Some luxury watch brands such as Girard-Perregaux have been winning awards not for decades but for centuries. This Swiss watch legend first unveiled its famed Tourbillon with three Gold Bridges in the form of a pocket watch in 1889 (created by Constant Girard) at teh Paris Universal Exhibition and it garnered a gold medal. A couple of decades ago, under the guided and ambitious eye of the late Dr. Gino Macaluso, the brand’s top watchmakers worked diligently to miniaturize the amazing work of the Tourbillon with three Gold Bridges and put it into a wristwatch. Since then, marvelous renditions have evolved. This stunning 18-karat pink gold version, which feels like a million dollars on the wrist, houses the GP9600C automatic caliber with 30 jewels. It offers Three Gold Bridges tourbillon, hour, minute and small seconds indication on the tourbillon. It is built in a limited edition of 50 pieces. And guess what? The great news is that it doesn’t cost a million – just a very well-warranted $195,040.
Sport Watch: Stefan Johansson Vaxjo Watches
Sport watches are about precision, performance and rugged intensity, and that is what Stefan Johansson Vaxjo watches are about, as well. In his brochure and materials explaining his new watch brand, Stefan Johansson simply states: “When 0.001 of a second makes all the difference in the world, ‘Right on Time’ takes on a whole new meaning.”
Johansson has experienced victory at the world’s most famous endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and has, over the course of three decades, raced in the world’s most legendary competitions. Recently he started his own watch company bearing his name. The Stefan Johansson brand captures the essence of racing time, of being on the edge when every fraction of a second counts, and also of constantly trying to beat your own personal best – and that means harmony and balance within. As such the watches have a distinct blend of edgy appeal and harmonious design.
Such is the case with the bold Mark VIII C. In this watch, the spirit of endurance racing is embodied in the automatic chronograph’s hour register subdial, which is engineered to count down the 24 hours (the duration of the storied long-distance competition). Each watch offers date and time indications along with the precise chronograph functions, which times to 5/10 second under a convex anti-glare sapphire crystal. All military style hour indexes are luminescent for easy readability. The 47mm case is crafted in steel or — in the newest version – in carbon fiber, and sold with either an exotic leather strap in python or bony crocodile. The collection retails starting at $7,500.
In addition to the Mark VIII C, other important models include the 
Mark VIII D, F (with versions adorned with diamonds to attract the woman who loves the mechanical roar under the hood), and the Mark VIII E 033 Chronograph with bold racing flag colors along the dial. All of the watches house top-quality mechanical movements (such as the Valjoux 7750 self-winding mechanical caliber), feature Incabloc shock resistance and are built in limited, numbered editions of 250 pieces or fewer (one special line has just 12 watches in it).
In fact the newest Carbon Fiber Mark VIII watch is created in a limited collection of just 50 pieces. Johansson and his teammates tested this watch at the famed Spa Francorchamps track in Belgium, where they negotiated 10,000 corners, 20,000 gearshifts and 2,000 miles of track for 24 hours. In this watch, the Valjoux movement sits inside a chassis of sorts, unattached to the case, so it can better withstand shock via a shock-suspension system. The case is machined from a solid block of aircraft-grade billet carbon fiber, not forged composite material. It retails for $15,000 — but only 50 exist – so if you want one, that 0.001 second timing may count!
Trend Report: White Watch!
Frederique Constant Amour Heart Beat mechanical timepiece ($3995). White is as timeless and elegant as black, especially when it comes to luxury watches. Indeed, White Watches make a superbly sublime statement. Today’s watchmakers are turning to white as the essence of elegance and allure – creating timepieces in steel, ceramic and other materials and accenting them with leather and rubber straps for clean, crisp looks. Oh, and a few diamonds don’t hurt either! From Frederique Constant, whose Amour Heart Beat watch (designed by artist ShuQi) enables viewing of the balance 
Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde mechanical watch in ceramic with white enamel dial ($16,900). Limited to 88 pieces. Charriol Large Colvmbvs Tonneau quartz watch ($7,490) in steel with mother-of-pearl dial. movement, to Jaquet Droz’ amazing limited-edition Grande Seconde watch with mechanical regulator-style dial, white watches will steal hearts summer, winter, spring and fall.
