Seemingly following in the footsteps of Vacheron Constantin, Ulysse Nardin steps away from aggressive modern style watches with this throwback timepiece aptly named the Classico. Forget the cheesy, super market pasta sauce sounding name and you get three versions of a pretty decent watch. The 40mm wide case is done in either 18k rose or white gold, and is water resistant to 50 meters. Dial colors include silvered, black, or blue. Design is right out of your grandfather's heyday. If it suited his type well, how wrong can you go?

The watch has a good movement too. An in-house made UN caliber 815 automatic movement that has been COSC certified, with a solid 22k automatic rotor visible through the sapphire caseback window . Good thing it has a date as well. Some of these throw-back models are too minimalistic for my taste. I prefer a date on watches personally. Here the petite window is nicely framed in gold. The sunburst polish on the dial is a nice retro touch as well (also the lug design). Pleasing as well is the fact that the hands and luminant covered, and there are lume dots over the hour markers. The alligator straps are brown for the pictured version, while the black and blue dialed versions are matched to black and blue straps respectively. Should be available soon.

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

It is true that in the scope of things 42mm wide is still considered big for some people. 42mm wide would even seem totally ordinary on any other watch - but for a Panerai it stands out. I knew Richemont (who owns Panerai) would try to get us into smaller watches, and what a shock it is now coming from Panerai. I've even seen plenty of 44mm wide Panerai watches on women that look great. So why all of a sudden the shrinkage?

To make the watch even more enticing, Panerai is placing in it a new in-house made movement, the quite thin manually wound P'999 caliber. This allows the entire watch to be much thinner than we expect in a Panerai. The case is classic looking and in 18 rose gold - with handsome brown accents.

If you recall, I just mentioned that Panerai has made smaller watches in the past. I don't think that these sold too well, and I have a feeling they were meant for the Asian markets where much of the time a 40mm wide and under watch model is preferred. So while Panerai has made smaller watches in the past, I suspect that instead of doing so to pacify select important markets, it is part of a larger effort to get smaller watches in again. I think that the 42mm wide 2010 Panerai Radiomir looks nice enough that many people will get it, I don't see their standard 44mm watch losing popularity any time soon - and they would be foolish to abandon it.

Via World Tempus.

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

More of the same? Or less of more? I can't really decide because while I trust that there is something new here from Hublot, my senses tell me that this has basically been released before. Hublot hit a home run a few years ago with the Big Bang watch line. Since then, most of their new watches have been some variation on the Big Bang. A new model would be released that was simply done in a slightly different material or color. And to keep things fresh, Hublot attempted to give each of these new models some silly name (like the also new Hublot Tutti Frutti Hazelnut... yes, that is actually what they are calling it).

So in this instance, Hublot hasn't even tried to give the watch a clever name. They just call it the "Big Bang Gold," and it is in gold. Feels sort of uninspired... or has the inspiration ship long departed from Hublot's dock and I am only now noticing it? Now, I actually like the watch as it is, but as a new model, and given everything else that Hublot has released, I am scratching my head to figure out if I am missing anything to understand what is new. The watch is in 18k rose gold and 44.5mm wide. Of course other materials exist on the case such as the titanium screws, rubber, and the black material sandwiched by the gold. There is 100 meters of water resistance, and the movement is an automatic HUB4100 all nicely decorated with a tungsten carbide automatic rotor in black PVD.

Even the dial represents the now classic Big Bang looks. So in that regard I will just consider this model a retro model looking back at the original Hublot Big Bang, that debuts only several years ago, but feels classic now!

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

A unique customized Spanish Tramontana supercar (above) hand-painted by renowned artist Fernando Leal-Audirac is for sale in Milan via global online luxury marketplace JamesList for €2 million, or about $2.95 million. The twin-turbo Tramontana R, unveiled over at our sister site Autoblog earlier this year, has a V12 engine capable of 760 hp and a 0 -100 kph time of 3.6 seconds. Leal-Audirac used special metallic paints enriched with gold and the powder of precious gems - hence the pricetag - to paint the carbon fiber-bodied exotic auto, designed in homage to the famed Hispano-Suiza marque. The iridescent colors react to movement and light changing them from purple to cobalt blue, and from green to gold. The car is "the synthesis of the artist's poetic vision in which art, tradition, technique, design and technology coexist through a constant research, incarnating the charm, the myth and the dynamics of contemporaneity," the artists notes.

