Saturday, April 3, 2010

Jaeger Le Coultre- Grand Master Tourbillion

Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrates the opening of its Heritage Gallery with the release of the Master Grand Tourbillon, an exclusive series equipped with a fascinating tourbillon mechanism. Made up of 78 parts weighing barely 0.28 grams in all, the grade 5 titanium tourbillon carriage spins elegantly on its axis once a minute. The date indication is adjustable in both directions and makes a bigger jump between 15 and 16 so as not to spoil the view of this magnificent technical accomplishment. In addition to the prestige of the standout complication, the automatic movement also features a dual time-zone display.


For this limited edition, Jaeger-Lecoultre has devised a balance with a 11.5 mg x cm2 inertia capable of supplying the automatic movement with the energy it needs to keep the carriage in motion and to perform the characteristic 28,800 vibrations per hour expected from a high- precision movement. Among the screws arranged around its rim, four of them serve to make adjustments. This technique ensures constant adjustment over time that is unperturbed even by shocks. Any losses in energy due to friction are also reduced by the use of spyr-type gear-wheel teeth with a profile specially designed to ensure regular transmission of force. The lever is also more compact so as to fit into the limited space of the tourbillon carriage. Finally, the automatic movement is wound in one direction only, in harmony with lengthy research that has shown that, once on the wrist, a watch winds twice as fast this way than in the bidirectional mode.


Technical Data:
Movement:
  • Mechanical automatic winding Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 978, crafted and decorated by hand
  • 28,800 vibrations per hour
  • 48-hour power reserve
  • 302 parts
  • 33 jewels
  • 7.05 mm high
  • 22-carat single-piece oscillating weight, openworked and decorated with relief engravings
Functions:
  • local time enabling fast adjustment on both directions (travel time zone)
  • date hand synchronised with local time, adjustable in both directions
  • 24-hour reference time indication
  • minutes
  • tourbillon regulator with seconds indication
Dial:
  • sunburst black base with applied rhodium-plated gold numerals and hour-markers, 11 luminescent dots
Hands:
  • hour and minute: Alpha type in rhodium-plated brass, luminescent
  • date: rhodium-plated brass with double red-varnished triangle
  • reference time: rhodium-plated brass
Crowns:
  • 1 crown to start the watch and to adjust local time, reference time, minute and date
Case:
  • ΓΈ 43 mm in 950 platinum cambered sapphire crystal, hardness N°9
  • sapphire crystal case-back revealing the movement
  • water-resistant to 50 metres
Leather strap:
  • 22/20 in matt alligator leather and 18-carat white gold folding clasp
Reference:
  • platinum 950: Q166 64 70

Source

Friday, April 2, 2010

Parmigiani Fleurier- Tourbillon Arlequin Limited Edition Watch



This collector's timepiece is limited to just 3 pieces and is pretty stunning if you are the sort of person who not only enjoys the looks of Parmigiani Fleurier watches, but also those decorated with precious jewels. The Tourbillon Arlequin watch is placed in the Kalpa XL watch case and fitted with the manually wound Caliber PF 500 movement. The watch complications include the time and power reserve indicator. Most tourbillon watches use the tourbillon cage as a subsidiary seconds indicator, but a centrally positioned seconds hand is also included in this watch. The highlight of the Tourbillon Arlequin is the checkerboard-like arrangement of 92 baguette cut diamonds and 45 baguette cut sapphire stones all over the dial. The stunning watch makes up in bold looks, what is loses in legibility. The 44mm tall by 37.2mm wide case is in platinum. It is an ultra decadent watch with an equally ultra decadent price (by request only). A nice, almost haute jewelry timepiece from Swiss Parmigiani Fleurier.

Luxist

Dior- Christal Tourbillon Diamonds And Rubies Watch

Here is a stunning piece of Dior men's jewelry and it is a one-of-a-kind watch at that. LVMH-owned Dior takes one of their standard watch designs and forgoes much of that unnecessary stuff, like most of the metal. Instead the watch seems to be held together mostly by diamonds, rubies and red tinted mineral glass. The movement is a manually-would tourbillon that you can see operating almost in silhouette through the tinted red glass.

Case is 42mm wide in White gold, with the thorough assortment of diamonds and rubies being carried over to most of the bracelet. The style of this high cost fashion watch is impressive with a rhyme and reason to the jewel layout. The dial skeletonization is uniquely done, and the views of the movement are quite pretty. I like the use of the large pyramid-cut ruby as the palette over the tourbillon. Price for this piece unique Dior watch was 1.3 million Swiss Francs. This Dior Christal Tourbillon Diamonds and Rubies watch has been nominated to be included in the awards for the 2009 Geneva Grand Prix d'Horlogerie.

Luxist

Perrelet- Five Minute Repeater

Perrelet is bringing you a five minute repeater that is unique in configuration. It features the renown P-201 repeater caliber, which allows you to activate the ringer on demand by simply pressing the button which is located at the 8 position.

A low-pitched tone strikes once for the hour, followed by two tones in succession, one low-pitched and one high-pitched, which sounds the five minutes. Two strikes in succession for every five minutes that we have passed since the last hour.

The legacy of the expertise of the watchmakers of the 19th century, this timepiece meets Perrelet's high quality criteria in water resistance which is guaranteed to five atmospheres (50m).

The volume of sound is guaranteed by means of an ingenious "empty case" system, which offers a greater resonance compared to a standard case. Due to the high degree of complexity involved in the manufacture of the mechanism, only a very small quantity (120 a year). Aficionados and connoisseurs alike understand this limitation perfectly, as it is so difficult to offer a sound, a melody that keeps pace with the passing of time.

