Archives A Timely Perspective

2012 Year in Review: Top News, People and Products in the Watch Industry

The news was abundant this year; the product superlative; the watch world grand.

yr rev — Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Skeleton

Anniversaries abounded this year and some celebrated in style. Audemars Piguet celebrated the 40^th anniversary of the iconic Royal Oak with a tribute collection of new Royal Oak pieces and an around-the-world touring exhibition that took center stage in spring in New York City. (covered here)

In the world of watch books Farameh Media launches the top women’s watch book on the market – Jewels of Time. Written by Roberta Naas (founder of Atimelyperspective), the book launch is celebrated with a regal event at 21 Club in New York in February—hosted by Niche Media and attended by hundreds of top industry execs. (covered here)

Charlize_Theron_Golden_Globes_Dior_Make_Up-300x200 — Charlise Theron joins Dior

Watch companies looked toward ambassadresses to fill their ranks: TAG-Heuer snagged the lovely Cameron Diaz (interviewed here); while LVMH-sister-company, Dior, tapped into a relationship with the seductive Charlize Theron.

jlcrdv nite day — Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Day & Night

Women became the focus of many a watch brand’s eye: Jaeger-LeCoultre stole center stage this year when it unveiled an entire new collection created just for women, the Rendez-Vous, and turned to its existing ambassador, Diane Kruger as the face behind the line. Atimelyperspective had a world-first exclusive video interview with Kruger (seen here). Harry Winston also made strides with the release of its stunning Midnight Moonphase line for women (covered here in a hands-on report).

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Olympic timing, behind-the-scenes with Omega.

Sports timing took on a new dimension this year as well, with top brands ranging from Tissot to Rolex aligning themselves with auto racing, and Louis Vuitton and others sailing into yacht racing. Yet others focused on physical team and individual sports. The pinnacle may well be in the case of Omega and the Olympic Games. We brought you a close-up behind-the-scenes look at the split-second timing of those special moments (seen here).

A host of important men joined the watch world as ambassadors, as well. Among them, Randy Johnson teamed with Ulysse Nardin (interviewed here) and Billy Baldwin joined Alpina (interviewed here).
Trends in watchmaking included the unveiling of more complicated pieces, more three-dimensional pieces thanks to sculpturing and gyroscopic insets, renewed attention on

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ultra-thin and retro styling, and a keen focus on stunning new artistic masterpieces via enamel, mosaic, gem-setting, and more. All of which we brought to you here at Atimelyperspective day in and day out.
Yes, 2012 proved to be a great year in time; we expect 2013 to be ever more exciting. Stay tuned.

Weekend Sojourn: Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai

I’ve done a fair amount of traveling around the world to wonderful hotels and resorts – but this one tops them all. Recently, while on a boutique tour around the world with A. Lange & Sohne, we had the delightful pleasure of staying at the Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa. Sadly – only for a couple of days, but it was enough to truly experience luxury in the Arabian Desert.

From the moment one enter the warm, natural elegance of the authentic Bedouin resort – built within the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve – an enriching experience unfolds. The main building features several luxurious rooms for relaxing and learning about the history of the area. The indoor-outdoor restaurant offers dining by day on the desert’s edge, or by night with lights, stars and moon above. But it is outside the main lobby building where

: Luxuriously appointed rooms with ancient artifacts.

the adventure unfolds. Each of the resort’s rooms is an individual “tent” – an adobe structure secluded from every other of the 42 “tents” in the encampment. A walkway winds throughout the property, with individual walkways leading to each door. Once inside each tent, luxury awaits. Every suite is appointed with rich dark furniture, including antique Arab artifacts, a marble tile bathroom and more. The entire tent (with tent-like ceiling) features walls of glass, for unending views.

Double doors from the sitting area open onto a private infinity pool with patio on both sides and a breathtaking view of the desert. The pool is warm and serenity immediately engulfs you. Rooms are even equipped with artist easels and supplies for those who want to try their hand at capturing the impossible on paper (I tried; couldn’t do it).

Because the resort is located on a conservation reserve (45 minutes from the city of Dubai), wildlife is abundant. I was greeted by a beautiful gazelle when I arrived at my tent – one of many of these Arabian antelopes I got to see during my few days there. Also roaming the property are Arabian Oryx, which are being bred back from the brink of extinction within the reserve.

