on the great 13 kilometer Le Mans circuit.
Experience: DeLorean DMC-12 with a Stainless Steel Satin Brushed Body Just as Good as that on an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.
If you were a tween or a teenager in the early 80s, you probably dreamed of owning a DeLorean and feeling just like Marty McFly while traveling in time in the 1985 blockbuster movie 'Back to the Future' directed by Robert Zemeckis. The DeLorean DMC-12 by DeLorean Motor Company marked an era like very few other automobiles had and remained engrained in our minds like one of those dreams that you want to dream over and over again. With its futuristic design, fitted with a stainless steel satin brushed finish body —fiberglass underneath— and its iconic gull-wing doors, the DeLorean broke the rules of car design, but unlike the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, DMC didn't master the rules before breaking them. The DeLorean DMC-12 was manufactured only for a very brief period of time by John DeLorean's DeLorean Motor Company between 1981 and 1982 in a small town southwest of Belfast in Northern Ireland. Now, one thing that can be comparable between the DeLorean DMC-12 and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is the satin brushed finish on their stainless steel.
News: Armin Strom Announces its New Armin Strom Sailing Team. Participating in the GC32 Sailing Series.
Armin Strom is very pleased to announce its new sailing team. The team will compete this season in the Great Cup 32 Sailing Series across Europe. The Armin Strom Sailing Team's new state-of-the-art GC32 catamaran appears to defy gravity as it soars airborne across the water. Flavio Marazzi, one of Switzerland's most successful sailing competitors, leads the team as skipper and helmsman. Like Armin Strom, the Sailing Team relies on the ingenuous, flawless design of its craft. The GC32 catamaran harnesses power from its innovative L-shaped lifting foils and a T-shaped rudder that elevate the foils so the craft speeds above the water.
Insider: Presenting the New Officine Panerai Luminor Marina 8 Days PAM 590. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Panerai watches were created to face the darkness of the night and of the depths of the sea: these were the conditions under which the special underwater forces of the Royal Italian Navy operated, as they carried out missions which demanded extraordinary courage and heroism but also exceptionally durable and reliable equipment. It was in the 1930s and 1940s of the last century that the Italian Navy nominated Orologeria Panerai in Florence, with which it had already collaborated for many years, as its trusted partner for supplying underwater watches for the frogmen. To satisfy the strict requirements imposed by the Navy, the workshop of ideas created by the Panerai family developed a timepiece and other precision instruments embodying innovative technical solutions of genius and revolutionary simplicity, solutions which transformed those watches into an icon and which still today make every Panerai watch immediately recognizable.
Experience: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15400ST. 'Water Resistant' Means You Can Swim and Shower with it.
Countless times we have seen watch collectors post questions across the different watch forums regarding the water resistance of their watches and whether they can shower or swim with them. Some of the most common posts relate to questions like: Can I shower or swim with my Royal Oak? Can I shower with my Rolex Submariner?
'Water Resistance' and 'Waterproof' are two terms that are commonly interchangeably used by the different watch manufactures depending on the type of testing that the watch has undergone or at their discretion. In the context of the textile industry, these two terms mean two completely different things, where 'water resistant' refers to 'water repellant' more so than waterproofing.
Insider: Omega Olympic Pocket Watch 1932 Rattrapante Chronograph. Fitted with Double Column-Wheel Mechanism.
The Omega Olympic Pocket Watch 1932 Rattrapante Chronographs in 18K yellow, white or red gold have one of the most fascinating stories in the horological world. This fascinating pocket watches fitted with a rattrapante chronograph movement with a double column-wheel mechanism are powered by rediscovered unassembled movement kits that had been in storage at Omega’s headquarters for almost a century. According to the archives, several years ago, some unassembled chronograph movement kits were discovered in a hidden corner at Omega’s headquarters in Biel, Switzerland.
Experience: Grand Velas Riviera Maya. Vilebrequin Trunks and Watches are All You'll Need to Bring.
Memorial Day weekend officially marks the beginning of Summer for most watchlifestylers and watch collectors in the U.S., this time we are once again featuring the luxurious Grand Velas Resort in Riviera Maya, which happens to be one of our favorite destinations in that part of the world. Riviera Maya is a tourism paradise located in the eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. This secluded beach destination is only 25 miles south of Cancun and 5 miles away from Playa del Carmen. Grand Velas is a paradisiac oasis where luxury, fine dining and relaxation are the common denominators. Pack your Vilebrequin trunks and your watches and get ready to experience service at its finest.
Experience: An Evening with Kona Brewing Co. at the Omega Boutique Chicago. Pairing Craft Beer with Timepieces Works Brilliantly.
Earlier this week, we had the pleasure to be invited along with a select group of watch collectors and watchlifestylers, to an intimate beer tasting evening with Kona Brewing Co. at the Omega Boutique in Chicago. As usual, our friends from the Omega Boutique put together a very classy and fun event surrounding us by amazing timepieces in their showcases. As expected, the star of the night was the highly coveted Speedmaster 'Dark Side of the Moon' that several collectors were already sporting. Considering the huge beer connoisseurs that we are and our passion for timepieces, there was no way we would've missed this event.
