The Omega Speedmaster chronograph was created in 1957 and has always been regarded as a high-precision sturdy, reliable watch. In 1969, it made history as the first watch to be worn on the moon. This week, it was the watch I relied on during hurricane Sandy, the subsequent power outage for six days and the clean-up after the fact.
This Speedmaster Automatic Chronometer is a superb watch. Housing the self-winding Omega 3304 caliber, the watch is a chronograph and officially certified COSC chronometer. I love the feel of the automatic movement and its self-winding capabilities – you know you have mechanics on the wrist with this watch. For me, even though time wasn’t essential during the blackout, I needed to know the time and date and with this watch I was certain it wouldn’t die as a quartz watch might if its battery ran out during the long days and dark nights. Additionally, during the
aftermath and the cleanup outside, I knew it was rugged enough to go the distance hauling logs, brush and debris off the pool and out of the yard. While I didn’t use the tachymeter bezel, I did, in fact, use the chronograph to track how long it took to get just the one big tree off the pool: 6 hours, 22 minutes and 10 seconds. After that, I stopped timing the take down of the other fallen seven trees. It was tiring work but the watch kept up! I love this timepiece. Retail is about $4,900 – and at that it is a steal.
Time Capsules: Commentary –The AfterWrath of Hurricane Sandy
With the exception of the article written last Monday about my flight into NJ as the hurricane was also coming in, the rest of last week’s posts were pre-written before Hurricane Sandy landed and changed NJ forever. Today, I can finally post again – it will be the first of several posts about this long week and the longer times ahead.
Located here in northwestern NJ – we spent six days in cold and darkness. Now, we officially have power back! That means we now have heat (beyond the five feet the fireplace reaches out to), hot water to take showers, and lights at night! We now have internet and television to garner a fuller understanding of the devastation that surrounds us. We can have a cup of hot coffee again – and cook meals (if there were food left to buy on the grocery store shelves), we can wash laundry. But we also now have a different insight into many things – both current and past.
Others around us are still without heat and power.
- Gas line in Morris County, NJ
The 3-hour-long gas lines are reminiscent of the 70’s when – for those who remember driving then – we experienced gas rationing. Many tempers are edgy on gas lines. Frustrated drivers are often running out of gas while sitting on lines, and thus far we have spent a cumulative near 7 hours just for a tank of gas and a can of gas to run the chain saw. It is amazing, in retrospect, to know we thought that time was well spent: Without gas, we go nowhere – walking out where here is not an option – there are no sidewalks and nothing within miles. Driving a car is a luxury we have come to take for granted as common necessity. It actually is not. Heat, hot water, food, clean drinking water, and a roof over your head . . . these are the necessities.
We witnessed here, as well, the power of people coming together. Many neighbors are reaching out and helping others. We had 7 trees come down in our yard alone – several on the pool and filter. A daunting job to try to clean up this “Act of Nature” – we had two 16-year-old boys walk over from across the street to help us cut tree limbs, drag branches, and clean up. Thank you boys—not just for the so-much-appreciated help — but also for reminding me that teens of today have a heart and a moral soul, and are just as kind and helpful as teens of past generations.
Here, the fire department is totally volunteer, and among the first responders throughout the cold days, and dark and colder nights, are several 17 year old boys I know well – young, responsible and ready to run at the first wail of a siren. This long week was even longer, colder and darker for them, as they volunteered to help others first – sometimes without sleep, without food. With one of them being my son – I can say first hand that with every call they run out to, my heart runs, too. Thank you to them and the entire fire fighter and first responder teams out there.
We were hard-hit here, but we know all too well that we were also very lucky. I grew up going to the Jersey Shore – riding the Seaside roller coasters and walking the board walk. We spend weeks in the summer at a family-owned beach house that is most likely now filled with sand and water damage. Some we know lost their lives. This is the saddest of it all. We cannot just return to work as though this disaster did not happen. It did, and Healing will take time. But we will move forward – and that will be time well spent.
Time Capsules: Product – Storm Watches, Dark and Stormy Watches and More
As Hurricane Sandy engulfs the Eastern United States, many are contemplating the way they should spend their time indoors while waiting out the storm. This got me thinking about stormy times — which brings us to today’s post. Herein we bring you a few watches related to storms – and one that even gives you something to do while waiting it out.
