Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

Grand Seiko 9SA5 Caliber

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 20:34:00 +0000

Introduced in 2020, the Grand Seiko Caliber 9SA5 is their 80-hour, Hi-Beat 36000 (10 beat) movement, which aims to continue to push horological boundaries. With an average time deviation of +5/-3 seconds per day (COSC standards at +6/-4 seconds per day), this movement utilizes several revolutionary innovations to accomplish this. The dual impulse escapement, which regulates the release of energy in the movement, increases the transfer efficiency directly from the escape wheel to the balance wheel. Via the mainspring. The twin barrels also allow the 80-hour power-reserve despite the higher rate of beats (which consumes more energy). Additionally, the geniuses at Grand Seiko incorporated an overcoil (developed after more than 80,000 simulations) on the mainspring to deliver increased precision and stability. Moreover, the Grand Seiko watchmakers developed a free-spring balance wheel, which does away with a regulator (think Swiss-lever). Instead, this innovation uses four screws on the side of the balance wheel, which allows for fine tuning to make the watch faster or slower. Doing away with the regulator increases the longevity and durability of the hairspring as well as the precision.

With all these inventions and innovations, one might think the movement and watch would increase dramatically in size, however this movement is 15% (0.8mm) thinner than their other Hi-Beat 36000 movements. Not only slimmer but it is a beautiful movement, drawing from inspiration of Mt. Iwate (seen by the gentle curves on the bridge of the movement).

Originally introduced in the limited edition SLGH002 (100pieces in 18k yellow gold) and the SLGH003 (1,000 pieces for the 60th anniversary), the 9SA5 is now being regularly produced in the fantastically beautiful SLGH005. The SLGH005 captures the beautiful of the white birch forest near the studio in Shizukuishi where the movement is produced, as seen on its gorgeous texturized, white dial. The bracelet is studier in this model than other as well. 40mm by 11.7mm thick, 100M water resistant at a value of $9,100. Please contact Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers in Whitefish Bay, WI to express interest in this incredible Grand Seiko.

Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36,000 Movements

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 21:19:00 +0000

The Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36,000

Since its origin, Grand Seiko quest has been the pursuit of perfection, in terms of design and performance. One such movement that epitomizes this quest is their Hi-Beat 36,000 or “10 beat” movement. In 1960, when Grand Seiko was first created (this year marks their 60^th anniversary), they set out to create an official “Chronometer” in order to compete with the top watchmakers for relevance in terms of precision. 8 short years later, Grand Seiko developed their first 10 beat movement with the 61GS, 45GS and the 19GS (a high precision watch for women).

Mechanical Movements and Challenges

As a mechanical watch unwinds its mainspring, the gears are turned at a constant rate of oscillation as the balance wheel applies the brake on the gears to precisely rotate the hands while conserving energy. Most high-end watchmakers set this rate at 28,800 vph (vibrations per hour) or 4Hz. 4Hz is equal to 4 oscillations per second or 8 semi-oscillations (vibrations) per second. The expert watchmakers at Grand Seiko figure, just as a faster spinning top is more stable than a slow spinning one, the higher the oscillation frequency of the balance, the less susceptible the movement is to impact from shock and other forces and the greater the precision. This is why they created the Hi-Beat 36,000 which vibrates at approximately 10 vibrations per second or 5 Hz. This is one of two ways to create a more precise watch, traditionally speaking, the other is widen the balance spring however this can be cumbersome to keep the watch within reasonable case size proportions.

In 1990, the Grand Seiko began submitting its 9S movements to the Controle Officiel Suisse des Chronometres (COSC), as an official, third party, chronometer testing institute of Switzerland. This institute only passes 3% of Swiss Watch production and is seen by the industry to be an important benchmark that defines a fine timepiece. They test the watch in three different temperatures in five different positions over a 15 day period to make sure the watch falls within their -4/+6 seconds per day threshold. In 1900, Grand Seiko submitted 4 prototypes, of which 3 passed. They then went on to submit 50 production movements which all met the COSC’s institute’s standards. However, this was not enough for them as they wanted to go one step further and added an additional position and temperature to this test. Additionally, they took it another step further and made the parameters -3/+5 seconds per day. Furthermore, with the development of the 9S movement, they wanted a longer power reserve that the standard offering of 40 hours, so they went with 55 hours power reserve despite using a higher oscillating model that consumes more power. Additionally they went about adding increased durability to withstand the additional 1.5 times of torque required to operate at 10 beats per second. Today the 9S hi-beat movement bears between 200 - 300 parts all made in-house.

9S features:

BALANCE WHEEL) Grand Seiko employs a new alloy (SPRON610) made from cobalt, iron, nickel and additional magnetic resistant metals to deliver the capacity to oscillate at 10 oscillations per second.
PALLET FORK) Using MEMS [Micro Electro Mechanical System] technology which employs an in-house developed technology used for semiconductor manufacturing, the escape wheel and pallet fork are made with a precision of 1/10,000 of a millimeter, which allows the critical components of the movement to be lighter, smoother, complex and have better retention of oil reserves on each gear tooth.
HAIRSPRING) Also using the Spring 610 alloy, increases the impact resistance twofold and the magnetic resistance three times. This hairspring is finer than a strand of hair and weight is within a tolerance of 1/10,000 of a gram.

In 2004 Grand Seiko created the Shizukuishi Watch Studio, a studio dedicated to the vertically integrated production of mechanical watches.

In 2009) Grand Seiko creates their first new Hi-Beat 36,000 watch in 41 years, using the new caliber 9S8 series.

In 2010) Grand Seiko creates a Hi-Beat 36,000 movement with a 72 hour power reserve (9S65)

Learn more about Grand Seiko's quartz and spring drive movements. Explore Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers online to see our current inventory of fantastic Grand Seiko watches

Grand Seiko Quartz Movements

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 18:59:00 +0000

The story of Grand Seiko is a long and winding road of countless innovations due to the distance from the remainder of the high-end Western “Swiss” watchmaking manufacturers. Grand Seiko is a manufacturer that remains true to their Japanese identity. They sacrifice nothing to stay true to there inherent values of simplicity, high performing, beautiful watches. As a fully vertically integrated watch manufacturer, they have complete control over their production assembly and still to this day hand assemble their movements, even their quartz movements. Their exceptionally skilled watchmen and women operate in spaces of just 2mm to place the hands of these movements and make adjustments to them within 0.2mm apart so that the watch can operate smoothly. This feature will look into the history of Grand Seiko as it pertains to quartz movements.

SBGN005 - The first 9F Grand Seiko quartz watch with a GMT function

1988 – developed, 95GS and exceeded all regular quartz watches by being accurate to within 10 seconds per year due to the manufacturer’s ability to grown their very own quartz crystals in addition to producing every component in-house. By using their own quartz crystals, Grand Seiko could choose oscillators that showed superior performance in terms of temperature, humidity and shock resistance.

9F Grand Seiko Quartz Movement

1989 – First Grand Seiko quartz watch with 100M water resistance (8NGS).

1992 – First Grand Seiko quartz model for women accurate to within 10 seconds a year.

1993 – Five years after introducing the exceptionally accurate quartz movements to the marketplace, Grand Seiko created the, “quartz that surpasses quartz” with the development of four innovations

Backlash Auto-Adjust Mechanism: To prevent the slight vibration when each gear’s teeth engage with each other to move the watch hands, specifically the second hand, the Grand Seiko design team developed this mechanism. To stabilize the movement of the second hand, they used the spring power from the hairspring to counteract the shuddering from the advance of the second hand.
Twin Pulse Control Motor: typical quartz watches use smaller, lighter and thinner hands because quartz movements are not able to create enough torque to move broader heavier hands. By increasing the number of pulse signals (two successive per second) to augment the output torque from the rotor, the 9F quartz movements from Grand Seiko are able to move the big, broad and beautiful hands that are associated with Grand Seiko watches.
Instant Date Change System: By building tension on the date when mechanism, as the lever spring rotates. Grand Seiko’s technicians align the mechanism to fire exactly at midnight. Grand Seiko was the first to pioneer this mechanism in a quartz movement.
Protective Shield Construction: To provide ample protection of the rotor, Grand Seiko movements are encased in an airtight environment to prevent dust entering delicate parts and lubricating oil from the air to extend the life. This design is to minimize the harm when the caseback is opened. It is worth mentioning, that while many manufacturers to “service” quartz movements typically put a new movement in the watch, Grand Seiko actually repairs the current movement

1997 – 9F6 series applied traditional Zaratzu polishing to quartz model watch cases that results in the mirror finished, free of distortion, that is now a trademark Grand Seiko aesthetic.

