Archiv für den Monat: Mai 2017

Impressive: The Omega Speedmaster Skywalker X-33

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Omega’s pioneering spirit has taken the manufacturer on adventures beyond the earth’s atmosphere and below the surface of the ocean. Now the manufacturer launched a natural extension of its legacy in space, the Speedmaster Skywalker X-33. Designed especially for space explorers, this watch is an innovative upgrade of the Speedmaster Professional X-33 released in 1998.
The new model is powered by an advanced quartz calibre and was developed to meet the needs of astronauts and others who can appreciate its impressive variety of functions. Moreover, the European Space Agency (ESA) has approved this watch for inclusion in all of its missions.

The ceramic bezel features a chromium nitride scale. There is luminescent white Super-LumiNova with green emission on the 60-minute indicator. The 45 mm brushed case is made of titanium and features an also brushed crown and pushers.

The black dial with its white indexes and hour markers, has a central opening that allows the wearer to read the displayed digital elements such as the time in up to three different time zones, three alarms, chronograph and countdown functions, and a perpetual calendar. In addition to its analogue and digital displays, it tracks mission elapsed time and phase elapsed time.
Skeletonised black and white hour and minute hands are coated with Super-LumiNova which emtits a green light. The bold red seconds hand is clearly visible and all hands can be disengaged to allow clear reading of the digital display. The liquid crystal display (LCD) with an electroluminescent backlight features grey segments on a black background.

This Speedmaster is powered, as we mentioned above, by a multi-functional quartz chronograph movement, the in-house calibre 5619. It includes a thermo-compensated integrated circuit. This new movement was developed under an ESA patent licence based on an invention by ESA astronaut Jean-François Clervoy.

The Speedmaster Skywalker X-33 comes on a titanium bracelet, featuring a fold-over clasp. And there’s also an interactive iPad App for this watch, which you can download from the Omega website.

Nocturnal Camouflage: Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Black Camo

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Bell & Ross has become a reference in the instrument watch field, making aviation watches and has, as part of this quest, forged links with the world of the military. As a result, the watchmaker works regularly with professional elite units of the french military.
In 2007, Bell & Ross launched the Phantom concept, the Commando collection came two years later, in 2009. The launch of these watches, which were inspired by aeronautical instrumentation, heralded a foray into new territory and were among the first to use a camouflage coating in a horological setting. The new BR 03-92 Black Camo represents another link in the Bell & Ross camouflage watch series.

Phantom

Commando

The Phantom concept was one of the first to use the full black military coating. It features an antireflective matte black coating reminiscent of the surface of a stealth plane. Its numerals, indices and hands are covered with a photo luminescent coating. The Commando is part of the same lineage of avant-garde camouflage instrument watches and features a military-inspired coating. Its cases, numerals and indices are covered in deep matte black, and its dial in matte gray. This collection is aimed at the elite units, the military commandos, and the response teams who operate covertly.

The new BR 03-92 Black Camo is the lates addition to the series and for this model, Bell & Ross has developed an original military-type tricolor coating. Its dial is covered with a patchwork of matte greys, its case and strap in matte black. Especially at night, this timepiece is practically undetectable because its matte-treated colours avoid the risk of undesirable reflections. Like in the two earlier versions, the Black Camo also comes with luminescent coating. Not risking detecting is one thing, but the watch still has to be legible.

The simple time display is based on the brand’s visual signature: large numerals accompanied by batons indices for perfect legibility. The design of the hands is also distinctive. The four large numerals impressive in both design and size, are also a Bell & Ross classic. The sandwich type dial is made up of two superposed inserts. The lower one has a black Super-LumiNova coating while the upper one carries the camouflage pattern. The die cutting for the numerals and indices reveals the black Super-LumiNova which guarantees best legibility, both day and night.

The watch is powered by the BR-CAL.302, a Swiss Made self-winding mechanical calibre.
The 42-mm-case of the BR 03-92 Black Camo uses mass-coloured ceramic. This material is wear-resistant and extremely durable as well as comfortable to wear in the heat and cold. The case is also water-resistant up to 100 metres which makes this watch perfectly resilient to environmental challenges.
The watch comes with a black rubber and synthetic fabric strap.

Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance in Steel

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The first Mirrored Force Resonance in rose gold was introduced by Armin Strom in 2016. Now the manufacturer has added another model in stainless steel. We are looking at the Mirrored Force Resonance „Water“ today, not only because it’s a beautiful piece of high-end watchmaking, but also because it is more affordable than its predecessor „Fire“.

Two oscillating bodies in close proximity influence each other and eventually synchronize; this is a phenomenon of physics known as resonance. Towards the end of the year 2016, Armin Strom introduced the Mirrored Force Resonance, a resonating dual regulator developed for maximum precision with its whole captivating mechanism on full display dial side.
Since there are only very few wristwatches which use the principle of resonance, Armin Strom has joined an exclusive club with using – and mastering – this sophisticated horological technique.

The two connected oscillators of the ARF 15 Calibre make their revolutions in opposite directions, one rotating clockwise and the other counterclockwise. After winding, the twin balance wheels need approximately 10 minutes to become synchronous. The calibre works with 25.200 vph and provides a power reserve of  48 hours after being fully wound.

Apart from the material of the case, the style and size remained the same. The Mirrored Force Resonance in steel comes with a diameter of 43.4 mm and a height of 13 mm. It is water-resistant up to 50 metres.
At 2 o’clock you will find a case band pusher. it resets the twin seconds‘ displays to zero, simultaneously resetting the twin balance wheels.

Armin Strom has equipped the Mirrored Force Resonance in Steel with a dark blue alligator strap, dedicated to the element of water.
The manufacturer is known for producing four versions of many of his watches, dedicated to the four elements. We are really looking forward to what will come next after fire and water and how these versions will not only look but fit in with the rest of the collection.

Prolific Partnership: Hublot and Ferrari Present a New Watch

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To celebrate Ferrari’s 70th anniversary, the Italian marque and its partner Hublot are presenting a new original collection.
Conversed with the same approach used for designing a car at the Ferrari Design Centre and integrating Hublot’s watchmaking expertise, the Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph opens a new chapter in the partnership that unites Hublot and Ferrari.

Designed by Ferrari, crafted by Hublot – what’s the worst that could happen? This watch is the result of a team effort that began with Ferrari in maranello and ended in Nyon with Hublot. This new line in Hublot’s collections is intended to offer a watch that is deeply rooted in Ferrari’s DNA – combining strength, performance and agility – while being produced and perfected by the Hublot manufacture.
Created and designed by Ferrari, under the leadership of Head of Design Flavio Manzoni, the new Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph was designed by Ferrari, using the same creative processes as that used to developed a new sports car. The starting point for the designers was the Hublot movement around which they freely designed a high performance chassis. Like that of a Ferrari, its lattice structure offers maximum strength for minimal weight.

The black structure on the dial holds the chronograph counters and offers excellent legibility. The crown at 4 o’clock reduces the size of the watch and increases its aerodynamic look. Finally, the red push-button makes the design more ergonomic.
The chassis case comes with a modular construction and consists of three components – a skeleton middle, container, and back cover.

Beyond its design, the Techframe Ferrari 70 Years Tourbillon Chronograph is an epitome of fine watchmaking. This tourbillon chronograph is driven by a movement that was designed and developed by Hublot: the new HUB6311 calibre with manual winding which offers 5 days of power reserve. The tourbillon is visible on the dial and it offers both the aesthetics of a flying tourbillon and the operational stability of a tourbillon with two pivot points. It rotates once a minute.
The Ferrari logo is clearly visible at the 9 o’clock position whilst the Hublot logo is at 5 o’clock. The sapphire crystal reveals the mechanics that it shelters. A matt black block, affixed to the sapphire holds a twin half-second counter at 3 o’clock, the minutes counter at 11 o’clock and the column wheel at 1 o’clock.

The Techframe Ferrari 70 Years is available in three versions – King Gold, PEEK Carbon, and Titanium – each of which is produced in 70 limited editions. Every watch comes with a black rubber strap.