Watchtribune.com News

Movements in Time - Panerai P.9000 Exhibition

admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:44:00 +0800

Luxury watchmaker Officine Panerai brings its know-how to Singapore in July with the Manifattura Collection exhibition at the Asian Civilisations Museum.

A perennial favorite amongst watch enthusiasts and collectors, Panerai has show its commitment to innovation and raising standards in haute horlogerie with a series of magnificent mechanical movements. Headlining the current exhibition, which is the first of its kind in Singapore, is the P.9000 range of calibres introduced this year at the trade in Geneva.

The exhibition will be opened for free admission to the public at the Asian Civilisations Museum from 8 to 9 July 2009, between 11am to 6pm daily. The P.9000 calibres are the P.9000, P.9001 and P9002 and all three share certain technical design characteristics unique to Panerai. Of course, they are also hallmarks of the brand’s technical excellence and watchmaking prowess.

via Luxury Insider

IWC Goes Top Amongst Luxury Customers

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:37:00 +0800

Luxury Institute’s 2009 Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey has ranked Swiss luxury watchmaker IWC as the top watch brand for high net worth USA luxury goods customers. The survey attempts to rank luxury brands solely on the independently verified perceptions of wealthy consumers.

“We are incredibly proud of this achievement – it is a true testament to the heritage of the brand,” claims Benoit de Clerck, President of IWC North America.

IWC was rated tops in three out of four categories: consistently superior quality, uniqueness and exclusivity, making the customer feel special across the entire experience, and being consumed by people who are admired and respected. The brand achieved a score of 7.87 out of 10.

IWC also emerged as the brand most readily recommended and most worthy of a price premium. The survey also reports that consumers who rated IWC No. 1 described the brand as “rare and exceptional,” “the standard” and having “unique design and classic looks.”

A national sample of 1,013 ultra-wealthy USA consumers, with minimum investible assets of USD2 million, and median investible assets of USD4.1 million, was surveyed online. Survey results were weighted to match demographic and net-worth profiles of the same audience according to the latest Survey of Consumer Finances from The Federal Reserve.

via Luxury Insider

Time Floats: Louis Vuitton Tambour Mysterieuse

admin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:34:00 +0800

We recently reported on Louis Vuitton’s Tambour watches in gold and steel. These are joined by the star offering of 2009 from the luxury goods icon, the Tambour Mysterieuse. Still in the instantly recognizable tambour drum shape, this fully mechanical watch trades in the stuff of horological magic.

Based on the mysterious movement clocks created by the famed Jean-Eugene Robert Houdin in the 19th century, Louis Vuitton’s new calibre LV115 is a near transparent wonder. This calibre is actually the first from Louis Vuitton to have been created, developed and assembled entirely in the brand’s workshops in Switzerland.

With an 8-day power reserve, there is nothing superfluous about this mechanical movement and its robustness stands in stark contrast to its ephemeral nature. As in the general principle of mysterious movements, the hour and minute hands actually sit on mobile sapphire discs that are totally transparent.

The small seconds display is at 9 o’clock in the visible section of the movement, dial-side. Like the tourbillon from Louis Vuitton, this watch is fully customizable and every piece has the potential to be unique, largely, at no extra cost.

via Luxury Insider

Audemars Piguet and the Culture of Excellence

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:43:00 +0800

Acknowledging the importance of fundamental values and traditions in the face of extraordinary economic pressure, watchmaker Audemars Piguet is emphasizing its Swiss heritage. The family-owned Le Brassus-based firm is partnering Swiss Learning to promote Switzerland’s culture of excellence. It is this very culture that has enabled Audemars Piguet to succeed in pushing the boundaries of horology over the years while preserving its own traditions. An example of this can be seen in the Jules Audemars Chronograph watch from SIHH 2009. This partnership will result in conferences around the world highlighting the advantages of a Swiss higher education. The most recent conferences were in Brazil, Mexico, China and Japan, where Swiss Learning opened an office.

via Luxury-Insider.com

Walls of Time – Louis Vuitton Tambour Watches

admin — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 18:35:00 +0800

Iconic from the first second, the Tambour collection from Louis Vuitton continues to be the brand’s standard-bearer in horology – now available in gold and steel. Three versions of the Tambour watch make the case for Louis Vuitton in 2009: the GMT, the chronograph and the automatic for ladies. All the models are cased in steel, with bezel, lugs, pushpieces (for the chronograph) and crown in 18 carat yellow gold. Likewise, the bracelets are all in 18 carat yellow gold and steel, as you can see from the pictures. Louis Vuitton offsets this juxtaposition with silver sunray dials for all three models. As always, the shape remains the classic tambour design.

