Archiv für den Monat: Februar 2017

The Hublot Classic Fusion Italia Independent Collection

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Hublot will introduce a new collection at the Baselworld 2017 in which the watchmaking expertise of the manufacturer combines with the creativity of Italian Independent and the treasures of the Italian tailor Rubinacci.
Since 2014, two collections have been born from the partnership between Hublot, Italia Independent and Lapo Elkann. Although both of the previous collections were based on the Hublot Big Bang Unico model, but this time the creative team has decided to go with the Classic Fusion model. Its name seems to have predestined it for this new special edition, because it is a fine example of the fusion of the „classic“ and innovation.

For Lapo Elkann, the founder and artistic director of Italia Independent, has always put customization and bespoke designs at the heart of his different projects. For him, unique objects, the fact that they became truly his in the designing process while simultaneously meeting the taste of his clients, represent real luxury. Decades of experience, the „Tailor Made“ program as well as customizing cars, boats, planes and helicopters made the frequently named „most elegant man in the world“ uniquely qualified for working on Hublot’s Classic Fusion Italia Independent Collection.
The sartoria Rubinacci is an institution known for its good taste, masculine refinement and its beautiful collection of fabrics in its archives. The combination of those three parties – Hublot, Elkann, Rubinacci – created with the Classic Fusion Italia Independent a truly unique collection.

The collection features six models in total, combining four different fabrics with three cases. The Chronograph Independent Titanium, the Chronograph Independent Ceramic and the Chronograph Independent King Gold. The chosen fabrics are a traditional Houndstooth, two different tartans and the „Prince of Wales“ cloth. The fabrics are not only found on the dials of the watches but also on the straps; sewn on top of black rubber.
All Classic Fusion cases have a diameter of 45 mm are water-resistant up to 5 atm. The dials are protected by a sapphire crystal and all watches are powered by an automatic chronograph movement, the HUB 1143, which works at 4 Hz and provides a power reserve of 42 hours when fully wound.

The design of the Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph Italia Independent is beautifully conclusive. The chosen fabrics complement the materials of the case perfectly, so does the stitching of the straps and the details on the dials. Aand all of this leads to a perfect balanced watch.
These watches are clearly not made for everyone but we predict that they will definitely find way more admirers than this edition has models. There will only be 50 pieces of the two King Gold models as well as of the Ceramic Tartan and the Titanium Prince of Wales. The Ceramic Prince of Wales and the Titanium Houndstooth models are limited to 100 pieces each.

Omega Launches the PyeongChang 2018 Special Edition

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Omega is already preparing for the Olympic Winter Games next year by presenting a new special edition. Omega launched a similar edition last year for the Rio Olympics and two years before that for Sochi 2014. The Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang 2018 will be the 28th Olympic Games with Omega fulfilling its role as Official Timekeeper. So celebrating with a collection of new watches seems absolutely appropriate.

The PyeongChang 2018 collection features two timepieces: The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra PyeongChang 2018 and the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M PyeongChang 2018. Both watches are Limited Editions with 2.018 pieces each.
The Seamaster Aqua Terra PyeongChang  2018 features the classic Aqua Terra look which is visible in the teak dial and sleek case design. The words PYEONGCHANG 2018 have been inscribed on the minute rack of the stunning blue dial, creating a beautiful highlight in colour. And the numbers 18 and 20 are perfectly aligned with the time indication. The stainless steel case has a diameter of 41.5 mm.

The case of the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M PyeongChang 2018 is also made of stainless steel and with 43.5 mm in diameter slightly larger than the Aqua Terra. The diver’s watch captures the colours of the South Korean flag with a polished blue ceramic dial and unidirectional bezel, blended with red rubber for the first 15 minutes. This theme is continued through the blue and red rubber strap. Everyone who likes this watch but not quite that much colour on the wrist might be glad to hear that Omega delivers an additional stainless steel bracelet.

On both models, the „Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018“ logo is included on a sapphire crystal case back as well as the Olympic rings. The other thing, both watches have in common, is the movement. They are powered by the Master Co-Axial 8500. This self-winding master chronometer is resistant to magnetic fields greater than 15,000 gauss and provides a power reserve of 60 hours. Omega is the only manufacturer which offers watches with METAS-certified movements.