2003 – A new quartz watch series with a magnetic resistance of 40,000 A/m

SBGX261 - A straight forward, legible Grand Seiko quartz

Additional facts

Equipped on Grand Seiko quartz movements is a regulation switching for prevision control in a quartz movement allow technicians to quickly adjust the speed of the watch (regulation), although due to the robust nature of the movement, it is likely they will never need adjusting in this fashion.
Low-power IC (integrated circuit) to allow temperature control (which is checked 540 times per day) and to extend the battery life of upwards to three years!
Independent Axis Structure: by allowing the seconds, minutes and hour hands to move independent of each other, the twitching when adjusting the time is eliminated and the smooth and precise movement is gained while the watch runs.

SBGN009 - Limited edition Grand Seiko quartz celebrating 50 years of quartz movements

While many people frown upon quartz movements in high-end watch making, it is this attention to detail and servicing which truly validates the quartz movements produced by Grand Seiko. At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we are the only authorized Grand Seiko retailer in the state of Wisconsin. Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers would like to invite you to our Whitefish Bay location to peruse our beautiful selection of Grand Seiko quartz movements (as well as Hi-Beat and Spring Drive) watches.

Grand Seiko Spring Drives

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 20:42:00 +0000

To start this deep diver about Spring Drive movements, please forget that quartz is equal to battery. This common misconception often leads to the immediate disregard to many beautiful movements such as the exceptionally innovative Spring Drive movement by Grand Seiko.

Because Grand Seiko, is Grand Seiko, meaning a fully vertical watch manufacturer born out of necessity. Seiko was formed in Japan in 1881, exceptionally far away from where the Swiss brands were sharing watch manufacturing information. Which distance and propensity for innovation has allowed Grand Seiko to master both electronic and mechanical watchmaking. This movement takes the best of both worlds, with a movement that is largely 85% like your traditional high-end automatic mechanical movement. Like a traditional mechanical movement, a mainspring (here is the “spring” in spring drive), is wound up either by a balance wheel or manual wind to give the watch its energy. Traditionally most mechanical watches rely on the “Swiss lever escapement” to regulate the release of the mainspring’s energy.

This traditional escapement simply cannot compete with the accuracy of a quartz movement which typically uses a battery as its power source to send electricity to a quartz oscillator which vibrate at 32,768 Hz or a frequency of 2^15 cycles per second, much higher than your mechanical watch (which vibrates at 28,800 vph or 4Hz). This exceptionally high Hz rate allows the watch to be accurate within 10 seconds per year versus +8/-1 per day (for Grand Seiko models but also typical of most watch models not COSC certified).

The genius of Grand Seiko’s Spring Drive movement is the combination of the mechanical watch components and the quartz components. The Spring Drive utilizes the mainspring of a traditional watch as its power source that gives the watch the advantage of having a high level of torque. This high-level torque allows the watch to move its long, wide hands in the iconic Spring Drive glide. This is opposed to a quartz-based movement with smaller hands and the “tic” movement of the hands.

On the other hand, the Spring Drive uses a proprietary speed control mechanism, an electronic brake, a lab grown quartz crystal and an IC. Furthermore, the Spring Drive harmoniously uses three energy sources simultaneously to regulate these moving parts.

Mechanical power from the mainspring
Electrical power which creates a reference signal via an IC (integrated circuit)/quartz oscillator
Electromagnetic power, to apply a brake via a rotor/stator

Mechanical Power- This idea is similar to riding a bike who’s energy is then converted to an electrical power source to power the lights. On the end of the gear train (after the mainspring) a rotor (glide wheel) is connected which makes eight revolutions per second. These revolutions generate an electric current.

Electrical Power- This electrical power is used to activate a quartz oscillator which vibrates exactly at 32,768 Hz to send a precise reference to the IC.

Electromagnetic Power- The integrated circuit compares the signal from the quartz oscillator within the revolution speed of the glide wheel and intermittently applies magnetic brakes which the wheel is operating too quickly. Furthermore, the IC developed by Grand Seiko consumes 1/300,000,000^th power of an LED light.

The combination of the tri-synchro regulator gives this movement an accuracy of +/-1 second per day, +/- 15 seconds per month along with a 72-hour power reserve! Additionally, by removing the traditional Swiss lever escapement, there is far less stress applied to the movement. This project was 30 years in the making (started in 1977) after over 600 prototypes and was launched to market in 2007.

Stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers in Whitefish Bay, WI (just north of Milwaukee) to see our beautiful collection of Grand Seiko watches. Many of the Grand Seiko watches at Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers are made with the genius Spring Drive Movement.

Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers becomes authorized Grand Seiko Dealer

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 17:01:00 +0000

Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers becomes authorized Grand Seiko Dealer

Fine Japanese Watches made by hand for those who value perfection

Milwaukee, WI (Sept., 28, 2019) – Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers have announced that they are an official Grand Seiko Dealer, making them the only authorized dealer in the state of Wisconsin. Grand Seiko, a fine watch manufacturer based out of Japan, have been making innovative watches known for their reliability, beauty and precision.
As one of the few fully integrated watches manufacturers, Grand Seiko offers a breadth of knowledge that involves combining cutting-edge technology and time-tested craftsmanship such as using techniques like Zaratsu polishing, which creates the sharply defined edges and seamless mirror finishing that is the signature of Grand Seiko. This mentality has been evident since the brand’s origins, in the 1960’s, in which their mantra has been to create timepieces that find the harmonious balance of form and function.
Throughout Grand Seiko’s near 60-year history, they have introduced countless innovations to push boundaries and thresholds in the watchmaking world. From the 44GS dial design, the iconic dial designs that laid the backbone to the brand’s aesthetics and embodies their quest for precision, beauty, legibility and ease of use, to the revolutionary Spring Drive which offers unparalleled mechanical watchmaking accuracy (+/- 15 second per month) and captures the flow of time in a perfect glide motion.
At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we have been committed to our customers to providing the highest quality of goods for all of life’s special occasions for over 120 years. We believe Grand Seiko to be a perfect fit and are beyond excited to introduce their incredible watches to Wisconsin.
ABOUT SCHWANKE-KASTEN JEWELERS: Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers has been family-owned and operated since 1899. As the fourth-generation owner, we are true to keeping the integrity of a traditional jewelry store by offering an onsite gemologist, goldsmith, watch-maker and engraver, as well as having a professionally trained sales team. With stores in Whitefish Bay & Downtown Milwaukee, Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers is able to provide you with excellence in service, style and selection.
ABOUT GRAND SEIKO: Grand Seiko offers timepieces of distinction for all. Whether classic, traditional or for sport, every Grand Seiko offers the same high standards of precision, durability and legibility that are its hallmarks.

MEDIA CONTACT

Charlie Dixon
charlie@schwanke.com

TAG Heuer Formula 1 Gulf Edition | Gulf Partnership

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 16:49:00 +0000

As an innovator in avant-garde technology, TAG Heuer has always been at the forefront of leading or partnering with companies perpetuating that charge. One such partnership, has its humble origins in Pittsburgh in 1913, as the world’s first petrol station, Gulf Oil.

With over a century of embracing a similar passion for performance, innovation to push boundaries as well as a love for motor sports, this iconic partnership converged during the production of the cult movie, Le Mans, where the ‘King of Cool’ (Steve McQueen) drives a Ford GT40 with Gulf colors and wears the iconic TAG Heuer Monaco.

This partnership was officially solidified in 2018, however when TAG Heuer released two watches bearing the Gulf Oil colors (Blue and Orange), one of which, Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers currently has available (they also released a Gulf edition Formula 1 back in 2011). One was the Monaco Calibre 11, which truly encompasses the meeting of these two iconic brands in the ‘70’s. The other is the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Quartz.

The TAG Heuer Formula 1 Quartz embodies the Formula 1 spirit for high precision and performance watches with its Swiss-made quartz movement that can track 1/10 seconds (and 60 totalizaer, 30 minute totalizer) as well as a fixed-tachymeter, made of sandblasted and polished steel and aluminum. The case is composed of fine-brushed and polished steel, water resistant to 200 M. The iconic blue dial and blue calf strap make this piece as iconic and sporty as the two brands themselves. Additional functions include stop seconds, fast date correction, rhodium plated luminescent indexes, special Gulf decoration on the case back, 2 year international warranty, sapphire case, screwed in crown.