So, what does one do in the desert, if not swimming in the private pool? The spa is gorgeous and healing, the walks are wonderful and the resort offers Arabian horse riding, camel trips into the desert at sunset for an early dinner in the dunes (definitely recommended, though maybe wear boots, as the scorpions like to come out at night), and 4-wheeling on the dunes at daybreak. Experiencing the serene desert on a dromedary camel was enlightening and offered a truly timeless peek into tradition. The juxtaposition of the ancient-like camel ride, against the dune driving in the morning

left indelible marks in my memory. To my knowledge, nothing else like this resort and its side-trip exists, and while it is a trek away (pardon the pun) – it is an experience not to be missed.

Time Capsules: Product – Burberry Bring British Design to the Wrist

Burberry- the brand famed for its trench coats – moves to the wrist with an all-new line of timepieces aptly named The Britain. As expected, the collection is a powerful blend of classic tradition and modern attitude. Says Christopher Bailey, Burberry Chief Creative Officer and designer of the line, “The Britain marries our heritage and functional design values with modernity and innovation, creating a watch that is as elegant as it is relaxed.”

THEBRITAIN_CRAFTSMANSHIP_6 — Swiss watchmaking tradition, British styling.

The design of the watches is all about detail – with iconic influences from the trench coat making their way into the watch via D-rings and dial colors to strong bolts that hold the case much like the hardware that closes the coats.

The case shape is a rounded octagonal that is comprised of 32 parts, and is finished with transparent sapphire casebacks on the automatics and with SuperLuminova hands. In the collection: a power reserve automatic, housing a Soprod 9040 mechanical three-hand movement wit h40 hours of power reserve and Incabloc shock protection. The automatic watch houses an ETA 2824 caliber and offers hours, minutes, small seconds and date; the chronograph consists of a Ronda 5040.D movement. There is also a quartz version. The watches are Swiss made and the mechanical pieces house self-winding movements. The collection retails from $995 for the quartz models to $3,995 for the Power Reserve.

Happy Holidays

As the sands of time call out for us to make our mark in life – I continue to strive to leave a lasting impression. We hope Atimelyperspective brings a new dimension about time to the forefront. I have been blessed with so many great moments in this industry … Moments wherein I can rejoice in the beauty of the world and the treasures people impart. We wish you all a warm and wonderful holiday season filled with quiet, magical moments that stir your heart.

Happy Holidays!

THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS

‘Twas the day before Christmas, when all through the watch world,
Not a watchmaker was stirring, no machines whirled;
The tools were all placed on the benches with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The collectors were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of tourbillons and repeaters danced in their heads;
Most writers were laying their pens to rest,
Some bloggers still commenting; and I’m doing my best,
Sitting at the computer, donning my thinking cap,
For me there would be no long winter’s nap.
Then out on the lawn there arose quite a clatter,
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
What was interrupting my thoughts with such dash!
The wind was whipping but thankfully no snow
My lighted reindeer were blown over again – Oh No!
When, nothing else to my wondering eyes did appear,
No miniature sleigh, or eight tiny reindeer,
No a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I returned to my writing and forgot about St. Nick.
Although it is Christmas Eve Day
My blog is quite new, so I must post away.
Shall I write of watch news, of products, of time?
Or shall I tell readers of new technology so sublime?
I thought of the brands and all they create —
Of master thinkers and how they innovate.
I thought of the watchmakers who craft with perfection —
Their main idea — cutting-edge new direction.
Should I write of the thinkers, the doers, the leaders?
Should I write of their products, their causes, their readers?
Oh, the pace in the watch world as rapid as ever,
I can’t miss a beat in this social-media endeavor.
And as I strive to conceive of the perfect feature for the day,
Somehow the hours whiled away.
With my passion for watches lighting my way,
I somehow forgot it was Christmas Eve Day.
But then I was jolted by my kids and my dogs
“Stop writing, now. No one’s reading the blogs!”
So I close the computer, and bid my adieu
And end with a very Merry Christmas to you.

Weekend Sojourn: Last-Minute Christmas Gifts – Jewelry is Forever

FW-3-WH (2) — SEAH(R) Triple-wrap bracelet with astrological signs.

With today being almost the last shopping day before the holidays, it makes sense to take a good look at jewelry. Women love jewelry – it is their individual statement maker. More important and long-lasting than chocolate, flowers, dinners and other gifts, jewelry withstands the test of time.

home-img — Ellagem superb pearl and diamond bracelets.