Sport Luxury (or is it "luxury sport") watch maker Linde Werdelin will release a new version of its SpidoLite SA watch in 18k rose gold with a black DLC (diamond like carbon) coated dial. The watch is a stunning union of luxury and the unique merits that the SpidoLite watch line provides. Plus, I feel that the high contrast between the gold hands and the black dial make for improved legibility.

The SpidoLite SA line is known for its Svend Andersen ("SA") decorated vintage automatic mechanical movement (with a special blue gold automatic rotor), as well as the special skeletonized Biformeter case. All in all a great watch, further enhanced by the look and luxury of rose gold. Price for the gold version is not actually that much more than the standard titanium version. There is also a new version of the SpidoLite watch in all black DLC coated titanium, which is very nice (that version has metallic blued hands). Prices for the all DLC coated version are 9,800 euros, while the pictures rose gold version is 15,800 euros. Each is limited to just 88 pieces. Available very soon.

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

The Bovet Sportster Saguaro is one of my favorite series of luxury watches. And with the tourbillon version Bovet takes the impressive design and retains the durable looks while creating a unique high luxury timepiece. The good news is that it is a lovely and decorated timepiece with a visually interesting tourbillon based movement with a power reserve indicator. The bad news is that most of the watches in this limited edition series are sold out. The Sportster Saguaro Tourbillon is available in 40, 45, and 51mm wide case sizes. Each in 18k red gold with PVD titanium. The dial on each sized version is a bit different. Engraved gold is hand decorated and chiseled and beautifully done. The practicality of the movement is increased by being an automatic and having a full 7 days of power reserve.

Each version of the watch is available in just 100 pieces, with the 40mm version already being sold out. I've personally handled one of the larger versions. The combination of crafts-like decoration with the sporty nature of the rubber strap and 300 meters of watch resistance is very impressive. And while Bovet submitted to the cliche policy of adding a dash of red to sum up the sporty look, here the trendy hue fits with a dashing watch demeanor.

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

With gold cresting over $1,000 an ounce many gold bugs are patting themselves on the back. Now for those who want to get in on the action there is a new way to buy gold. Buying gold bars isn't something you'd think of doing in a department store but Harrods is betting that some will want to buy their bullion in the same place that they buy their gold earrings.

The London Times reports that the Knightsbridge department store has begun selling bars of pure Swiss gold bullion out of a miniature vault. Gold lovers can also buy gold coins from around the world. The new gold sales are part of a collaboration with the Swiss refiner Produits Artistiques Metaux Precieux. Customers can also buy online and then collect their purchase in person. A full-sized gold bar would cost about $466,000 and those who don't have a place to store it can also arrange for a safe deposit box, vault or international service courier.

Here is a watch that for some is the holy grail of Chopard Mille Miglia watches. It combines just about everything that people like from the timepiece collection, and is a limited edition on top of that - of only 500 pieces. I am pretty psyched about this watch, and look forward to spending some time with one, you know... alone. The case is the GT XL style, meaning it is 44mm wide, and has those cool integrated chronograph pushers and crown guards. The watch case is super tough being steel coated with DLC (diamond like carbon). It is also luxurious having an 18k rose gold bezel, chronograph pushers, hands on the dial, and crown. Like the other Mille Miglia GT watches, Chopard applied some of that white, outlined numeral work on under the sapphire crystal, but made it subtle by just doing the 12 and 6 o'clock indicators that way.

The dial has some three dimensional qualities with the applied chronograph subdial rings and hour indicators painted with SuperLumiNova. The hands stand out super well for intense legibility. The dial doesn't however lose any of its racing character. You can see the reserve mounted magnifier placed under the crystal for the date window as well.

Movement is a Chronometer certified chronograph automatic, decorated and viewable through the watch's sapphire caseback. I love the traditional 1960s Dunlop tire tread pattern rubber strap that completes the look of one of the nicest racing themed watch collections of all time. Certain a start of Chopard's line up, and again, this Mille Miglia GT XL Chronograph is part of a limited edition only. Price for this Chopard Ref. 168459-6001 is $10,580.

