TimePiece

Parmigiani Tonda 1950 Watch Hands-On

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Men's Style

The pleasure I get from wearing a finely made, elegant dress watch is hard to describe. Probably because they are typically "not my kind of watches." I am a big sports watch guy. Not just that I am just really in to sport watches, but also because I like large size sport watches. So it may not be obvious why I would like a nicely made, understated formal watch that crouches low on my wrist. I think it has to do with elegance and graceful purpose. Dress watches are easy on the eye, have very delicate and attractive lines, are dead easy to read, and are other in precious metals with well-made movements.

Not that this Parmigiani Tonda 1950 watch is alone in what it is, but it is a fine example of the genre. I previously wrote about the Tonda 1950 here. At the time I appreciated the timepiece's good looking design, and loved the in-house made ultra-thin automatic movement with a micro-rotor. Now, as I wear the watch feeling its slim case wrap around my wrist, I smile and am happy to be wearing a suit. The 39mm 18k pink or gold watch begs to be dressed up. It is not a watch for casual wear - it just isn't. Wear it with jeans and the watch will frown at you. With a black tie Mr. Tonda wags an invisible tail.

Gallery: Parmigiani Tonda 1950 watches

Tags: parmigiani, timepiece, watch

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A. Favre & Fils Phoenix 10.1 Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

The full name of this watch totally amuses me. So "luxury industry," so "horological." This isn't just the A.Favre & fils Phoenix 10.1 watch, oh no... it is the "A. Favre & Fils Phoenix 10.1 Quantieme à Grand Affichage Rotatif." Try saying that out loud without spitting all over the place. This is a nice watch, but the brand marketing is WAY too full of gimmicks. Another example aside from the pretentious sounding title? Well the brand goes to great length to indicate how the case was designed using principles from mathematical concepts such as the Golden Ratio and the Golden Number. Yes, I know that Pythagoras is getting a hard-on hearing about that, but it is just a nice standard looking case. I've seen a lot like it. When a new brand starts promoting such marginal concepts right off the bat, I start to get really suspicious that their products are more hype than heart.

If the "unique" interpretation of the big date complication doesn't excite you - don't worry. A Favre & Fils has a 10.2 version of the Phoenix watch sans any date at all. The date is comprised of two large discs, and reading the date involves looking at the line that has two figures in it. In the above example the date is the 17th. If the date was the 7th, then there would be a small red arrow next to the 7.

The simple case is attractive, 41mm wide in size, and available in 18k red or white gold. The movement has a lot of decorative effort put into it. It is manually wound with 84 hours of power reserve (looks to be via two barrels), and is visible through the watch case back. A. Favre & fils calls it their Calibre DB 1334/1 Henry. According the A. Favre & fils, the design of the movement was done to enhance reliability through the use of the least possible moving parts. Sounds good to me.

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

Gallery: A. Favre & Fils Phoenix 10.1 Watch images

Tags: 10.1, a favre fils, phoenix, timepiece, watch

Pirelli PZero Disk_O

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Pirelli may be best known for making tires, but the Italian rubber company is as well known for everything from clothing and sneakers to racy calendars and films. The latest addition to the PZero collection is a wristwatch called the Disk_O, and as you can see, its design is dominated by an automotive brake motif.

The anodized aluminum bezel, styled after a brake disc, rotates through the caliper, and like the brakes on some higher-end supercars, the caliper – from which the pushbuttons for the Swiss quartz chronograph movement jut out – can be ordered in different colors: red, yellow, black or steel gray. And of course it's affixed to the wrist with a rubber strap, styled in this case after the racing slicks Pirelli is now producing for Formula One.

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Tags: disk_o, pirelli, pirelli pzero, pirelli pzero disk_o, pzero disk_o, timepiece, watch

Rare James Bond Rolex Chronograph for Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

An extraordinary Rolex pre-Daytona chronograph worn by George Lazenby as James Bond in 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service is being offered for sale in Miami. It's extremely rare for an actual Bond movie watch, let alone a rare Rolex model, to come onto the market. The stainless steel timepiece, ref # 6238, has been written about on many 007 fan sites and Rolex blogs. The Rolex was originally purchased by Bond filmmakers EON productions on October 23, 1968 for use by the underrated Lazenby in the film, and was later sold off among other props. It last surfaced at Christie's Film and Entertainment sale in London in 2003, where it went for $40,000. Recently acquired by Miami's Matthew Bain Inc., it's now being offered at an undisclosed price that could easily reach $250,000 or more.