Artya, a brand we love for its innovative artistic renditions, has a collection of timepieces whose cases it strikes with lightning (or the electric voltage the equivalent thereof) to create its cases. The “coup de foudre” collection features engraved and moulded cases that are struck by high voltage and undergo thermal combustion – yielding a dramatic look. The cases are subjected to 100,000 volts all the way to 1 million volts depending on the one-of-a-kind version being created.
On a totally different scale, if you are waiting out the storm behind closed doors and need a bottle of soda (or other beverage), you don’t need to search around for the bottle opener if you own a Dark and Stormy watch made by Happy Hour Timepieces. The Dark and Stormy watch features a patented bottle-opener on the strap’s buckle. It retails for a simple $69.95.
Time Capsules: Product — Franck Muller Conquistador Cortez Goes Wild
There are some all-new Conquistador watches out at Franck Muller – and you may do a double take when you see these dials. The GPG Conquistador Cortez – unveiled in Monaco at the WPHH show – is a bold rendition of time – with a very wild dial. The automatic watch is square with cushioned corners, and features a dial with big Arabic numerals – beneath which the dial features a
fantastic wave pattern.
The new versions are offered in Titanium, or in Ergal, a proprietary aluminum alloy developed for the brand. The watch, with rubber strap, comes in several renditions. Each features a decorated movement with 158 parts and a power reserve of 42 hours. This watch definitely makes a statement or individuality and daring.
Video: Michael Schumacher Talks About Time with Audemars Piguet
Last week we brought you news of the new Michael Schumacher watch by Audemars Piguet. Now, in this intriguing video, seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher unveils his first Defining Moment, and explains what has changed in motor car racing in the last few years and how important team work really is. Click here to see the video.
Time Capsules: News – Rare Tiffany, Rolex, Patek Philippe coming up for Auction
Mark your calendars if you are a vintage watch lover – on November 18, at the Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion in New York, more than 300 fine and unique timepieces will be up for sale at the Heritage Auctions. Top among the pieces up for sale at the Timepiece Signature Auction are rare repeater watches.
One pocket watch already receiving a great deal of attention is a colorful and whimsical Swiss rare gold Minute Repeater with unique Polo Theme case and Automaton, circa 1895. It is estimated at $15,000+.
An important Tiffany minute repeater pocket watch with split second chronograph is also on the auction block with an estimate of $20,000+. The watch was a gift from infamous Wall Street financier Jay Gould to his right hand man, Giovanni Morisini, in 1884. More than 60 Rolex timepieces are up as well, including a Rolex Ref. 6263 very fine Oyster Cosmograph, circa 1974 (estimate: $20,000+), 
a Rolex Ref. 6263 Steel Oyster Cosmograph Daytona, circa 1979 (estimate: $15,000+), and a 6538 Big Crown James Bond (estimate: $40,000+).
One of the auction’s most anticipated highlights is extremely fine Patek Philippe Ref. 5110 platinum World Time wristwatch (estimate: $25,000+).
Also expected to fetch big numbers is a Franck Muller prototype minute repeating watch with perpetual calendar (estimate: $70,000+). “This watch is 
accompanied by a letter, hand written and signed by Frank Muller, in which he states that he personally made the watch in 1986 for the Vicenza Jewelry and Watch Fair.” says Jim Wolf, Director of Fine Timepieces for Heritage Auctions. “This represents as prime an opportunity to own a superlative timepiece as any Heritage has presented.”
Off the Cuff: Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Grand Tradition Minute Repeater
It isn’t every day I get to wear a watch from my dreams – but recently, I had the wonderful experience of donning the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grand Tradition Repetition Minute watch – only 100 of which will ever be made. Crafted in titanium, this grand complication houses a mechanical hand-wound movement consisting of a whopping 413 parts that magnificently 
work together in harmony. The watch not only offers the time, but also lends music to the ear via a minute repeater that chimes the hours, quarter hours and minutes in three tones with two hammers. The perfectly orchestrated musical repertoire is completely visible on the open-worked skeletonized movement. This watch also offers a barrel-torque indicator of the 15 days of power reserve via two retrograde hands working in tandem across two half-moon-shaped arches. The watch is a joy to wear – it is light in weight and visually delightful, not to mention audibly sensational. Unfortunately for me – but maybe not for you – it costs $176,000.
