Archives A Timely Perspective

Time Capsules: Product — Hautlence HL2.0 Revealed

Just about six weeks ago, on January 8, Atimelyperspective ran A moment in time with Hautlence founder Guillame Tetu, wherein we disclosed information on the then soon-to-be available HL2.0. Well, the innovative watch is here – opened up in all its glory for those who love Hautlence like I do – to take a closer look.

The watch holds three patents, offers a retrograde minute indication (the minute hand moves from 0 to 60 and then returns back to 0 to start its count again) and a numeric (digit) jump hour indicator (which actually moves on a chain link that slides sideways in our increments to reveal each new hour). The movement is made in-house by Hautlence. The TV-screen case features a sapphire crystal that wraps around the side for a more revealing look inside. HL2.0 retails for $200,000 in rose gold and $219,000 in white gold.

Time Capsules: Product — Armin Strom Boldly Races In

Armin Strom, the Swiss brand that is taking the world by storm with its innovative approach to watch design using Earth’s elements as a backdrop, has focused strongly on the world of automobile racing. The brand is the official timer of the Marussia Virgin Racing F1 team, and is now unveiling the Armin Racing Chronograph.
Two bold and exciting models are being unveiled: one black beauty with red accents and one red and white zinger – both housed in imposing 44.4mm cases. Both feature dial accents decorated in the Marussia Virgin F1 signature colors of black, red and white. The black chronograph version is a black PVD titanium case with black dial and black rubber strap. The alluring black sport watch is ever more daring with its bright racing red and white dial accents. The red version is a matte titanium case, white dial with bright red accents and a matching bright red rubber racing strap. Alternatively, a high-tech leather strap is available. Just 400 pieces of this new Armin Strom watch will be built.
The Armin Racing Chronograph houses a mechanical 25-ruby movement with automatic wind and 46 hours of power reserve. It is water resistant to 50 meters and all components are meticulously finished and visible through the sapphire caseback. The watch retails for $8,600 – and you’ll want to race to get one because this watch feels as good on the wrist as it looks.

Watch Stops 2011: Arnold & Son, Bovet Exhibit in Qatar

Bovet DragonAt the 8^th annual Doha Jewelry and Watch Exhibition in Qatar this past week, men’s complicated watches – especially tourbillons – stole the limelight. These were followed by limited edition pieces and high-tech, high-mech complexities from some of the independents such as Hautlence, Ladoire and Richard Mille. Naturally, being the Middle East market, watches adorned with some extra diamonds and gemstones faired strongly, as well, so those with diamond bezels and cases had added allure.
Still a few winners stood out in the crowd. Among them: Arnold & Son’s set of three watches in 18-karat pink gold dedicated to the discoveries of Captain James Cook, who made three explorations, each lasting three years, that were of great contribution to Arnold & Son James Cook (Hawaii)the world. Each of his voyages serves as the subject of a watch dial: Landing at Botany Bay in Australia; The Discovery of Antarctica; The Death in Hawaii. Each watch houses a Swiss automatic movement with a hand-touch up painted dial. Only 25 sets are being made and each set retails for approximately $165,000.
Also of interest is the new Bovet Dragon Tourbillon timepiece. While the front of the watch is an amazing tourbillon, it is the back of the watch that is perhaps most alluring. It features a dial valued at nearly $70,000 alone, which is entirely hand painted and enameled in seven layers of engraved mother of pearl and painting with a stunning Bovet Dragon and Recital 0dragon on it (the year 2012 is the Chinese Year of the Dragon). With the flip of the strap, the watch is reversible. It retails for just under $300,000. Also important from Bovet is the Recital 0 — a skeletonized timepiece with a micro-sandblasted finish that looks white to the eye. This $290,000 watch is meticulously finished and features a diamond-set case. Each of these watches is an amazing feat of watchmaking technology inside and stunning art on the outside.

Watch Stops: Doha – Ladoire Shows off Mr. Grey and Mr. Ice Black Widows

On February 7, we brought you the Black Widow Mr. Green watch from Ladoire, explaining the exciting new automatic caliber of this watch with its 39 jewels, shaped mainplate and W-shaped GMT bridge structure. Well, at the Doha Jewelry and Watch Exhibition, we got to try on all the new versions of the Black Widow, including Mr. Grey and Mr. Ice with their titanium alloy case and cambered sapphire curved crystals. Each one has its own magnificent and mysterious allure. These are definitely watches that with one try on the wrist will ensnare you in their web. Ah the Black Widow you will want has arrived, and for a mere $71,000.

