Bell & Ross unveils its newest Dive watches due out this August – the BR02 Steel with Carbon Fiber Dial and the BR02 Phantom – my personal favorite. Water resistant to 1,000 meters (where I will NEVER go), these mechanical self-winding dive watches house the ETA 2892 caliber and offer 
hours, minutes, seconds and date. The 44mm case features a decompression valve and screw-in crown. The BR02 Steel watch with carbon fiber dial is crafted in steel and retails for $3,500, while the Phantom dive watch is a black PVD finish for dark allure. It retails for $4,000. These Bell & Ross watches feature photo-luminescent hands and markers, single-directional bezel, anti-reflective sapphire crystal and rubber strap. Strong, able to withstand the elements and a bold statement in or out of the water.
Time Capsules Commentary: Judging Couture Time by Watch Journal
At this week’s Couture Show, held in Las Vegas concurrently with the JCK show and Swiss Watch by JCK—several of the industry’s most important USA watch and jewelry shows – Roberta Naas of Atimelyperspective was asked to be a judge (one of six judges) in the Couture Time contest, sponsored by Watch Journal magazine. The watch competition is designed to underscore the achievements of modern watchmaking – and emphasize watch architecture, innovation and invention, and technical excellence. Approximately 21 entries will be judged this week, with other jurors being famed celebrity chef and watch collector Nick Stellino, head of the watch and clock department at Sotheby’s NY, John Reardon, as well as other collectors, jewelers and journalists. Brands being judged include Armin Strom, Ball Watch USA, Bedat & Co., Bell & Ross, Bremont, Christophe Claret, Ellicott 1738, Ernst Benz, Franc Vila, Gergé Swiss Timepieces, Giuliano Mazzuoli, Hautlence, Ladoire, Linde Werdelin, Montres Venus, SEAH, Speake-Marin, TF Est. 1968 and Tutima. We’ll keep you posted on the results, which will be announced Saturday night at the show.
Time Capsules: News –Omega Updates Planet Ocean Watches
Bolder than ever before, Omega updates its Planet Ocean collection of timepieces, and takes a very pro-active approach to world conservation. Now, every Planet Ocean watch is equipped for extreme underwater adventure with unidirectional rotating bezels, helium escape valves and water resistance to 60 bar, 600 meters, or 2000 feet – depending on how you like to measure your depths. The combination of the in-house Co-Axial movements and the silicon balance springs that equip each watch in the new Seamaster Planet Ocean collection equates to such a stable and reliable product that Omega offers the watches with a full four-year warranty.
Additionally, Omega announced in Capri last weeek, its intentions to team with famed environmentalist and film-maker Yann Arthus-Bertrand to create a film about the Earth’s Oceans to raise awareness about protecting our waters. Omega has also entered into a partnership with GoodPlanet, an organization organized by Arthus-Bertrand to promote sustainable development.
Time Capsules: Product — Hublot Unveils the Nearly $3 Million Big Bang
At last week’s F1 Grand Prix™ of Monaco, Hublot dazzled everyone with one of the most expensive jewelry watches on the market – the unique Big Bang Tourbillon that nets out at just about $3 million.
Unveiled in Europe, it is aptly called the 2 Million Europe Big Bang, but the unique one-of-a-kind tourbillon is an audacious masterpiece of 637 baguette diamonds weighing more than 140 carats. Its creation required 45 gem cutters and took master gem setters approximately 2,000 hours of skilful work. (This unique timepiece is available exclusively from
Time Capsules: Commentary – Bozeman Watch Co. Honors Those Who Served
Officially proclaimed in 1868, Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance in America for those who have died in our nation’s service. It is a day where the American flag runs high – on flagpoles, in cemeteries, in the homes of those who have served and fallen. Having had a father who served in the marines, an uncle who served in the Navy, a father-in-law who served in the army and a host of friends who served in our forces, I am proud to have holidays that honor these men and women.
Last fall, at Veteran’s Day, Atimelyperspective told of a top-quality watch brand based in Montana, USA, which also celebrates those who have served. Bozeman Watch Co. offers its U.S.S. Montana (the only state that does not have an official battleship or submarine named after it) COSC-certified Swiss chronometer. Just 50 pieces were made of this watch and only two are left for sale – for each one sold, the company honors those who served (particularly in WWII) by donating $1,000 to the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.
It features a white dial with marine blue Roman numerals and sweep second hand. The 44mm steel case is water resistant to 330 feet and the watch features a domed sapphire crystal. Leather strap options include a hand-made Caiman crocodile, hand-made Louisiana alligator or hand-made Montana saddle leather. The bold yet classic timepiece houses a fast-winding modified Val Granges automatic mechanism with 24 jewels that beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and maintains 48 hours of main spring power reserve. This watch retails for $7,900. Please contact info@bozemanwatch.com or visit www.bozemanwatch.com.
Weekend Sojourn: Peruvian-Designed Jewelry Tales Takes Center Stage
Peruvian SpiritJewelry Tales of South American Silver is a design experience that translates magical themes, legends and materials of ancient civilizations into alluring contemporary jewelry. Embodying romantic looks, the jewelry blends sterling silver with Earth’s most precious gems from South America.
Creative director Marco Vidal finds inspiration every day in his native Peru, appreciating its numerous natural resources, observing historic icons and listening to nature: “We create jewelry that allows a woman to 
Ancient Treasureunveil her own transcendental beauty and power.”
