Archives A Timely Perspective

Time Capsules: Commentary — Piaget Stars in Rabbit Hole

I know my readers enjoy the inside scoop on who’s wearing what on the big screen, so FYI – in the new, very-talked-about movie Rabbit Hole, actor Aaron Eckhart (as Howie) is seen wearing the ultra-slim Altiplano from Piaget. The watch is a 40mm beauty crafted in 18-karat white gold with a black alligator strap. This watch is one of the all-time favorites for its ultra-thin movement and classical looks.

My thoughts: This watch is a real beauty both inside and out. Piaget rules when it comes to ultra-thin classic elegant timepieces. The Altiplano is a true take-home timepiece once you’ve seen it, tried it on and experienced its appeal . Can it upstage Nicole Kidman who plays opposite Eckhart? Well, that depends on how much of a watch lover you really are …

THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS

‘Twas the day before Christmas, when all through the watch world,
Not a watchmaker was stirring, no machines whirled;
The tools were all placed on the benches with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The collectors were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of tourbillons and repeaters danced in their heads;
Most writers were laying their pens to rest,
Some bloggers still commenting; and I’m doing my best,
Sitting at the computer, donning my thinking cap,
For me there would be no long winter’s nap.
Then out on the lawn there arose quite a clatter,
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
What was interrupting my thoughts with such dash!
The wind was whipping but thankfully no snow
My lighted reindeer were blown over again – Oh No!
When, nothing else to my wondering eyes did appear,
No miniature sleigh, or eight tiny reindeer,
No a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I returned to my writing and forgot about St. Nick.
Although it is Christmas Eve Day
My blog is quite new, so I must post away.
Shall I write of watch news, of products, of time?
Or shall I tell readers of new technology so sublime?
I thought of the brands and all they create —
Of master thinkers and how they innovate.
I thought of the watchmakers who craft with perfection —
Their main idea — cutting-edge new direction.
Should I write of the thinkers, the doers, the leaders?
Should I write of their products, their causes, their readers?
Oh, the pace in the watch world as rapid as ever,
I can’t miss a beat in this social-media endeavor.
And as I strive to conceive of the perfect feature for the day,
Somehow the hours whiled away.
With my passion for watches lighting my way,
I somehow forgot it was Christmas Eve Day.
But then I was jolted by my kids and my dogs
“Stop writing, now. No one’s reading the blogs!”
So I close the computer, and bid my adieu
And end with a very Merry Christmas to you.

Trend Report: Skeleton Watches

Armin Strom Blue ChipIn the world of luxury watchmaking –skeleton timepieces are among the most alluring to behold. A skeleton watch is one whose mechanical movement has been carved away to such an extreme degree that often as much as 60 or 70 percent of the metal is gone – leaving an open-worked masterpiece that not only takes the place of the absent dial, but also becomes a work of art on the wrist.
Typically, the bridges, plates and rotors are magnificently etched and intricately engraved by artisans who have spent hundreds of hours on the fine workmanship. Perlage, guilloche and other superb engravings are usually viewed via the sapphire crystals and casebacks that hold these movements in all their glory. Only the top watchmakers today create such intricately worked beauties by hand. There are also in today’s world the new realms of CNC milling machines that can cut the tiniest pieces to perfection and so some skeleton watches can be had for better prices, though their artisanry is not a match to the hand-carved beauties.
Franck Muller SqueletteFor the hand-created pieces, artisans craft the ultimate workmanship. Master engravers spend hundreds –even thousands — of hours etching the most succinct details into hundreds of miniscule pieces that comprise a single movement.
The first skeleton watches in history were antique pocket watches of the late 17^th and early 18^th centuries. These watches had detailed engravings (often florals and scenery) on the backs of the movements because when the pocket watch was opened for viewing of the time, the movement and caseback was exposed to the viewer and the watchmaker wanted to embellish it with designs that reflected the era. Today’s designs are more about intricacy, brand identity and tradition.

Time Capsules: Commentary – Would you pay $5.7 Mil for a Watch?

Well, the results are in – from Christie’s that is. With its final auction of the fall season just recently in New York, Christie’s International wrapped up a record-breaking year for fine and rare watches that totaled $91.2 million in sales – the highest annual amount ever achieved for watches by the global auction house.

What’s even more amazing is that the top watch of the year sold for a record price of $5.7 million dollars – to be precise – $5,708,833. That top selling vintage watch was for a Patek Philippe; anyone surprised by that? Certainly, I’m not. The watch that fetched the top dollars: Reference 1527, manufactured in 1943. The estimated value of this perpetual calendar watch was between $1.5 and $2.4 million. Bids came from around the world for this baby, driving the prices higher and higher. The watch ultimately went to a private Swiss museum. Hmm — wonder if we will see it in the Patek Philippe museum on our next visit?All I know is that I can’t even imagine paying the estimated value, let alone the final $5.7 million – but I can say that this is one impressive watch.

