2011

Longines, Official Timekeeper Of Kentucky Derby, Gifts Watches To Race Winners

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Sports

Longines, now the official timekeeper of the Kentucky Derby and its home track Churchill Downs, recently was able to award the winners of the 2011 Kentucky Derby with a Longines Column-Wheel Chronograph watch. Longines recorded a winning time of 2.04 minutes as the running time for "Animal Kingdom" the winning horse. The Swiss brand rewarded the horse owner Barry Irwin, jockey Johnny Velazquez, and trainer Graham Motion each with the classically inspired timepiece. The link above will take you to a previous article that discusses the piece further along with Longines' involvement with them famous horse race. Participation with the well-known high-society event is important to the historic brand that is fighting for a larger share of the US high-end watch market. It is also part of an overall trend of watch brands taking more of a key role in popular US cultural events.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Longines Kentucky Derby 2011

Tags: 2011, kentucky derby, longines, timekeeper, watch, winner

Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver Watch New Colors For 2011

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

This is possibly one of the best values in a women's jewelry watch. For about $15,000 you get a gold watch with diamonds, a nice mother-of-pearl dial, and a Swiss mechanical movement. It helps that it is pretty fun looking as well. For 2011 Ulysse Nardin adds a few new colors to their Lady Diver watch collection. Colorful watches are a big deal this year as well. Seen here are purple, red, and blue version of the watch.

For me the color trend is interesting. It used to be that a high-end item needed to look really serious. As though to spend a lot of money you needed feel some elated sense of purpose. At some point people got a lot less scared when it came to charging a lot for an item and realized that people with money will pay for nice looking fun things. It doesn't matter than you can get a pink watch for $50 or $50,000 - it is all about how the buyer feels when they get it and wear it. For that reason I think it is OK to have a baby blue luxury watch.

The Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver watch is 40mm wide (large for a lady's wrist). Inside the watch is a UN-810 automatic movement. The dial has a wave texture on it, and diamond hour markers. While the dial is actually a bit simple, it is legible and does help keep attention on the design of the case. There are more diamonds on the bezel and still more on the middle lug section. If these colors are too much for your tastes but you still like the Lady Diver, there are more simple toned white or black version - and those with different dials. Look for the 2011 Lady Diver blue, red, or purple watches soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the wrist watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver Watch New Colors

Tags: 2011, colors, lady diver, ulysse nardin, watch, watches

Tudor Heritage Advisor Watch

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Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

For 2011 there was not much new in the Tudor watch department. The most noteworthy piece was the Heritage Advisor watch. In a nutshell it is a retro-styled timepiece with a mechanical alarm complication module over a base ETA automatic movement. That alone is fine, but the design and personality of this watch leave much more to be desired from the baby-Rolex brand.

Tudor isn't a brand available in the US. There is a good reason for that. It would harm Rolex's market position as they are less-expensive, but made in the same place. Unlike Rolex pieces, Tudor pieces don't use in-house made movements. Usually they offer their own, more entry-level versions of Rolex favorites, but Tudor has been trying to move away from that model as of late.

Tags: 2011, advisor, heritage, Tudors, watches

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Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon Technique Platinum Watch Hands-On

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Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Probably the last of the lovely Double Tourbillon Technique watches from Greubel Forsey, here is the 2011 version done in platinum, with some variations on the dial. The tones are all lighter now and the watch is even heavier in platinum. The case is 47.50mm wide so that means a lot of platinum. This is super luxury watch is limited in production and will carry a half million dollar plus price tag.

I first discussed the Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon Technique watch here (where I go into more technical detail about the in-house made GF02s manually would movement). In short, it has the time, power reserve indicator, subsidiary seconds, and double tourbillon escapement. All in a compelling and airy dial that is a view into the hand-made and decorated mechanism. For the platinum model much of the movement is done in a nickel-palladium finish. There are polished, brushed, and frosted areas.