Jewelry Tales, new on the US market – offers six entrancing collections that embrace nature and femininity. Crafted in sterling silver — the precious metal closely associated with Peru, which traces its metalworking back more than 2000 years ago to the Incas, who used silver for their precious objects — the jewelry collections include Peruvian Spirit, Minerales, Rainforest, Ancient Treasures and the newest Spa series. Each incorporates just the right amount of gemstones and silver – with beautiful accents 
Rainforest appropriate for the collection. One gemstone-beaded bracelet in the Rainforest collection, for instance, may have sterling silver butterflies, birds or flowers adorning it gracefully, while a necklace in another collection may have antiqued and engraved finishes to replicate an old-world charm.
Each piece is intricately enhanced by special details such as clasps, beads, end-charms, whimsical touches and delicate spiral wire workings. Colored stones include carnelian, celestine, rose quartz, pink opal, leopardite, sodalite, mother of pearl, turquoise and other alluring beauties – offering truly timeless elegance. These are wonderful gems that easily go from day to night and from office to outdoor chic and sexy summer activities.
Time Capsules: News – Breguet Original Pocket Watches on Display at J. Paul Getty Museum, LA
Four original pocket watches from the late1700s and early 1800s created by Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823) have gone on display in the J. Paul Getty Museum in the permanent collection of French Decorative Arts and will remain there through October 2011. It is the first time such a rare and special viewing of these four historic timepieces has been shown outside of Switzerland. Breguet, considered the father of watchmaking, was obsessed with precision timekeeping and crafted some of the most technologically advanced watches of his time. He is the inventor of the tourbillon (among many other inventions) and was the supplier of watches to some of the most discerning clientele (including Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI). Breguet is a sponsor of “Paris: Life and Luxury” on view at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center through August 7, 2011.
“Souscription” watch, Calibre with center going barrel. Sold in 1803.
Trend Report: Enamel Watches
CartierSantos 100Yesterday, atimelyperspective brought you a video of the up-close workmanship — the art of enameling. Today, we bring a few modern-day examples of this alluring work. This is a centuries old art – one that lives on in watch dials of the finest caliber. Translating nature’s finest birds, flowers and animals in miniature onto tiny watch dials is truly an amazing art – one that requires skill, patience and a lifetime of training. There are only a handful of artisans capable of such work, and they keep quite busy with this very time-consuming mastery. Today’s most alluring enamel dial watches come from brands such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin, among others.
Each enamel dial hand-made – often hand painted with a single-haired brush. Every time a coat of paint is applied, it must be fired – sometimes with a dial undergoing as many as 
Van Cleef & Arpels Jules Verne series20 firings in a kiln as hot as 800 degrees. With each firing, enamellers know their product is at risk. The paint can bubble, or develop an imperfection. The color could run or a speck of dust could land on the dial – all making the dial useless. It would have to be tossed away and the project started again. In many cases hundreds of hours of painting go in to the making of a single dial.
There are many different types of enamel work – styles that each enameller has developed and made unique in his or her own way. The paints are the tools of trade, each a dry 
Jaquet Drozpaint that must be perfectly mixed with oils to achieve the right consistency. Colors change in firing and depth or translucency is the result of the number of coats. Often the enamel work is exquisitely mixed with gemstone settings or engravings, or a combination of other artistic masteries for an end result that is an amazing fine art – one that is always unique.
Video: The Art of Enameling
There are few time-honored arts in watchmaking as alluring and enchanting – or as difficult – as the art of enameling. Herein, the artist works many hours at a time, under a microscope, often with a single-haired brush – painting with colors that must be fired time and again at temperatures that could break the dial or form imperfections – causing the artist to have to toss the dial out and begin again. There are just a handful of artisans who can create the finest florals, animals and scenes that the best brands in the world grace their timepieces with. Here, one of the finest independent enamellers, Anita Porchet, tells her story of her art in this behind-the-scenes video, thanks to www.AWJOnlineTV.com, and www.hautehorlogerie.org. This is a rare chance to witness the delicate work of enameling.
Time Capsules: Product – Breitling Soars With Navitimer Super Constellation Limited Edition
Aviation enthusiasts may be happy to know that the Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation “Star of Switzerland” – a fine symbol of the conquest of the skis and one of the world’s three remaining flight worthy Super Constellations – is preparing to take to the skies again. In Breitling renewed its financial support for the preservation of the legendary aircraft, and announced the launch of a limited edition Navitimer chronograph in its honor, proceeds of which will help raise funds for the cause.
The propeller-driven long-haul plane dominated civil aviation in the 1950s and established itself as the “King of the Atlantic.” Famed for its silhouette featuring a dolphin-like curved fuselage and triple-tail design, this 
plane was built in 1955, and restored in the 1990s by a group of passionate devotees. It has been in various maintenance states for the past 7 years, but is now ready to take off again. Breitling supports the endeavors to safeguard this historical aircraft.
As such, the brand has launched a limited edition of its legendary Navitimer aviation chronograph, the sale of which will fund another 200,000 Swiss Franc check for the association. Issued in a run of 1,049 – in tribute to the Lockheed L-1049 – this timepiece instrument bears the inscription “Breitling Super Constellation” on its dial, as well as a golden B shaped like the 1950s logo. The chronograph retails for $6,475 on black leather strap.