Schlagwort-Archive: Men’s Watch

For Men and Women: The New Tonda 1950 Lune

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Two years after it first appeared, Parmigiani Fleurier is updating the aesthetic of the Tonda 1950 Lune with a model featuring a slate dial and a second design with round diamonds on the bezel. Both showcase the poetry of the „lunar calendar“ complication which illuminates their dial with a new layout. Behind this harmony, it is easy to forget the sheer mechanical complexity required to create an ultra-thin self-winding movement with so many time indications.

With a rose gold case matched with a slate colour dial, this Tonda 1950 Lune is the epitome of the classic elegant watch. The lunar calendar, displaying the two hemispheres, is located at 10 o’clock instead of its previous position at 12 o’clock. This offset layout balances the date at 3 o’clock, the logo at 1 o’clock, and the small seconds window at 6 o’clock. All of the time indications are structured to create a pleasingly harmonious dial.

On the other hand, the Tonda 1950 Lune with diamonds features a rose gold case, a mother of pearl dial, a beautiful complement to the light which plays across the stones – a combination which cannot fail to enthral. Additional touches adorn the piece, such as the moon at 10 o’clock which is set in the middle of a starry sky, and the gold outline around the date window at 4 o’clock. Lastly, the dial has been made smaller to accommodate a slightly broader bezel, allowing larger diamonds to be set within it, offering exceptional sparkle and brilliance, unlike any other.

The Tonda 1950 Lune owes its slender proportions to its calibre, the PF708, a mechanism combining precision and reliability with automatic winding thanks to its platinum micro-rotor. Its elements have been carefully arranged o the main plate to ensure the various time indications are harmoniously displayed. As is standard practice at Parmigiani Fleurier, and one of its hallmarks, it boasts hand-applied finishes and bevelled bridges. Its structure is complemented by „Côtes de Genève“ decoration.
The automatic movement works at a frequency of 3 Hz and provides a power reserve of 48 hours.

Parmigiani Fleurier delivers the Tonda 1950 Lune with alligator leather straps – black for the men’s models, red and indigo for the women’s models.

Unleashed: The New Urban Warrior from Corum

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The Admiral is one of the pillars of Corum’s heritage. Unveiled in 1960, five short years after the brand’s creation, it embodies the Swiss watchmaker’s idea of maritime-inspired watchmaking. Although it has always been loyal to its artistic fibre, it has never been afraid to set sail for distant shores. This year, it gives its Admiral AC-One 45 Chronograph a facelift so as to modernise the collection while lending it an urban sportiness.

First introduced into the brand stable as the Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Chronograph in 2013, the masculine-looking watch has always been a combination of power, elegance and performance with a huge dose of inspiration from the sailing world. The new Admiral AC-One 45 Chronograph retains the essence of its sporty predecessor except for a few minor tweaks. The 60 hour marker at 12 o’clock has been replaced by the Corum key and brand logo, which have been slightly enlarged. That decision makes the dial less busy and crowded and therefore the chronograph looks sleeker and more contemporary.
For the chronograph display, Corum stuck to the same tri-compax arrangement. But the dial now features a „Grenadier fendu“ motif, which is a unique pattern. And instead of monochromatic dials as with the predecessor, The Admiral AC-One 45 Chronograph comes with black or white dials with contrasting sub-dials. On the former are white sub-dials framed by either white or rose gold rings, while the latter features black sub-dials encircled with white or rose gold rings.

Corum also reworked the case shape of the Admiral AC-One 45 Chronograph. While it follows strictly the case shape of the legendary Admiral watch, there is a marked difference – the new version features a more angular dodecagonal bezel compared to its predecessor, which boasted more rounded corners. For the new variant, Corum has also included two titanium inserts between the bezel and case so as to offer the option of playing with colours and materials – the possibility of mixing and matching is boundless and something that might be experimented with in the future.
The result lends a more powerful and athletic presence on the wrist, which also makes the watch highly suitable for the rigors of every day wear.