The watch is really a beautiful thing that I attempted to capture in the images. Unlike the rose gold version for example, Greubel Forsey really wanted to lighten up the open-movement of the watch to show off their brilliant level of finishing and polishing. They have done three versions of the Double Tourbillon Technique now, and this might be the last one. You really can't go up higher than platinum. Perhaps they will do a "heritage" version in a few years - as they have done with other models. Having said that, if this is the last watch you were to ever buy, you'd realize you've hit close to the top.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon Technique Platinum Watch

Tags: 2011, double tourbillon, greubel forsey, platinum, technique, watch, watches

Seiko Credor Spring Drive Minute Repeater Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Seiko's most compelling new watch offering for 2011 was easily their new Credor Spring Drive minute repeater. Credor is a special high-end subbrand from Seiko that is more or less only available in Japan. It contains Seiko's high-accuracy Spring Drive movement that is a pleasing hybrid of mechanical beauty and accurate quartz crystal regulation. The watch follows up the Credor Sonnerie (also a form of chiming watch) from a few years ago.

Tags: 2011, credor, minute repeater, review, seiko, spring drive, watch

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Patek Philippe Triple Complication Ref. 5208 Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Patek Philippe's most ambitious new item for 2011 is clearly the Reference 5208 Grand Complication watch. Building on a few platforms, they include a highly desirable trio of complication groups together in the Ref. 5208 making it a very choice piece this year. In platinum, the case is a generous 44mm wide - it is possible that gold versions will come in the years to come.

The dial design feels very contemporary by Patek Philippe standards. While sophisticated, in true Patek Philippe fashion they are able to include a wealth of information on the face without the dial looking cluttered or intimidating. The most cleverly integrated feature is the perpetual calendar which uses a link of window on the top of the dial to indicate the day, date, and month. Small windows in the chronograph subdials indicate the leap year as well as a day/night indicator. A moon phase indicator is built into the subsidiary seconds dial. An important element of the calendar system is that all the indicators instantly jump when they change as opposed to change slowly.

Gallery: Patek Philippe Grand Complication Ref. 5208 Watch

Tags: 2011, 5208, patek philippe, platinum, review, triple complication, watch, watches

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Audemars Piguet Millenary Tour Auto 2011 Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Audemars Piguet drastically changed the look and feel of its Millenary watch collection for 2011, but one that hearkens to the now classic Millenary Chronograph is this limited edition AP Millenary Tour Auto 2011. Audemars Piguet has been a Tour Auto sponsor for a while now, and this model is specifically made for the 2011 event. The Tour Auto is a car race (well, more like a driving tour) where participants enter with classic sports cars. The even takes place all one side roads in France.

Audemars Piguet took the base Millenary Chronograph and modeled it a bit after classic European sports cars. This includes the exposed stripe of perlage polished metal on the dial, quilt-stitched leather strap, and of course the sporty red against the cream and silver tones of the dial. The 47mm wide case is 42mm high and in steel. Inside the watch is an in-house made AP caliber 2385 automatic. The fun dial is a bit of an optical illusion as the hands and such are actually centered - though they appear to be aligned to the right a bit. Audemars Pigeut will produce 150 of these limited edition Millenary Tour Auto 2011 watches. Looks good to me.

Ariel Adams publishes the wrist watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 2011, audemars piguet, millenary, tour auto, watch

RSW Outland Round Watch For 2011

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

For 2011 RSW gives the Outland watch range a round case - well sort of. The case itself is round, but the large, broad lug structure remains similar to that on the square dialed version. I'll have to wait until I get one on the wrist for a final assessment, but I think the design is neat, especially the pictured version that is a chronograph version of the Outland 3H. "3H" stood for three hands, so is the chronograph going to be called the 5H? Who knows. It might just be the Outland Chronograph. There is also a round cased version of the original RSW Outland watch that tells the time via rotating discs versus hands.

The case is steel and can be had PVD coated black. You can also get a gem-set version (though I have no idea why you'd want to with a design like this). I love the chronograph with its digital style numerals and bold design. The disc based version might just be weirder than the original, and fans of the design might just love that.