Gallery: James Bond Rolex Chronograph

Tags: 007, actor, chronograph, James Bond, james+bond+rolex, jamesbondrolex, memorabilia, Miami, movies, Rolex, Rolex Daytona, rolex+chronograph, rolexchronograph, timepiece

Unearthen Vintage Crystal Watch

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Timepieces / Watches

The Crystal Watch by Unearthen ($495) instantly caught my eye with its funky strap design and bracelet-like quality. It reminds me of one those unexpected finds after hours of rummaging through a thrift store. The strap is made with skinny gold cylinders that gradually increase in size as it meets the face of the watch accented with little balls running along the edge.

While it may not the easiest watch to tell you the time, I've been staring at for days and cannot figure it out, it certainly makes for a unique accessory. It's vintage aesthetic makes for a timepiece that you could wear for years. Pair with a casual outfit of jean shorts, a t-shirt and flats or dress it up with a summer dress for an evening out for dinner and drinks. Strap measurements: 1 1/2" W at widest point.

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Tags: gold, jewelry, timepiece, timepieces, unearthen, vintage, watch

Daniel Strom's 'Memento Mori, Carpe Diem' Watch

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Daniel Strom Memento Mori Carpe Diem Skull Watch

Daniel Strom has embraced the skull trend and made it his own with this watch from his Agonium collection. Titled "Memento Mori, Carpe Diem" (remember you will die, seize the day) the highly detailed watch casing is covered with skulls large and small and is available in your choice of precious metal including sterling silver, gold, platinum, and palladium options. The dial comes in black or bone white and features polished steel hands and roman numerals (no skulls), and the look is finished with a black alligator hornback strap with a matching metal buckle. Self winding movement, anti-glare double curved sapphire crystal, and water-resistant to 50m. Prices start at $8,272 for sterling silver and go up to $57,896 for platinum.

Gallery: 'Memento Mori, Carpe Diem' by Daniel Strom

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Tags: agonium, carpe diem, daniel strom, strom, timepiece, watch

Cartier Roadster XL Watch In Gold & Walnut Aging Well

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

How is a classic born? It needs to look good from birth and then age nicely overtime retaining its reputation for having good looks. A classic thus, must survive the test of time. In the watch world, there are instant classics, ones discovered over decades, and those still memorable after just a few years in existence given the many luxury models they must compete with. So I look at this special Cartier Roadster XL in 18k pink gold that was announced in 2008 (also arrived in 18k white gold). Two years in the luxury watch world can be a long time for an "experimental" model, and most of them end up looking silly just a year after being released. Not here. What was different about this Roadster? Certainly not the fact that it is a Roadster, but rather the use of polished and lacquered walnut wood. A design taken from roadster cars, the combo of Cartier and wood is gorgeous. Use of wood isn't reserved for classic roadster cars, but other luxury automobiles, as well as watches from time to time. Most other watches that use wood do so in the case, and as a nod to boats, not cars. Cartier mixed wood with gold so well, this piece certainly qualifies as a classic.

Beautifully grained walnut is used as the dial, as well as center links in the gold bracelet. According to Cartier, the wood links in the bracelet are so well treated and coated, they are totally water resistant. The dial is printed to be extremely legible, just like in standard Roadster fashion. Technically, there isn't too much special in the watch, just an ETA Swiss automatic movement (likely a 2892). Though the Cartier name on this impressive watch makes for a solid (gold) timepiece. Quite possibly the best watch to wear while spending time in your Rolls Royce or Bentley with a matching wood interior. Pricey at about $40,000. Also limited to 250 pieces (I believe). Click on "READ MORE" below for additional images. By the way, this piece was molested by me at the San Francisco Cartier boutique store.

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

Tags: Cartier, gold, limited edition, Roadster, timepiece, walnut, watch, XL

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Bovet Ottanta Tourbillon by Pininfarina

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Pininfarina may be best known for designing Ferraris – just about every one, in fact, for the past several decades – but the Italian design house has a growing portfolio that extends far beyond automobiles to include furniture, trains and much more. This, however, appears to be new territory for the coachbuilder.

Collaborating with Swiss watchmaker Bovet, Pininfarina has designed a highly exclusive tourbillon. The Bovet Ottana Tourbillon by Pininfarina incorporates the complex movement you'd expect from the name, plus a large date indicator, 80-hour power reserve meter and minute repeater, all incorporated into the brass-crafted, 514-piece Calibre 16BA01 movement. The skeletonized case can be mounted facing forward or backward to display the intricate movement, with a secondary time indicator on the reverse, or can be separated from the suede-like calfskin strap to be worn as a wristwatch or used as a desk clock.