We encourage you to stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers in Whitefish Bay, WI to peruse our full selection of beautiful TAG Heuer watches. Additionally, you can shop our selection online. Should you wish to view a model in person, please contact us beforehand so that we can ensure availability.

20 Years at EAA AirVenture - Breitling | Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 18:45:00 +0000

SCHWANKE-KASTEN and breitling WILL be at eaa airventure oshkosh for 20^th consecutive year

Watches Paying Homage to the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, TWA, Pan Am and more to be Presented

Wilton, Conn. (July 12, 2019) – Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, Wisconsin’s only authorized Breitling Retailer, will be partnering with Breitling at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh for the 20th consecutive year, presenting watches from the iconic Swiss watch brand Breitling, in Hangar C, Space 3057.

Breitling’s affiliation with aviation dates back to the early 1930’s when they manufactured on-board chronographs for aircraft cockpits. These instruments enjoyed great success in the various armed forces, including the Royal Air Force, which used them in World War II propeller-driven fighter planes. The Breitling Aviator Super 8 was inspired by the reference number 637, a stopwatch that Second World War bomber pilots wore strapped to their thighs.

Aviator Super 8 B20 46

Furthermore, this year Breitling produced three new watches to commemorate an aviation legend, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. When the American Aircraft Manufacturer, Curtiss Wright Corporation, was producing its legendary fighter aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s, Breitling’s Huit Aviation Department was creating on-board clocks for some of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers. This series of watches represent a salute to the partnership between two true aviation pioneers.

Aviator 8 Chronograph B01 43 Curtiss Warhawk

This solid connection to aviation continued, and in 1952, Breitling launched its legendary Navitimer watch, featuring a circular slide rule serving to perform the entire range of calculations relating to airborne navigation. This model shared the finest sky borne adventures and was soon chosen as the official watch by the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association), the world’s largest association of its kind. It is still a favored iconic model for pilots today and is the oldest mechanical chronograph still in production. In 1962, Scott Carpenter wore a Navitimer on his orbital flight aboard the Aurora 7, becoming the first space-going wrist chronograph.

Navitimer 43 B01 Chronograph Pan Am Edition

As aviation entered its Golden Age of the 60’s and 70’s, Breitling, this year release its first capsule collection - the Navitimer 1 Airline Editions – celebrating the brand’s important role in this era of aviation and some of the most emblematic airlines of that time. The collection includes odes to Swissair, Pan Am and TWA. For decades, Pan American World Airways was a dominant force in commercial aviation and, long after the airline ceased operations, it is still closely linked with the excitement of air travel. The Pan Am Edition has a stainless-steel case with a blue dial, silver subdials, and a vintage-inspired brown leather strap, a Breitling Air Racer bracelet, or a stainless-steel mesh bracelet.

Breitling’s solid connection to aviation and privileged partnership in the conquest of the skies can be found in its additional models that will be present at Oshkosh, including the Cirrus Aerospace Evo, Colt Skyracer and Emergency.

With roots so intricately tied in a field where reliability and precision play a vital role, Breitling has always devoted premier importance to the quality of its products, designed to withstand intensive use in the most trying conditions. Breitling equips all its models (both mechanical and quartz) with chronometer-certified movements by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute) – the highest benchmark of precision and reliability and the only one based on an international norm. Whether it comes to enhancing the precision of its movements, reinforcing the sturdiness of the cases, improving the readability of the dials or developing new functions, the firm constantly optimizes the performances of its 100% Swiss-made watches |

ABOUT SCHWANKE-KASTEN JEWELERS: Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers has been family-owned and operated since 1899. As the fourth generation owner, we are true to keeping the integrity of a traditional jewelry store by offering an onsite gemologist, goldsmith, watch-maker and engraver, as well as having a professionally trained sales team. With stores in Whitefish Bay & Downtown Milwaukee, Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers is able to provide you with excellence in service, style and selection.

ABOUT BREITLING: Since 1884, Breitling has established a global reputation for high-precision timepieces, its pioneering role in the development of the wrist chronograph, and its uncompromising commitment to design excellence. With the brand’s storied association with aviation, Breitling has shared the finest moments in humankind’s conquest of the skies. Renowned for its spirit of innovation, it has also earned a place of privilege in the worlds of science, sport, and technology. Breitling manufactures its own movements in-house and the quality of every watch is confirmed by its status as a COSC-certified chronometer, made in Switzerland.

www.breitling.com

Aviator 8 Curtiss Warhawk Collection - Breitling | Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Fri, 31 May 2019 16:49:00 +0000

Paying a tribute to their aviation roots and the legendary P-40 Curtiss Warhawk, Breitling has released three watches as a part of the Aviator 8 Curtiss collection. This historically important and unmistakable American-made fighter plane was built between 1938 and 1944 and outfitted with Breitling’s Huit Aviation Department made on-board instruments for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and other air forces. These on-board instruments were groundbreaking, able to withstand the wear and tear that these famous planes and pilots put them through. The P-40 Warhawk is memorialized by their matte green look with the iconic, “shark-mouth” nose art.

P-40 Curtiss Warhawk with Sharkmouth Nose Art

Aviator 8 B01 Chronograph 43 Curtiss Warhawk

Drawing from the planes’ traditional color scheme, Breitling took the green and used the Pantone for the dial and military canvas strap. The rotating bezel and distinctive triangular pointer, revisits Breitling’s first pilot watch, the reference 768.

Rotating Bezel and Triangular Point of Breitling ref. 768

Despite the vintage inspiration, the Curtiss series still looks forward using modern movements like Breitling’s in-house B01 movement in its robust 43 mm case. This watch is highly legible and features a 70-hour power reserve, ¼ second, 30-minute, 12-hour totalizer chronograph and a date window. On the case back, which has a sapphire crystal to peer into the movement, is inscribed the vivid and iconic graphic of the P-40 Warhawk’s shark-mouth nose art. Water resistant up to 100 meters, luminous indexes and hands, and COSC certified.

Aviator 8 B01 Chronograph 43 Curtiss Warhawk

Aviator 8 Chronograph 43 Curtiss Warhawk

Featuring day-date complications and a chronograph, in addition to telling exceptionally accurate time with the Breitling 13 COSC certified movement, the Aviator 8 Chronograph 43 Curtiss Warhawk bridges a historically exceptional past and a “legendary future” in its 43mm case. Using the motifs of the P-40 Warhawk, the watch incorporates the military green on the dial and strap, the crosshairs on the 30-minute chronograph totalizers and the shark-mouth logo inscribed on the case back. The watch has a 100-meter water resistance and power reserve of 42 hours.

Aviator 8 Chronograph 43 Curtiss Warhawk

Aviator 8 Automatic 41 Curtiss Warhawk

This is instantly recognizable by the stark contrast of the military green canvas strap and dial, juxtaposed against the DLC coated black steel case. The 41mm case diameter and slim profile makes this example versatile for an array of wrists. 100m water resistance and 40-hour power reserve.

Aviator 8 Automatic 41 Curtiss Warhawk

Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers is Wisconsin’s only Breitling Authorized Dealer. Stop by our Whitefish Bay location to peruse our beautiful collection of Breitling watches at your convenience. Also make sure to stop by our Breitling booth at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh to see the latest from Breitling at the world’s largest air show!

2019 Basel World - Breitling | Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 22:23:00 +0000

Basel 2019 felt like a very different Basel World than years prior, but still positive nonetheless. The absence of Swatch Group and many other vendors was definitely felt, however there was still much positivity and celebration in the air.

Breitling, in our opinion had an outstanding Basel World this year! With Georges Kern at the helm, he laid out his vision for Breitling’s future as an inclusive, hip and exciting. His aim to bridge air, land and sea by taking aspects of the brands storied past and defining its future with purpose, action and style.

Limited, Capsule and Current Line

Superocean II

Breitling Superocean 48

Nailing the inclusiveness on the head, Breitling unveiled their Superocean for every wrist, with a cleaned-up dial in all sizes. The Superocean II series previously available in only 42mm and 44mm, has been expanded to a 48mm DLC coated titanium case with a blue ceramic bezel that features a locating bezel, 46mm DLC-coated black steel case with a black or blue dial and steel bezel. The 44mm Superocean will very much remain the same but with a cleaner dial. The 42mm Superocean now has a white dial with blue bezel or orange dial with a black bezel, as well as a cleaner dial. Lastly the Superocean 36 is being brought back with a light blue or white dial.