Powering the chronograph is the highly reliable CO 132, a self-winding movement that beats at 4 Hz and boasts 42 hours of power reserve.

While the previous versions were offered with either a rubber strap or metal bracelet, the new Admiral comes with a vulcanised rubber strap. But Corum offers the watch also with either a titanium or rose gold bracelet.

Into the Mariana Trench with Omega

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When Victor Vescovo piloted his submarine „Limiting Factor“ to the bottom of the Mariana Trench at the beginning of this year, he set a new world record with a diving depth of 10,928 metres. Three Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional watches were along for the ride: Two attached to a submersible’s robotic arm, another to a Lander.

And who could be better suited to accompany a journey into the abyss than Omega, as the brand’s watches have joined divers and adventurers in dangerous depths for decades. In 1932 the „Marine“ was born – the first diver’s watch for everyone. This watch was used by the researcher Charles W. Beebe when he dared his 14-mile dive. 
1948 the Omega Seamaster was introduced, valued by British pilots and sailors for its water-resistance and absolute reliability. The Seamaster 300 from 1957 was designed specifically for divers and underwater workers. 
The Omega „Ploprof“ was created in 1970 and has accompanied Jacques-Yves Cousteau on his dives. Only one year later followed the Seamaster 1000, one year after that the Seamaster 120 Big Blue. In 1993 Omega launched the popular Seamaster Diver 300M. 
The year 2005 then saw the beginnings of the Ultra Deep, which we present here today.

For Omega, the development of the Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional started from scratch and included some risks. A watch doesn’t have to be enormous to withstand extreme pressures. The manufacturer managed to limit the thickness of the diver’s watch to less than 28 millimetres without sacrificing its exceptional resistance. The bezel, case, caseback and crown were machined cutoffs from the hull. The Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional also comes with a viewport. The loadbearing surface of the Limiting Factor’s viewports has been engineered to minimise pressure on the inside edges of the cone, where the stresses are highest. 
Fully integrated into the titanium case, the lugs of the Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional are left open to lower the risk of exceeding material limitations at full ocean depth, as both the watch and the strap can be subjected to high traction loads. They are called „Manta“ lugs due to their distinctive look.

The maximum pressure selected was within the tolerances required in the Mariana Trench, but to be safe and meet the standards for diving watches, Omega insisted on adding a 25% safety margin, which meant that the watches had to work up to 1500 bar. And as if that wasn’t enough, the three watches were subjected to METAS rigorous testing for ten days after returning from their dive. Even after the strains in the depths of the Mariana Trench, the Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep passed all the tests and received the Master Chronometer certificate.

The expedition logo is located in the centre of the caseback, inside concentric circles evoking the Multi Beam sonar technology. Information such as model, reference number, certification and „tested to 15,000m 49212ft“ can also be found.

Omega’s choice of strap material drew on the brand’s experience in space: The combination of polyamide bracelet and Velcro closure is closely associated with the straps used in the Apollo missions.

Bell & Ross: BR 03-92 Diver Black Matte

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When one explores the ocean, when the pressure rises as one navigates its depths, when an instrument’s readability is a matter of survival, Bell & Ross‘ diving watches offer a professional, reliable and rugged solution to an environment that is as fascinating as it is dangerous.
Each Bell & Ross watch is designed to match its specific environment. For divers, Bell & Ross has developed tools that are perfectly suited for underwater exploration. They are capable of effectively assisting divers under all circumstances. Legible, functional, accurate, robust and reliable, they meet the specific demands of professionals on the job.

Bell & Ross has a long history of manufacturing watches for the marine realm. And the watch manufacturer’s marine expertise is the result of the collective experience and the knowledge of its designers, master watchmakers and professional users.
The square diving month has become a collection in its own right and now expands to include two new versions. And today we present the BR 03-92 Diver Black Matte.

