Hindenberg Air Lancer: A Swiss Made Pilot’s Watch

From the beginning, Hindenberg has made it very clear, where its passion lies: in everything associating with aviation and in the look of iconic pilot’s watches throughout the centuries. Now the watch manufacturer has launched a new model and it’s completely Swiss made. The Hindenberg Air Lancer is for everyone who appreciates the combination of a classic look with good quality and aviation in general.

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This watch is not bulky but prominent on the wrist with a diameter of 42 mm and a height of 11 mm. The case is round and made from stainless steel with nicely shaped lugs and is water-resistant up to 10 atm.

The look of the dial is dominated by two different sets of cutouts. The two in the middle allow a glimpse of the movement which lies behind. The two cut-outs at 3 and 9 o’clock provide the date function, supported by a blue indicator.
hindenberg_air_lancer_1The Air Lancer features indexes as well as big Arabic numerals at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. The legibility of this watch is pretty good, thanks to the big hands. They are filled with lume to provide a great legibility even under critical lighting conditions.

Inside this watch works an automatic calibre. The Sellita SW200-1 is a Swiss made movement which is known to be a reliable, precise and highly dependable workhorse. It features hours, minutes, seconds and a date display. Furthermore, it comes with a power reserve of 38 hours.

The handsome look of this wristwatch is completed by a leather strap which comes with contrasting stitches in white.
Hindenberg has currently four different versions of the Air Lancer available; three feature a stainless steel case, one comes with a black PVD coating. The latter also features a partly black dial and a black strap. The partly black dial is also available in combination with a stainless steel case. A white/silver dial and a partly brown one complete the collection. The Air Lancer with the brown dial features a strap of the same colour.

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The New Blue Alpina Horological Smartwatch

Last year, Alpina introduced its first Horological Smartwatch collection. The horological smartwatches from Alpina are more than a gadget, they offer groundbreaking technology as well as the Swiss quality Alpina always stands for. The smartwatches from Alpina preserve the design and offer a traditional Swiss watch, with the addition of a connected „smart“ feature.
With the blue Horological Smartwatch Alpina launches a new aesthetical execution of its Smartwatch while maintaining the technological features. The new look includes a more casual, subtle design in comparison to its full-steel predecessor.

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The new blue Alpina Horological Smartwatch is proposed in an elegant execution featuring a polished and brushed stainless steel case with a diameter of 44 millimetres.
The new blue Horological Smartwatch combines a classy navy sunray dial combined with a genuine brown leather strap with red lining asides, turning the original sporty watch collection into a more well-dressed timepiece.

The dial comes with luminous indexes and displays central hours and minutes; the smart counter is positioned at 6 o’clock. The small red hand indicates the date during the activity tracking mode and will point out the moon during the sleep tracking mode, while the small steel hand shows the percentage of activity or sleep goals achieved.
In general, the function of the Alpina Horological Smartwatch are:

  • alpina_horological_smartwatch_al-285ns5aq6The watch keeps track of daily steps, calories burned and total distance.
  • For sleep tracking, the watch can be worn at night or simply placed under the pillow. This function provides details on how much time is spent sleeping, light sleeping or awake.
  • The watch picks up the time from the connected smartphone and displays it automatically. Time and date do not have to be set manually, even when travelling to different time zones.
  • A smart sleep alarm wakes the wearer at the best appropriate time in the sleep circle and a get active alert reminds the wearer to move regularly.
  • All data can be recovered through a cloud when the watch or phone get lost.
  • For the frequent traveler there’s also a world timer available where a traveler can keep track of its hometown’s time.

One of the main assets of this model is that the battery life is 2+ years, so this smartwatch is not a device that needs to be charged every night.

A smartwatch that is not only horological but does not at all look like a smartwatch offers the best of two worlds. A really nice watch with Swiss technology and a smart device pairing up with the phone for all the coolest features.

Chronoswiss: Sirius Big Date Small Seconds

The Sirius is a classic collection from Swiss watchmaker Chronoswiss and it contains many different models. Over the last year Chronoswiss introduced various new models, including the Sirius Big Date Small Seconds, a fine dress watch which comes in two different versions – in stainless steel and red gold. We will take a closer look at this new timepiece in a longstanding tradition.

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The timeless elegance and unterstatement of the exterior appearance is enhanced with good readability and a large date. As with all Sirius models, the case back made of robust sapphire crystal allows you to look right into the mechanical movement of the watch. Chronoswiss was the first brand to equip their wristwatches with glass case backs as a standard feature.
The stainless steel case measures 40 mm in diameter and 10.35 mm in height. it is partly polished, partly equipped with a satin finish. It is water resistant up to 3 atm.

The watch features central hours and minutes, small seconds at 6 o’clock and thanks to its clear design and big date display at 12 o’clock, this timepiece guarantees excellent legibility.
The Sirius Big Date Small Seconds is a beautiful example of Chronoswiss’s love for csm_CH_8423_Sirius_40mm_2090x3600_ce171e9d36detail. The length of the thermally blued and hand-finished hour and minute hands is coordinated precisely with the dial made of solid sterling silver, which impresses the beholder with its classy guilloche design. In addition, the minute hand has slightly been bent by hand so that it really points exactly to the corresponding markers on the dial.