Breitling Superocean 36

Breitling Superocean 42

Aviator 8 Curtiss Warhawk Collection

Breitling B01 Aviator 8 43 Curtiss Warhawk Edition

During 1938 to 1944, Breitling’s Huit Aviation Department were busy making groundbreaking, onboard instruments for the RAF and other air forces, often times for the famed P-40 Curtiss Warhawk fighter plane. This, and in conjunction of Oliver Ollie Crawford who has flown the plan for almost 60 years, Breitling released a series of beautiful green dial, green strap watches inspired by this legendary connection: The Aviator B01 Chronograph 43, Aviator 8 Chronograph 43 and Aviator 8 Automatic 41.

LIMITED EDITION

Breitling Cockpit B50 Orbiter Limited Edition

20 years ago, the Breitling Orbiter 3 completed the first ever, nonstop flight around the world by a hot air balloon in nearly 20 days commanded by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones. To commemorate this incredible achievement in flight, Breitling has released a limited edition of 213-piece series marking the date when the Breitling Orbiter 3 landed (March 21^st, 1999) in the B-50 model. The B-50 is one of Breitling’s most technical watches, A thermocompensated SuperQuartz analog and digital display that features, fly back and split-time capabilities, perpetual calendar, dual time zone display, two alarms with buzzer and/or vibrate mode, count-up/down time, lap time, UTC and tachymeter. The case is a DLC-coated titanium case with an orange dial and orange strap.

Navitimer Ref. 806 1959 Re-Edition

Breitling Navitimer B09 806 Re-Edition

In 1952, Breitling developed the Navitimer, one of the most iconic chronographs and long-considered a grail watches for enthusiasts and pilots alike. Featuring a circular slide rule and chronograph, this timepiece helped pilots calculate crucial inflight calculations. In 1959, Breitling revised the movement to the legendary Ref. 806 that became favored by the AOPA and famously worn by Miles Davis and F1 Champion Jim Clark. 60 years later, with the help of the notable Breitling collector Fred Mandelbaum (@watchfred), Breitling has painstakingly recreated the iconic watch for a limited 1,959 piece run with their own in-house, manual wind B09, based off the B01 movement.

CAPSULE COLLECTION

Breitling B01 Navitimer 43 Pan Am

As part of the first capsule collection, Breitling focused on the design styles of the 1960’s and 70’s, a particularly relevant time in terms of design where watches featured young and cool styles. Breitling chose the renowned airlines: Pan Am, Trans World Airlines and Swiss Airlines, who redefined commercial aviation in the 1950’s and 1960’s, to be a part of the airline edition of the capsule. Naturally, they were outfitted on Breitling B01 Navitimer 43mm. These watches will be produced in a limited quantity but will not be numbered.

PARTNERSHIPS

Bentley and Norton Premier 01’s

Breitling has reaffirmed their partnership with two legendary English automotive companies, Norton Motorcycles and Bentley with two editions of Breitling Premier 01.

The Breitling Premier Bentley Centenary Limited Edition celebrates Bentley’s 100 years of history with two case variations, a 1000 example run of stainless steel and 200 example version of 18k red gold. The dial features the elegant brown elm burl dial that was used in the original and current dashboards of the Centenary Limited Edition – Continental GT Number 9 Edition by Mulliner. The leather strap also draws inspiration from the cross stitch used in the interiors of the Bentley automobiles.

The Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Norton Edition, celebrates their partnership as brands with similar timelines, legacies and dedication to powerful styles and performance.

Superocean Heritage Outerknown

Breitling also announced earlier this year that they will be collaborating with Outerknown, a sustainable clothing company founded by surfing icon, Kelly Slater. They released a DLC-covered steel case with a bold blue dial and blue ECONYL yarn NATO strap made up of recycled plastic.

Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers will be at EAA again this July, in Hangar C and invites you to stop by our booth to see the latest selection from Breitling.

Stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers in Whitefish Bay to see our full selection of Breitling watches. We are the only authorized Breitling dealer in Wisconsin. Feel free to call, text or email us, should you have any questions

Watches & Cars - A Timeless Partnership | Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 21:50:00 +0000

Watches and cars, both require high levels of performance, accuracy and oftentimes timeless style, it is no wonder why watch manufacturers often partner up with the world’s top car builders. At Schwanke-KastenJewelers, we just happen to be a fan of both!

As we saw last week with Breitling announcing a special edition of the new Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Bentley, renewing their 16-year partnership. Since 2002 Breitling has produced a line of high quality watches inspired by Bentley aesthetics.

Rolex as well as a lengthy partnership with Forumla 1 as well as a line inspired by the legendary race at Daytona.

TAG Heuer is no stranger to motorsports and automobiles. With several models named after racing events (Carrera, F1 and Monaco), brand ambassadors ( the late Steve McQueen, Patrick Dempsey, Ayrton Senna, Alexander Rossi and Fangio), racing teams and circuits (Gulf, Aston Martin Formula 1, Formula E, Gran Turismo, MXGP, Endurance World Championship, Would Touring Car Championship, Indy 500 and Pikes Peak International Hill Climb), they fully embrace the bond between automobiles and watchmaking. Which is why they officially partnered with the high performance sport machines of Aston Martin and announced several limited edition pieces inspired by this event.

Stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers to checkout our luxury watch brand’s motorsport inspired watches, including the TAG Heuer Monaco Gulf Edition.

Breitling Premier Release | Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 14:50:00 +0000

The New Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42

Famed luxury watchmaking powerhouse, Breitling, unveiled their latest range of watches this past week. Reviving one of brand’s most reputable and respectable, yet often overlooked, lines of chronographs, the Breitling Premier range. With everyday elegance wear and design in mind, the Premier collection, is comprised of four distinct new models, including a special edition commemorating the revival of their partnership with Bentley which began in 2002. These watches, although are a stark contrast to their big pilot watches reputation, all have various dial color and strap options available.

Vintage Breitling Premier

The Breitling Premier first surfaced in the 1930’s as a straight forward, reliable chronograph that threaded a fine line between elegance and sport. Housed in a now-days small 35-mm case, this watch packed a punch! The original Premier boasted: anti-magnetic properties, shock resistance, a tachymeter and a triple register chronograph. However the first Breitling Premier was officially produced in 1943. The watches influence can be seen in later models such as the Top Time and Transocean Chronograph.

Breitling Top Time

Breitling B01 Transocean Chronograph

Under the new leadership of Georges Kern, Breitling is straying away from the hyper-masculine aviation-centric watches and expanding into a broader sense of associations, including cinema, ocean conservency, triathlons and more. The Premier line focuses of the land tier of Breitling’s “Air, Land and Sea” pillars.

Special Edition - Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Bentley

The first watch from the new Premier collection is the Premier B01 Chronograph 42, which is available in a white dial with black sub-registers, blue dial with black sub-registers or the special Bentley edition with a green dial with black sub-registers and a green leather strap. Housed in a 42-mm, 316L surgical grade stainless steel case is the in-house B01 movement; a proven reliable and accurate automatic 72-hour power reserve chronograph since it’s inception in 2009. This movement is COSC certified and backed with a 5-year international manufacturers warranty. The Premier B01 Chronograph 42 pays homage to the original with the two sub-registers (a continuous 60-second register and a 30-minute totalizer) and tachymeter. The watch also has a narrow date window at the 6 o’clock marker.

In addition to the B01 chronograph, Breitling also created a non-in-house movement Premier Chronograph. With subtle differences (notably the third sub-register (12-hour totalizer) and alignment of the sub-registers), this less expensive chronograph still packs a punch in terms of aesthetics and performance. Specifically the “hidden” date window which is cleverly hidden in the 12-hour totalizer. Available in a blue or black dial.

Breitling Premier Automatic Day & Date 40

Built for elegance without the fuss, the Premier Automatic Day & Date 40 adds a refined touch to the Premier line. With a slim 11.40-mm tall case, the day & date wears perfectly under a suit. The Premier Automatic Day & Date 40 is available with a silver or black dial with rose gold hands and markers.

Breitling Premier Automatic 40

The final watch announced with the Premier collection is the Premier Automatic 40, a low-key but fascinating watch. With a beautifully small seconds display, the Premier Automatic provides a stylish value-conscious watch to the range. The watch is available in a grey, blue or silver dial.

Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42

As the only authorized Breitling dealer in Wisconsin, Schwanke-Kasten could not be more excited about this beautiful collection. To inquire about the Premier collection, you can email, call or text us using the green click-to-chat button on the Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers website.

Introducing Wedding Bands from Spark Creations

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 21:53:00 +0000

For over forty years, Spark Creations has been a leading creator of beautiful, exquisite wedding bands.