The matte black ceramic of the BR 03-92 Black Matte is perfectly in tune with the aeronautical codes so crucial to the Bell & Ross philosophy. In the world of aeronautics, and especially space, ceramic is predominantly used in manufacturing parts that are subjected to very high temperatures, acid attacks, corrosion and erosion. Bell & Ross has reworked the high-tech ceramic and developed a special manufacturing process in its workshops. The result is virtually scratch-proof, pleasant to wear, soft to the touch and thermo-regulated. Almost as tough as a diamond, the ceramic is incredibly hardwearing, non-deformable, lighter than steel and hypoallergenic.
The sober design, black dial, large white numerals, shape of the hands and photoluminescent coating allow immediate reading of the time, in broad daylight as well as in darkness. The BR 03-92 Black Matte is powered by the BR-CAL.302, a reliable automatic movement.

The new BR 03-92 Diver Black Mat reaffirms the brand’s functional and utilitarian approach. With a diameter of 42 mm and a water resistance of 300 m, it is the perfect companion on the wrist of any diver.

A New Tourbillon with Perpetual Calendar by Frederique Constant

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Following the success of last year’s Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Manufacture, Frederique Constant now presents two new limited editions of the timepiece. Both versions feature a classic navy blue skeletonized dial and a case in either pink gold or stainless steel.
The occasion for these new watches is the opening of the new Manufacture building in Plan-les-ouates in the Swiss canton of Geneva.

The case of the Frederique Constant Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Manufacture consists of three parts and measures 42 mm in diameter.
The silver-coloured skeletonized dials are equipped with navy blue sub-dials and an outer ring in the same colour, giving the wearer a deep insight into the complex mechanics.
The watch’s perpetual calendar displays an annual calendar, the day of the week, the date and the month, with a minimum of corrections. The complication takes into account the number of days of each month, displays the year and does not need to be corrected even in leap years. Normally, the Perpetual Calendar would work for 400 years without a manual correction; only due to one exception of the Gregorian calendar, the complication has to be corrected on March 1, 2100.
The hour and minute functions are adjusted via the crown. At 12 o’clock the dial shows the months and leap year, at 3 o’clock the date and at 9 o’clock the days of the week. The tourbillon cage with its integrated second hand, which makes a complete turn every minute, is at 6 o’clock.

The Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Manufacture is driven by the FC-975 calibre. The automatic manufacture movement was equipped by Frederique Constant with a silicon anchor and escape wheel for greater precision. The use of silicon eliminates the problems caused by the effects of earth gravity when the movement is in a vertical position. In addition, the material is insensitive to temperature fluctuations.
Both versions come with a transparent case back through which the perlage and Geneva stripes of the movement can be admired.

Frederique Constant supplies the Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Manufacture with an alligator leather strap that resumes the blue colour used in the subsidiary dials and outer ring.

Sporty: The New Ones from Nomos Glashütte

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It’s summer, it’s time for more outdoor sports again. And because things can get a little rougher than expected fast, Nomos Glashütte has designed the new neomatics to be extra robust. However, this has no negative effect on the wonderful design – the neomatics are as slim and clear as ever.

The new line includes two Tangente Sport models and one Club Sport model. They are all extremely robust and able to meet a wide range of requirements. Nomos has designed extra strong cases and reinforced the seals. Sapphire crystals protect the watches from shock, impact and of course, water. The watches resemble small, perfect safes, but their proportions always remain extremely pleasant.
With a diameter of 42 mm, the watches are relatively large. The cases are water-resistant up to 1000 feet, which is also displayed on the 6 o’clock position on the dial. Which translates into a water resistance of 30 atm. However, this does not make the Tangente Sport and the Club Sport diver’s watches; for this, it would need an appropriate bezel.

While the Tangente Sport is available in two colour versions – white silver plated and blue black – there is only one version of the Club Sport dial: a deep dark black. By using a larger amount of Super-LumiNova, Nomos Glashütte has given the hours and hands more luminosity than ever before. At three o’clock there is a large date window and at the 6 o’clock position Nomos Glashütte has placed the running second.

All watches are driven by the DUW 6101 neomatic date calibre. This automatic in-house movement provides a power reserve of 42 hours.

