Archiv für den Monat: Dezember 2016

Impressive in Blue: The Chopard Imperiale Joaillerie Watch

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Chopard just introduced the newest member to its Imperiale line. The collection was reinvented in 2010 and now the manufacturer succeeds once more in summing up the quintessence of style and elegance in a watch.
Synonymous with splendor, power and extreme passions, empires of all eras end every part of the world continue to exercise an inexhaustible and enduring creative influence. After the Coffret de l’Impératrice, launched in September 2015 and celebrating Byzance and the magic of the East, Chopard now draws inspiration for its latest creation from South America and the heart of the Inca civilization.

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This secret watch combines the best of Jewellery and Fine Watchmaking. Chopard designed a watch that is as much a magnificent bracelet as a precious timepiece. Like a mosaic from the pre-Colombian era, the dial cover is entirely set with brilliant-cut diamonds and turquoises in subtly varied shades. Its almost hypnotic radiance exudes an aura of mystery and seduction.
When the dial opens, the signature symbols of the Imperiale collection appear, those details that endow this jewellery creation with its legendary distinction and strength of character: graceful Roman numerals, tapered hands reminiscent of combat daggers; as well as the famous motif evoking the embroideries adorning the hangings and cushions on which monarchs placed their insignia. The latter pattern appears on the watch cover mosaic, set with diamonds on the bracelet lugs, as well as lending an original touch to the seconds display; while the dial centre is stamped with a radiant sunburst guilloché decoration in a nod to the Inca dynasty’s fascination for this supreme heavenly body.

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The case in Fairmined white gold is entirely set with diamonds and houses a veritable treasure: a self-winding L.U.C 96.12-L movement entirely designed, developed and hand-decorated in the Chopard Manufacture workshops in Fleurier.
The Imperiale Joaillerie watch is fitted with blue or turquoise damask straps picking up the unmistakable Imperiale motif or with turquoise alligator straps.

Time For An Update: The Lange 1 Moon Phase of Lange & Söhne

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The Lange 1 Moon Phase by A. Lange & Söhne is around since 2002. The Lange 1 received an upgrade quite recently and now it’s the turn of the Lange 1 Moon Phase. The watch now comes with a new calibre and the moon phase has also changed: it now contains a day/night indicator as well.

The arrangement of the moon phase display is based on a new, particularly realistic concept. A separate solid-gold moon pursues its orbit in the foreground. Behind it, a celestial dis – also made of solid gold – performs one revolution every 24 hours. On the disc, the different times of day are represented by varying blue hues caused by interference effects. During the day, it shows a bright sky without stars, while at night it depicts a dark sky with prominently contrasting laser-cut stars.
The lunar cycle endures 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 3 seconds on average. The Lange 1 Moon Phase displays it so accurately that it takes 122.6 years for the display to deviate from the true synodic period by just one day.

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The asymmetric solid-silver dial sets a harmonious stage for the luminous time and power-reserve indications complemented with an outsize date, the moon-phase display, and the day/night indicator. Hours and minutes are displayed on a big subdial at 9 o’clock, the power-reserve indicator lies below the date at 3 o’clock. And A. Lange & Söhne incorporated the small seconds in the moon-phase display.

The now 20th (!) Lange calibre with a moon-phase display is based on the Lange 1 movement introduced two years ago, and it has the same performance attributes. This includes the maximum power reserve of 72 hours and the precisely jumping outsize date display. It beats with a frequency of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour.
The 70 parts for the moon-phase display were so integrated in the L121.3 manufacture calibre that it is only marginally larger than the calibre L121.1 inside the Lange 1.

The Lange 1 Moon Phase is available in white gold with a black dial (39.500€), in pink gold with an argenté dial (35.900€) and in platinum with a rhodié dial (52.000€).
Also, A. Lange & Söhne can now be found on Instagram. Apart from news and new models the manufacturer wants to offer exclusive looks behind the scenes.

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More Excellence at Glashütte Original: New Senator Watches

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Recently, Glashütte Original launched two new models expanding its new Senator Excellence line: the Senator Excellence Panorama Date and the Senator Excellence Panorama Date Moon Phase. With the introduction of the new manufactory Calibre 36 Glashütte Original laid the cornerstone for a new generation of in-house timepieces. And the two new models are fitting in the collection quite nicely.

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The Senator Excellence Panorama places the watchmaker’s well-known date display at centre stage. The secret of its exceptional legibility lies in the mounting of two concentric display discs on the same level, which makes it possible to present the two numerals comprising the date without the central separation bar. A precise jumping mechanism now enables even greater precision when the date changes at midnight. Refined details transform this useful function into a decorative stylistic element. A rounded window integrates the display into the dial in an elegant manner, and two steps enhance the impression of visual depth. The printed numerals are set off in deep black from the ivory-coloured ground.

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The Senator Excellence Panorama Date Moon Phase combines the date display with a further characteristic element from Glashütte Original – the moon phase complication. In a dial window between 10 and 11 o’clock a curved moon travels its path in front of a starry, galvanic blues sky. The display is executed in Glashütte’s own dial manufactory.

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Now. The calibre 36: precision, running time, stability and aesthetics – these attributes are promised by the new movement. Both functions are distinguished by an extremely stable construction principle and they also set new standards in terms of user friendliness. Not only the date, the moon phase as well can be adjusted using the crown. But 122 years will pass before the moon phase needs to be corrected by one day in order to achieve renewed conformance with the synodic month.
The calibre works at 4 Hz and comes with a power reserve of more than 100 hours.

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Both models are presented in a 40 mm diameter case that is fashioned in red gold or stainless steel. Both cases feature polished and satin-brushed surfaces, the bezels are slim and house a domed sapphire crystal.
The silver-grained dials feature laser-cut, galvanic black hour indexes and matching railroad chapter rings. On the stainless steel model the minute numerals are also laser-cut and galvanized in black, while the red gold version features minute numerals printed in red.

All watches are come with a black alligator leather strap.