Only 80 examples will be offered, in either DLC-coated steel and titanium or titanium with rose or white gold detail, with a price tag approaching $300,000.

Gallery: Bovet Ottana Tourbillon by Pininfarina

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Tags: Bovet Ottana, Bovet Ottana Tourbillon by Pininfarina, bovet pininfarina, Bovet Pininfarina Ottana Tourbillon, Pininfarina, timepiece, tourbillon, watch

Howard Hughes' Patek Philippe Up for Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions

A 1949 Patek Philippe chronograph that belonged to Howard Hughes, the dashing movie mogul portrayed by Leo DiCaprio in The Aviator, is being offered in Christie's' Important Watches Featuring the Leo Collection sale in New York on June 16.

The gold wristwatch, Ref. 1463, with breguet numerals is estimated at $150,000 – $200,000. In the 1960s the increasingly-paranoid Hughes gifted the watch to a private detective who carried out a number of surveillance assignments for him, and it comes accompanied by a note from Hughes to that effect.

Also featured in the sale is Roy Rogers' Rolex, a stainless steel triple calendar chronograph Ref. 6036, manufactured circa 1952 and estimated at $40,000-$60,000, consigned from the estate of the so-called "King of Cowboys"; and a rare and extremely important platinum Patek Philippe Ref. 5016, estimated at $350,000 – $500,000.

Tags: Christies, chronograph, gold, Howard Hughes, Leo DiCaprio, New York, Patek Philippe, Rolex, roy rogers, timepiece, watch, wristwatch

Aston Martin AMVOX5 World Chronograph by Jaeger-LeCoultre

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Of all the automotive/watchmaking collaborations, few stand the test as well as that between Aston Martin and Jaeger-LeCoultre. The partnership has yielded an unparalleled range of timepieces. And the two have now teamed up again for their fifth collaboration, the AMVOX5 World Chronograph.

Driven by Jaeger's own in-house Calibre 752 movement, the AMVOX5 packs a column wheel, vertical clutch chronograph complication with a ceramic ball-bearing mechanism that obviates the need for lubrication. It's encased in either ceramic and titanium (300 examples) or 18-karat rose gold (200 examples), and will be joined by two 100-unit limited edition racing versions in the near future.

Gallery: Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX5 World Chronograph

Tags: amvox, amvox 5, aston martin, chronograph, Jaeger LeCoultre, jaeger-lecoultre, jlc, timepiece, watch

Fortis Spaceleader Chronograph by Volkswagen Design

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos

There's no shortage of automotive-themed wristwatches on the market. In some cases, the automaker for whom the watch is made has even had a hand in its design. Like the Porsche Design timepieces made by Eterna. Now Porsche's sister/parent company Volkswagen has entered the fold with Fortis.

The Fortis Spaceleader Chronograph by Volkswagen Design is a limited edition of just 2,012 examples, wrapped in chrome and rubber with all the usual suspects: push-button chronograph operation, butterfly clasp, anti-reflective crystal and more. It's already been winning all the major prizes, including the Red Dot design award, the iF design award, and the Good Design award. Nice work if you can get it.

Tags: automotive timepiece, automotive wristwatch, fortis, Fortis Spaceleader, Fortis Spaceleader Chronograph, Fortis Spaceleader Chronograph by Volkswagen Design, timepiece, volkswagen, volkswagen design, watch, wristwatch

Equipe Watches Offers Automotive Timepieces for the Everyman

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos

Automotive-themed timepieces share a lot with the cars from which they draw their inspiration, from the precision-crafted mechanics inside to the evocative metalwork into which they're placed. Unfortunately for many, they also tend to carry very automobile-like price tags in multiples of thousands of dollars. As with the cars they produce – many of which can give Europe's finest a real run for their money, whether on road or track – Detroit has come up with the answer. Or an answer, at any rate.

The range recently unveiled by Equipe Watches at this year's BaselWorld watch show are all automotive-inspired. But instead of four, five or even six-figure price tags, Equipe's Japanese-movement products sell for the hundreds. There's fifteen models in all, each very automotive in its name and design. And while the wealthy motorist bringing his Aston Martin in for service may not be sporting one on his wrist, the mechanic in the service bag very well might be.