This Chronoswiss watch is powered by the caliber C.284 (based on the ETA 2892), an automatic swiss made movement which operates at 4 Hz. It provides a power reserve of approximately 42 hours.

The strap is made from Louisiana-alligator leather and comes with a pin buckle or folding clasp.
The Chronoswiss Sirius Big Date Small Seconds in red gold is featuring a brown leather strap.

Squale 50 Atmos Ocean blasted 1521-026 Diver’s watch

Squale-Ocean-Blasted-1521-6The Squale 50 Atmos Ocean blasted 1521-026 was designed for the professional diver.

It is a classic 500 meter professional diver the with the characteristic and famous „von Büren“ case. This case was part of lots of famous dive watches over decades, as Squale supplied these also to other big and small Swiss brands.
This unique and highly recognizable shape features a signe screw-down crown on the 4 o’clock position which is recessed and well protected against unwanted Squale-Ocean-Blasted-1521-5impact. Due to the recessed crown and the elegant flowing design of the polished case the watch is exceptionally comfortable to wear, even on a smaller wrist. Although the case has a diameter of 42 mm and a hight of 13 mm.
The smooth, coin-shaped 60 clicks uni-directional bezel partners very well with the orange minute hand providing crucial information on remaining or elapsed dive-time. The dial provides that at a glance. The scratch-resistant sapphire crystal is enhanced with anti-reflective treatment on both sides and protects the Squale Ocean blasted up to 500 meters below sea-level or 50 atmosphere of pressure.

The hand-painted blue sunburst dial with the distinctly designed luminescent markers of Super LumiNova provides excellent legibility in every low-light situation.
Squale-Ocean-Blasted-1521-1The great attention to detail give this iconic timepiece a contemporary look and feel but still paying respect to its classic, unique design and brand philosophy.

The Swiss Made ETA 2824 automatic movement gives the Squale 50 Atmos Ocean blasted 1521-026  its mechanical reliability and accuracy under the toughest circumstances. It also provides a power reserve of approximately 38 hours.

The Squale 50 Atmos Ocean blasted 1521-026 is a purpose built tool-watch which is elegant and reliable and therefore a perfect companion for every day adventures. It can be purchased with different straps – with a stainless steel bracelet, rubber straps in different colors (all matching the dial of course) or vintage leather straps. While the latter are definitely highly attractive may a rubber strap be the better choice for the regular diver because of its high resistance to saltwater.

Minimalism from Iceland: The Arc-Tic Retro

1424799078683Maybe you’ve never heard of Arc-Tic, based in downtown Reykjavik. It’s a small label, producing beautiful watches.. Now you can’t say that anymore, because we are introducing the Retro-watches of this Icelandic watchmanufacturer today.

Arc-Tic-Retro-The Retro-watches from Arc-Tic emanate a relaxed Nordic coolness. The Scandinavians are best known for their sparse minimalistic design, which made their furniture (and especially Ikea, yes) a huge hit world-wide. Now, we all can wear their famous style on our wrists; austerity with a splash of color.

The Arc-Tic Retro-watches are beautiful and simple three-hander. These quartz-powered watches are undeniably wearable and absolutely affordable. The only color on the dial are the red seconds hand and a red hyphen. These watches stand out in their starkness with their polished stainless steel case, generously-sized rhodium hour markers, rhodium logo and rhodium hands. These features catch the light – and the attention.
Arc-Tic-Retro-WatchYou won’t find any Super LumiNova on the dial, the hands or hour-markers; you will definitely need light to spot the time. That’s not for everyone but this decision emphasizes the retro-look considerably.

The case comes in two sizes – 36mm or 42mm in diameter – with 8mm in height. Both sizes are available with a white or black dial like mentioned earlier. The white ones come with a genuine honey-colored calfskin strap, the ones with the black dial with a black strap, including red stitching. The straps can be easily removed and replaced with a NATO-strap which is included in the delivery, its colors based on the Icelandic flag.

Arc-Tic-Retro-Watch-The Arc-Tic Retro is powered by a Swiss-made quartz movement and is water resistant to 50m. The case back is beautifully decorated, showing a map of Iceland, compass points and degree markings; also the Arctic Circle which inspired the name of the company.

The retail price of the Arc-Tic Retro watch is around 213€ and the watches are only available in stores around Iceland or from the Arc-Tic online store.

Raymond Weil Celebrates Sinatra

raymond-weil-maestro-frank-sinatra-limited-editionSwiss watchmaker Raymond Weil celebrates the hundred year anniversary of the birth of Frank Sinatra with a watch – the Maestro Frank Sinatra Limited Edition. This timepiece pays homage to the legendary artist and his iconic persona.

