Time Capsules: Product — Cartier Watches and the Grand Traditional Arts

Cartier has long been known for its extraordinary works of high jewelry and haute horology. A pioneer for more than 160 years in the watch and jewelry world, Cartier has always focused on artistry in its designs. In the past five years, this brand has created masterful new calibers in high watchmaking that has brought it to the forefront of complex watchmaking. However, one cannot forget that this is a brand rich with artistic prowess and creative excellence, and in the past decade, has intensified that spirit in its Cartier Art collection of unique watches.

 This year, Cartier unveiled a series of six timepieces that clearly demonstrate the brand’s unparalleled mastery of the traditional arts: marquetry, mosaics, engraving and enamel.  Each watch is more stunning and alluring than the next. Yet somehow, they have been overshadowed by the technical masteries on the market. It is our goal at Atimelyperspective to bring the exceptional marvels of Cartier to our readers.

Here, you see the magnificent Rotonde de Cartier 42mm watch, crafted in 18-karat pink gold and set with 1.39 carats of diamonds on it. The caliber is a Manufacture manual wind movement. The true work of art and craftsmanship comes on the dial however – with the turtle motif entirely created by hand – a mosaic of more than 1,000 stones. To build this masterpiece, a stone setters works with tweezers and ultimate patience — masterfully setting each and every mosaic stone into place, one at a time, arranging the colors with an eye for every single detail — to finish the dial in such a way that makes the tortoise one of the most realistic and alluring mosaic dials ever.  The stones are onyx, tiger’s eye, falcon’s eye, yellow pietersite, carnelian, three colors of jasper, yellow and moss agate, coral and mother of pearl.  No less than 60 hours of work are required to position the stones on this infinitely small scale; then they are cemented to ensure an even surface and an extraordinary fantasy comes to life in a mineral turtle that defines  time. Just 10 individually numbered pieces will ever be created, each retailing for a very justifiable $178,000.

 

Time Capsules: News – Bell & Ross creates new site

Offering an amazing user-friendly look and feel, the newest Bell & Ross site uses the latest web technologies, and  is a benchmark in web ergonomics and aesthetics. Bell & Ross blends modern interactive functionalities on the site’s practical, ultra-legible and luxurious field – which is accessible in full worldwide media (Smartphones, tablet PCs) and in approximately 10 languages. Also new is the Bell & Ross Club, a new service offering exclusive after-sale benefits. Instead of being simply purchasers, customers become privileged members of the Bell & Ross community. They can register their watch or collection and as members, they are informed of the latest models and receive advice and follow-up service (warranties, maintenance of watches and accessories). Check it out … www.bellross.com.

Time Capsules: News – Hamilton Watch Partners with Harrison Ford in Conservation Efforts

Hamilton Watch Company and Harrison Ford have teamed up for the third time Conservation International (CI), a non-profit organization that works to create a healthy planet.  In support of the cause, Hamilton has created the Hamilton Khaki Conservation Auto Chrono, designed in collaboration with Harrison Ford, vice chair of CI’s Board of Directors.  The watch is dedicated to encouraging people to preserve natural resources.  It features a vintage natural beige dial and brown leather strap and houses a Swiss made H31 caliber with 60 hours of power reserve, crafted in stainless steel and resistant to magnetic fields to echo a theme of longevity and sustainability. The watch features Harrison Ford’s signature on the back and the CI logo. It retails for a cool $1,945 — a veritable steal!

According to Harrison Ford, in an interview conducted for Hamilton, the collaboration between himself and Hamilton Watch Company to support the work of CI is proving successful.   “…The preservation of planet earth is extremely time-critical. What could better mirror that fact than a watch? So I am very happy to have (C) Hamilton International Ltd. collaborated with Hamilton over the last few years with many positive outcomes demonstrated,” says Ford, who enjoyed being involved in the design of the new collection.

