II

Louis Vuitton Tambour Diving Watch II

I got fed up waiting for more information on this watch. Oh well, you can't blame an industry notorious for bad communication to communicate badly. The good news is that I was really excited to learn about Louis Vuitton's follow up piece to their original Tambour Diver (Diving). They simply call the watch the Tambour Diving II. It will again come in men's and women's models, with two dial styles.

The Tambour Diving II uses the case size case and movement as the original, but with a more sport, less "luxo-diver" look. While The original Louis Vuitton Tambour Diving watch played with colors like brown and complimented the watch with elements such as mother-of-pearl - the Diving II has a more sober look meant to emphasize activities like boat racing. The subsidiary seconds dial has turned in to a square, and looks more like a pennant flag. Hands have been skeletonized (with a different color for the hour and minute hand), while hour markers are mostly round and done with lots of lume.

For men, the case will be 44mm wide and the women's model will be 39.5mm wide. Aside from the steel models, an 18k red gold model will also be available for men. Like any good diver, the case will be water resistant to 300 meters. Inside the watch will be an ETA 2895 automatic movement. The dial colors will be either the pictured black or a metallic blue. My only problem with it is that the hands are too short. Overall a beautiful watch that is not so much a replacement for the original Tambour Diver as it is a more simple looking supplement.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com

Tags: 2, diver, diving, II, louis vuitton, tambour, watch

Jacob & Co. Epic II Watch Re-launch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Jacob & Co will relaunch itself in 2011. In addition to new pieces, the brand will re-release some existing models, but with perhaps some new colors. The hope of course is that people unfamiliar with their designs preciously will notice the many faces the brand has. I will be honest that until recently I only thought of the brand as having mostly multicolored watch dials with geometric shapes and 5 time zones. Now with Yvan Arpa leading the direction of product and design, Jacob & Co. is set to break new ground. But pieces like the Epic II show that Yvan Arpa has some nice existing designs to work with.

Here he does the watch in black and red (also available in yellow). The interesting watch looks like something he would design, being in PVD black steel and 47.5mm wide. Though it did predate Arpa. It has a base Swiss ETA 2894-2 automatic chronograph movement. The subdial hands incorporate the Jacob & Co. character nicely with the different shape. The dial itself is a thick carbon fiber. While the hands don't really match the watch design super well, they are very easy to see. Overall, the Epic II is a pretty neat watch and will fit the more chic, forward-design thinking personality that Arpa will give the brand when the world sees its new face in 2011.

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

Tags: 2011, epic, II, jacob co, red, watch

Ball Engineer II Arabic COSC II Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Ball has been segmenting their collection in two main directions. Rugged sports watches, and attractive, though sensible men's watches with a more classy twist. I would say that this Ball Engineer II Arabic COSC II falls in the latter category. Though I have no idea why "II" needs to be in the name twice. While the Engineer collection is usually part of their sporty line, this one feels a bit more dressy. The polished bezel and center link on the bracelet help with that look.

Available in a textured white or black dial, the faces have horizontal line patterns and a combo of Arabic and baton hour markers. Each is filled with tritium gas tubes for exceptional darkness viewing. The Dauphine hands also have tritium hour markers in them. Sized at 40mm wide, the case is sensible in size. Inside the watch is a Swiss ETA 2836 automatic movement with a day and date complication. The two indicators are separated - so the day of the week indicator is at 3 o'clock, while the date is moved to 4:30. As the name of the watch implies, the movement has been COSC Chronometer certified. A good looking watch overall, this timepiece is a highly functional watch for the crowd that doesn't always want to wear a sporty looking timepiece (though they are still interested in something masculine looking). Look for this new watch out from Ball soon.

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

Tags: arabic, ball, cosc, engineer, II, watch

Ball Engineer Master II Diver World Time Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Ball Engineer Master II Diver World Time Watch

Some tout it as the poor man's Girard-Perregaux ww.tc watch, but there is nothing "poor" about Ball's new Engineer Master II Diver World Time watch. While it technically is placed in their diver's watch collection and has the type of durability you'd expect from such a pieces, this is a great watch for travelers. In addition to the ring style GMT indicator, you can get the time of anywhere in the world at a glance (as well as whether it is day or night there). There is also an internal rotating bezel that is of course necessary on a diver's watch.

Set in a 45mm wide Engineer Master II Diver steel case, the watch has a sapphire crystal and is water resistant to 300 meters. Inside the watch is a specially modified Swiss ETA 2836 automatic movement with the GMT ring complication in it. Ball calls it their caliber 965 The watch also has the day of the week and the date indicators. Like all Ball watches, the Engineer Master II Diver World Time watch is fitted with a number of tritium gas tubes in the hands and hour markers for effortless (no light charge) night viewing. Ball watches have the most powerful tritium gas tubes available in watches in the US. There are also 55 tubes in the watch.

The timepiece was inspired by Ball brand ambassador Guillaume Nery, the accomplished freediver. The watch caseback has an engraving meant to honor him. Ball will offer the Engineer Master II Diver World Time on a steel or rubber strap. Price should be a few thousand dollars, for this very cool, and highly useful timepiece.

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

Tags: 2010, Ball, Diver, divers watch, Engineer Master, II, watch, world time