News: Presenting the New Valbray EL1 Chronograph. 100-Piece Limited Edition in Partnership with Leica to Celebrate 100 Years of Leica Photography.
In a perfectly suited partnership with the iconic Leica camera from Germany, Valbray presents the new EL1 Chronograph Limited Edition watch. This watch featuring a diaphragm system like that in cameras, decided to join forces with Leica to celebrate 100 Years of Leica Photography. To make this watch even more special, its name EL1 comes from the initials of Ernst Leitz, one of the founders of the Leica brand.
Experience: Vacheron Constantin Métiers d’Art Hommage à l’Art de la Danse. A Vibrant Tribute to the World of Ballet and Edgar Degas..
acheron Constantin unveils three new one-of-a-kind additions to its Métiers d’Art Hommage à l’Art de la Danse collection, based on the highlights of a ballerina’s daily life: learning, training and performance. These creations from the workshops of the Manufacture revisit the ancestral art of Grand Feu grisaille enameling to highlight the art of classical ballet by reinterpreting the works of Edgar Degas. These three new one-of-a-kind models were given an exclusive presentation at the New York City Ballet on May 8th 2014. In becoming a patron of the Opéra National de Paris in 2007, Vacheron Constantin chose to provide a uniquely inspirational stage for the artisanal traditions of the Fine Watchmaking artistic crafts known in French as Métiers d’Art.
Rare Bird: Patek Philippe ref. 5100 10-Day Power Reserve. A Very Special Timepiece Launched to Welcome the Millennium in The Year 2000.
To celebrate the arrival of the new millennium in the year 2000, Patek Philippe created a limited edition series of 3,000 watches under the ref. 5100. Of these 3,000 watches, only 1,500 were made in 18K yellow gold with white dial, 300 in platinum with black dial, 450 in 18K white gold with blue dial and 750 in 18K rose gold with a brown dial. This watch featuring an entirely new chronometer movement with a 10-day power reserve represented a first in the history of watchmaking.
News: Breguet Adds Two Pocket Watches To Their Historical Collection. 750,000 Swiss Francs Well Spent.
At the Christie’s auction in Geneva last week, Marc A. Hayek, President & CEO of Montres Breguet SA, acquired two emblematic lots: the Breguet No. 4039, an extremely fine half quarter repeating watch with eccentric hour dial and the indication of the date, and the extremely rare Breguet Tourbillon No. 1176 which belonged to Count Potocki. These two exceptional pieces were auctioned for a total amount of 750’000 Swiss Francs.
News: Leo Messi Visits The Audemars Piguet Manufacture in Le Brassus. The King of Soccer Gets a Lesson in Watchmaking.
Four-time Golden Ball winner Leo Messi paid a visit to the Manufacture Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus. An ambassador of the Swiss brand since 2010, the Argentine born prodigy took the opportunity to enrich his knowledge of Haute Horlogerie.
Accompanied by François-Henry Bennahmias, CEO, Audemars Piguet, Leo Messi visited the workshops where his namesake limited-edition watch is made.
Insider: HYT H2 Titanium Platinum SQ. Perfectly Suited for Those That Love Red Accents on Timepieces.
Earning its place in the sphere of high-end watchmaking by turning utopia into reality, HYT is continuing its quest for hybridization with the new H2 models. The perfect alliance between high-end watchmaking and fluid mechanics, the H2 was born as the result of a vision shared by the hydro mechanical horologists and the APRP team —Audemars Piguet Renaud et Papi— overseen by Giulio Papi. Bolstered by the enthusiastic reception to its launch in 2012, HYT is continuing its immersion in the world of Haute Horlogerie and pushing the limits of hydro mechanics yet further with the new Baselworld 2014 H2.
News: Rare and Historical Panerai ref. 6152/1 Luminor Sells for 425,000 Swiss Francs at Sotheby's Important Watches Auction in Geneva.
Today May 14, 2014 Sotheby's Important Watches Auction took place in Geneva. While this auction didn't bring as much attention and high bidders as the Christie's auction two days ago, some interesting selling activity took place.
We do have to say, that we are quite surprised that many very interesting lots did not sell and those lots that were expected to fetch very high amounts, ended up realizing mediocre amounts under the low estimate or right in the middle.
News: Jaeger-LeCoultre Presents the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1948. An Iconic Timepiece in White and Blue.
A cult watch that has appealed to both men and women, the Reverso has shown up in all manner of fascinating guises since 1931. Featuring an attractive blend of elegance and sportiness, the Reverso became a great classic of the Art Deco cultural movement, of which it embodies the essential values: refinement, artistic craftsmanship and aesthetic clarity. Ever since its birth, and above and beyond its timekeeping function, the Reverso has played the role of a guardian of memories. The Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1948 with its stainless steel case revives the spirit of a bygone era.