 “Like the previous collections, I really appreciated being actively involved in the design of the Khaki Conservation Auto Chrono. It was important for me to create a watch that reflects the mission and values of Conservation International. Each detail of the design echoes the theme of nature, longevity and sustainability. For example the automatic chronograph movement, the engraving of my signature and the logo of CI on the back case remind us the fragility of time and the importance of immediate action. To express the colors of nature, I went for a soft brown leather strap that perfectly fits the vintage dial. The resulting watch is just great! I love it.”

 For Ford, protection of the planet is extremely important to him and it is vital for him to be involved and play a leading role. “I see opportunities to preserve the natural world slipping away, and I want to be involved in correcting the balance between the pressure of human population and the potential benefits to humanity of healthy ecosystems. We are the problem; we are the solution. Our health relies entirely on the vitality of nature and our fellow species on Earth. We have to recognize our responsibility and take action now. This summarizes the mission of the Conservation International organization and I can’t think of anything more relevant – to me or any other human being!”

Time Capsules: Product — Ressence Comes to US Market

Conceived of by Belgian industrial designer Benoît Mintiens, RESSENCE is a watch brand designed on the philosophy of less is more. The bold, visually appealing timepiece features a patented display system that was designed and developed in house for showing the time that features a revolving dial module driven by a Swiss modified 2824-A2 caliber. 

 The revolving dial plate points out the minutes, while the subdials display the hours, seconds and am/pm indications. The subdials continually orbit around a virtual axis for a constantly different dial layout. A bit difficult to understand, a few minutes with the watch and one immediately grasps the concept — one that is at once really cool and alluring.

The first collection hitting the US market is the ZeroSeries, crafted in 316 stainless steel 42mm cases, aluminum alloy, or titanium grade 5. The watches feature double 3D sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coating. Straps are alligator, genuine carbon fiber or calf skin, and the watches are built in a limited edition of 50 pieces. They range in price from $14,900 to $17,200.

Time Capsules: Product – Blacksand Emerges On Market

There’s a new brand on the block — but don’t be fooled … the executives behind it have years of watch experience and have put together an impressive collection of powerful timepieces that are destined to bring a loyal following. Called Blacksand, the brand is founded by Alain Mouawad (of the famed Mouawad family of jewelers and watchmakers) features a uniformity in design and craftsmanship. With a tag line “Elements of Time, Manufactured in Switzerland,” the watches are crafted using high-tech materials such as tantalum with rose gold, sandblasted ceramic and titanium. Each watch is marked with the all-too-familiar words “Semper Fidelis” — labeling the brand the defender of watchmaking value and further underscoring its commitment to “rise above the expected” and to adhere to strict codes of watchmaking conduct. It is also a call for those who have a true loyalty to fine watchmaking, to powerful timepieces. In a tribute to the armed forces, and drawing its inspiration from their feats, the watches focus in design on strength, readability, high-tech materials and stealth looks.
Blacksand watches are dedicated to pure lines and expressive attitudes, with a color palette of black, violet and stone gray as the prevailing hues. The Blacksand logo –a futuristic stylized hour glass – has many different interpretations:  yin/yang, a serpent, infinity conveyed through the figure 8.  The Uniformity collection features a sporty, contemporary yet timeless appeal via a 46mm curved case framed by two sand-blasted matt ceramic shafts that shape the lugs and are the signature look of the line. The timepieces house COSC- (and Chronofiable) certified chronometer movements with self-winding twin barrels that offer 120 hours of power reserve.  The Blacksand Genève caliber 1970 is on a Technotime base and offers instant date jump, stop seconds and tungsten carbide rotor. The watches feature sapphire crystals and casebacks and two-level dials that feature blue-emission SuperLuminova for superb yet colorful night reading. They retail from $14,500 for the titanium and ceramic version to $22,500 for a pink gold and titanium or pink gold and ceramic version, to $33,900 for an all pink gold model.  Worth taking a look at, but better to try on – this one is a must see and feel to appreciate.

