PerpetualCalendar

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Chrono Platinum Watch

With a name like Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Chrono Platinum watch, what could I possibly add to a discussion about this timepiece? I mean it pretty much sums it up in a four breath title suitable for the king of a no longer existing nation.The 43mm wide watch in all platinum is one of the major highlights of Vacheron Constantin's 2010 watch collection - an offering marked by stark traditionalism and brand DNA. I like this watch because of the straight forward layout of the information as well as the nicely contrasting colors on the dial. Together the looks is very attractive and even displays a trendy gray demeanor throughout the watch. It isn't hard to realize the watch isn't for you, but you can't deny that this is one splendid timepiece.

The movement is all hand-done - displayed through the watch's sapphire caseback window. The In-house made Vacheron Constantin Calibre 1141QP movement features a perpetual calendar (displaying the day, date, month, and leap year), moon phase indicator, 30 minute column wheel chronograph, and the time with a subsidiary seconds dial. I would have liked the movement to be an automatic, but the view you get of the movement in very impressive.

You can tell in the image I snapped that the platinum polish is impressive. Careful though, as platinum begins to pick up hairline scratches easily. Also, platinum is heavy, so you'll need to not be a wimp to wear one of these. I like the character of the moon phase face. It is hard to see here, but check out the Vacheron Constantin marketing image of the watch below to see the Bell Epoque style "emo" moon face. One side of the moon disc has a moon that is frowning, with the other side being a moon that is smiling, I believe. Not sure about price, but I wouldn't believe a nickle under $100,000.

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

Gallery: Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle Perpetual Calendar Chrono Platinum Watch

Tags: 2010, chronograph, Patrimony, perpetual calendar, PerpetualCalendar, platinum, SIHH, Vacheron Constantin, VacheronConstantin, watch

Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Perpetual Calendar Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Here it is, the world's thinnest perpetual calendar watch (only needs to be adjusted once each four years). It is only 9.15mm thick and feels even thinner. the 18k pink gold case is 41mm wide making the Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Perpetual Calendar watch an impressive and complex watch. The dial comes in two colors, either silvered or brown. The automatic mechanical in-house AP Calibre 2120/2802 movement provides the time (without displayed seconds), moon phase, date, leap year indicator, month, and day of the week. All logically laid out in traditional perpetual calendar fashion. I love the brown dial as it melds with the gold case nicely and the brown alligator strap.

Finishing on the case is superb and it is very comfortable to wear. From the sides you see a brushed finish, while the bezel and lugs are polished. Reading the watch is a breeze and it makes for a comfortable daily wear. Finding an automatic perpetual calendar that is easy to read isn't always easy, and here you can get one that is very thin as well. Turn the watch over and you get to see an intensely engraved and skeletonized automatic rotor with the "AP" initials applied to it, through the sapphire caseback window. For classic style lovers who want a timepiece from a good pedigree, this is a good option. Price for both dial colors is $58,700.

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

Gallery: Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Perpetual Calendar watch

Tags: 2010, Audemars Piguet, AudemarsPiguet, gold, jules, perpetual calendar, PerpetualCalendar, sihh, watch

Daniel Roth Athys Moon 2134 Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Daniel Roth's most marketable claim to fame for this new Athys Moon 2134 watch is that it will not require any moon phase calendar adjustment for 125 years. That is of course unless you forget the wind the manually-wound movement and then you are out of luck for that whole impressive 125 year number. Though I have a feeling if you are a proud owner of this watch you'll be very happy to wear it (and wind it) often.

What makes the moon phase function in this watch different than those in other moon phase calendar movement based watches? It has to do with the moon phase complication. Instead of the normal gearing that requires a moonphase to be adjusted every few years, that in the Daniel Roth Calibre 2300 (DR2300) movement has a much larger gear with more teeth. This allows for the movement of the moon through its phases to be much more precise (combined with other mechanisms and gears of course) and thus not require adjustment for such a long period of time. Truly the type of issue only your heirs, or heirs' heirs need concern themselves with.

