Schlagwort-Archive: design

The De Bethune DB28 Kind Of Blue Tourbillon Meteorite

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Futuristic designs combined with a tourbillon have become some kind of a specialty of De Bethune. Fans love the distinctive designs and it has to be said that these special creations fit seamlessly with the other models in the collection which offers other spacy wristwatches too.
The newest tourbillon, that answers to such a description is the DB28 Kind of Blue Tourbillon Meteroite, a watch, which is equipped with a dial made from an actual meteorite. May this be the ultimate watch for the space enthusiast?

This watch is not for the faint of heart, just look at the stunning, truly galactic colours. For me, it wasn’t obvious at first sight – the design is just too stunning -, I had to take a second look, but the case of the DB28 Kind Of Blue Tourbillon Meteorite is blue. Of a deep, rich blue to be exact and it doesn’t come from a PVD coating. De Bethune created the colour in the same process that is used to blue screws. And this heat-based technique has basically been applied to every visible piece of metal in this watch. And this makes for one impressive outcome.
The case measures 42.6mm in diameter and 9.7mm in height.

But the dial is undeniably at the centre of attention. It is, after all, made from an actual meteorite which landed about 5,000 years ago in Argentina, in Santiago del Estero. How cool is that? With this watch one wears a piece on the wrist which has traveled through outer space. And the looks the comet brings at the table is truly magnificent. It radiates in blue, violett and little bit of pink and not only complements the colour of the case but also reminds us of nebulas and galaxies. To intensify this marvellous effect, De Bethune has added tiny stars in white gold. It might seem impossible but with all this gorgeousness the big tourbillon at 6 o’clock can nearly be overlooked. And of course the pink gold of the hour and minute hand fits perfectly to the colours of the dial.

The watch is powered by the DB2019v3m a hand-wound nechanical tourbillon movement. The power reserve indicator is located on the back. It can be seen through the sapphire crystal case back as well as the blue movement. The power reserve indicator in pink gold contrasts beautifully with the deep blue.

The De Bethune DB28 Kind Of Blue Tourbillon Meteorite clearly isn’t a watch for everyone – it really can’t be because it is a unique piece. The watch costs 280,000 CHF and will be introduced at next year’s Baselworld.

Still Searching for a Summer-Watch? Look No Further!

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Eternal summer for the wrist? Nomos Glashütte has you covered because with the Aqua series life’s a beach, every day.
The new watches from Nomos Glashütte may not look like it but they come with a licence to dive. With these watches one is exactly right at the pool or beach. The Aqua-series consists of two basic models, the Ahoi and the Club. They come in four colours and different diameters to fit both men and women. That makes 16 models in total.

The Nomos Glashütte Ahoi

The Ahoi is one of the younger additions to Nomos Glashüttes collection; the watch was first introduced in 2013 and has been designed as a dive watch from the start. Unlike other watches from Nomos Glashütte the Ahoi is equipped with luminous indices and hands, a screw-drown crown and a more sturdy case. The latter got a little bit smaller in the new collection (Nomos shrunk it from 40 to 36.3mm) and the new Aqua resists water-pressure up to 20 bar or 200 meters. The Club features the same characteristics but it looks a little different. The case is rounder, a little less edgy and comes with 37mm in diameter, the same goes for the design of the dial.
The Aquis watches are powered by the ultra-thin in-house calibre DUW 3001, which was introduced by Nomos Glashütte two years ago. This automatic movement works at a frequency of 3 Hz and provides a power-reserve of 42 hours when fully wound.

I think we don’t have to talk about the Bauhaus-inspired design of the Neomatik dials – we all know them from former Nomos collections and it’s quite distinctive and well-loved. For the Ahoi-watches Nomos has broadened the hands a little bit and equipped them with a luminous colour which appears white by day and glows green in the dark.
With a water-resistance up to 200 meters the Ahoi-watches are suitable for swimmers and recreational divers. Unlike other dive watches the Aqua-watches are equipped with a sapphire case back, which allows a look in the movement.

The Nomos Glashütte Club

Both the Ahoi and the Club Neomatik come in four different colours – the silver and atlantik dials we already know from other collections. New are „Signalrot“ and „Signalblau“ (wie fell head over heals for the latter – just saying). The watches with the silver dial are straightforward classy and won’t attract any sideglances on your daily commute; one can’t say that about the bright red and blue ones. These colours pop on the wrist and stand out, but in the best way possible. All watches come with a bright orange seconds hand and a sapphire crystal.