Click for larger image — Mr. Green and Mr. Grey

Weekend Sojourn: Jewelry Exhibition in Qatar

At the 8^th annual Doha Jewelry and Watch Exhibition this past week in Qatar, the jewelry was a true sight to behold. What was seen there was nothing like what we see in most parts of the world. Diamonds, pearls, gemstones – yes—but about 20 times the size of what we are used to seeing. A few examples? Graff had a 123-carat diamond pendant. Harry Winston had a necklace set with more than 200 carats of diamonds and emeralds, and William Goldberg brought in a diamond floral necklace set with more than 130 carats of diamonds. Splendid! Even better—most will sell … for numbers into the millions.

Oh, and here is yours truly with my one and only chance in life at wearing such a gem: Harry Winston’s 67.67-carat Fancy Yellow Diamond ring, valued at $12.6 million. I must say the ring did get stuck on my finger for just a moment… ah but then I realized I wasn’t getting away with it. Yep – that try on may have been worth the15-hour plane tripto Qatar all by itself. Stay Tuned … more great Doha adventures coming this week.

Time Capsules: News – Plan a Watch Trip to NY in MAY for TimeCrafters

Last week we told you about the Wall Street Journal sponsoring Watch Week in April. Well if you couldn’t schedule that visit, plan a trip in May, when the New York Times hosts its own event. May 13-15 is New York’s TimeCrafters Exhibition at The Times Center. At TimeCrafters, more than 18 luxury watchmakers will bring together their finest timepieces and demonstrate the art of fine watchmaking. Additionally, the Foundation de la Haute Horlogerie will bring from Switzerland a special historical exhibit of 60 timepieces that illustrate the creation and development of watchmaking. This never before-seen-in-America exhibit promises to be worth the visit in and of itself. However, one can also meet with representatives of brands such as A. Lange & Sohne, Audemars Piguet, Baume & Mercier, Bulgari, Cartier, Chopard, Girard-Perregaux, Harry Winston, Hublot, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, JeanRichard, Montblanc, Panerai, Richard Mille, Roger Dubuis, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels and Zenith, among others. Schedule it into your calendars: May 13-15; and feel free to visit www.timecrafters.us.

Time Capsules: Cuervo y Sobrinos Unveils Historiador Retrograde

Swiss heart, Cuban soul — Cuervo y Sobrinos knows classic mechanical watches and harnesses its passion for craftsmanship in this Historiador Retrograde, inspired by the cosmopolitan sensibility of Havana in the 1940s, where the brand then resided.
This is a watch I would want. The elegant 40mm steel case with its Clous de Paris dial and blued hands is a reproduction of an iconic original Cuervo y Sobrinos model from that era.
The 30-jewel automatic movement offers day of the week, alluring retrograde date, and 42 hours of power reserve. A transparent sapphire case-back enables viewing of the engraved CYS oscillating weight. The watch is finished with a double curved crystal typical of the 1950s, and is water resistant to 3 atm and finished with a Louisiana crocodile strap. Magnifico!

Watch Stops 2011: SIHH – Piaget Sings Pretty with its Happy Bird

In typical Piaget style, whimsy and haute Joaillerie marry with perfection in the newest Limelight series – a Garden Party, complete with outdoor nature elements. The newest Limelight Dancing Light watch is a magnificent delight — set with 165 diamonds in what is lovingly referred to as the Happy Bird motif. The black dial of this watch features two 18-karat white gold, diamond-set rotating birds sitting on diamond-set leaves. The case is also set with diamonds, for a total of 165 gems. Of course, it is matched by an entire suite of entrancing Happy Bird Limelight Dancing Light jewelry. While the birds don’t sing – they may as well… the watch is so entrancing – it nearly has its onlookers singing.

Time Capsules: News – Madison Ave the Place for Collectors to Be in April

Madison Avenue is home to a number of the world’s premier timepiece flagship boutiques — all located between 57th and 86th Streets.

This year, approximately 20 of those brands band together during the week of April 11^th for Madison Avenue Watch Week – a celebration of haute horology for collectors and connoisseurs. Thoughout the week-long event, different brands will present artisan demonstrations, watchmaker expose’s and discussions, insights into trends in design, and sneak peeks into manufacturing and mechanism technology. Additionally, a host of timepieces will be brought in from Switzerland that were highlighted at the SIHH and BaselWorld shows. An exhibition of antique and historic timepieces, private VIP appointments, appearances by business leaders and celebrities who will speak to their love of fine watches will also be worked into the week—which is presented by the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District (BID) and sponsored by The Wall Street Journal.