Watch companies like to get creative with the use of synthetic sapphire crystals, but it is difficult given the fact that the material can be very fragile. The problem isn't so much in risk of it breaking once it is made, but rather that the fabrication of synthetic sapphire crystal into all sorts of organic shapes requires a lot of stress of the material. So pieces can break with relative ease. That is why the finished result is not always as impressive as possible without knowing what a pain in the ass the watch was to make. This is probably the fact with this limited edition of just 5 pieces Corum Golden Tourbillon Panoramique Grey Sapphire watch.

What is interesting here is the application of gray PVD on the sapphire giving it that special look. The movement is a manually wound tourbillon based movement with a long 90 hours of power reserve. As you can see, the movement mainplate and bridges are all in sapphire! Something truly remarkable from a practical and aesthetic standpoint. The rest of the watch case is in 18k white gold with 309 diamonds decorating most every surface. Plus, the watch case has four sapphire crystals to help appreciate the movement from any angle. It is really a nice combination of luxury indulgence and mechanical intrigue. Expect prices to make your skin as light as the gray sapphire of the watch.

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

Covering all these new trendy gray watches has allowed me to realize one thing, no one can agree on how to spell the word "gray" ("grey?"). I am beginning to have no idea myself on what it correct. So I will just mix up the spelling a bit. It seems that all the nice brands have a gray toned watch this season, and German A. Lange & Sohne has announced their own - this time it is the beautiful Datograph Perpetual Calendar watch in white gold with, yes, a gray dial. The classy Datograph watch feels right in a sober feeling tone, which goes nicely with the blue trim on the moon phase and some of the hands. The main functional appeal of this white gold cased watch is the 30 minute flyback chronograph and perpetual calendar with moon phase and big-date display. The dial also features a small but useful day/night indicator.

The extremely complex L952.1 mechanical hand-made, manually-wound movement consists of 556 parts with the perpetual calendar that will not need an adjustment until the year 2100, and then again 122 years after that. The case is 41mm wide, while the dial in silver done is done with the gray tone. Everything about A. Lange & Sohne watches sing quality and refinement - not necessarily flamboyance and decadence as is the case with some other expensive watches. While not a limited edition, I expect the Datograph Perpetual Grey watch to still be quite rare - certainly a collector's piece if there was one.

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

Please don't tell me that gray is the new black. Vacheron Constantin's new Overseas Gray watch at least wants to suggest that, and the slate colored look of the popular sports watch from the thankfully conservative watch brand seems to suggest just that. Having undergone but just a few minor tweaks over the past decade or so, the Overseas line of diver-themed watches from Vacheron Constantin is the watch to wear for those who like the idea and heritage behind the brand, but aren't too keen on the highly traditional looks of much of the watch line (and who, like me, are not into the design of the "experimental" Qaui de l'Ile watches).

Another way to look at the Overseas Gray watch is that it has been pulled from a black & white movie. The tonalities of the watch in its multi-shade monochromatic glory suggest just that. Can't you see picking this watch right out of a classic film before "glorious color" supplanted the days of forever noir. Accordingly, the Vacheron Constantin Gray is based on a design from 1933, which has been reinterpreted by the brand a few times over the ages.

Two versions of the 42mm gray nickel-coated 18k white gold cased watches are available. The three-hand and chronograph housing an automatic Vacheron Constantin caliber 1226 and 1137 respectively. The dial is a satin finish with white gold hands and hour indexes. The watch will come with a "mouse grey" alligator strap and a black rubber strap. Check for these new pieces of history soon.

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