Time Capsules: Product — Carl F. Bucherer Patravi Chrono Date You Want
Carl F. Bucherer has been building timepieces of distinction that we here at ATimelyperspective regularly recognize and talk about. Every once in a while, thought, we just like to sit back and enjoy the beauty and craftsmanship, the excellence and precision of a particular watch. Such is the case with the stunning Patravi Chrono Date Annual Calendar, crafted in 18-karat rose gold with a rose gold bracelet that makes this watch look and feel divine on the wrist. This is a statement-maker timepiece. What’s more, with all the added functions in its top-notch caliber, it’s a real workhorse without looking the type. The COSC-certified chronometer chronograph also features a big date at 12:00, and gives annual calendar indications – all for a very reputable price of $42,000.
Hautlence Watches: Introducing the new HL2.2
We here at Atimelyperspective.com have brought you a lot about Hautlence watches, since this luxury watch brand is an independent brand of true substance and innovation. You can search through our archives and find numerous reports of the brand’s first round watch, of its release of the HL2.0 caliber and even a Moment in Time with founder, Guillame Tetu.
Now, we bring you the brand’s alluring new HL2.1 and HL2.2 watches. Based on the HL2.0, which was four years in the making and released in production in its finished form earlier this year, the HL2.1 and 2.2 watches offer the HL2.0 in house movement with gear train and automatic winding system, half-trailing hours displayed by a chain-link and pallet system (patented), signature retrograde minutes, mobile bridge movement comprising the regulating organ (patented) and the 
power reserve indicator. The watch also holds a patent for the operation of the movement’s two barrels: one finishing barrel (the power reserve for the entire watch movement) and one complication barrel. The movement consists of 552 components. The triple-patented watch is created in 18-karat white gold for the HL2.1 version (approximately $282,000) and in 18-karat 4N rose gold for the HL2.2 version (approximately $307.500). Each is built in a limited edition of 28 pieces. This watch is an amazing delight to wear and to watch (pardon that pun!).
Video: Antiquorum Unveils the 40 Only Watch 2011 Auction Lots
In one amazing video released herein, Antiquorum Auctioneers’ Julien Schaerer presents the 40 Lots that will be up for auction at the Only Watch 2011 event on September 23rd in Monaco. Here at Atimelyperspective, we have shown several of these horological wonders individually with details but now you can witness each and every one of them – unique wonders from the world’s most prestigious watchmakers. All proceeds from this auction benefit research for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Breaking News: Ulysse Nardin Watches Acquires Donze Cadrans SA, Dial Enameller
In one of the more important moves among Swiss watch brands lately, Ulysse Nardin SA has acquired 100 percent of the family owned Donze’ Cadrans watch dial enameling company, ensuring the continued growth of both firms. The previous owners of Donze’ Cadrans had opted to retire and, according to Patrik Hoffmann, Ulysse Nardin CEO, “The acquisition maintains our strategy of continuity and vertical production, while reflecting our heritage 
and tradition of our Manufacture.”
In fact, in the past years, Ulysse Nardin has worked closely with the dial enameller in the creation of some of the most stunning dials, including its San Marco dials and its Safari dials. Bringing the enamel dial making under its own umbrella is truly a coup, as there are but a handful of the finest watch brands in the world that own their own dial enameling artisan shops.
Enamel work is one of the most cherished feats in the watchmaking arts. In fact, a single cloisonné enamel dial can require up to 54 processes, 12 baking operations and hundreds of working hours. Enamel is a soft glass composed of silica, red lead and soda that, when mixed with other elements, is capable of creating intense hues with alluring depth. Colors are created by mixing enamel with elements such as Iron (which creates yellow, green and brown hues), Chromium (offering green tones), Iodine (yielding fiery reds), Copper (unleashing hues of blue, green and red) and Manganese (creating black and violets).
Video: Jaeger-LeCoultre Unveils Haute Joaillerie Reversos
In true Jaeger-LeCoultre style, the brand releases several one-of-a-kind and limited-edition Reverso watches that are inspired by the unique atmosphere of the famed city of Venice. These haute joaillerie designs recall the 68th Venice International Film Festival that Jaeger-LeCoultre sponsored (the seventh in a row) in its passionate relationship with the arts. Among the newest pieces is the one-of a kind Reverso Squadra Art Ice – expressed in a snow-setting of 1,300 diamonds and 1,755 sapphires — retailing for approximately $441,800. Also new is the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Neva, a fairytale landscape of dazzling diamonds and enamel retailing for $180,000. Each watch is created by master watchmakers, engineers and technical craftsmen who are experts in their fields. This video shows the craftsmanship that goes into the making of the movement, the enamel work and the snow setting of these diamond and gemset models of exquisite elegance and technology.