Nomos Glashütte has specially redesigned the bands on which the three models come. The link works of art made of solid stainless steel are robust, durable and super-flat. The 145 Bauhaus-look steel parts are screwed together by hand. Nevertheless, the straps are easy to install, shorten or lengthen with a simple screwdriver. An additional fine adjustment by means of a spring bar helps with readjustment.

Zenith Defy El Primero Fusee Tourbillon

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Since the dawn of precision timekeeping, watchmakers have sought to produce timepieces that offer unfaltering performance through the use of constant force. Zenith reinterprets the fusee and chain constant force mechanism in a modernistic style in the new Defy Fusee Tourbillon.

The Defy Fusee Tourbillon is available in two distinct editions in Carbon and Platin. The first version features a light yet robust carbon case, crown and buckle head. The carbon fibre treatment even extends to the open dial, with the central skeletal element and surrounding flange ring giving off the unique simmer of this material. The second version of the Defy Fusee Tourbillon is crafted in platinum. The exposed movement provides a vibrant, voluminous view, where the mix of materials and tones add visual depth, from the anthracite base of the movement to the blued chain and tourbillon cage topped with a set of geometrical bridges in two tones.

The spoke design of the bridges is amplified by their bicolor finish, where the top satin-finished surface is given a black treatment, while its polished sides are a lighter grey rhodium tone. The layout of the bridges offers a balance of the various functions and complications. On the top half of the movement, one can admire the uniquely conceived fusee and chain constant force mechanism. On the opposite end at 6 o’clock, a tourbillon cage with an entirely new construction featuring an off-centered balance wheel makes a full rotation every 60 seconds. Like the chain, the tourbillon cage comes in a striking blue color. Positioned at the edge of the dial between 4 and 5 o’clock, a red-tipped hand indicates the power reserve, a handy feature when manually winding the Defy Fusee Tourbillon with its 50-hour power reserve.

The Defy El Primero Fusee Tourbillon is housing the new El Primero 4805 SK calibre, a manual-winding movement that follows the Defy code of avant-garde movement architecture with an open three-dimensional impact. By combining the fusee and chain mechanism with a tourbillon regulating organ, Zenith places precision at the forefront of its unique take on haute horlogerie.

The Defy Fusee Tourbillon in carbon is limited to 50 pieces, the second version in platin will be available only 10 times.

The new Alpina Seastrong Diver 300

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Alpina has relaunched its Seastrong Diver 300, and, with its updated design, the watch remains true to the outstanding characteristics of the previous models. The new Seastrong Diver 300 is clearly inspired by the watch manufacturer’s legacy and is the perfect successor to the Alpina timepieces of the past centuries – especially the Seastrong „10“ from the 1960s. Retro is still a hot trend in the watch industry as well as with watch enthusiasts; a trend here to stay, it seems.

An oversized case with striking curves, luminous indexes and an unidirectional rotating bezel; these are the outstanding features of the new Seastrong Diver 300. In addition, Alpina has equipped this diver’s watch with a new case with a diameter of 44 mm. It is made of either titanium or bronze and bears a PVD coating. The 60-minute-bezehl comes in grey, navy blue or black, and, as is common with diver’s watches, is uni-directional. All indexes on the bezel are coated with lume so that they are perfectly readable under water.
The dials of the new Seastrong Diver 300 are available in dark brown, grey or blue. Of course, each and every one of them is contrasting beautifully with the large, luminous indices and hands, which results in an exceptionally good legibility. The large triangle at twelve o’clock is a reference to the legendary Alpina logo. At three o’clock you’ll find a small date window, which Alpina has matched to the colours of the various dials, so it blends in perfectly.
Both the case back and the crown are screwed down. The Seastrong Diver therefore has a water resistance of 30 atm – or 300 metres.
The diver’s watch is powered by the AL-525, an automatic calibre. It operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and provides a power reserve of at least 38 hours. The movement can be seen through the transparent case back.