Brothers Eli and Beny Aviram began Spark Creations in New York, NY, focusing on fashion jewelry and colored gemstones. The unique collections and offerings provided by Spark creations has lead them to be one of fashion industry leaders. With each new season, they turn signature jewelry icons into beautiful modern works of art, while still offering classic pieces for sophisticated, classy women.

The unique selling proposition of Spark Creations is the cut of their diamonds and stones. Unlike other jewelry makers who just use stones off the shelf, Spark Creations has their stones facetted for its designs, which produces jewelry of the highest quality and the best look.

Schwanke-Kasten invites you to learn more about Spark Creations wedding bands on Schwanke-Kasten.com.

Wedding Bands from by Schwanke Kasten Jewelers: Black Diamond Eternity Band

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 21:52:00 +0000

The Black Diamond Eternity Band from Spark Creations is a beautiful masterpiece, featuring a .59 ctw black diamond set in 18 karat white gold. It’s a very versatile piece, which looks great with a white gold band, a band with diamonds, or a band with colored stones.

Spark creations has been an industry leader for over forty years, creating beautiful pieces of jewelry for both new and loyal customers. The unique selling point that Spark Creations endures is the specific cut of the diamonds and stones. Spark Creations has its stones especially facetted for each design they make.

Diamonds come in many colors, some being rarer than others. Black diamonds are among the rarest color of diamonds. The structure of black diamonds prevent them from reflecting light, so they have a beautiful and unique opaque appearance. Technically, black diamonds are real diamonds filled with dark inclusions.

Today, black diamonds are becoming very popular, and jewelry wearers often pair them with white diamonds. The two colors complement each other very well. Black diamonds are more valuable now than they have been in years past.

Explore the Black Diamond Eternity Band from Schwanke Kasten on the Schwanke Kasten Jewelers website today for more information.

Introducing the Dura Cobalt Domed Wedding Band, 6mm

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 21:50:00 +0000

Today, there are many contemporary wedding ring metals. The metal that looks the most like white gold is cobalt chrome. Dura Cobalt is the perfect alternative to anyone who can’t wear gold due to allergy reasons. Cobalt chrome wedding rings are available in comfort fit wedding band styles and have a very nice weight to them. These cobalt wedding bands are extremely scratch resistant and it’s near impossible to divert them from their original condition, even under intense wear.

Like platinum, titanium, tungsten, silver, and palladium, cobalt is a pure element which is classified as a transition metal. Often, cobalt is alloyed with other metals in order to increase its durability and quality. Rare amongst metals, cobalt is naturally magnetic. However, alloys used to create the dura cobalt domed wedding bands do not retain the magnetic property.

The Schwanke-Kasten Dura Cobalt Band comes in at a 6mm width, and it is slightly domed with a ridge and nicely polished finish. Its extreme durability means that it will stay white without re-plating. The ring is sizeable to 1/4 size.

Explore the Dura Cobalt Domed Band, 6mm from Schwanke Kasten on the Schwanke Kasten Jewelers website today for more information.

GMT History & Function | Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 13:52:00 +0000

This year at Baselworld, it was the year of the GMT, stemming mostly from announcements from Grand Seiko Tudor and Breitling. However, you may not know exactly what this function is for or even how to set it!

A GMT, or Greenwich Mean Time, function allows the wearer to read a second time zone. Historically, GMT was used as the international civil time standard at the Royal Observatory (in Greenwich, London). As Great Britain grew into a maritime empire, sailors kept at least one chronometer aboard to measure the distance from their perceived longitudinal Greenwich Meridian which help keep track of how far or behind time they were based on a lunar calendar. The GMT then was adopted by the Railway Clearing House to sync train times. Despite being replaced by UTC (Universal Time Coordinated) time as early as the 1950’s, the GMT name stuck. Sort of like NATO straps.

In the 50’s, the jet age came around. Marked by passengers traveling long distances in a matter of hours, globetrotters began to experience a new phenomenon, jet lag. One solution developed by pilots to combat this newfound fatigue, would be to acclimate yourself prior to traveling to the destination’s time zone.

So, without further ado, Schwanke-Kasten will answer some of FAQ’s about GMT’s

How can you tell if your watch has a GMT function?

These watches always displayed have a 4th hand that reads off 24-hour time and is frequently accompanied by a 24-hour bezel to distinguish AM & PM.

So how are they used today? As mentioned before, when traveling setting the GMT to the destination ahead of time may help acclimate yourself to the new time-zone. Otherwise, if you are one to travel frequently, leaving the GMT on your home time serves as a nice reminder to check-in back home. In fact, many watches allow the wearer to set the GMT hand independently from the local time.

If you have a bi-directional 24-hour bezel, you can actually read off a third time-zone instantaneously.

If you are an adventure junkie, there is actually a way, explained here, to use the GMT function as a compass.

What is the best way to set a GMT? Here’s the Schwanke-Kasten preferred way.

We recommend first setting the local and GMT time to midnight
Then set the date
Then set the local time
Then set the GMT or 2nd time zone

Stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers today to see our full range of GMT watches from top brands like Breitling, Tudor and Grand Seiko!

Breitling - Baselworld 2018 & More! | Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 18:36:00 +0000

Although the Georges Kern led-Breitling, unveiled their newly revamped strategy for the iconic watch manufacturer in February, the world got a taste of additional releases and strategies at Baselworld 2018! Tom Dixon at Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers got the inside scoop.

Until recently, Breitling was synonymous to solely aviation and exceptionally large, flashy watches, with an occasional venture into motorsports and diving (Bentley Partnership and Superocean Range). Now, Breitling will be focusing on a three-tier approach: Air, Land and Sea, announcing various partnership with celebrities and organizations over the week. A common theme we’ve noticed is a return to the pragmatic “instruments for professionals” approach that caught the hearts of many watch enthusiasts as well as a downsizing of watch size and SKUs available. More importantly, no more “Betty on the Bomb”.

AIR: Breitling will still continue its partnership with the beloved Breitling Jet Team and continue to produce watches designer for and inspired by the skies. There were two releases that truly stood out at Basel which were the Navitimer Super 8 and two new sizes in the Navitimer 1 collection, the Navitimer 1 Chronograph 41 and the Navitimer 1 Automatic 38.

Original Breitling Super 8 Advertisement

Original stopwatch worn on the thigh of a bomber
Breitling Ref.637

The Navitimer Super 8, “inspired by a thigh-worn stopwatch used by bomber pilots” designed by Huit Aviation, Breitling’s aviation instrument department. Although there is no stopwatch on the Super 8, the aesthetic similarities are unmistakable, with the oversized crown on the left and large notched bezel. The Super 8 is powered by the B20 movement which is actually a Tudor based MT5612 COSC-certified movement used in Tudors Pelagos and Black Bay watches. This movement came to fruition from the partnership between Tudor and Breitling last year. The watch is by far the largest watch released under Georges Kern, coming in at 46mm. It comes in either stainless steel with a black dial or titanium with a green dial.

Breitling Navitimer Super 8 - 46mm Titanium Case, Green Dial

The Navitimer 1 Chronograph 41, is the closest homage to the original model released in 1952, being that it is the same size (41mm) and continues to boast the iconic circular slide rule, chronograph and date functions. While it does not feature the in-house B01 movement like its larger counterparts, the powerhouse of this watch is still COSC certified and relentlessly trustworthy and accurate.

Breitling Navitimer 1 Chronograph 41

The other exciting aviation watch release by the brand comes in the form of a stripped down and spruced up Navitimer 1 Automatic 38. The Navitimer 1 Automatic 38, looks familiar with the circular slide rule, but has shrunk and ditched the chronograph to poise as an elegant dress watch that can be worn by men and women alike. Although the watch is not powered by an in-house movement, it is still COSC-certified. This model comes in either a steel case (with a black or blue dial) or two-tone case (with a cream color dial). Nonetheless, this watch is sharp!

Breitling Navitimer 1 Automatic 38 - Stainless-Steel, Black Dial

Breitling Navitimer 1 Automatic 38 - Steel and Rose Gold, Cream Dial

SEA: Although this Baselworld focused heavily on the newly launched Navitimer 8 collection (see below) as well as the Navitimer 1’s, Breitling did make some exciting announcements regarding its sea arm.