Ariel Adams publishes the wrist watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: RSW Outland Round Watch For 2011

Tags: 2011, outland, round, RSW, watch, watches

Itay Noy X-Ray Collection Watches

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

For 2011 boutique Israeli watch brand Itay Noy will debut a few models including the X-Ray collection. The dials of the watch simulate the look of an X-Ray, as though you are seeing the movement below. Transparent and skeletonized dials are very popular, and Itay Noy plays with this concept in a sort of graphic design manner. What is cool is that the graphics on the dial actually do represent what is under the dial on the movement. Funny enough, also new from Itay Noy for 2011 is another collection of watches that do actually have skeletonized dials.

Aside from the "x-ray" dial, you also have a subsidiary seconds hand and a brief view of part of the movement. Inside the watch is a Swiss manually wound mechanical movement. The case of the watch is in steel (not sure of the size yet), and has some interesting flaring around the edges where the screws hold it together. Check out the nicely textured leather strap. Certainly a solid collection from the often clever creative Israeli watch brand.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 2011, itay noy, watch, x-ray

Van Cleef & Arpels Cadrans Extraordinaires Animal Watches For 2011

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Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Van Cleef & Arpels Cadrans Extraordinaires Animal Watches For 2011

I am usually excited to see what pretty new dial creations Van Cleef & Arpels has in store for me when I visit with them. They have an ongoing collection they call the "Cadrans Extraordinaires" which refer to the dials being... extraordinary. Last year a major theme of the dials was Butterflies (seen here). This year, for the lady's models, animals are still in. The focus is on the Arctic and the Africa. The dials are really incredible works of art. Each represents hand-engraved 18k white gold figurines and scenery skillfully done using precious materials and complex processes. The watches are 38mm wide in 18k white gold cases with diamond decoration throughout.

This will be a visual journey through the collection. Don't forget that the dials take a lot of time to complete. Some of the animal characters look better than others, but the backgrounds are universally stunning. There is an amazing amount of color and depth to them, especially because they rely on a lot of enameling and mother-of-pearl. It is hard not to be impressed when seeing them.

Tags: 2011, animals, cadrans, dials, sihh, van cleef arpels, watch

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Ralph Lauren Sporting Chronograph Guilloche Steel Watch

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Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Ralph Lauren Sporting Chronograph Guilloche Steel Watch

This new for 2011 Ralph Lauren watch is pretty nice, and is a sort of hybrid model between the Classic Slim and the Sporting Chronograph. Ralph Lauren literally took the case decor and dial look of the Classic Slim, and put in the Jaeger-LeCoultre automatic chronograph movement from the Sporting Chronograph watch models. From a naming perspecting they could have chosen either of the influencing models, but they chose the Sporting. I guess it could have been called the "Classic Chronograph." Too generic? Maybe.

Tags: 2011, chronograph, engraved, guilloche, Ralph Lauren, sporting, watch

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Christian Bale Wears Harry Winston Watch At Academy Awards

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Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Chistrian Bale Wears Harry Winston Watch At Academy Awards

Actor Christian Bale received the award for Best Supporting Actor at the 2011 Oscars for his role in "The Fighter." His winning speech was of the more lively you could say - with rambling a aplenty. I am happy the Academy decided to let speeches go long this year as the "meat" of the show is packed in this often amusing/embarrassing unscripted content. Bale was himself, proving to audiences that his real personality is far less composed and reserved than his on-screen persona might suggest (though perhaps his famous rant was more telling of that). Though I was barely listening given that I was staring at his unshaven maw as though the closest thing to a shaving razor had was a lawn mower. What was up with facial hair as the Oscars this year?

What I also barely noticed was the Harry Winston Ocean Dual Time watch on his wrist. In an Ocean style case, the watch has two dials for the time, a small subsidiary seconds dial, a day/night indicator, a big date indicator, and a moon phase indicator. Interesting that this was Bale's choice, I like seeing men's Harry Winston watches getting more celeb wrist time. It would have been awesome to see him wearing one of their Opus collection timepieces.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 2011, academy awards 2011, Christian Bale, ocean, oscars, oscars 2011, watch, watchspotting, wears, what

Louis Vuitton Voyagez Tambour Automatic Chronograph Tachometer Watch

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Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Louis Vuitton Voyagez Tambour Automatic Chronograph Tachometer Watch

Another new for 2011 Louis Vuitton watch is this new Voyagez Tambour Automatic Chronograph watch with a tachymeter (tachometer). Why they emphasize this latter function I don't know. Racing-themed watches have been featured them on bezels and flange rings for a long time, with next to no people actually using them. However, those extra numerals around the dial tend to always look cool!