Among his many accomplishments, Sinatra earned a total of 21 Grammys, 3 Oscars and 2 Golden Globes, frequently earning him the title of one of the greatest entertainers of all time. But he also remains a true icon of elegance and style. His impeccable suits, iconic tipped hat and soulful blue eyes all contributed to his legendary status.
And Frank Sinatra knew a thing or two about timing – when performing he employed „the heartbeat tempo“, which characterises all of his famous songs. So it comes as no surprise, that Sinatra always insisted on keeping perfect time with a fine watch. „He insisted that his wristwatch would have the utmost mechanical integrity and construction to guarantee many years of faithful and accurate service,“ says his son, Frank Sinatra Jr.

RW_maestro_2837-stc-sinat_back_rvb_72dpiThe Sinatra watch features a swiss automatic movement with automatic winding (the RW 4200, based on the Selitta SW200) housed in a 39.5 mm stainless steel case. The calibre provides a power reserve up to 38 hours and beats at 4 Hz.
Reminiscent of the famed „Ol‘ Blue Eyes“ the hands, index markers, and contour of the date window are a bright blue hue, against the backdrop of a silver dial. The watch face is classic yet distinctive – much like Frank Sinatra himself.
A transparent caseback boasts a special Sinatra Sentennial insignia, while the twelve marker, highlighted as the only Roman numeral, signifies Sinatra’s December 12th birthday.
Also in reference to his birthday, only 1,212 pieces of the Maestro Frank Sinatra Limited Edition watch will be available.

This Raymond Weil watch comes with a brown leather bracelet with a traditional buckle.

For more information visit www.raymond-weil.com

The 4th of July is coming up: Shinola celebrates with a new Runwell

Shinola builds watches from Swiss components in an attempt to bring high-end manufacturing back to the United States. As we all know, „The Runwell“ is Shinola’s flagship watch. It’s about time we say a few words about it and the new special edition presents a perfect opportunity to do so.
With the 4th of July coming up, Shinola presents a new model of The Runwell to celebrate this holiday.

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The new Runwell „White Watch“ features the American colors, that are so proudly presented all over the country when the 4th of July celebrations are taking place. The dial is white, the Arabic numerals and the markers as well as the dial of the small second are blue and the leather strap is red.
The Runwell shows hours, minutes and a small second – no date. A clear and classic design without much garnish. The numerals and markers are slightly raised and look great on the crisp white dial. The design of the dial is rather plain, which makes it all the more legible. The hour- and minute-hands and have gracefull curves and are painted with Super LumiNova, giving them incredible luminance in the dark.
Like on the regular Runwell models the second’s dial is placed at 6 o’clock. The lightning bolt, which is normally in orange, is on this particular model red, to fit the theme. This applies also on the two other lightning bolts on the crown and the buckle.

The Runwell has a domed sapphire crystal that is appropriately retro and plays nicely with the curved bezel. The crown screws into the body to prevent accidental adjustment.

The engine of the Runwell  is the  Argonite 1069 quartz movement. It is hand-assembled from 46 Swiss-made components (Ronda AG) but manufactured in Detroid by a dozen or so watchmakers. Although many people would like to see Shinola producing an automatic or even mechanical movement, working with quartz allows Shinola to keep their products at an affordable price point.

The case is 41 mm in diameter and therefore suitable even for smaller wrists. Since the case is built from stainless steel, the watch is quite heavy. But it fits perfectly and quite comfortably on the wrist; it has the satisfying weight that immediately makes you believe in the quality of the object you’re dealing with – solid, bold and fearless.

The case back is clearly a reference to the automobile industry (which Detroit is known for) with a stamped metal. Like all Shinola products, each piece has a unique serial number displayed there, emphasizing the limited production numbers of the watch. You’ll also find four screws pushed all the way to the edge of the backing.

The Horween Essex Leather strap is made by Hadley-Roma in Lago, Florida. It’s nice and thick to balance the heft of the solid-steel watch. It is hand-stitched.

Chrono Diamond – my new beloved

Ariadne_rosegold_IP_front AusschnittWhat comes first to your mind when you hear the names Ariadne, Leandra and Lenya? Most definitely you think these are the names of the ex-girlfriends of Lothar Matthäus the famous german soccer player

When I hear these names I think of diamonds, design, elegance and high-class workmanship. My beloved watches from Chrono Diamond!

They are not quite a steal. So I was really thinking: should I spend so much money for a watch? But when I saw that a famous online shopping portal was offering the watches for 70% under the retail price I did not think twice and ordered Ariadne (who should become my new beloved very soon).

Since I like earthy tones and warm colors I decided to order Ariadne Rosegold IP. The watch case has a warm rose gold color. The real leather watch strap has a reddish brown color. It goes perfectly together.

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Diamonds are a girl’s best friend! The designers of Chrono Diamond obviously know that! Many sparkling zirconia and even two real diamonds can be found on the dial. The watch case is made of gilded stainless steel. Ariadne has a really nice size. The watch is not too small but also not too big. The quartz movement is made in Swiss. Unfortunately, 2999 other girls can have Ariadne too. The watch is limited to 3000 pieces. But I can cope with that.

I really love my new watch and I’m sure we’ll spend a long and happy time together. And hey …. Lothar Matthäus. Maybe you should give your next girl friend a Chrono Diamond watch as a present – I’m sure this will make her stay longer 🙂