Sage Advice: MB&F Only Watch

admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:14:00 +0800

MB&F comes out with a unique interpretation of its outstanding Horological Machine No. 2 for the Only Watch auction. Held every two years, the proceeds from the auction go towards supporting the fight against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a rare genetic disorder that affects one in 3,500 young boys. The Horological Machine No. 2 is an apt vehicle to support this cause because creator Max Busser was inspired in the first place by the meccano model kits that were his toys as a child.

In this one-of-a-kind watch, we see the vision of both Busser and artist Sage Vaughnn. Vaughnn presents DMD as the blackened gold barbed wire trapping both the movement and the blued gold butterfly. The butterfly has a clipped wing to show that the struggle is all too often in vain. Aside from this, astute watch lovers will notice two sapphire domes on a transparent top plate that is, interestingly, also sapphire crystal. Busser informs us that these domes have been soldered onto the top plate, which is a first in the watch industry. Of course, the superlative case remains one of the most complicated in the business.

A Legend of Time – Piaget Polo

admin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:15:00 +0800

Thirty years ago, Swiss watchmaker and jeweler Piaget launched what is quite possibly the first watch model built in association with a specific sport: the Piaget Polo. Piaget has dedicated a public exhibition to the history of this watch at the Piaget Time gallery above the Geneva boutique. Accessible by appointment only, the gallery is open Monday through Friday, from 10am to 5pm and Saturday from 11am to 4pm. To schedule a visit, simply contact Piaget on +41 22 817 02 00 or by e-mail at the following address: piaget-time-gallery-ge@piaget.com

Created by Yves G. Piaget in the midst of an unprecedented crisis in the Swiss watch industry, the Piaget Polo quickly became an icon of true luxury. Yves Piaget attributed the success of the watch to the fact that it was more a “watch bracelet” than a wristwatch. Worn by celebrities such as Ursula Andress, Brooke Shields, Samy Davis Junior and Andy Warhol, it evolved over the years and is today the Piaget Polo FortyFive, a thoroughbred fine mechanical sports watch.

The Magnum - Harry Winston Opus 9

admin — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:12:00 +0800

Few series of watches have captured the public’s imagination as the Opus series from jeweler Harry Winston. Today, the brand’s challenge appears to be finding a place where haute joialerie and haute horlogerie can meet in harmony. This year, one such place is the Opus 9 where designers and collaborators Jean-Marc Wiederrecht and Eric Giroud have found both a functional and aesthetic purpose to the use of diamonds in timepieces. First of all, those familiar with Wiederrecht will recognize his touch in the linear display of time.

The automatic watch is a time-only proposition, with a chain of diamonds marking the hours and minutes (via the red garnets). The Harry Winston touch here is not just in the diamonds but in the use of the invisible setting. Cased in white gold, the Opus 9 is limited to 100 pieces.

Watches for Life – BNB Concepts

admin — Thu, 21 May 2009 06:20:00 +0800

If fine watchmaking today is about the secret life of time i.e. the mechanical movement and the craftspeople who build them, BNB Concepts S.A. in Switzerland would be Deep Throat.

Not a brand but a company responsible for mechanical innovations across many different brands, BNB Concepts is driven by the vision of CEO Matthias Buttet. In order to unlock further secrets from the vaults of timekeeping, Buttet came up with the Confrerie Horlogere in 2008 and enlisted seven craftspeople to its cause.

In 2009 at BaselWorld, the Companions of the Confrerie Horlogere showed off their first creations, as pictured here. On offer are Les Complications (limited to 10 pieces each), Les Classiques (small series) and Les Masters (unique or very small series).

Each watch is of course a reflection of the craftspeople who built it, not unlike Max Busser’s watches and those of the independent watchmakers. What’s also interesting here is that Buttet is offering a lifetime warranty for these pieces, showing just how committed he and his team are. Confrere Horlogere also guarantees that their watches use 100 percent Swiss parts.