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

Back in May we wrote about he Russian-made Dartz Kombat grenade-proof luxury SUV debuted at Top Marques Monaco. Now the company has unveiled plans for a $1.5 million special edition featuring gold and diamond accents and an interior upholstered in.... whale penis leather. Apparently this is not a joke. The Monaco Red Diamond Edition will be shown under the name Prombron at the 2010 Top Marques show. The Red Diamond is being billed as the world's most expensive, luxurious and strongest armored car. It features a matte ruby red paintjob, gold-plated bulletproof windows, 22′ Kremlin Red Star bulletproof wheels, tungsten and white gold gauges decorated with diamonds and rubies, an additional outside kevlar coating, and a custom Vertu mobile phone with a panic button in addition to the disgusting-sounding interior. It also comes with three bottles of the world's most expensive vodka, RussoBaltique, another Dartz sideline adorned with yet more gold and diamonds.

[via JamesList]

Yet another variation on the "modern" Ebel Classic Hexagon, is this Retrograde Power Reserve watch that you see before you. How does it fit into the Ebel watch line? They already have calender watches, they already have retrograde watches, they already have rose gold watches. So consider it a not-so-identical twin. The dial layout seems a bit haphazard to me. Not the elegant loveliness that you seen in some of the other Classic Hexagon watches. Too much of the dial looks bare, while the bottom looks heavy. A good example of bad symmetry. Not like I would refuse the watch if Ebel handed one to me, but not my choice pick by any means.

The 45.4mm wide case is in 18k rose gold, crystal is sapphire, and the watch is only water resistant to 50 meters. I do like the contrasting polished and brushed surfaces on the case, and the way the strap forms to the case is smooth and well done. Movement is an automatic Soprod caliber 9094 movement (base ETA). You can see the functions include the time, day, date on a retrograde scale, and a power reserve indicator.

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

From an technical standpoint the A. Lange & Sohne Lange 31 watch was a nightmare to engineer. Not because the concept is difficult, but because the precision is. You see the Lange 31 has a power reserve of 31 days (744 hours), split between two mainspring barrels. The challenge was to make sure that the power moving through the slowly unwinding springs to the rest of the movement was consistent, otherwise the watch would run either too fast or too slow most of the time. This is because a fully wound spring releases a totally different amount of torque than an almost totally unwound spring.

Lange includes a winding key to wind the movement as you can't do it by hand, but you only do it once a month. Of course the dial has a power reserve meter, small seconds, and Lange's famous "out-size date." The piece you see is lovely. All this design work came after the years spent trying to make the concept work. I spoke with a watch maker recently and told him about the Lange 31 watch. He said that he didn't understand how it could be done, but if anyone could do it, it was the people at Lange.

To retain consistent power moving to the watch, the L034.1 movement uses a superior constant force escapement that regulates the torque from the mainsprings as it moves to the watch. This sounds simple, but the level of tweaking Lange had to do to get it right was likely legendary. As is the case with the Teutonic brand, the engineering team spent literally years thoroughly testing the already complete movement to ensure reliability over a long period of time. A direct personification of the German work ethic, "do it right the first time, no matter how long it takes."

The original Lange 31 watch was made available in platinum, but now a new 45.9mm wide rose gold case (with matching hand and dial markers) will be available. The watch has a warm look to it and is matched to a brown crocodile strap. Everything about the German masterpiece watch is top quality with many hours of time dedicated to hand decoration and assembly of the movement. Tested to perfection, this represents a feat of luxury un-replicated anywhere else. Price will be over $300,000.

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

S.T. Dupont, makers of the world's most expensive lighter we wrote about last month, have come out with an equally exquisite instrument for lighting one's cigarette designed as an homage to one of Paris' most famous architectural landmarks.

The Place Vendôme limited edition Ligne 2 Prestige rose gold lighter embellished with 192 diamonds (right), which sells for $47,000 and is limited to 35 pieces, is modeled on the architecture of the majestic Parisian square of that name commissioned by King Louis XIV in the 17th century.

In 1810 following his victory at Austerlitz, Napoleon enriched the square by erecting the Vendôme Column. A pen matching the lighter modeled on the column is also available. Napoleon's famous quotation is engraved on the lighter's roller and on the body of the pen: "Impossible n'est pas français" - Nothing is impossible for the French.