The Athys Moon 2134 is available in 18k red or white gold in the traditional Daniel Roth watch case shape that you either love or don't. but don't knock it until you get one on your wrist. The moon phase disc is rendered with a more realistic image of the moon's surface while the the rest of the watch dial has the time, a subsidiary seconds dial, and the date. A really good looking and classic watch with a unique take on engineering the moon phase, one of the most desirable and popular complications in the horological enthusiast community.

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

Tags: 2134, 2300, athys moon, AthysMoon, daniel roth, DanielRoth, moon phase, MoonPhase, perpetual calendar, PerpetualCalendar, watch

Thomas Prescher Perpetual Calendar QP1 Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

There are a few "firsts" for this watch. Included in them is the layout for a perpetual calendar watch, as well as the instant changing of all the indicators. None of that really matters to me, instead I am taken by the unique, but classic good looks in this new watch by the very talented Mr. Thomas Prescher. A independent watch maker in Switzerland, Prescher humbly creates some of the most complex timepieces in the world. He is further the inventor of the "flying triple axis tourbillon" with really can't be fully appreciated until you see it.

This new watch, the Perpetual Calendar QP1 presents the relatively data intensive feat of a perpetual calendar in a simple and appealing manner. Looking at the gold hands from the smallest, the first hand indicates the day of the week (ex. Sunday = 1), the next hand displays the date, and the hand after that displays the month using the hour indexes as indicators for the 12 months. Lastly you have the leap year indicator in digital format at 6 o'clock. All that information, and still the dial looks so clean.

Thomas Prescher watches are made to order - meaning that customizations are welcome. Basic options include a 43mm or 39mm wide case in either 18k gold or 950 platinum. The hands, dial, and alligator straps are all customizable by the buyer. These watches represent ultra luxury and are priced as such. Movements are all in-house made, and the finish of the watches is what you would expect from a watch costing over $200,000 plus, in most cases.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com

Gallery: Thomas Prescher QP1 watch

Tags: perpetual calendar, PerpetualCalendar, qp1, thomas prescher, ThomasPrescher, timepiece, watch

IWC Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

This IWC presents a first (in my knowledge) complication for watches. This is the first perpetual calendar with a "big" date and month display. I really like how this looks on the face, having the two large display windows polarized horizontally on the dial. While it is easier for me to read the month as a three letter abbreviation, this style will be more convenient when you write out the date in the European style: "25/8/09," as for us Americans, we will have to switch around the numbers in our head. While this Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar watch does not display the day of the week, if you aren't aware of that, you've got other problems. Instead, there is a tastefully small leap year indicator at 6 o'clock, and a full 12 hour chronograph to satisfy you. The chronograph combines both the hours and minute counter into one dial (with two hands) in the 12 o'clock position. This is one of the most simple looking, complex watches out there.

The watch comes in a limited edition of 500 with pieces in 18k rose gold or platinum. The newer Da Vinci style tonneau case measures 44mm wide by 16mm tall. This watch has an automatic in-house IWC caliber 89800 movement that has 474 parts (very complex) and a massive power reserve of 68 hours. Knowing this will help you justify the price of this beautiful IWC Da Vinci watch, which is likely to be $40,000 plus.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: Chronograph, Da Vinci, DaVinci, IWC, Perpetual Calendar, PerpetualCalendar, sihh 2009, Sihh2009, timepiece, watch

Audemars Piguet Tradition Perpetual Calendar Minute Repeater Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Each year's new releases from Audemars Piguet reveal how dynamic the watch maker is. From ultra modern, to ultra subdued, there is no limit to how varied their timepieces can be. In stark contrast to some of the more bold offerings this year, the Audemars Piguet Tradition line - with its attractive 39.5mm wide cushion case - adds a new level of ' complication smoothness' to the classically-styled line.