Time Capsules: News—A. Lange & Sohne Releases newest Tourbillon

This beauty is a sneak peek — the Richard Lange Tourbillon “Pour le Merite” — to be released at the upcoming SIHH in January by A. Lange & Sohne – and to make its way to the market later in 2011. The fourth distinct watch to house the fuse-and-chain transmission, along with a tourbillon with patented stop-seconds mechanism, this watch is a stunning work of art, elegance and precision from this German legendary house.
The watch takes its design inspiration from an historical piece crafted in 1807 by Johann Heinrich Seyffert and on display in Dresden. The watch reflects Seyffert’s quest for horological mechanical perfection and precision. The dial features overlapping circles that indicate the large minute circle as the dominant element, the smaller subdials for the seconds and the hour – reflecting the precise regulators of the 18^th century. In the Richard Lange Tourbillon “Pour le Merite”, the tourbillon cage is revealed in the seconds dial. What makes the watch amazing is that there is a special section of the seconds and hour dial that overlaps and for six hours it shows the complete hour dial, then for six hours it retracts behind the hour dial to reveal the entire tourbillon cage! Truly a marvelous mechanical beauty. Thanks to the incredibly efficient fuse-and-chain transmission, the torque and amplitude of the balance is constant across the entire power reserve period of 36 hours. The hand-finished Lange caliber LO72.1 manually wound movement consists of 351 parts without the chain included, and 636 parts with the chain included. Just 100 pieces will be made in platinum; it will also be offered in pink gold. So new, the price has yet to be established. This beauty is definitely one you’ll want to get a waiting list for if you’re a Lange collector, though!

Weekend Sojourn: The Fun Theory

Well it’s nothing new. TheFunTheory.com has been around a while, and I may be behind the times bringing this one forward again, but I couldn’t help myself. The concept at this site is that making something fun will change your habits, and cause you to do it – whether it is something good for yourself (like taking the stairs), for others around you (obeying the speed limits) or for the environment. It’s an amazing concept and proven to work by thefuntheory.com. The funny thing is, if you watch this and the other videos at thefuntheory.com, you are intrigued. Then you realize, “hey- this isn’t anything earth shattering.” Yet it works. So the next time you have to do something not so pleasant – find a fun side. And if you are really creative—enter your ideas into the contest at thefuntheory.com.

Oh, and one more thing I think is way cool about this site – it is totally sponsored by VW. The German car company that keeps ahead of the times with its engineering, safety and design – is pre-thinking fun concepts for life, too. (Did I mention I drive a VW EOS convertible?)

Time Capsules: News — PRE-SIHH Report

Those in the know in the watch world know that the Salon International de Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) is just around the corner. In January, this by-invitation-only exhibition takes place in Geneva and it is the backdrop for the unveiling of the newest timepieces from some of the world’s foremost luxury brands. All of the Richemont Group watch brands (Cartier, IWC, Piaget, Parmigiani, Panerai, A. Lange & Sohne, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and the others) exhibit, as well as a few key independents (such as Audemars Piguet, Girard-Perregaux and JeanRichard). It is an exciting and exhausting time all at once – can’t wait to bring you all the news.
Meanwhile, in addition to the Jaeger-LeCoultre 80^th Anniversary watches we already showed a couple of weeks ago, we do have a few sneak previews to whet the appetite. From Ralph Lauren Watch and Jewelry Co, this new Sporting Watch was inspired by one of Lauren’s own Bugatti’s: the 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe. The timepiece design reflects the interior dashboard and trim of the car, and features a stainless steel case, a unique dial design in rich elm burl wood, and a black leather strap to emulate the car’s leather seating. The watch houses the caliber RL98295, 156-part mechanical manual-wind movement made by IWC for Ralph Lauren. It offers 45 hours of power reserve and features Cotes de Genève and perlage finishing on the plate. The Ralph Lauren Sporting Watch with Wood Dial, will retail for $13,200.
Another noteworthy addition coming down the road is the new Caliber P.3000 hand-wound movement from the Officina Panerai Manufacture in Neuchatel. The caliber traces its roots to historic Panerai movements and is a substantial size at 5.3mm and 16-1/2 lignes. The 160-part, 21-jewel movement uses two spring barrels and offers a power reserve of 3 days. Fitted with an Incabloc® anti-shock device and free-sprung, the caliber is fitted with a rapid-adjustment of time device in the form of a star wheel with 12 points and a small spring clutch that enable the hour hand to be moved one hour at time without interfering with the minute hand or watch operation. The movement is expected to be fitted into several important cases and final watch products for 2011.
Stay tuned for more Pre-SIHH information, as several brands reveal their secrets in time.

Time Capsules: Product – Hublot Helps You Do 2 Holidays Here!

Just in time for the holidays, Hublot announces its plan to celebrate women for Valentine’s Day with its first Big Bang Tutti Frutti Steel 38mm watch with a mechanical movement in it. Why is this timing so great? For men – it’s perfect: Cut out the color photo of this watch – which you can’t get yet, but it is superbly red for the Christmas Holiday and promise it as a gift as soon as it comes out. Then, when it comes out in time for Valentine’s Day, you’ve got the gift already. Package both with a little love, maybe some flowers, chocolate or dinner – and you’ve got both holidays covered – in real style!

The Hublot mechanical Big Bang Tutti Frutti 38 mm steel watch features a mirror dial and a brilliant bezel of 48 red spinels. It is accented with a red alligator strap. It houses the HUB 1110 automatic movement and is water resistant to 100 meters. It retails for a cool $16,900. I know what I want for Christmas and Valentine’s Day!

Time Capsules: Product — Breitling Releases Transocean

Entirely developed and produced in-house, the newest Breitling Transocean Chronograph Limited special series pays homage to the first days of commercial flight. The original Transocean was first unveiled in 1958. The newest watch is a high-performance COSC-certified chronometer. With the Caliber 01 in it, the watch beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour. Just 2000 are being built in steel, and 200 in rose gold in two dial variations – mercury silver or black. The self-winding watch, with 70 hours of power reserve, is water resistant to 100 meters. It is — for all intents and purposes — one of Breitling’s more classic, chic timepieces to be offered in the collection.