Archiv für den Monat: Januar 2017

A Fresh Interpretation of a Legendary Timepiece by Vacheron Constantin

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Vacheron_Constantin_Traditionelle_EwigerKalender_1Vacheron Constantin has introduced a whole range of new models at this year’s SIHH. We cannot cover them all, but we just have to introduce the new interpretation of one of the manufacture’s most iconic timepieces: the Traditionelle Chronograph Perpetual Calendar.

The Traditionelle Chronograph Perpetual Calendar is one of the best-known models within Vacheron Constantin’s collection. The new version is available in platinum and pink gold and it combines two key complications – the chronograph and the perpetual calendar – and is powered by the new calibre 1142 QP. This watch leaves nothing to be desired.
The case hasn’t changed, it is still classically round and stepped while bearing the distinctive fluted pattern on its back.

Vacheron_Constantin_Traditionelle_EwigerKalender_3The dial is characterized by the dauphine-style hands and the railway-typed minute track. A white or black tachymeter scale surrounding the dial accentuates the technical nature of the watch.
Exemplifying a concern for legibility, the dial features various shades of grey with finishes that differ according to the functions, reflecting the layout of 1940s Vacheron Constantin chronographs. Standing out against a slate- or silver-coloured opaline base, the small seconds and chronograph minutes counters are distinguished by a circular-brushed ring with snailed centre.
The white or pink gold moon disc is hand-finished. Positioned in the centre of the date counter, it provides a symbolic depiction of a moon face that is alternately smiling or melancholy, depending on the path of the Earth’s satellite. This is a nod to historical pocket watches.

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The sophisticated aesthetic approach is matched by the technical evolution embodied in the movement of the Traditionelle Chronograph Perpetual Calendar. The 1141 QP is replaced by the 1142 QP, a state-of-the-art movement entirely designed and developed within the Vacheron Constantin manufacture. The new movement drives the perpetual calendar functions – with indications of the days, date, months, leap years and moon phases – as well as the chronograph functions with a direct-drive seconds hands and 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, positioned opposite the small seconds at 9 o’clock. This watch will be able to keep track of all the vagaries of the calendar without any need for adjustments until March 1st 2100.
With the development of this new caliber, the watchmakers and developers have been attentive to the energy constraints relating to the chronograph functions, in order to minimize their impact on the 48-hour power reserve.  The oscillation frequency of the balance has also ben raised from 2.5 Hz to 3 Hz so as to increase reliability and shock resistance.
The Traditionelle Chronograph Perpetual Calendar comes with a sapphire crystal caseback to allow a glance on the movement.

The chronograph comes with a leather bracelet.

Colourful And Fun: The New RJ-Romain Jerome Space Invaders Limited Edition

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The golden age of the arcade game started in 1978 with the release of Space Invaders along with a cult phenomenon impact. Indeed, the invading alien hordes were the first ever iconic form of entertainment: thousands of hours of TV programs and hundreds of cultural exhibitions have been devoted to this generational icon of the 80’s which RJ-Romain Jerome encapsulated in its timepieces.
Six years ago, when RJ-Romain Jerome presented the first Space Invaders models, then launching a Games collection, little did everyone know that it would later become the brand’s biggest success. The collection consisted of two models, each limited to 78 pieces – echoing the game’s release year – and depicting the game’s famous scene illustrated in the dial, with coloured or white Super-LumiNova pixelated figures.

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Today, RJ-Romain Jerome is introducing a new collection with two models each limited to 78 pieces. The Space Invaders Pop is equipped with a Swiss Made mechanical self-winding movement. The watches are available in either a 46 mm titanium case or a 40 mm steel case, and the pair will be released simultaneously.
The Moon Invader case features four functional ball-and-socket joints, cut like the pivoting „feet“ of the lunar landing modules of the American lunar missions. These components hold the lugs of the rubber straps and enable the watch to adjust to all kinds of wrist sizes.

The pixelated 3D dial with bead-blasted and satin-brushed levels reveal the famous Space Invaders characters enhanced with stronger and brighter colours. The characters, in form of a laser cannon and aliens, have been machined one by one then filled by hand with cold enamel in green, white, purple, blue, orange and yellow. These Pop colours are the game’s most representative colours used over time.
New to the collection as well, the case back beholds a Space Invaders medallion standing in the middle of the stellar pattern extending to the black of the rubber strap. And to immerse completely into the Game universe, the watch box is designed like an arcade controller.

The Art of Fusion: Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 Magic Gold

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In the new Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 Magic Gold a mechanical movements meets Magic Gold, the hardest variety of gold in the world. It was developed by Hublot in a partnership with the EPFL and it is already patented.

The Big Bang Meca-10 is the very archetype of the Hublot philosophy. This watch is a demonstration of the journey undertaken by the Hublot Manufacture, a story with quite a few world firsts. The Maison sees materials as an endless source of possibilities and movements as the opportunity to escape watchmaking norms. And that’s what fans love about Hublot and its watches.

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The Big Bang Meca-10 Magic Gold features a Hublot Manufacture movement with built-in mechanics – the HUB1201. The calibre features two parallel barrels with a rack-driven power reserve indication system, two racks sliding on a 9 o’clock to 3 o’clock axis, a double power reserve display and a Meccano-inspired architecture for an innovative construction. On the dial side, the Big Bang Meca-10 Magic Gold reveals the mechanics of the movement and the unusual architecture of its rack-driven 10-day power reserve.
The movement works at a frequency of 3 Hz and is made out of 223 components.

Magic Gold is the hardest gold on the market and it is highly scratch-resistant. Only diamond tools are capable of machining it and demonstrates a hardness of almost 1.000 Vickers. Magic Gold was created by the fusion of 24-carat gold and ceramic. Case and bezel are polished to achieve the best look possible. The dial is protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The power reserve lays on 3 o’clock, a small second is placed at 9 o’clock and we love the unusual date display at 6 o’clock.
The case measures 45 millimetres in diameter and 15.95 in height. It is water resistant up to 10 atm and features a black rubber strap with structured lines. The buckle is made from black-plated titanium.

The Hublot Big Bang Meca-10 Magic Gold is a limited edition of only 200 pieces. So hurry up!

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