Gallery: Equipe Watches

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Tags: automotive, automotive timepiece, automotive watch, automotive wristwatch, equipe, equipe watches, timepiece, timepieces, watch, watches, wristwatch

Romain Jerome Moon Invader Watch Collection

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

The first new collection from Romain Jerome since taking new leadership under Manuel Emch is the Moon Invader line. Clearly a spawn of the Moon Dust DNA collection, the Moon Invader takes form (and some substance) from moon landers. Specifically, some pieces of the watch are from spare parts for the Apollo 11 craft. Take for instances the metal mesh dial on this"RJ Moon Invader Collection" Eminence Grise Automatic" watch, it is from the tire tread of lunar roving vehicles. You can see the now characteristic RJ "X" shape on the dial that extends to the ends of the watch where the "feet" are. These feet actually are connected vial ball and socket joints. Meant to "conform to your wrist." A bit gimmicky sure, but it should be fun enough. The dials are very clean, and I like how the elements are applied. The watches use blue SuperLumiNova for a cool night-time effect.

Two versions of the watch are going to be initially available - each in steel or rose gold. There is the Automatic and the Chronograph (see images below). The case is 46mm wide, with a caseback that is said to have little pieces of moon rock in it. Thus, when you are wearing the watch, you and pieces of the moon are "always as one." RICH words, but fun in a super cheesy way. Both of the watches have Swiss automatic movements (not sure the supplier), and will be limited to 1969 pieces each - easy to tell where that number came from. Look for the pieces relatively soon.

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

Gallery: Romain Jerome Moon Invader Watch Collection

Tags: 2010, Eminence Grise, Moon Invader, Romain Jerome, timepiece, watch

Porsche Design P'6780 Diver

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Sure they may sound similar, but the differences between a driver's watch and a diver's watch are vast. Porsche Design is certainly familiar with the former, but this is only their second attempt at the latter.

The P'6780, which follows the design studio's numeric nomenclature, is designed around one innovative feature: in order to protect the case from shocks and bumps, and prevent the crown from being turned during the course of underwater activities, the movement encased in its stainless steel cylinder mounts into a titanium bracket to which the rubber wrist straps are attached, and hinges forward for access. Neat trick, and also gives the timepiece a rugged look uncharacteristic of the company known for its smooth, uncluttered designs.

Gallery: Porsche Design P'6780 Diver

Tags: p6780, porsche, porsche design, porsche design p6780, porsche design p6780 diver, timepiece, timepieces, watch, watches

Avenir Chrono Boss Premiere Watch Collection

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

This new watch brand just sort of popped up out of nowhere. It looks to be aimed mostly to the fashion and high-end crowd who wake up each morning thinking about how blingy they want to be on a scale of 1 to "blinded by sparkles." Still, the watches aren't to shabby. Rather appealing looks with high quality components and Swiss movements. The first line from the Avenir Chrono brand is this Boss Premiere watch collection that comes in steel, rose gold, and platinum. Plus, you can get them decked out with diamonds. Now that I think of it, with a name like Avenir Chrono, the brand pretty much has to release only chronograph watches from now on right?

The guys behind the brand are also behind the Rafaello & Company Jeweler brand. They tend to stick to urban pop culture elite as their best clients. While watches are not a new venture for them, the Avenir Chrono brand is. The watches comes in two sizes - 50mm wide and 44mm wide. Both bold in stature. There is one major thing that the watches really excel at, and this is high contrast to attract attention. Watch makers have known for years that a high contrast ratio look in watch makes them appealing. Plus it is good practice to throw in a splash of red. Look closely and you see it. Avenir Chrono took good notes in watch design class. You can see the high contrast of black and either the gold or steel (and platinum).

Titanium is also used in the cases and for parts of the bracelets. Inside the watches are Swiss ETA Valjoux 7753 automatic movements. The dials are pretty easy to read and masculine (kind of going for an aviator style look), while the dial plate is machine guilloche engraved. Imagine the diamond versions as you will, with diamonds all over the case and bracelet (but not the face thankfully). Prices for the Avenir Chrono Boss Premiere watches start at about $12,500 and go to $45,000 (for platinum most likely). Opt for the diamond encrusted "Black Snow" models and prices jump to $65,000 - $120,000.

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

Tags: Avenir Chrono, AvenirChrono, Boss Premiere, BossPremiere, Rafaello Company, RafaelloCompany, timepiece, watch