Time Capsules: Product – Montblanc Does World Timing at a Great Price

We all know world time watches are today’s great watch. They say a lot about the person wearing them … world traveler, busy business man, hot shot, maybe? But most of them are top dollars, as well.  Now, Montblanc offers one of the most stunning – and affordable – Automatic Worldtimers on the market. The Star Worldtimer Automatic is crafted in a 42mm stainless steel with a black guilloche dial. It shows the complete world time. Ease of operation is a salient feature. All functions are operated via the   crown: winding the movement; setting the local time and the time in a second zone; and adjusting the city-disk for the world time display and the date corrector. Equally important: the movement continues to run accurately while the time zone is being set thanks to a patent-pending setting mechanism that is integrated into the self-winding MB caliber. Looks good, works great, and – get this – it retails for just about $4,600!

Time Capsules: News – Would you pay a million for a Rolex?

Someone did this weekend at the Christie’s Geneva Sale of Important Watches. In fact, the bidder paid $1,163,340 — a new world record price for ANY Rolex wristwatch ever sold at auction. It was for this legendary ultra-rare split-seconds chronograph (reference 4113). Just 12 were made by Rolex and only 8 of them are known to have survived.  Gotta really love Rolex …..

 

Weekend Sojourn: Piaget Brings the Garden to Life

Long known as an haute joaillerie brand as well as a watchmaker extraordinaire, Piaget delights the senses with its amazing jewelry.  In its Limelight Garden Party collection unveiled earlier this year, the brand brought together the essence of nature in a garden collection of flowers and birds that is at once playful, whimsical and magical.  This alluring ring features a seductive cushion-cut rubellite at its center, rimmed by an 18-karat gold setting with 359 brilliant-cut diamonds, 16 pear-shaped emeralds and 8 round-cut pink sapphires. Atop it all, enchantingly perched is a perfectly realized diamond-ensconced bird.  Yes, this is the ring for me– if I had a cool $95,000 laying around.

A Timely Event: NY TimeCrafters Show Open to Collectors this Weekend

If you are an avid watch lover and collector then get in gear and head to the Times Center (at 242 west 41st between 7th and 8th) this weekend for an amazing display of the newest timepieces from some of the most luxurious top-notch brands on the market. The TimeCrafters show officially opened yesterday, and is a blend of watch history, making and finished savoir faire.

The event features 19 of the most storied brands – with representatives there to show the pieces.  Additionally, the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH) has brought from Switzerland more than 50 historically significant watches. Several key master watch artisans (including a watchmaker, gemsetter and chamferer) are on site, as well, demonstrating their extraordinary craft. Who’s  exhibiting? Well – it’s a Who’s Who of watchmaking: A. Lange & Sohne, Audemars Piguet, Baume & Mercier, Bulgari, Cartier, Chopard, Girard-Perregaux, Harry Winston, Hublot IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Jean Richard, Montblanc, Officine Panerai, Richard Mille, Roger Dubuis, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef &Arpels, Zenith. For hours and more information, visit www.timecrafters.us.

Time Capsules: product — Zannetti Breathes Fire and Life into its Watches

Zannetti creates timepieces of true distinction. Handmade in Rome, the y are works of exceptional art. To touch one of these beauties, to see it on the wrist and to understand the amazing craftsmanship that goes into its making is a rare treat.  Each watch starts with a hand drawing so exact it could be cut out and worn. Each dial is a majestic work of art – utilizing centuries-old crafts such as gold sculpting, engraving and enameling.  This stunning  Zannetti Lady Regent Legendary Dragon watch features a Regent Dragon sculpted in 18-karat gold wrapping around the enamel dial.  The Italian-made timepiece houses a Swiss Automatic movement and the 18-karat gold case is set with brilliant-cut diamonds. There are bold, red-dialed versions that are diamond-free, and a host of other pieces. This is one brand you won’t want to miss out on the chance to visit and watch art in the making  if you are in Rome.