Ocean’s Conservancy: Probably one of the most respected announcements coming from Baselworld was Breitling’s pledge to support the Ocean’s Conservancy, a non-profit that has led coastal-cleanup operations in 153 countries and inspired more than 12 million people to pick up nearly 230 million pounds of trash for more than 30 years.
Now, back to watches, Breitling will be updating the Superocean Heritage II, a watch originally launched in 1957, in the 44mm size. Prior to Baselworld 2018, the Superocean Heritage was available in 42mm or 46mm. The new size features the B20 movement, a Tudor based MT5612 COSC-certified movement, with a ceramic bezel. Available in a steel or steel and gold case, this watch is a legacy of adventure for the modern-day explorer.

Breitling Superocean Heritage II 44mm - Steel & Rose Gold

In addition, the Superocean Heritage II B01 Chronograph 44 will be receiving the manufacturers in-house B01 chronograph movement originally launched in 2009.

LAND: There was no direct “land” specific watches that were truly unveiled at Baselworld this year (aside from several models in the Navitimer 8 collection, i.e. Day-Date), Breitling did announce a partnership with Norton Motorcycles earlier in the year. These two lifestyle brands converge on the crossroads of a similar history, materials used and high-performance, entrepreneurial products. In other news, it appears that the Bentley partnership will be continuing.

Breitling Announces Partnership with Norton Motorcycles

Breitling Squadrons: “Rooted in the dynamic values of Breitling – action, purpose and pioneering spirit”, Breitling has created three squads that represent groups of individuals who embody this purpose and are considered masters of their professions.

Charlize Theron - Acadamy Award Winning Actress

Cinema Squad: sharing the DNA with moviemakers, Breitling watches and great cinema go hand-in-hand. Each require meticulous attention to detail and conjure up dreams and aspirations worth achieving. From Sean Connery wearing a Breitling in his role as James Bond in Thunderball in 1965 to modern day actors who sport these incredible timepieces. The Breitling Cinema Squad is comprised of Brad Pitt, Charlize Theron, Adam Driver and Daniel Wu.
Explorer Squad: Breitling’s DNA has long shared ties with explorers, from the conquest of the skies to manning the world’s first non-stop circumnavigation onboard a hot-air balloon. These individuals not only represent exploring new boundaries but also leaders in social responsibility. They are: Bertrand Piccard, David de Rothschild and Inge Solheim.
Surfers Squad: Although the common word association to Breitling is aviation, the manufacturer does have rich ties to diving, including the highly regarded Superocean. The Surfers Squad are individuals not only further cements Breitling’s ties to the ocean but also its commitment to protecting the biodiversity of the world’s oceans and beaches. These individuals are: Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons.

Navitimer 8 Collection: In case you missed the unveiling of the Navitimer 8 collection earlier this year, this collection represents Georges Kern’s first watch line launch as Breitling’s CEO. Drawing the name from the Breitling logo, 8-day movements sans wings, as well as the aviation instrument department, this range is comprised of 5 models.

Breitling 8 (Huit) Day Movement

Navitimer 8 B01 Chronograph 43: As the flagship model of this range, which drew a lot of slack originally due to the stark contrast of the beloved Navitimer model, continuously produced since 1952 (and will still be with the announcements of the Navitimer 1 Chronograph 46, 43 and 41 models and Navitimer 1 Automatic 38 at Baselworld). This model has grown on many critics as more information became available. Although it is powered by the same movement and features similar complications, the watch is quite different in terms of aesthetics. With a brushed steel and bi-directional bezel without a slide rule, it is a highly versatile watch that is wearable regardless of the occasion. Housed in a 43mm case, the Navitimer 8 B01 Chronograph 43 comes in three variations, black dial with a steel case, blue dial with a steel case and a bronze dial with an 18k rose gold case.

Breitling Navitimer 8 B01 Chronograph 43

Navitimer 8 Chronograph: A very similar variant of the aforementioned Navitimer 9 B01 Chronograph 43, this is different in terms of the layout of the sub-dials, day-date window and the movement, an ETA-Valijoux 7750 (which yields a lower price-point). This model comes in 3 different variations, a stainless-steel case with a blue dial or black dial, or a DLC coated “blacksteel” case with a black dial.

Breitling Navitimer 8 Chronograph 43 - DLC Blacksteel

Breitling Navitimer 8 Chronograph 43 - Stainless-Steel

Navitimer 8 B35 Unitime 43: As we mentioned before, Baselworld 2018 was a year for GMT/Travel watches. While the Unitime isn’t exactly a GMT, it does offer instant readability of 24 time-zones at a single glance! Unofficially replacing the Transocean and Galactic models, this model is powered by the in-house B-35 movement, which not only allows simplicity when changing time-zones, but also maximum reliability (70hr power reserve and a 5-year international warranty). This watch comes in either a black dial or “mercury silver” dial.

Breitling Navitimer 8 Unitimer B35

Navitimer 8 Day-Date: In the past, Breitling has been criticized often of having busy dials, this line, particularly this model confronts this notion head on! The 41mm, brushed satin steel case watch offers a sporty and affordable take on a traditionally upscale style of watch. Water-resistant to 100 meters, the watch is wonderfully resilient in terms of reliability and wear. Available in a black or blue dial.

Breitling Navitimer 8 Day-Date

Navitimer 8 Automatic: Sometimes simple is better, which is exactly the case with the Navitimer 8 Automatic. 41mm in diameter and 10.7mm in height, this model continues to draw the aesthetic of the overall range while offering maximum legibility and practicality. Available in stainless steel in blue or black dials or a DLC blacksteel case with a black dial.

Vintage Breitling

Breitling Navitimer 8 Automatic 41

Other novelties include a satin-brushed Chronomat 44, which returns the watch to its working roots versus the polished look. Dials are available in a blackeye-blue or blackeye-gray.

Breitling Chronomat 44 B01 - Blackeye-Blue

There were new iterations of the Breitling Navitimer 1 B01 43 and 46 Chronograph dial colors including a stellar 18k rose gold case with a white dial and black sub-dials (46mm) and a stainless-steel case with a blue dial and black sub-dials (43mm)!

Breitling Navitimer 1 Chronograph 46 - 18k Rose-Gold

Breitling Navitimer 1 Chronograph 43 - Blackeye Blue

We expect these novelties to arrive in the U.S. in June. Stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers in Whitefish Bay in the meantime to checkout our full selection of incredible Breitling watches! We will also be partnering with Breitling again at EAA AirVenture!

TAG Heuer - Baselworld 2018 | Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 20:45:00 +0000

Baselworld was an exciting one this year with impressive release from watch manufacturers around the board. Although TAG Heuer, typically releases their 2018 line earlier in the year, they saved some surprises for us this year! Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers’ owner, Tom Dixon, was on the ground to see the anticipation go down!

TAG-Heuer Carrera GMT Calibre 02

This Baselworld was the year of the GMT function paired with a bicolor bezel, with nearly every brand releasing some form of this function. TAG Heuer was no different with their TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph GMT. This impressive 45mm, stainless steel watch features a black and blue bidirectional bezel and skeletonized dial showcasing the manufacturers newly developed (2017) in-house caliber Heuer 02. This is truly a showstopper piece! Available on a metal strap or vulcanized rubber bracelet.

TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Calibre 16

Expanding on the Carrera line, which is affectionally named after the what was considered the most dangerous road race in the world, the Carrera Panamericana, is the TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 16 Chronograph. Commemorating the 55th anniversary of the Carrera range, this line features aesthetic elements from the original line updated with modern engine. The piece is 41mm and housed in a stainless-steel case with a calfskin strap or stainless-steel bracelet.

TAG Heuer Aquaracer Lady - Caliber 9

While some brands shy away from women’s watches, TAG Heuer most definitely did not. Women with an appreciation for mechanical watches can down enjoy the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Lady. A 32mm stainless steel watch with an automatic mechanical caliber, the TAG Heuer 9. This watch perfectly combines sport with luxury with mother-of-pearl dials.

TAG Heuer Formula 1 Lady

Last but most definitely not least, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Lady, was an impressive launch from TAG Heuer. Most notably by combining lifestyle and glamour with the huge range of bezel (diamonds!), dials (pearls!) and strap combinations! Available in two sizes, 32mm and 35mm.

Stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers in Whitefish Bay today to our impressive collection of TAG Heuer watches!

NYC Unveiling of Breitling Navitimer8

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 15:32:00 +0000

On a stage set for grandeur and a star-studded evening, Breitling’s CEO, Georges Kern, unveiled his first line of watches since the family-owned watch manufacturer sold to CVC Capital Partners. Tom and Joanne Dixon, from Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, were among the fortunate few jewelers to be in attendance of this incredible evening set in Brooklyn, NYC.