Glashütte Original Presents the New Sixties Collection

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Following the inaugural presentation of the Sixties Iconic Collection in 2015, Glashütte Original takes its tribute to iconic ’60s design to a new level. In parallel with the 67th Berlinale, the German watchmaker introduces a special collection of five square chronographs featuring distinctive dials: The Glashütte Sixties Iconic Square Collection.
Dynamic, distinctive, unforgettable – the 1960s made their mark with inspirational design in watchmaking, furniture, fashion and beyond, with geometric forms and innovative, colourful visuals. In the mid-sixties, Glashütte’s watchmakers launched the Spezimatic in a series of versions destined to become lasting icons of style. And now the popular design elements of the time like the square cushion shape, domed dials, curved hands, idiosyncratic Arabic numerals, inspired the Sixties Iconic Square Collection.

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The dials are made by the Saxon manufacture’s own dialmakers in Pforzheim, Germany. The stunning colours and dial visuals take up iconic design elements first presented in a range of „Spezimatic“ models produced in the 1960s. Manufacturing these dials is a complex and time-consuming process and the dialmakers from Glashütte Original use original tools and authentic methods from the 1960s while paying obsessive attention to each of the steps. The application of coloured lacquers achieves precise hues and shading, from light centres to dark perimeters, known as the „dégradé effect“ – a finish found on every piece. The dials are given a galvanic base coat; layers of coloured lacquer are then added by hand in a series of subsequent steps and then, in a final step, black lacquer is carefully applied using a special spray gun. This technique produces an individual colour gradient on each dial.
Five colours give the models their names: Sixties Iconic Forest, Sixties Iconic Ocean, Sixties Iconic Graphite, Sixties Iconic Tangerine and Sixties Iconic Fire. Four of the five models are combined with a sunburst finish, while the fifth model, the Sixties Iconic Graphite, features an elaborate imprint instead.
The dials are protected by a sapphire crystal.

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Every watch is powered by the manufacture automatic Calibre 39-34 chronograph, featuring central hours, minutes and chronograph seconds as well as a small second and a 30-minute counter. The movement works at a frequency of 4 Hz and provides a 40 hour power-reserve.
The five models also feature a distinctive square cushion shaped stainless steel case, measuring 41,35 x 41,35 mm and providing a water-resistance of 3 bar.

25 sets of the Sixties Iconic Square Collection will be available in Glashütte Original Boutiques and selected retailers worldwide.

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Always Different: Urwerk

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The watchmaking company Urwerk celebrates its 20th birthday in 2017 – in style of course. Frei & Baumgartner, the founders of Urwerk, presented their new company and their first watch at the Baselworld 1997, causing quite a stir. And even two centuries later, it doesn’t get boring with Urwerk. The new UR-T8 which marks the companies 20th birthday was presented at the SIHH. This watch proves the enormous creativity and the aspiration of Frei & Baumgartner to revolutionize how we think about wristwatches. The way in which the time is displayed as well as the shape of the case is once more unique – and a novelty.

The UR-T8 is Urwerk’s first transformable watch – inspired by the iconic Jaeger-LeCoultre „Reverso“. A Series of precise actions unlocks the case from its cradle, flips it over and returns it with a satisfying click. It then becomes a mysterious object on the wrist. There are two pushers on the bezel which, when pushed simultaneously, lift the watch vertically. It then can be rotated about its axis before clicked back into its cradle to return to the present time. From one side, the UR-T8 is watch, from the other one is a futuristic design piece which resembles a watch only partly since the time display is completely gone.

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Urwerk has a new version of its trademark wandering-hour indication in the UR-T8. This intuitive display arranges the twelve hours in groups of four on a three-armed carousel. These successively sweep across the scale of 60 minutes to show the time both digitally and analogically. It is the biggest and most elaborate carousel configuration yet applied by Urwerk, with each arm supporting a satellite carousel bearing the four numerals. A complex planetary gearing transforms a tangle of wheels, screws and jewels bearings into a meticulously orchestrated ballet.

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The Urwerk UR-T8 features a unique pneumatic control of the self-winding system. A spinning vane connected to the winding rotor absorbs any sudden and violet movements of the rotor without compromising its winding efficiency.
The watch is powered by the calibre UR 8.01. It works at a frequency of 4 Hz and provides a power-reserve of 50 hours.
The case is made from titanium with a black PVD-coating and it measures 60.23 x 48.35 x 20.02 mm.
Of the UR-T8 will only be 60 pieces available.