All Nomos Aqua are equipped with a textile bracelet that resists water (salty or otherwise) just as well as the watches itself.

What can we say – we love the new Nomos Aqua-collection. These watches are classically beautiful with a fun twist and quite sturdy. Perfect for the summer and for every occasion.

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.

Raymond Weil and a Legendary Guitar – the Gibson Les Paul

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Raymond Weil celebrates with the Freelancer a true music icon – the Gibson Les Paul. You don’t need to be a guitarist or a musician of any kind for that matter, to have heard of this legendary instrument. This guitar has inspired and served the best artists of all time; from Jimmy Page to Keith Richards and Jimi Hendrix to Eric Clapton musicians have turned to this instrument, making Rock’n’Roll history.
The manufacturer honors this icon with a new watch – the Freelancer Les Paul. Raymond Weil has been putting its name in lights alongside some of the greatest musicians of all time for nearly half a century in various special editions.

The body of the 43.5 mm case is made of steel and its tachymeter bezel is enhanced with black PVD inspired by the lacquer on the „Black Beauty“ – a guitar renowned for its electrifying performance that continues to astound musicians worldwide.
The board features a circular guilloché motif featuring six chords studded by fret-shaped hour markers. The „fittings“ – tri-compax chronograph counters, date and strap topstitching – of the Freelancer are also inspired by the Gibson Les Paul and set with golden highlights. At 12 o’clock, the names of the guitar manufacturer and the Les Paul signature appear, while the split-diamond inlay – a distinctive feature of the Les Paul Custom shines in golden tones next to the date window at 4.30. At 9 o’clock Raymond Weil has placed the small seconds. Hands and indexes are luminous and contrast well with the black dial, which makes the watch very legible, even in the dark.

The Freelancer is powered by a self-winding mechanical movement, the RW5010. It provides the energy for central hours, minutes and small seconds, a date and the chronograph functions as well as a power-reserve of 46 hours.

The ebony perforated calf leather strap brings to mind the sound holes that are part of the body of a guitar.
This watch clearly is a collector’s edition and limited to 300 pieces. Every Raymond Weil Freelancer Gibson Les Paul is delivered in a presentation box inspired by the famous Gibson guitar cases.

Return of an Icon: TAG Heuer Autavia

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The legendary driver’s chronograph from the Sixties, the Autavia, is making a comeback in 2017. A contraction of the words „automobile“ and „aviation“, its name is synonymous with its rotating bezel, its large snailed counters and the black and white dial. Created in 1962, this iconic model celebrates its 55th anniversary in the form of a neo-retro successor featuring updated functions and a proprietary movement – so what’s not to like?

Modern yet faithful to its roots, the new generation Autavia channels the spirit of the golden age of motor racing. As innovative as the original, this contemporary model is the result of an interactive campaign called the „Autavia Cup“, run in 2016.

The Autavia was the first wrist chronograph with a rotating bezel designed by Jack Heuer. This watch was worn by the best-known racing drivers of the 1960s and 1970s, including Mario Andretti and Jochen Rindt. The version worn by Rindt was the inspiration for the new Autavia, TAG Heuer presents this year.
The Autavia is synonymous with a rotating bezel, the large snailed counters and the exemmplary legibility of its black and white. The diameter of the stainless steel case was increased from 39 to 42 mm and it also comes with a higher water-resistance of 100 metres.

 

The Autavia is powered by a in-house chronograph movement, the calibre Heuer 02. Its functions are tailored to modern requirements: a self-winding calibre, power reserve of 80 hours, date at 6 o’clock and a water resistance to 100 metres.
„Mushroom“ push-pieces, a ridged crown, the Heuer logo and a distressed calfskin leather strap add to a vintage feel. Like the patina of a vintage watch, the luminescent coating has a beige tint, in harmony with the strap stitching. The studied neo-retro style encompasses the minute track subdivisions, employing the 1/3-2/3 ergonomic rule of the era created to enhance legibility and accuracy.

This bold watch combines a retro look with modern elements – unique, classy and beautiful.

