flyback

Rebellion RE-2 Flyback Chronograph Watch For 2009

Watches like this come around pretty often - a richly designed uber sports watch with a wild design and limited value retention. Sort of like a monster truck version of a watch. Lots of glamor and show stopping looks, but once the engine stops what is the lasting appeal? I am not trying to say anything negative about Rebellion, as the watches are of high quality, but I am asking a question about whether watches like this make any sense in today's watch market. This timepiece might be the definition of "ultra niche." This is because there are many watches trying to compete for the position of bad-ass very expensive sports watch, and just so many people willing on shelling out $100,000 a few times year for a watch from a newer brand (actually, I am not sure what the price is for the Rebellion watch, but it will be minimum $20,000, and will go up from there if I had to guess). Or you could go with Rebellion's statement on the watch that is, "The RE-2 demands respect - and it gets it!" Yea, thanks for the assurance, Rebellion.

This is the second Rebellion RE-2 Flyback Chronograph watch, though I think it might share the same name as the first that was released last year, so consider this the 2009 model. The dial and case have been updated and refined. The dial is arguably improved, you get new Rebellion signature screws on the case, a larger crown and new chronograph pushers, and Rebellion claims the watch is overall easier to use. Inside the 46mm wide stainless steel watch is a calibre RE-2 automatic movement with an engraved solid gold rotor and a column wheel based chronograph. The movement has the time and date, as well as the obvious 12 hour chronograph. In terms of complex looking dials, this one is actually relatively easy to read - despite what is cosmetically "going on." The strap is rubber and there are more natural rubber accents on the case itself, such as on the crown. I do like how the sapphire crystal is uniquely shaped and melds with the overall look of the case - a nice touch. It isn't a bad looking watch per se, but is it the right watch for the job?

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

Tags: chronograph, flyback, re-2, rebellion, timepiece, watch

Blancpain's Big Watch, Sponsors 2009 Bocuse d'Or Cooking Competition

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Events

Is Blancpain going overboard with the big watch craze? This image points to yes, but this is actually part of a trophy that Blancpain gave out. If you aren't a serious foodie you might have never heard of the Bocuse d'Or, one of the world's most coveted cooking competitions and awards. The 2009 winner was Geir Skeie, a chef at the restaurant Mathuset Solvold, in Sandefjord, Norway. I can't pronounce the chef's name, the name of the restaurant, or even the city in Norway, but what I do know is that I covet the watch part of the award.

Swiss watch maker Blancpain co-sponsored the event and awarded a Blancpain Flyback Chronograph Grande Date watch to the winner of Bocuse d"Or this year. With incentives like that I might join the competition myself next year! This year's Bocuse d'Or was the 21st occurrence of the event, and unsurprisingly, was held in Lyon, France.

Watch makers and chefs have had a long positive history. Not only does cooking require careful and often overlapping timing, but chefs, like watch makers, are detail oriented and focused on perfection. Blancpain chose wisely in participating with the Bocuse d'Or, and I have to admit the styling of the Blancpain Flyback Chronograph watch fits well with the culinary theme.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: blancpain, bocuse dor, BocuseDor, chef, chronograph, flyback, grande date, GrandeDate, timepiece, watch