Panerai will release a new pink gold limited edition Luminor 1950 watch (ref. PAM00319) with manually wound movement with 8 days of power reserve as well as a split second (rattrapante) chronograph. An all gold Panerai like this is pretty rare, and it uses the Panerai manufacture made P.2006/3 movement. The movement is manually wound with an 8 day power reserve (shown on the linear power reserve indicator scale). You also get the split second 30 minute chronograph that Panerai always knows how to cleanly integrate. In order to keep the case looking simple, the chronograph pushers are on the left side of the case.

The watch case is 47mm wide in pink gold done in a brushed finish. The bezel however is nicely done with a polished finish to show off that Panerai dazzle. It is certainly blingy for the Italian brand but still goes along with the character they seek to preserve. The rich brown colored alligator strap has a pink gold buckle. You can see the interestingly made movement through the sapphire caseback, and the watch is still a Panerai being water resistant to 100 meters. Only 300 of the watches will be made and the price will likely above $20,000. A nice looker, certainly a Panerai in all respects, and likely to be a hit with collectors.

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

This fine timepiece from Glashutte Original is in a limited edition of just 15 pieces, each available only at the luxury watch store Lussori that is located in Carmel-By-The-Sea. California. This special version of the Glashutte Original Sport Evolution Panorama Date watch is in the full 18k rose gold case and bracelet, and has a beautiful blue dial and bezel.

Like all Glashutte Original watches, the movements are in-house made in Glashutte Germany. The level of decoration and refinement are impressive. You can see the automatic movement through the case back of the watch (which is still covered in all the protective plastic in the pictures). Holding the watch in your hand you are impressed with the heft of gold. It makes for a highly noticeable watch that you'll notice on your wrist - a good thing in my opinion. While some people enjoy the concept of stealth wealth, others adore having their timepieces be noticed. The various tones of metallic blue on the dial are complimented by splashes of red. The square club hands are easy to read, while the two-disc "panorama" big date at 4 o'clock is a wonderful complication to have in a sport style watch.

Admire the case and you'll notice some of the finer details that you get in German Glashutte Original watch - that you'll never find in a Rolex (which arelower cost watches, though obvious thematic competitors to this timepiece). There is certainly a lot more sophisticated style here in the Sport Evolution than say a Submariner or Yachmaster. Plus you have the Glashutte Original movements that you can't even really compare to Rolex. The case is 42.5mm wide and very well polished and finished with contrasting brushed and polished surfaces. The Sport Evolution bracelet is one of the most interestingly made bracelets available with absolutely no gaps and a complex but smooth feel to it (so characteristically German). If you want one of these lovely numbers, you'll have to talk to or visit Lussori. Retail price is about $40,000 for this all rose gold Glashutte Original Sport Evolution Panorama Date watch.

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

Spotting a Louis Vuitton timepiece is a rare occurrence. The brand supplements its ubiquitous luggage and bag products with just a few watches to go around. While the LVMH brand group has watches in their DNA (owning such brands as Tag Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith), the actual Louis Vuitton branded watches are very hard to come by.

A new collection of two-tone Louis Vuitton Tambour watches is available in a chronograph, GMT, and three-hand version with a subsidiary dial. Each are automatics, each contain high grade ETA mechanical movements, and each has the fashion-forward style that the tapered Tambour watch case is known for. In a similar fashion to the Baume & Mercier Riviera, the type of the two-tone pieces creates an alternative look that helps the colors blend in without distraction, but still allows for an attractive case. As such you will see steel and 18k gold playing together in a pleasing harmony.

The new Two-Tone Tambour watches come in a few varieties with men's and women's models. For the men there is a three hand version with a subsidiary seconds dial at 9 o'clock, a GMT model, and the pictured chronograph model. Each with the eye soothing deep yellow hands. I am impressed that Louis Vuitton actually chose yellow gold for the watches, as the "standard" color of gold is hard to find these days in relation to other types of gold such as rose or red gold. Look for these new two tone gold and steel Tambour watches at select Louis Vuitton stores around the world soon. Prices for these models is sure to be in excess of $4,000 - $5,000.

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