Vacheron Constantin Perpetuates Copernicus in a Métiers d’Art

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Vacheron Constantin has added a new model to its Métiers d’Art collection, the Copernicus celestial spheres 2460 RT. And not only that, there will be three different versions of this watch.
The Copernicus celestial spheres 2460 RT proves once more the artistic mastery of the Swiss watch manufacturer. With its original display and spectacular decoration, this new collection presented at SIHH 2017, pays tribute to one of humankind’s greatest discoveries: heliocentrism.

Nicolaus Copernicus revolutionized the world in 1543. His hypothesis challenged geocentrism by putting forward the theory of heliocentrism, demonstrating not only that the Earth spins on its axis and has a satellite, the Moon, but above all that it gravitates around the Sun. This new vision of space also had a considerable philosophical impact on the perception of humanity and it overturned all existing beliefs. this revolution was to have profound repercussions on all fields of thought. Vacheron Constantin pays homage to these emblematic discoveries that definitively changed the face of the world with the Copernicus celestial spheres 2460 RT.

Three different dials interpret this theme in three different ways. The decoration is inspired by the graphic depictions of Andreas Cellarius, a 17th century cartographer and author of the most important colorful sky map, the „Harmonia Macrocosmica“.
The dials comprise two distinct parts. The oval centre bears a Sun with a glowing hand-engraved pink gold face, while the outer disc is dedicated to three decorative craft variations. Between the two, a tiny elliptical groove provides space to display orbit performed by the Earth. The latter is represented by a tiny gold disc, slightly domed and measuring barely 6.8 mm diameter, featuring a polar view of the continents based on a Lambert conic map projection.

The first model in this trio gives pride of place to various enamelling techniques. The champlevé Grand Freu enamel Earth reveals the blue of the oceans and the geography of the continents. In the background, a map of the sky on a gold base is enamelled in pastel colours. It is punctuated by fine lines illustrating the orbit of the five planets shown. The outer part of the dial bears the 12 zodiac signs in polychrome enamel.

The second dial, graced with an even more baroque-inspired aesthetic, is hand-engraved. The 12 signs of the zodiac intertwine and overlap on a white gold disc. The engraver has provided a wealth of ramolayé details highlighting volumes in the material. On the Earth orbiting around a flaming golden Sun, the oceans are covered with microscope waves achieved by engraving effects, while the contrasting continents are polished to accentuate the luminosity of the gold.

The third dial is adorned with decorative techniques involving several novel aspects. The zodiac signs are complemented by a 3D-effect star-stubbed sky. The earth is hand-engraved ans picks up this contrast between the fine graining of the ocean waves and the glow of the continents. A hand-painted midnight blue underdial is overlaid with a transparent sapphire crystal engraved on its back. On the front, the constellations are laser-engraved and then highlighted with Super-LumiNova, so the immensity of the night sky is thus fully revealed in the semi-darkness.

All timepieces are driven by a mechanical self-winding Manufacture-made movement, the calibre 2460 RT it was entirely designed, developed and created by Vacheron Constantin.
The time is displayed by two triangular peripheral hands in gold – a cut-out one for the hours and a solid one for the minutes – that glide around the dial rim. The elliptical path of the Earth around the Sun is the key highlight of this watch, exuding a powerful presence and providing continuous information as the days go by. The second complication is the Earth’s elliptical orbit around the Sun. The mechanism is so precise that it only requires a one-day correction only once in 8,000 years.
The calibre works with 28,800 vph and provides a 36-hour power reserve.

The Copernicus celestial spheres 2460 RT features a white gold case measuring 43 mm in diameter and 12.9 mm in height. It comes with a black leather bracelet.

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.

Glashütte Original Presents the New Sixties Collection

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Sixties-Iconic-Square-Square_5-Group

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.

Sixties-Iconic-Square_Ocean_Fire

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.

Sixties-Iconic-Square_Graphite

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.

Sixties-Iconic-Square_Forest_Tangerine

Always Different: Urwerk

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UR-T8_bicolor_front

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.

UR-T8_black_front (1)

UR-T8_bicolor_back

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.

UR-T8_bicolor_transform (1)

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.

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.

RJ.M.AU.IN.006.13_STD_black_HD

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.