Set in a 44mm wide Tambour style case, the Voyagez is in steel with a gray and red dial with black and white trim. This aggressive looks goes really well with the carbon fiber strap. Inside the watch is a Dubois-Depraz made LV172 automatic chronograph movement. The dial design uses three middle aligned subdials for the 30 minute chronograph and subsidiary seconds. This might be one of the most interesting looking chronograph layouts in a watch this year. I look forward to checking it out upon its debut in March. Look for this new Tambour Voyagez Chrono in June 11 at a price of 4,800 euros.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 2011, automatic, louis vuitton, tachometer, tambour, voyagez, watch

Hamilton Pan Europ Automatic Chronograph Watch

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Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Hamilton Pan Europ Automatic Chronograph Watch

This retro-kick is getting sort of monotonous. It is like designers are literally flipping through old catalogs trying to figure out what they want to build (again). They then design it with modern dimensions in mind using modern materials, and then plop in a modern Swiss ETA automatic movement. Nostalgia and modern fashion sells it, and everyone celebrates a job well done, with money that would have otherwise went to R&D.

There is nothing wrong or unwholesome looking about this new "Pan Europ" watch that Hamilton will release this year. It looks neat, just as neat as a legion of other watches with the same look did when they came out about 40 years ago. There is literally no new design twist on the genre that I can find Hamilton adding - and that might be considered a good thing. Looking like 70s dive/sport/race watches, the Pan Europe is in a longer tonneau style steel case with a round dial and rotating bezel. The steel case is 45mm wide, with a metallic blue bezel and dial. The bi-compax chronograph looks nice, and the watch has 100 meters of water resistance and a sapphire crystal.

According to Hamilton the watch uses an "AutoChrono Calibre H31" movement. Though I am pretty sure this is just a modified Valjoux 77550 or newer Valgranges movement. The strap is porthole punched brown leather with a crocodile pattern on it. If you really wanted a watch of this style, for a decent price with today's manufacuting in mind, the Hamilton Pan Europ might be just what you are looking for. It will be commercially available in September of 2011, with a price of $1,900.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 2011, chronograph, Hamilton, Pan Europ, retro, watch

Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 Watch In Bronze

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 Watch In Bronze

Seeing the new Panerai watches for 2011 might have you doing a double take. The reason being that you are looking to see exactly what is new. Panerai's new releases are extremely in line with the current collection in terms of looks and features - making it hard to for all but dedicated experts to see what is new. While not a new watch in the grands scheme of things, the most talked about new Panerai is the PAM00382, a Luminor Submersible model in a bronze case.

The 47mm wide watch contains Panerai's newer in-house made P.9000 automatic movmeent that has a 3 day power reserve. The full name of the watch is the quite long, "Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic Bronzo." That little "bronzo" part always makes chuckle. Why did Panerai use bronze for the case? Not really sure. The brand's vintage style pieces do very well, and most any watch does in bronze looks vintage. Reason enough? Bronze is a strong metal that is resistant to corrosion, but does develop a patina over time that changes the look of the metal a bit. It also doesn't polish very evenly, giving it an antique or rough feel to it. Those who love an evenly polished steel case will not necessarily appreciate this look. Panerai collector's will likely love it, and the look of bronze does match the Sub's look nicely. The diving watch has a rotating diver's bezel and is water resistant to 300 meters.

Attached to the watch is a "aged" leather strap, but Panerai also gives you a rubber strap. The PAM00382 will be part of a limited edition. Panerai will make just 1000 pieces of this model and will likely debut additional bronze watches in the near future is this diver is a sucess.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 2011, bronze, bronzo, luminor submersible, Panerai, watch

2011

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