SIHH 2010

Van Cleef & Arpels Extraordinary Butterfly Watches

Staying on track has been the name of the game for Van Cleef & Arpels as they introduce some of their new for 2010 watches. Each of them is more artistic in nature than horological. So far no new movements or mechanically complex pieces for 2010 that I know of. Instead their new limited edition pieces are all complex in their dial creations. One series is the limited edition of 8 pieces per each of the 5 watches Ladies Extraordinary Butterfly watch series. The dials each represent the shape of butterflies does in a technique that is just like stained glass. Really amazing on a watch dial! These two images don't likely do the actual pieces justice that will be somewhat three dimensional in nature just like larger stained glass windows. Instead of glass, the watches use a special enamelling technique.

The women's watch are each on the same 38mm wide 18k white gold cases with diamond studded bezels and lugs. There are more diamonds on the strap buckle. Inside the watches are Caliber 830P automatic mechanical movements. Names of the specific Lady Arpels Extraordinary Butterfly Series watches are Parvana, Vanessa, Euthalie, Kimama and Caligo. While I am not sure of the origin of the names, I could see a lepidopterist giving the names freely to individual specimens.

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

Tags: butterflies, butterfly, SIHH 2010, Sihh2010, Van Cleef Arpels, VanCleefArpels, watch

Vacheron Constantin Historiques 1955 and 1968 Watches

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

With an official debut soon at SIHH 2010 in January here is a peek at two new Vacheron Constantin watches - the Historiques 1955 (round dial) and 1968 (square dial). Both watches are going to be smaller in size and much thinner than what we are used to. The 1955 is 36mm wide and the 1968 watch is a 35.2mm wide square. Vacheron Constantin is on this "vintage kick" lately. so expect to see more of these retro-themed watches. They don't have the wow factor you are used to when looking at them, but they are comfy to wear, and surprisingly easy to read - trust me. Worth the big prices though? Maybe, if you are a brand enthusiast.

Most of the appeal is inside the watch as they each have 100% in-house made movements. Each is super thin, and manually wound. The Historiques 1955 has a caliber 1003 movement, while the 1968 has a caliber 1120 movement in it. Interestingly enough, the movements are in 18k yellow gold. The watch cases themselves are in something called 4N gold. The alloy is somewhere between yellow and rose gold in color. The watches will be officially unveiled in January in Geneva, and I will be there to take lots of paparazzi style pictures.

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

Tags: 1955, 1968, historiques, SIHH 2010, Sihh2010, vacheron constantin, VacheronConstantin, watch