Summer & Hublot: Blue Watches Never Looked Better

This Summer, Hublot added two new blue models to its collection: the Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph Capri, a tribute to the beautiful Italian Island and its four Faraglioni. And then there’s the Spirit of Big Bang Blue, which invites you to dream about sunnier climes. Nothing says summer like reminiscences of Italy and the Côte d’Azur.

 

Let’s take a look at the Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph Capri first: The blue, matte ceramic case comes with a diameter of 45 mm. The eclectic, turquoise-blue color is inspired by the waters of the Gulf of Naples and is also used for the second hand which makes its rounds over a skeletonized dial. The case back depicts the Faraglioni. Behind it works the HUB 1155, a automatic movement which provides a power-reserve of 42 hours and works at a frequency of 4 Hz.
The Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph Capri will be an ideal compagnon for all journeys southward as well as a beautiful accessory for that holiday look.
The Chronograph comes with a white rubber striped trap. It is a limited edition of only 30 pieces.

 

The Spirit of Big Bang Blue also captures summer at its best. This timepiece is a hommage to the distant horizon and the vivid colours of the sea. The iconic tonneau-shaped case of this watch is made from azure blue microblasted and polished ceramic. It measures 42 mm in diameter and is water-resistant up to 10 atm.
Blue and white accents on the dial round off the skeletonized dial. Inside, the HUB 4700, an automatic skeleton chronograph movement provides the necessary energy. It works at a frequency of 5 Hz and provides a 50-hour power-reserve, while being visible through the sapphire crystal back.
The Spirit of Big Bang Blue comes with a bracelet made from alligator leather, matching the exact hue of blue of the case. This watch is also a limited edition, but with 100 pieces.

News from TAG Heuer: Special Carbon Series in Black

TAG Heuer has introduced its newest and simultaneously most modern interpretation of its famous Aquaracer. The watches – three different versions overall – combine an urban look that combines comfort, durability and sportiness.
The first models of this ultra-light, hard-wearing and modern special series are the first of a collection, TAG Heuer will extend over the next months. The Carbon series also comes with the appropriate name: Aquaracer Carbone.

The dial boasts an imitation carbon effect. TAG Heuer offers the Aquaracer Cabone in three different versions, which are sporting accents in either blue, yellow or pink gold. But in these watches, black is clearly the dominating color which raises the issue of readabiltiy. But TAG Heuer didn’t skimp in terms of Super-LumiNova and yes, it’s deep grey in daylight. Which is pretty cool because it’s practically seamlessly blending into the background as long as it isn’t dark.
Over the dial lies a sapphire crystal, sporting an ingrained magnifier at the 3-o’clock position. These cyclops are always controversial and often crucial in terms of liking a timepiece or not. But that’s how it is, and may we say that the cyclops is integrating itself quite beautifully into the overall design of the Aquaracer Carbone.

The 41-mm-case is made from titanium with black PVD coating. Thanks to the random injection of carbon fibres into a resin pressed at high temperatures, each peace is unique, boasting an exclusive black and grey marbled motif. So, even if the case is not made from carbon, there is carbon in it – but I think we can all agree, the name might be a bit misleading.
Like one would expect from a diver’s watch, the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Carbone is water-resistant up to 30 atm.

The technical details are the same as in the Aquaracer, TAG Heuer has incarnated three years earlier. All models are powered by the Calibre 5. The automatic movement is working at a frequency of 4 Hz and provides a power reserve of approximately 38 hours. Since the case back is solid (also made from PVD coated titanium), the movement cannot be observed.

All three models are completed by black nylon straps with black, yellow or blue topstitching, matching the colored accents on the dials.

May We Introduce: Grant – MB&F’s New Machine

MB&F and L’Epée once more joined forces to introduce a new collaboration.Grant is a triple-tracked, Mad-Max-cross-Transformer robot clock on a mission. In today’s fast-paced, always-on, 24/7 world, we are under constant bombardement from time: seconds race by; there is never enough; everyone wants more; and it keeps getting faster and faster. Once, the nearest hour was precise enough – now our clocks are exact to a second. Who feels stressed, can relax: help is at hand, Grant is here.

Grant is a robot with a time display on his shield and a mission to slow things down when time runs too fast. That’s why MB&F has decided to refrain from flashing digital numbers or a constantly spinning second hand. This way, Grant transforms frantic chaos into relaxing hours and minutes, wich is really all, anyone really needs.

While Grant’s time moves relatively slow, he can travel quickly over rough terrain (or the messiest desk) on his three operational rubber tracks. Grant can also transform into one of three different modes: lying horizontally over his chassis for a low profile; crouching at 45 degrees; and sitting up 90 degrees. Grant’s time shield can always be set to a comfortable and optimal viewing angle.

Whatever the angle, Grant’s highly polished clockwork is on full display, and you can follow every click and turn of the gears. The mainspring barrel click near his „belly button“ is particularly mesmerizing in operation. The isochronal oscillations of the regulator keeping time in Grant’s glass-domed „brain“ are evidence of the clockwork’s high precision. Watching Grant „think“ in real time is a stress-relieving activity in itself: Thus, Grant transforms time so that its observer can relax and enjoy it.
Grant’s 8-day, in-line manufacture movement features the same superlative fine finishing as found on the finest wristwatches: Geneva waves, anglage, polishing, sandblasting, plus circular and vertical satin finishing.

Grants Uhrwerk ist auf Hochglanz poliert und aus jedem Blickwinkel vollständig einsehbar, so dass man jedes Einrasten und Drehen der Zahnräder verfolgen kann. Besonders faszinierend ist es, die Sperre des Federhauses in der Nähe von Grants „Bauchnabel“ in Aktion zu beobachten. Die isochronon Schwingungen des Gangreglers, der im „Gehirn“ unter dem Glashelm die Zeit misst, zeugen von der hohen Präzision des Uhrwerks. Schon, wenn man Grant beim „Denken“ in Echtzeit beobachtet, merkt man, wie der Stress abnimmt. Und so verwandelt der Roboter Zeit in solche, die entspannt genossen werden kann.

While he doesn’t look for fights, Grant believes offense is a great form of defense and packs appropriate weaponry. His left arm holds a „you-really-don’t-want-to-mess-with-me“ spinning disk, while his right arm clasps a removable grenade launcher. And with the latter, he has a surprise up his sleeve: it is removable and doubles as a winding and time-setting key for his clockwork.
Grant is a lot of things, but small is not one of them. He measures 115 mm in height, 212 mm in width and 231 mm in length in the flat position. In the vertical position, Grant measures 166 mm in height, 212 mm in width and 238 mm in length. The contains 269 components and weighs 2.34 kilograms.

Grant is available in three limited editions of 50 pieces each in Nickel, Black, and Blue.