Hollywood Actress, Olivia Munn and Joanne Dixon

Tom Dixon and Breitling CEO, Georges Kern

With plans to considerably downsize the number of SKUs offered by Breitling watches, the Navitimer 8 models draws aesthetic inspiration from vintage and current models to return Breitling to the professional’s watch it was once. A drastic change from the oversize and flashy watches produced as of late.

Navitimer 8 B01 in 18k Rose Gold

Vintage Breitling Top Time with the Breitling "8" logo

The Navitimer 8 range should be arriving at Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers just before EAA AirVenture, in June to be precise.

Breitling Navitimer 8 Chronograph 43

Breitling Navitimer 8 Automatic 41

Housed in the same architect, Santiago Calatrava, building as the Milwaukee
Art Museum, Breitling Boutique Oculus is an outstanding pitstop for us!

Academy Awards - TAG Heuer

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 15:50:00 +0000

With the release of heavily promoted “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” by TAG Heuer occuring several month ago and the Academy Awards on Sunday, we decided to explore the "link" between TAG Heuer and film and TV. TAG Heuer is no stranger to the silver screen, with cameos beginning in the 1970’s.

Le Mans (1971)

Speaking of 1970’s, the Steve McQueen 1971 cult film Le Mans has been arguably one of the most influential movies for the TAG Heuer Monaco, which was released just two years prior. Le Mans, which was largely considered a box office flop, portrayed the excruciating race, The 24-Hours of Le Mans, a legendary endurance race in Northern France. The protagonist, aka “The King of Cool”, sported a TAG Heuer Monaco with capitulated the watch from relative obscurity to the main light! In 1969, TAG Heuer created the Monaco, in honor of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix. The Monaco became the first chronograph in a square case and has changed very little since its inception.

Breaking Bad (2008 – 2013), Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) and Sherlock (2010 – Current)

The iconic Monaco, since Le Mans, became no stranger to being featured in TV shows and movies. Academy Award winning actress, Hallie Barry, wore in the Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Bryan Cranston’s infamous Heisenberg/Walter White on “Breaking Bad” received a TAG Heuer Monaco for his 51^st birthday on the show. In the BBC series, “Sherlock”, Dr. John Watson also wears a TAG Heuer Monaco. While we are on the Monaco subject, we just recently picked up the limited edition TAG Heuer 50^th Anniversary Gulf Oil Stripes Monaco.

Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Inception (2010) and The Other Woman (2014)

Furthermore, TAG Heuer is no stranger to brand ambassadors. Currently, Tom Brady and Cristiano Ronaldo, two the world’s biggest athletes are ambassadors for the brand. However, years ago, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz and Brad Pitt were all TAG Heuer brand ambassadors.

In Inception, Leo decides to wear a TAG Heuer Carrera Automatic – Calibre 5, an understated yet timeless 39mm stainless steel watch. In Wolf of Wall Street, he is seen wearing a vintage TAG Heuer 1000, which was a quartz-based watch that was plated in gold. The later version was a solid gold TAG Heuer 1000.

Cameron Diaz, who plays the New York lawyer in the 2014 movie, “The Other Woman” wears a beautiful rose gold TAG Heuer Lady Link with diamond indexes.

Lincoln Lawyer (2011)

While we are on the topic of lawyers, the 2011 crime thriller featuring Matthew McConaughey as Mick Haller in The Lincoln Lawyer wears a TAG Heuer Grand Carrera Chronograph, Calibre 8RS. This is a very unique watch in terms of the GMT read-off in the second-time-zone.

Departed (2006)

While Leonardo DiCaprio plays a large role in this movie, Matt Damon is actually the one who is seen wearing a TAG Heuer Link Quartz. The Link range is noted for its superior comfort on the bracelet, which can be distinguished by the “S” shaped links.

Bourne Identity (2002)

This actually wasn’t the first time Matt Damon wore a TAG Heuer in a feature film. In the first of the Bourne series, Matt Damon is spotted wearing a Link Chronograph CT1111.

Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers in Whitefish Bay, WI is one of the few authorized retailers of TAG Heuer watches in the state of Wisconsin. Stop by our store, we’d love to help you select the perfect TAG Heuer!

Academy Awards - Breitling

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 15:00:00 +0000

In our next series of watch posts, we will explore watches that hit the big screen or made TV appearances from one of our favorite brands! Breitling is one of our favorite brands that frequently appear in the entertainment industry. Known for their aviation influences, they unapologetically unique and focus on function over form.

House of Cards (2013 – Present)

A show built on the jockeying for power features a multitude of iconic watches, from IWC to Omega. However, Doug Stamper’s watch, played by Michael Kelly, is a hard one to mistake. On his wrist is a Breitling Navitimer 01 (46mm), a larger version of the AOPA preferred watch that has been continuously produced since 1952! Outfitted with a circular slide rule and chronograph, pilots were able to perform crucial midflight calculations should their onboard instruments fail!

Seinfeld (1989 – 1998)

America’s favorite show about nothing, Seinfeld, has made millions of people laugh still to this day. The co-writer and star of the show, Jerry Seinfeld, is a noted hardcore Breitling collector, who is said to own an unthinkable amount of different Breitlings. Below, is a vintage model of the iconic Navitimer.

Blood Diamond (2006)

Blood Diamond was a film that casted a much needed a light on the cruel world of conflict diamonds to a far broader audience. However, while watching the movie we couldn’t help to notice Leonardo DiCaprio’s Breitling Chrono Avenger, a robust 44mm military-esque titanium chronograph. The current version of this model would be the Breitling Avenger II. Fun fact, Leonardo DiCaprio was actually a TAG Heuer ambassador.

Broken Arrow (1996)

This list wouldn’t be complete without including John Travolta. Travolta served as Breitling's brand ambassador for years. As a Living Legend of Aviation, Travolta has made numerous public appearances wearing Breitling watches. In the crime thriller, Broken Arrow, Travolta wears an older model of one of the most useful and versatile Breitling watches in our opinion, the Breitling Aerospace. A 42mm (the current Aerospace Evo is 43mm) titanium SuperQuartz watch with a plethora of easy to use functions, the Aerospace has been a Breitling favorite since 1985!

While we are at it, although he was the face of Hamilton Watches for a number of years, Harrison Ford (also a Living Legend of Aviation) has made it no secret about his love for Breitling. Here is a photo of him also wearing an Aerospace!

Taken 3 (2014)

While the Taken series was well past its prime at this point, we do have to give Forest Whittaker props for wearing a vintage Breitling Emergency. Originally produced in 1995, the Breitling Emergency became the first wristwatch that offered an emergency distress signal (121.5MHz). This watch, based off of the Breitling Aerospace, was originally only available to licensed pilots, but was later relaxed once documentation was created for owners, acknowledging the responsibility of discharging the distress signal. This was eventually discontinued in 2010 while Breitling worked on the current Breitling Emergency II, a 51mm titanium dual frequency personal locator beacon which incorporates both the 121.5MHz and the digital 406MHz frequencies, monitored by the international search and rescue program, COSPAS-SARSAT.

Ballers (2015 – Current)

The affluent and flashy world of superstar athletes featured in the HBO series provides no shortage of rare and exotic automobiles, watches, jewelry, clothing, etc. Ex NFL player turned financial manager, Spencer Strasmore, played by Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson, is no different. We found a scene with him wearing an 18k gold Breitling Transocean Chronograph Unitime. This model is especially interesting, powered by the Breitling in-house caliber B06, the watch is able to display the current time of 24-time zones on a single face. This makes it especially easy for the frequent traveler to quickly change the time to reflect the current time zone.

Speaking of football, did you know the 2015 – 2016 NFL CBS Hosts all wore gold Breitling watches?

Stop by Schwanke-KastenJewelers’ main staff store in Whitefish Bay, WI to browse our expansive selection of Breitling watches. We are the only authorized Breitling retailer in the state of Wisconsin, and would love to help you choose your next timepiece!

New Year's Resolutions - Back to the Basics

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 18:49:00 +0000

Sometimes life gets a little complicated and you feel the need to strip away the excess to start fresh. The same can be true in a watch. To some, there is an inherent beautify and sense of calmness in a watch that simply tells time and can be worn no matter watch the occasion may be. At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we carry a number of beautifully versatile and reliable timepieces.

Debuting in 2016, the Breitling Galactic SleekT 29 was instantly one of the classiest, yet reliable and functional watches in the market. Defined by its smaller case size and surgical grade stainless-steel material, the Galactic 29 encompasses Breitling’s drive for masters of performance due to their SuperQuartz movement, a thermocompensated movement that is 10x more accurate than the standard quartz watch. This watch, at face value is simple – telling only the date and time, but beyond the surface, it is much more intricate.

