4.17.2010

AUDEMARS PIGUET - Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix

Those with an aversion for motor racing will simply skip this particular model. Proudly displaying its distinctly sporting spirit, the new Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix is an obvious nod to unconditional fans of high-speed thrills. Everything about this watch evokes the passion for design and the quest for mechanical performance. While the dial counters are reminiscent of a dashboard instrument panel, the shape of the crown is inspired by gears, and the bezel looks every bit like a ventilated brake disc. This ultra-dynamic collection of three limited-edition forged carbon models is powered by an Audemars Piguet proprietary self-winding movement. A top-rate engine for a resolutely aggressive, avant-garde timepiece.

 
 
Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix

 

 
Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix

 
  • Movement: mechanical self-winding Calibre 3126/3840, 60-hour power reserve
  • Case: forged carbon and black ceramics
  • Diameter: 44mm
  • Functions: small seconds, chronograph with central seconds hand, 30-minute and 12-hour counter, tachometric scale on the inner bezel ring, date
  • Caseback: engraved Strap: calfskin and alcantara
  • Water resistance: 100m
  • Limited edition: 1,750 numbered watches

 

 

BREGUET - Tradition 7047

It is common knowledge among connoisseurs that Breguet has always been in the technological vanguard when it comes to the balance-spring. This central piece of the movement underwent a major innovation in 2006 when Breguet introduced the first watches equipped with a balance-spring and escapement in silicon. This sophisticated material, which is completely impervious to magnetic fields and far lighter than metal, is now making its appearance in the Tradition 7047 model with tourbillon and fusée and chain transmission. Its balance-spring represents a major watch industry accomplishment due to the extremely complex construction of the famous Breguet overcoil balance-spring. Inspired by the architecture of the first tourbillon pocket-watches from the House, this platinum model unveils some of the secrets of its movement coated with a special dark grey coloured metal alloy. The result is a resolutely high-tech watch that paves the way for some exciting development prospects.


  

Tradition 7047

  • Movement: mechanical hand-wound
  • Calibre 569 Case: platinum
  • Diameter: 41mm
  • Functions: hours, minutes, tourbillon, 50-hour power reserve
  • Caseback: sapphire crystal
  • Strap: leather
  • Water resistance: 30m


4.14.2010

Newest Watch-Jean Dunand is a Tribute to the Industrial Revolution

What sets Jean Dunand apart from other luxury watch brands — aside from its extremely limited production and lofty price points — is the fact that each collection has a totally different look, with no “house style” and very few unifying brand characteristics. The only common principle behind each Jean Dunand model, as voiced by the brand’s owners, Thierry Oulevay and Christophe Claret, is that duo’s love of the Art Deco era and its distinctive design principles.

Richard Mille RM 027 Tourbillon

Richard Mille and Rafael Nadal

Now if you know anything about tennis you’ll instantly realize what a big deal this is as any slight shift in weight on a player can dramatically change their game. Therefore, if this partnership was ever going to succeed it was imperative that the company produce a piece that satisfied Rafa’s strict requirements.

And so they did.

Proving A Point
It’s important to realize that making a watch lighter, especially one as complicated as the RM 027 Tourbillon, is not just a matter of using lighter weight materials. It still needs to be accurate and reliable, as well as be able to withstand the shocks and impacts of everyday use, which in this case are greatly magnified given that the piece is strapped to one of the strongest, most active wrists in the world.

However, Richard Mille was sure it could be done. After all, they had already achieved similar success with the RM 006 (42 g without strap) and the RM 009 (29 g without strap) so this next step was simply the logical progression in the process. That didn’t mean it would be easy though.

Then again, it wasn’t like the brand was new to this area of watchmaking.

4.13.2010

JAEGER-LECOULTRE - Master Compressor Diving Alarm Navy SEALs

The Manufacture unveiled the first prototypes of these very limited editions during a private event held in Beverly Hills, near the boutique.





Press Release

Last January, Jaeger-LeCoultre had the pleasure to announce the upcoming launch of its first timepieces exclusively created for its Beverly Hills Boutique. Following this announcement, the Swiss high watchmaking Manufacture unveiled on Friday the first prototypes of these very limited editions during a private event held in Beverly Hills near the boutique located at 9490B Brighton Way. The “Grande Maison” of the Joux Valley therefore gathered the Manufacture’s Friends to present them in exclusivity the limited edition of 19 pieces in titanium with black pvd coating and the limited edition of 62 pieces in titanium with grey PVD coating of its Master Compressor Diving Alarm Navy SEALs Incursion that will only be available at the Jaeger-LeCoultre Beverly Hills Boutique.

IWC - Exclusive Saint Exupéry Watch on Auction in Geneva

The Big Pilot’s Watch Edition Antoine de Saint Exupéry in platinum to be sold at auction at Sotheby’s.





Press Release

Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen has commissioned Sotheby’s to sell a unique and precious timepiece at auction, with the proceeds of the sale to be donated to charity: the only existing platinum version of the Big Pilot’s Watch Edition Antoine de Saint Exupéry will be sold together with a special edition of the Saint Exupéry biography “L’archange et l’écrivain”.

 
Big Pilot’s Watch Edition Antoine de Saint Exupéry.


The proceeds will be donated to the French organisation “Enfants du Monde/Droits de l’Homme” (EMDH), which works worldwide to protect children and their rights.