Greatest in this year's Audemars Piguet Tradition line is this Perpetual Calendar with Minute Repeater watch that is actually a very complex timepiece given the sheer number complications inside. The hand-wound Calibre AP 2855 movement powers the perpetual calendar with a moonphase. There is also the lever on the left side of the case for the gongs of the minute repeater. Pull it down, then active it, and you get a little harmony of gongs and bells that tell you the time if read (listened to) properly.

The case is done in either 18k white gold or platinum, with a variety of finishes on the case. The sides are polished, while the bezel is brushed and the dial is satin finished. The cathedral style hands and hour markers are in rose gold. One of the best features is the font style of the number markers which looks classic at first, but has a unique modern flair if you observe them carefully. Nice to know Audemars Piguet is not exclusively about the Royal Oak line, nice work AP.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 26052BC.00.D092CR.01, ap 2855, Ap2855, audemars piguet, AudemarsPiguet, minute repeater, MinuteRepeater, perpetual calendar, PerpetualCalendar, timepiece, tradition, watch

Tiffany & Co. Mark Perpetual Calendar TriRetrograde Chronograph Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Here is a limited edition (16 pieces only) watch from Tiffany & Co. that shows how well their partnership with the Swatch Group is working out (where they now get movements). The Mark Perpetual Calendar TriRetrograde Chronograph watch is an advancement on the previous Mark T-57 TriRetrograde Chronograph. This new model has a movement that not only maintains the retrograde chronograph complication, but also adds a perpetual calendar complete with a moon phase indicator in the mix. Despite the many pieces of information displayed on the dial, Tiffany & Co. designers keep the watch face looking attractive.

The Tiffany & Co. Mark line has always been about modern classics, and this new model is no different. While the Mark T-57 line has been all about sport, the main Mark line is a sober approach at handsome looks. The case is available in 18k yellow or rose gold, with well done squared pushers. The partially guilloche engraved dial helps to frame the Roman numerals around the face, while aperture window placement on the dial is laid out according to the movement specifications below. This design was never intended to be a symmetrical looking watch, and rather, it excels at appearing like a gentleman's tool valuing function and luxury above anything else. Hopefully Tiffany will eventually release more than 16 of these watches.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: mark, mark triretrograde, MarkTriretrograde, perpetual calendar, PerpetualCalendar, tiffany, tiffany and co, tiffany co, TiffanyAndCo, TiffanyCo

Chronoswiss Perpetual Calendar CH 1720 Watch Line

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

With a refreshing return to simplicity among perpetual calendar watches, Chronoswiss releases a new addition to the luxury calendar watch family with the Perpetual Calendar line. The CH 1720 -1723 are finely shaped 40mm watches in styled with traditional pocket watches in mind. If it were not for the attached straight lugs and smaller size, you'd never know this was anything but a beautiful classic pocket watch. For this new traditional timepiece, Chronoswiss uses a base in-house made caliber C. 127 movement with a Dubois-Dépraz sourced 5800 C calendar module.

The many functions of a perpetual calendar complication are neatly laid out on the dial using three subsidiary dials and one aperture window that features the moonphase. Notice that the top subdial used to display the month is set out to display the months for a total of four years. The reason for this is to indicate if the current year is a leap year which adds a day to February. A perpetual calendar is defined as one that is able to compensate for leap years and thus only rarely needs adjusting (that is unless you forget to wind it).

Like most Chronoswiss watches, the "onion" crown is larger than you'd expect for the watch size, but allows for comfortable winding of the movement. The layout design is perfect from a legibility standpoint with the blued steel hands being the perfect width and length. The case is available in five different materials: there is a limited edition platinum model, a steel model, and 18k yellow, rose, or white gold models. The dial face is a machine polished sterling silver in an off-white color finish. Securing the watch is an alligator strap. I'd have to say that this is one of the most desirable Chronoswiss watches I've seen in a while, with flawless execution of the Roman numeral hour markers, and a sublimely attractive yet simple design.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: ch 1720, ch 1721, ch 1723, Ch1720, Ch1721, Ch1723, chronoswiss, perpetual calendar, PerpetualCalendar

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