Alpina supplies the Seastrong Diver 300 with a vintage leather strap. Since leather straps are not suitable for prolonged contact with water, a rubber strap is also included, making the watch a perfect companion for under water adventures.

A new Seiko with Urushi Dial

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Seiko recently introduced a new, extremely slim design in its Elegance-Collection. The combination of a new case and a hand-wound calibre with a small second and Urushi lacquer expresses the unique Japanese aesthetic of Grand Seiko.

The new Urushi creation, available in two versions, combines two outstanding Japanese crafts. Thanks to the watchmaker’s skills, every detail reflects Grand Seiko’s understated design aesthetics.
The dial and sapphire crystal are so slightly curved to give the watches a classic look. The minute hand as well as the hand of the power reserve are slightly curved to follow the contours of the dial.
The Urushi dials are made by a master craftsman. He also applies the hour markings and the letters „GS“ with the traditional Maki-e technique to the dials of the watches. By applying the lacquer in layers, the markings are given a three-dimensional profile and a decentralised presence on the dial. A gold or platinum powder is then applied and the surface polished. This process gives the Maki-e its discreetly shimmering appearance.
With the dials at the centre, the subsidiary dials for the small seconds at 9 o’clock and the power-reserve indicator at 3 o’clock are subtle and understated.

The case is polished with a special Zaratsu technique that underlines the beauty of the curved surfaces. It has a diameter of 39 mm and is water-resistant up to 3 bar.
Inside works the 9S63 calibre, which is a significant addition to the ever-growing number of Grand Seiko movements. Eight years have passed since Grand Seiko unveiled its last mechanical hand-wound calibre, but we’d say it was worth the wait.
The 9S63 operates at a frequency of 4 Hz, offers a power reserve of 72 hours and is highly accurate with a deviation of +5 to -3 seconds.

The new Design Series consists of three limited editions. Seiko has combined the two Urushi versions with a red gold case and limited each to 150 pieces. The third model has a stainless steel case and a blue dial and will come in a edition of 1.500 pieces. In July, a version with a gold case will expand the collection.
All models are complemented by a crocodile leather strap.

André Belfort Sirène: Feminine Elegance in Ceramic

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André Belfort is known for making stunning wristwatches powered solely and exclusively by automatic movements – not only in the men’s watches, but in those for women as well. This is a rare feat, and something all watch enthusiasts (especially the female ones) would love to see more of. So today, we are introducing the André Belfort Sirène, a beautiful ceramic wristwatch, made for both sexes.

The André Belfort Sirène is a big and beautiful ceramic wristwatch, which comes in two basic versions – in white or black ceramic. The case measures 41 mm in diameter, which is slightly on the bigger side regarding unisex watches. But since big watches are still totally en vogue, it’s a size, most women should be comfortable with. The case is water resistant up to 5 atm which means, that the Sirène will play well in all every day scenarios. But since the ceramic case comes with a stainless steel case, it packs quite a punch and is maybe not as light as one might expect, so be prepared.

The dial combines a variety of subdials with big, polished, applied Roman numerals. Hours, minutes and seconds are displayed by central hands, equipped with lume. At 3 o’clock you’ll find the subdial of the month, at 9 o’clock the subdial for the day of the week. Now, the subdial at 6 o’clock is slightly larger and comes not only with a day/night display via a beautiful sun and moon disc but with a 24-hour-display. At the 4.30 position, André Belfort has wedged a small date window between the numerals.
The colors on the dial mirror the colors used on the bezel, crown and pushers – stainless steel, gold or pink gold, which creates an overall handsome and consistent look. The dial is protected by a scratch resistant sapphire crystal and framed by a beautiful bezel, fitted with a ceramic inlay.

Like mentioned above, the André Belfort Sirène is powered by an automatic movement, the calibre AB-7110. It provides a power-reserve of approximately 38 hours.

The ceramic case of the André Belfort Sirène is completed by a ceramic bracelet which means, that this watch is especially easy to clean and maintain. Ceramic watches tend to feel good – and look good – for a very long time.