Richard Mille - Asia Tour 2009

admin — Sun, 17 May 2009 08:12:00 +0800

Contemporary watchmaking brand Richard Mille brought its 2009 novelties to Asia via intimate shows and discussions in Hong Kong and Singapore. Mr. Richard Mille himself headlined his brand's Asiatic tour and introduced the RM 025 diver's watch (the brand's first round watch) and the RM 019 Celtic Knot Tourbillon (the first ladies' model tourbillon for the brand) to enthusiasts and collectors.

Aside from these two highlights from Richard Mille's show in Geneva, Mille also brought a variety of watches with him, some of which he wore proudly on his own wrist (and on his person, in the case of the pocket watch). Among the watches shown were RM 023 automatic with Roman numerals (a unisex watch), RM 002-V2 (all grey version), RM 016 Titalyt, RM 020 pocket watch and a variety of new versions of RM 007 and RM 016 watches.

IWC gets IONized in Singapore

admin — Sun, 10 May 2009 22:17:00 +0800

Singapore's ION Orchard development is not even open yet but it has been attracting plenty of attention, lately thanks to luxury brands launching their stores. Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen has chosen the ION Orchard mall for its first stand-alone boutique in Singapore , in no small part because the brand was impressed by the development's landmark status. In fact, the design of the boutique follows both IWC's aesthetic cues as well as the mall's.

Instead of opting for a simple retail space, IWC is including a special lounge section in its just-over-1,000 square foot boutique where people can discover the brand at their own pace. Of course, the boutique will feature the entire range of IWC's offerings, including all the recent novelties unveiled in Geneva.

Montblanc Monopusher Chronograph Open Date

admin — Fri, 08 May 2009 02:18:00 +0800

The Star Nicolas Rieussec was presented at last year’s SIHH to great fanfare as it housed Montblanc’s first in-house movement. This year, the Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph Open Date receives an update that confirms its noble lineage and potential for the brand.

The watch is presented in visible-movement format, with cut-out areas around the two chronograph counters and the date counter showing off the MBR110 movement.

Fascinatingly, the open portion between the chronograph counters and the date counter reveals the vaunted vertical clutch system. The watch is available in stainless steel and red gold, with a limited edition of 25 pieces in 950 platinum.

Richard Mille Ties A Celtic Knot

admin — Sat, 02 May 2009 14:16:00 +0800

Richard Mille sees to it that women have their own tourbillon to play with this year in a long-awaited expansion to the collection for the fairer sex. The baseplate of the ladies tourbillon RM019 Celtic Knot has been crafted out of black onyx while diamonds grace the Celtic Knot that crisscrosses the movement.

The RM019 is as technically impressive – with hours, minutes and power reserve, along with the tourbillon – as the diver’s watch but its design cues inform the mystique of feminine time. The watch will be available in 18 carat white gold and red gold.

Hublot Touches Down in Hong Kong

admin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:30:00 +0800

Swiss luxury watch brand Hublot arrived in Hong Kong with its first boutique in April 2009. The brand, which made a splash with its sponsorship of the Euro 2008 championship, has a major following in Asia and this boutique will no doubt allow collectors and enthusiasts to enjoy the brand’s full range.

One example was on display during the opening: the completely diamond-set US$1 Million Big Bang. Of course, the brand took the opportunity to show off the entire 2009 range of novelties from the recently concluded BaselWorld fair.

Present at the event were Hublot CEO and impresario Jean-Claude Biver, Chairman of Swiss Prestige Emil Klingelfuss, Consul General of the Consulate General of Switzerland Hans J. Roth and artist David Wu, the emcee for the evening.

Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges

admin — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:20:00 +0800

Few watchmaking houses have tourbillons of this pedigree and legitimacy, with Girard-Perregaux having a rich heritage with this complication since the 19th century. This year, the three distinctive bridges make their way into the Art Deco-inspired 1945 Vintage case in an unusual skeletal design.

With the sapphire caseback, the entire movement takes on a transparent quality. Note that the bridge configuration of this watch means that the barrel, gear train and escapement are all arranged along the same axis.

This is both technically significant – and has been since the design premiered in 1860 – and aesthetically inimitable. It takes seven days of work per watch to achieve the finish on the bridges. It is only available in pink gold.