Time Capsules: Product – ArtyA Unveils Blood and Bullet Watch
We’ve written about ArtyA before here – in fact, this is a brand we love. The creative genius of Yvan Arpa is nearly unparalleled when it comes to wild, different and definitively off-beat. In fact, his timepieces are works of art, and he openly states that the “Imagination running wild leads the artist, and the watchmaker has no choice but to follow.”
ArtyA uses real elements in the design of its watches – everything from dirt to bugs, animal fur, metals and more. Every piece is a unique work of art. Now, just in time for Halloween, the brand unveils the Blood and Bullet watch – maybe a great thing to have while out trick-or-treating in case you run into a real werewolf.
The watch combines a handmade silver bullet that is forged, engraved and rubbed with garlic in Geneva during a full moon. It also contains a bit of blood – the victim’s? The 47mm watch – deliciously scary – houses an automatic Swiss made movement – to keep it functioning at that most necessary moment in time. While the retail of this watch was not yet established – it’s just about a few thousand dollars—well worth that werewolf/vampire fend off.
Off the Cuff: Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona
Car lovers- watch lovers – what could be more fun and daring than to have a bit of the Daytona in your life? This Rolex Daytona Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona is one super hot wrist watch. It pays tribute to the brand’s involvement in automobile racing –in general and the Daytona 500 in particular. In fact the brand has been a participant in auto racing since it first became involved with the Daytona International Speedway races in 1959. It has since built the iconic and much-clamored-for Rolex Daytona watch.
This 40mm Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona is crafted in Rolex’s proprietary 18-karat Everose gold with waterproof pushbuttons. It is bold and alluring with its natural hues – and retails for a lot less than that race car you love – at just $28,800. You’ll feel like a million bucks with this watch on because it catches peoples’ eyes, doesn’t have to stay in the garage, and has an engine that is precision oriented.
Time Capsules: News –Audemars Piguet Presents New Michael Schumacher Royal Oak Offshore Watches in Germany
I
t’s been a big month for Formula One race-car driver Michael Schumacher – who officially confirmed his resignation this month — effective at the end of this season. The German born racer is a seven-time World Champion and is regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers ever. Holding a host of records, Schumacher (who had retired once before in 2006) is also a brand ambassador for Audemars Piguet watches – and just today the brand and Schumacher jointly unveiled its newest Michael Schumacher Royal Oak Offshore Limited Edition watches in Germany.
Schumacher was personally involved in the design of the timepieces, spent some time at the Audemars Piguet Manufacture, where he learned more about the making of these stealth watches, and worked closely y with AP’s Octavio Garcia, chief artistic officer (whom we have interviewed here).
A long-time admirer of Audemars Piguet timepieces, Schumacher says “It’s a real honor to have been involved in the creation of this special model of the Royal Oak Offshore and a privilege to lend my name to it.”There is a similarity between car racing and watch making, principally in the fact that it is essential to take care of the smallest details because everything is connected,” says Schumacher. “The performance of each component relates directly to that of another. This means that, in both cases, it is necessary to strive for daring solutions which result in greater functionality.”
The Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph Michael Schumacher is a tribute to him, and to his strive for excellence and precision. Housed in a 44mm case – the watch is offered in 1,000 pieces of titanium, 500 pieces in 18-karat pink gold and 100 pieces in 950 platinum. The watch features an anthracite grey dial, with the famed Royal Oak Offshore’s Mega Tapisserie pattern, and – quite naturally in this case – features a tachymeter scale on the circumference with two blue and 5 red stars symbolizing the drivers’ record seven championship victories. The minute track features a black-and-white pattern evocative of the checkered flag. The hour and minute hands are entirely new – inspired by the silhouette of a racing car’s monocoque (single shell frame), in red lacquer with blackened 
heads. The bezel lf the watch is a one-piece octagonal created from ultra-resistant Cermet – a material seven times more durable than steel. The rubber strap is attached by satin brushed titanium studs that emulate racing cars cooling scoops, and the crown resembles a gear wheel.
Inside this super-cool watch is a powerful movement: the Caliber 3126/3840 self-winding movement, visible through the sapphire case back. 
It is fitted with a 22-karat gold oscillating weight decorated with both Audemars Piguet’s logo and Schumacher’s famous “MS” signature. Even the design of the weight is inspired by the race track.
For those true watch and car fanatics, this newest series is a fast-tracked beauty. Prices are not yet available.