Wednesday, April 28, 2010

De Bethune- DB24 Vetrois

DB24 Vetrois is a novelty by DE BETHUNE manufactory which combines four from the 5 patent products of the company. They are balance made of titanium and platinum, flat balance spring arcuate clip, triple shockproof system with a titanium gripper bridge and a device for the automatic movement intensiveness control. The owner of this watch can choose one from three winding speed modes: sporty, general and slow, depending on strength and intensiveness of hand moves. Special indicator, showing the speed, can be seen through the transparent back case and at the dial (horizontal double edged hand with L-M-N scales).
As the brand’s designers claim, the appearance of the watch has the spirit of New York architecture of 1930s. David Zanetta and Denis Flageollet have managed to take advantage of the use of titanium like William Van Allen did with steel to construct the spire of the Chrysler Building in one piece. 48-mm case is made of titanium. It reveals a dial in blued titanium with a brushed finish. The watch is based on the self-winding calibre DB2424 with a two-barrel system (balance frequency 28,800 vph, 53 jewels) which provides 6-days’ power reserve. Power reserve indicator is located at the 12 o’clock. The watch is water resistant to 500 metres.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Ulysse Nardin- Astrolabium Galileo Galilei

One of three watches in Ulysse Nardin’s “Trilogy of Time” series, the Astrolabium was introduced to the world at the 1985 Basle Watch Fair.

Ulysse Nardin Astrolabium Galileo Galilei Watch, limited edition of 99 pieces, round platinum case (41mm diameter), black crocodile leather strap with platinum tang buckle, white/grey dial that indicates the position of the sun, the moon and the stars in the sky at any given hour as seen from Earth and sunrise/sunset, day/date/month/year indicator, Caliber #UN-97 self-winding mechanical movement, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, water-resistant to 30 meters.


The Ulysse Nardin Astralabium Galileo Galilei watch. The Astrolabe was developed by ancient astronomers to measure the altitude and direction of celestial bodies over the horizon, calculate the seasons, the movements of the zodiac and to foretell eclipses. This highly complex instrument indicates the position of the sun, the moon and the stars in the sky at any given hour as seen from Earth. It also indicates sunrise and sunset, dawn and dusk, moonphases, moonrise and moonset, eclipses of sun and moon, the month and the day of the week.