Ref. A 3010/1
Automatic five minute repeater, two tones
Central hour, minutes and second indication
Exclusive Perrelet rotor with glass
18-carat rose gold case
Alligator strap, deployment clasp
Limited Edition of 120 per year

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Perrelet- Turbine

Since its unveiling at Baselworld 2009, the Perrelet Turbine has been one of the most discussed, blogged-about and desired watches on the planet.

What has caused such a stir about the Perrelet Turbine is the 12 titanium blades that spin behind the masculine watch’s face. Yes, the face actually spins. Inspired by a fighter plane’s Turbine engine, Perrelet’s new watch features a creative double-rotor movement that allows the wearer to actually see the movement in motion right on his wrist. On top of one of the coolest, most eye-catching watch designs in recent memory, the Turbine is coming from a brand that is really poised to be a major player in the coming years.

Hidden inside a rather large 44mm case, the movement beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and features a standard power reserve of 42 hours.
At this time, the Perrelet Turbine collection is available in titanium (Ref: A5006/1 and A1047/1), DLC-coated titanium (Ref: A1047/2) and much more expensive 18kt rose gold version.

Technical Data:
Movement: Perrelet P-181, automatic
Complications: Double Rotor
Power reserve: 42 hours
Case material: Titanium, DLC-treated titanium, or rose gold
Case dimensions: 44 mm
Case height: N/A
Dial: Black, black and red, titanium
Water resistance: 50m
Strap: Black rubber
Crystal: Sapphire, AR-coated




Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Zenith- Defy Extreme Sea

Founded in 1865 by its fastidious owner, Zenith, as its name connotes, represented the pinnacle of watchmaking perfection. Georges Favre-Jacot and his company was one of only a few watchmakers that manufactured complete watches. Morever, he produced these watches using up-to-date machinery and tools that he built himself.

The black dial is made of multi-layered carbon fiber and aluminium, and comes with a window allowing you to view the balance wheel. The watch has a self-winding automatic chronometer movement, with power reserve indicator.
This timepiece is water resistant by up to 3,300 feet making it a real diving watch you can carry with you even at the zenith of your underwater mission.


Technical Data:

Case:   Titanium - Black
Dial Color:   Black / Carbon Fiber Skeletonized
Watch Bracelet / Strap:   Black and Blue Titanium with blue lateral inserts
Watch Clasp:   Deployant Triple folding
Movement:   Automatic Chronograph movement with harmonic plate
Engine:   Zenith El Primero 4035 SX (15 1/2''', 332 parts, 36,000vph, 35 jewels)
Functions:   Hours, Minutes, Seconds, 60-seconds Tourbillon at 11, Chronograph, Helium Escape Valve
Watch Chronograph:   Center Sweep Seconds hand measures 1/10 second. 30-minute totalizer at 3 o'clock. Chronograph push buttons in Black Titanium with carbon fiber guilloche inserts. 12-hour counter at 6.
Crystal:   Sapphire - Anti-reflective both sides (3.8mm thick)
Case Diameter:   46.5 mm
Case Thickness:   17.0 mm
Caseback:   Black Titanium Screw-in back with Blue engraving
Bezel Material:   Black Titanium and Carbon Fiber, with stainless steel decorative screw heads & cone-shaped indexes
Bezel Function:   Unidirectional Rotating
Mass:   190.0 g
Water Resistance:   1000m / 3330ft (suitable for swimming, snorkeling, skin diving, diving)
Crown:   Black Titanium screw-in crown with shock protecting device
Calendar:   Rotational date aperture
Power Reserve:   55-hour power reserve.



Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Harry Winston- Midnight Minute Repeater


The renowned watchmaking house Harry Winston is delighted to unveil its limited series, reference 450/MMMR42RL.W, Midnight Minute Repeater watch. This new model incorporates a unique horological complication, standing out due to its unprecedented subtlety and complexity.

Soft and exquisite in its exterior, the round case of the Harry Winston watch, 42 mm in diameter, accommodates a self-winding mechanical movement, with a balance frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour. The movement offers a 38-hour power reserve.


An open display enables the watch wearer to admire the minute repeater mechanism. It can be switched on by pressing the button, nestled at 8 o’clock. The aperture, placed in the upper left part and enfolded in a ring of gold, is protected by a sapphire crystal. It reveals a true technical accomplishment: two hammers, skillfully etched with Harry Winston initials, are featured on the outside of the movement.

The Harry Winston iconic design is distinguished by off-center time indication, conventional arches and a glaring diamond, which embellishes the aperture, just as well located off-center. Thus, the name of this prominent brand is directly linked to the idea of conventional, yet audacious designs.

The Midnight Minute Repeater watch is engineered to strike the hours when necessary. For this purpose minute repeating uses distinct tones, treble for hours, treble and bass alternating for hours, as well as highs for minutes. To achieve the best possible results, this mechanism requires both matchless technical and musical exactitude.

The watch boasts 30-meter water-resistance. It comes with a black alligator leather strap, finished with folding clasp, which is done in rose gold.

Technical Data:
Movement
Automatic Winding, with frequency of 21,600 vph, 38 hour power reserve

Functions
Off-center hours and minutes, minute repeater

Case
Diameter of 42 mm, rose gold or white, water resistant to 30 meters

Display
Silver or black, with aperture for display of minute repeater hammers, protected by sapphire crystal

Bracelet
Black alligator leather with folding clasp in rose gold