Cool Watches You Want to Wear –Porsche Design Watches on the Wrist
There are a lot of cool watches out there on the market, but the trick is to find a cool watch that is also a well-made piece. Those who have been avid watch lovers should recognize the Porsche Design name – not only because of the Porsche automobile, but also because of the excellent lineage of this brand. Early Porsche Design watches – back several decades ago – were actually built by IWC Schaffhausen in close collaboration with Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, designer and founder of the Porsche Design brand, but today, Porsche Design holds its own manufacture of timepieces back in its hands (and designs them in the Porsche Design studios in Zell, Austria), after that long-term, good-standing relationship came to a close.
Today, Porsche Design creates some high-tech watches that are alluring thanks to their sleek design, cutting-edge materials and precision functions. Such is the case with this Porsche Design P’6620 Dashboard Chronograph – created totally in titanium and signaling a new era for the brand’s 10-year-old Dashboard Chronograph series (inspired the gauges of the Porsche sports cars). The newest P’6620 Dashboard is a larger 44mm size, crafted in titanium, with a luminescent dial and elongated 
chronograph pushers. The sapphire crystal is anti reflective and the watch is waters resistant to 100 meters. The watch, a superb fit for a Porsche Design piece, features a tachymeter scale to calculate average speeds, indicated by a large second hand with colored tip. The watch is powered by an automatic ETA Valjoux 7753 movement with a rotor in the shape of a sports car’s wheel rim. There are 12 different models of the new generation of the Dashboard watch available, including P’6620s with a white dial or with a gold case. The black PVD-coated titanium bracelet model shown here retails for a cool $5,770.
Breaking News: IWC Unveils Portuguese Siderale Scafusia –Swiss Luxury Watches Just Got Better
It’s hard to believe that IWC Schaffhausen could top its already incredible Swiss Luxury Watch –the Il Destriero Scafusia – one of the most complicated watches in the world – but as of this weekend – it has come close to doing so – and in true IWC style! For those who really know and love IWC the way I do, you will absolutely fall in love with the technology and individuality of the Portuguese Siderale Scafusia watch. While not as complex in certain ways as the Il Destriero Scafusia, this astronomical wonder offers a host of unusual feats.
Built in limited numbers and with each custom made in either 18-karat rose gold or platinum, the watch – which was unveiled to journalists in the middle of the Chilean desert – brings together astronomical displays and offers real and average solar time, along 
with a host of other functions. It was nearly 10 years in the making. The most immediately alluring feature of the highly complex watch on first look is the constant-force tourbillon, which, with second hand attached to it, occupies a grand part of the dial. However, the reverse side of the watch holds much of the astronomical and perpetual calendar magic. Herein are a celestial chart, horizon, geographic coordinates, solar time, sidereal time, sunrise and sunset display, day, night and twilight indications, and a perpetual calendar. WHEW!
The sidereal time is an extremely complex feature to build into a watch, and hence just a handful of brands tackle this feat. Our time is based on the length of the average solar day and is broken down for ease of measurement into 24-hour s. However, the true time it takes for the earth to make incomplete rotation around its own axis – is a few minutes shorter than the average solar day, and is called a sidereal day. The 24-hour display located at the 12:00 position on the watch dial has hours and minute hands that show sidereal time via a train that is so precise it deviates by just 11.5 second in an entire year.
There is so much packed into the Portuguese Siderale Watch, with its newly designed hand-wound 94900 caliber, that I will need more than just today to share the details. But a few quick cool facts:
- Every watch is unique in that, in addition from the personal celestial chart being customized for the owner’s hemisphere, case materials and dial designs can be selected.
- ·The 56 jewel hand-wound movement is shock resistant and the entire 46mm watch is water resistant to 3 bar – strong enough to be worn regularly.
- This watch will take about a year to receive, once ordered – -but is well worth the wait. Price will be forthcoming.