In fact, the most alluring jewelry designs today glimmer with innovation, craftsmanship and amazing style that transforms them into delightful, wearable works of art. This prevailing concept of blending past and future is exactly what most top jewelry designers and international brands are bringing to the

20-05-P348-25 copy — Delatori Pompeii Nero sterling silver ring.

table – often with modern takes on love and romance as the overriding design influences. Here are a few of our favorites in a wide range of prices to fit any budget.

Around the World: Tissot Madison Square Garden Watches – Time Perfectly

Last night we had the pleasure of joining Tissot at the Knicks vs. Rockets game at Madison Square Garden — where Tissot is the official timekeeper. In fact, this Swiss watchmaker has unveiled lobby clocks

and an entire line of Madison Square Garden watches as the Official Timepiece of the Garden. Two of those watches are created with a caseback that is customized with the Madison Square Garden logo and that can be further engraved. One of

tissto msg copy — Tissot Madison Square Garden watch

the first watches was given to former Knicks’ great, Larry Johnson (and another to Rangers legend, Adam Graves). In fact, Larry Johnson visited with us during the Knicks game last night, showing off his watch. The

Former Knicks’ great, Larry Johnson, showing off his Tissot MSG watch

Madison Square Garden casebacks are presented on two watches, the Tissot PRX Sports Chronograph and the Tissot T-Touch Classic, each with several variations and retailing for between $595 and $695. We’ have long been a fan of Tissot’s top-quality watchmaking and cutting-edge technology, these new watches just underscore the brand’s dedication to sports and timing.

Time Capsules: Commentary — It’s a Numbers Game

The ancient Mayan calendar says 12-12-12 – Today— signals the end of time as we know it and the beginning of an evolution for Earth and its inhabitants. (Some say this “end” will actually occur on 12-21-12.) A few watch brands – who track time so elegantly – interpret that to mean the start of something golden. As such, they have unveiled Mayan calendar- inspired timepieces. One such brand that has created timepieces in style is De Bethune — unveilaing a Mayan experience, complete with hieroglyphics.

de-bethune-db25-ninth-mayan-underworld-watch — DeBethune Mayan Calendar watch.

This series of 12 watches celebrate the Mayan Calendar. Each h features a gold dial totally engraved with different hieroglyphics. The hour circle displays the numerals of Mayan numbering system, while the inner ring presents the 20 glyphs of divinities, animals and sacred objects representing the various days of the calendar. The dial centre features the baktun, a period glyph used in particular for calculating the “Long Count”.

Time Capsules: Product — TAG Heuer Releases Carrera 1887 Chronograph

thca — A TAG Heuer Carrera 1887 Chronograph Automatic.

The newest TAG Heuer watch is a beauty. The Carrera 1887 Chronograph features an integrated column-wheel automatic chronograph movement in an updated design of the legendary series that was first designed by Jack Heuer in 1964. Still an icon, this Carrera’s caliber was developed in-house by TAG Heuer utilizing intellectual property elements acquired from Seiko Instruments Inc. (which designed and patented it as TC78 in 1997/99). After acquiring the intellectual property rights, TAG Heuer devoted three years to re-engineering and redeveloping many key components, and is now launching its caliber commercially in this watch. The Carrera 1887 Chronograph features a tachymeter scale on the bezel to underscore its auto-racing heritage. It is water resistant to 100 meters and is fitted with a sapphire crystal caseback for viewing the movement. It is offered in steel and in 18-karat roes gold that celebrates the brand’s 150^th anniversary.

Time Capsules – Product: Jaeger-LeCoultre Unveils Duometre Unique Travel Time Watch

If there was ever a luxury GMT watch that you just have to let your breath out and say Wow to, this is it. The new Jaeger-LeCoultre Duometre Unique Travel Time watch makes use of art and technology with superb results. The watch house the brand’s revolutionary Dual-Wing movement and reflects the technical breakthroughs the brand has accomplished in the field of GMT watches. In fact, for the first time ever in a wristwatch, this piece enables the wearer to adjust the time in the travel time zone to the nearest minute. The complex Dual-Wing system in this watch is divided into two mechanisms: one devoted to displaying local time; the second to show that in a second time zone. Both mechanisms share the regulating organ, but each has its own source of energy so as not to lose seconds during the interaction between the mechanisms. Each mechanism has 50 hours of power reserve. The dial of the watch features a subdial at 2:00 for the hour and minute hand, and the subdial at 10:00 offers the hours and minutes of the world time indication. The very distinctive globe is the day/night indication. The meticulously finished 498-part Caliber 383 can be viewed via a sapphire caseback. Just 100 pieces of this watch will be created in 18-karat white gold.