Archive for July, 2007
TAG Heuer Grand Carrera Grand Date GMT
This is the TAG Heuer Grand Carrera Grand Date GMT. I’m not too fond of brown, so my preference would be for another colour dial.Good thing then, that there is also a choice of a black or silver dial. Nothing really remarkable about this watch. It is solid, and looks dependable - none of that unnecessary frippery that one now sees with depressing regularity on so-called ‘luxury watches’. But then this is TAG Heuer we are talking about. I haven’t yet seen any TAG Heuer watch that made me gasp in shock. Having said that, I haven’t also seen any that took my breath away. So there we have it: solid, but not much more.
Hamilton Jazzmaster Square Chronograph
Do you like Hamilton watches? Me, not particularly, but I couldn’t let this watch pass without comment.
This is the Hamilton Jazzmaster Square Chronograph. It is its square dial that I find most striking. And the black and stainless steel go beautifully together. There is a choice of a black or silver dial; I think I prefer the black. I haven’t seen the silver dial yet, but I don’t think it could come near to the black in simplicity and beauty. But who knows?
Movement: automatic ETA caliber 2894. Water resistant to 100m. This watch is ultra-affordable at a little under $2,000.
Wyler Genève: 2007 Paris-Peking race Special Edition Tourbillon
Wyler Genève has released a special edition of its model tourbillon. This is against the backdrop of the 100th anniversary of the 1907 Peking-Paris challenge.
The 1907 race came into being as a result of a challenge by the French newspaper, Le Matin. It set what it assumed to be an insurmountable challenge for that time: whether anyone would be able to drive a car from Peking to Paris. Five teams turned up at the start, but only two managed to complete the challenge. The winner was Prince Scipione Borghese, who made the trip in an Itala.
As part of the events marking the 100th anniversary, the Automobile Club of Italy has taken up the challenge to make the return journey (ie from Paris to Peking) in exactly the same vehicle used by Prince Scipione Borghese. Wyler Genève is a partner in this event, and has therefore created the special edition watch in commemoration of the trip.
Availability is limited to eight pieces.
Via Worldtempus.
Saint Honore Orsay Automatic Open Dial
Following on from my earlier post, the second timepiece from Saint Honore is the Orsay Automatic Open Dial. As the name suggests, the main feature on this watch is the open dial, enabling a clear view of the movement. Simply splendid.
Some specs. Caliber: ETA 2824 with “Or Noir” golden mass rotor. 18kt rose gold plated stainless steel case. Sapphire crystal. Water resistant to 30m.
Via TimeZone.
Saint Honore Baron Haussmann Chronograph
Via Time Zone, two lovely pieces from Saint Honore.
First, the Hausmann chronograph, named after Baron Haussmann, the French civic planner credited with the building and development of much of modern Paris.
Not too keen on quartz movements (in this case, Swiss ETA quartz), but that aside, I love this watch. On the face of it, nothing much stands out. There is nothing unique about 18k rose gold, but in this case, I think it is the interaction wuth the carbon fiber dial that makes it stand out so well. There seems to be a lot happening on the dial, so much so that it took me a while to notice the retrograde counters. But all that just adds to the beauty of this watch. In spite of all the activity around this watch, there is something quietly dignified about it; something proud. And it is encapsulated in the manufacturer’s name defiantly stamped in the middle of all the activity. Wear this watch with pride.
Maurice LaCroix: Memoire 1
Something to look forward to for Baselworld 2008: the Memoire 1 from Maurice LaCroix. The watch is still in its production stages, but you can follow its progress on a website dedicated to that purpose.
So far, what we know is that the Memoire 1 will be the first watch to benefit from a truly interesting innovation by Maurice LaCroix: a memory function for a mechanical watch.
This watch has only two hands - one to indicate the minutes, and the other for the seconds. It also has a disk to indicate the hours. There is a button integrated into the crown, which, when pressed, enables the watch to switch from ‘Time’ to ‘Chrono’ mode. Even when you shift between modes, the watch stores all the information from either mode.
A mechanical watch that ‘remembers’. I will definitely be following its progress.
Hublot Polo Club of St Tropez Limited Edition Big Bang
Hublot again. Big Bang again. The Hublot Polo Club of St Tropez Limited Edition Big Bang was unveiled to mark the opening of Hublot’s St Tropez store. This is a Limited Edition of only 250 pieces. The logo on the dial is of the St Tropez Polo Club, with whom Hublot has entered into a partnership. The model was presented at a gala dinner on 7 July, on the eve of the International Polo Cup. This watch is memorable, not least because it is the first Big Bang 44mm to feature interchangeable straps.
Some specs and features.
Case “Big Bang” diameter 44.5 mm. in steel 316 L.
316 L steel back with “Polo Club Saint-Tropez” engraving.
Movement: mechanical chronograph movement with automatic winding Hublot calibre HUB44 developed with La Joux-Perret.
Strap: adjustable natural white rubber strap and alligator big square scales, interchangeable, with Hublot logo.
Louis Moinet Variograph
Via Luxist, the Louis Moinet Variograph. I must admit to feeling rather underwhelmed by this watch. It certainly didn’t grab my attention in the same way as did the Twintech. According to Louis Moinet, this watch has two innovations:
The first is its “Full Moon Indicator”, indicating the day of the full moon.
The second is the “World Map”, which spins once on its axis every 24 hours.
Well, alright then.
You can choose from three types of dial: Charcoal, Silver, and Old Rose.
Limited Edition of 60 watches in each colour.
Corum: Admiral’s Cup Competition 48 Porto Cervo Marina
Just in case you missed the DeLUXE® 2007 gala event in Porto Cervo at the end of June, in which Corum showed off some of its beautiful pieces, here is a snapshot of the Admiral’s Cup Competition 48 Porto Cervo Marina.
This is a Limited Edition; availability is restricted to 100 pieces - actually, make that no more than 95: according to Corum, five pieces were sold on the spot during the gala event. What’s the betting there aren’t many left?
The next DeLUXE® event will be taking place in October 2007 in Singapore. Definitely worth looking forward to. Corum will be having a presence there, and given their current form, we should expect great things from them.
Some specs and features:
Certified chronometer (COSC). 24 rubies. Finishing exclusively made for CORUM. Mass with special shape and personalized decoration. Water resistant to 50m.
Movement: automatic. Base of movement VAL 7750. Diameter: 13 ¼”’.
Case: screw-lock crown in 18 karat; screw-down back adorned with the logo of the Porto Cervo Marina.
Dial: varnished caramel dedicated to the Porto Cervo Marina; 12 painted nautical pennants as hour-markers.
Strap: brown genuine crocodile leather, width 24/24 mm.
Jaeger Le-Coultre Joaillerie 101 Manchette
Via Luxist, the Joaillerie 101 Manchette from Jaeger Le-Coultre. At first glance, I had assumed it to be a bracelet. And a very easy thing to do. But look closely, and you will see that this delightful little thing does actually tell the time. This 18k white gold bracelet is set with 576 diamonds, although a variation with 400 diamonds and 11 onyx cabochons is also available.
Mechanical manually wound movement. Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 101.