Another watch that masterfully balances simplicity and luxury is the Breitling SuperOcean II. Available in 42mm and 44mm, the SuperOcean is the perfect watch due to its functionality and exceptional water resistance of 500m. This watch is one you will literally never want (or need) to take off and it works with jeans or a suit!

TAG Heuer Link, named after the exceptionally comfortable bracelet that defines the watch, the TAG Heuer Link can be worn in the most luxury of events yet remain casual and chic for everyday wear. A clean black or white dial housed in a polished stainless-steel case that is water resistant to 100 meters, you’ll never want to take this watch off! Should you want a little glimmer, there are diamond index and bezel options!
Stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers today to find the dream watch that will compliment every affair.

New Year's Resolutions - Spruce up your Wardrobe

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 22:43:00 +0000

While some wish to simplify their lives, others wish to spice up their look. At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we have an array of beautifully stylish and glamorous watches to accentuate any outfit!

When looking for inspiration for styles, we often look toward pop culture icons. One of the modern-day epitomes of that is fashion Icon, Bella Hadid. Bella Hadid has been a brand ambassador for the avant-garde manufacturer, TAG Heuer, since 2016 released a limited-edition of 500 TAG Heuer Link watches back in November. Noted by its black ceramic case and bracelet, diamond set bezel and indexes and black mother-of-pearl, this limited-edition piece is a truly standout example of a stylish, luxury watch.

As we mentioned before cultural icons often drive our sense of style. The King of Cool, Steve McQueen, is another past icon who epitomizes the flair of Hollywood glamor of the 70’s. Worn in the classic Hollywood racing film, Le Mans, The TAG Heuer Monaco, was the first square watch that was water resistant and the first automatic chronograph movement. Historical and sublime style, the TAG Heuer Monaco is truly a must-have in any collection.

Historical aviation has always invoked a sense of glamor and luxury and the Breitling Navitimer 01 perfectly embodies that. Relied on by generations of aviators since 1952, the Navitimer is the longest continuously produced chronograph, which features a circular slide rule and has remained relatively unchanged aesthetically since its inception. This model in particular houses, the in-house Breitling caliber B01 in a 43mm 18k red gold case. Truly a spectacular example of luxury meeting performance.

We highly encourage you to stop by our store in Whitefish Bay to browse our full range of beautiful and stylish watches.

New Year's Resolutions - Be on Time

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 20:10:00 +0000

Punctuality is a frequent New Year’s Resolution that can easily be corrected with the help of a watch. At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we carry a number of fine timepieces with additional functionalities such as alarms, SuperQuartz movements, COSC certifications and impressionable power reserves to keep the wearer on time, always.

The Breitling Aerospace has long been a favorite among professionals for over 30 years. Housing a SuperQuartz movement, the Breitling Aerospace is 10 times more accurate than a standard quartz (battery) watch. In addition, the SuperQuartz movement is thermocompensated, which prevents rapid fluctuations in temperatures from throwing the time off (i.e. Midwest winters and leaving your house). However, that is not the only reason why the Aerospace is so esteemed. This watch houses a number of functions beyond telling time including: an alarm, countdown (timer) and up times, chronograph, dual time zone, UTC time and a calendar; all by controlling the crown!

While quartz movements will always be more accurate than mechanical movements, there is something beautiful about the technical engineering of a mechanical watch. Modern-day mechanical watches have come a long way in terms of accuracy, reliability and functionality since their inception. One of the finer mechanical watches on the market today is the Breitling Chronomat 01 44mm. The Chronomat 01 was the first range from Breitling to receive their in-house caliber B01 movement back in 2009. By controlling the full production of the movement, case and dial from start to finish, Breitling is able to reassure wearers that their in-house watches were beyond exceptionally reliable. All movements made by Breitling (in-house or not) are certified by COSC, which is the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres), a certification given to only 3% of Swiss watches. This guarantees the watch, after being tested for 15 days in 5 positions and 3 different temperatures, will not lose more than 4 seconds or gain 6 seconds per day. Breitling’s B01 movement boasts a power reserve of 70 hours which is convenient as a workweek watch – allowing the wearer to take the watch off Friday evening and pick it up Monday morning with the watch still on time!

In the sport of Formula One, timing and accuracy is everything. Which is why TAG Heuer, back in 1986, began producing their first analog quartz watch inspired by the pinnacle of racing. While the initial creation of the TAG Heuer F1 watch was in response to the quartz movement crisis which nearly decimated the Swiss mechanical watch industry in the 70’s and 80’s, the F1 has grown into a favorite and reliable watch among TAG Heuer Fans.
Owning a watch is one step to achieving your New Year’s goal of being on time. Never be tardy again and stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers in Whitefish Bay to see our full collection of luxury watches.

New Year's Resolutions - Travel More

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Dixon) — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 17:57:00 +0000

With every new year, we start with a fresh start. New resolutions and goals are set to drive you to achieve something more. For many, it is to travel more, experience the world and different cultures. Which consequentially requires us to change time zones. That being said, at Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we’ve curated three outstanding travel companions to help inspire you to travel more!

The Breitling B55 Exospace was literally designed with the pilot in mind. A robust, yet lightweight titanium case houses the Breitling B55 Exospace’s expansive functionality. As the Swiss manufacturer’s “connected” watch, the Exospace can operate by itself but has additional functionality supported by your smartphone. Functions include, but are not limited to: chronograph, perpetual calendar, seven alarms, quick change time zone, backlit and rechargeable battery, not to mention it comes with adaptors. This is truly the travelers’ companion watch.

If quartz watches or the sheer scale of functionality offered by the Exospace B55 is not what you are looking for, the Breitling Transocean Chronograph Unitime offers a much more traditional solution for travelers. Equipped with an in-house manufacturer caliber, the B05, the Breitling Transocean Chronograph Unitime displays 24 hours of time zones at once and allows for effortless transitioning between them. In addition, the watch has a chronograph and date function and comes with a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty.

Honing in on heritage elements of a past piece that is widely considered a must-have in any watch collection, the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 7 GMT provides vintage style with simple travel functionality. This 43mm watch is highly legible and exceptionally versatile.

Stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers in Whitefish Bay to check out these wonderful travel companion watches and more!

Shopping for a Ladies Watch | Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 22:34:00 +0000

It is safe to say that when it comes to shopping for women’s watches, they are typically far more limited in selection than “men’s” watches. We believe that selecting the perfect watch is a two-step approach:

Function: At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we always suggest prospective usage of the watch regardless who will be wearing it. By that, we mean carefully considering the following variables:

Complications: Many of our watches have additional functions beyond looking great and telling time. If having stopwatch functionality is of importance, consider a chronograph; and if you will wear it underwater, then further consider a watch with a unidirectional bezel like the Breitling Superocean 36mm.
Water resistance: Are you a frequent swimmer? Then it is important to narrow your search to include watches with water resistance.
Usage: Will this watch be worn every day or on special occasions? If you work with your hands often, choose a material that is stronger or perhaps has a satin finish. If you work in a hospital or business setting, chances are you’ll have to avoid watches with a colored dial (other than black or white dials).

Form: These options, we believe are secondary, but allow for a more personalized connection.

Movement: This can be tied to usage, if you don’t plan on wearing it all the time, consider a quartz movement. Automatic movements will eventually stop running and will require being wound and set again. If you appreciate the intricacies, physics and mechanics of a watch, then without a doubt opt for a mechanical watch.
Size: If you wear dainty jewelry, then you’ll probably want a watch with a smaller dial. However, bigger dials are the current trend as of late (not to mention easier to read).
Weight: The bigger the watch, the heavier it’ll be, all things held equal. However, there are other contributing factors. An automatic mechanical movement is generally heavier than a quartz (battery) movement due to the number of parts and the composition of those parts. The material also plays a significant impact. Platinum is heavier than gold, gold than steel and steel than titanium. Also, consider the jewelry and accessories you wear. You may want to match the watch material to your jewelry.
Material: Expanding off material, obviously if you have a skin allergy you’ll want to avoid those materials.
Color: If you don’t have many watches, consider opting for a neutral dial color to maximize the opportunities you’ll have to wear it. However, if you do have a couple watches, we encourage you to spring for the fun colors and be unique!

Whatever the occasion may be, we encourage you to stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers in Whitefish Bay and Milwaukee to check out our exquisite selection of Breitling, TAG Heuer and other luxury watch brands. Our highly trained staff would love to help you pick out the perfect watch!