ladys

These are the new Cabaret Soirée timepieces and they come in 26.5mm wide by 36.3mm tall 18k white gold cases with 70 Wesselton diamonds lining the bezel (0.9 carats). Sapphire crystal and caseback for appreciating the hand decorated movement. There are two versions of the watch, both limited to only 10 pieces. The dials of each are lined with solid silver and have rhodium coated gold hands. First is the Ref. 827.029 in baby blue, with a mother-of-pearl dial, matched with the light blue crocodile strap. Then there is the Ref. 827.035 Cabaret Soirée in pink with a rose colored mother-of-pearl dial, matched with a "mother-of-pearl rose" colored pink crocodile strap.

Like all A. Lange & Sohne watches, the Cabaret Soirée watches will have all in-house made movements. These watches have the Calibre L931.4 manually wound mechanical movements with a subsidiary seconds hand and "out-size" date. The movement has 237 parts and a power reserve of 42 hours. Everything on the case and watch is top quality, and you'll be lucky to get one of the only twenty pieces available worldwide.

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

This is a very sexy and sporty watch line from Swarovski who finally decided to release their own line of watches this year as opposed to simply provide crystals to others (I don't think they are going to stop supplying crystals anytime soon though). Here is also one of those occasions that I am a bit jealous, as I could easily see a slightly modified version of this watch being perfectly good for men. As such, the steel case is 39mm wide - in the men's watch size territory. Although this version is in white, there are different colors of the watch available including dark blue, magenta, black, and pink. My feeling is that the watches are thematically similar to the Chanel J12 line being light and airy, but highly functional timepieces. While the J12 is in ceramic, the Octea Sport has a range of faceted Swarovski crystals all over the watch and strap or bracelet that likely make for an impressive look. The watch itself is based on a diver's watch theme complete with rotating diver's bezel.

The crystals on the watch range from being totally clear to clouds for a variety of looks that out to make it interesting, especially in the color-toned models. The collection was first announced last March at Baselworld and in my opinion was quite impressive from the brand who was not expected to release its own line of watches. The Octea Sport line have Swiss quartz movements inside while at least this white model is available with a rubber strap or a steel metal bracelet - both of which are lined with large horizontally applied crystals which make for a good look. The watches are available now at various locations including on Swarovski's own website. The Octea Sport line is about $800 - $850 - not too bad.

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

There are diamond watches, and then there are diamond watches like this. Graff metaphorically knocks on the door of luxury with a resounding "bling bling!" arrival announcement. You simply don't get too much more "diamond watch" than this timepiece figuratively held hostage by the precious stones. The case and bracelet (what little of it is actually metal!) is done in 18k white gold while a dizzying collection of 176 diamonds on the case and another 94 diamonds on the bracelet that crowd the design of the watch like a bunch of too many densely packed wealthy neighbors. The entire watch has 59 carats of pure glitzy glory.

Likewise the timepiece is known as the Superstar, or GraffSuperstar. Whatever the title, this watch is is certainly a statement about the woman wearing it. However that statement might be "I enjoy rubies and emeralds in my breakfast cereal." Sorry gentlemen, we will have to settle for a less diamond studded version. Stones on the Superstar watch are in trilliant and trapeze cuts that gives a very modern and angular shape that is also quite cohesive. Round cut stones make for good decor, but these more angular cuts allow for a more tiled look that enhances the "total diamond watch" style that Graff is going for. My instincts tell me that the movement inside the watch is Swiss quartz. The dial of the watch is no testament to legibility, but should be readable - a nice trapeze cut emerald is the only non-diamond stone of the bunch and serves as the 12 o'clock marker. Not the type of watch you want to wear publicly in certain parts of the world, cost to likely be tantamount to purchase of said parts of the world.

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

Delicate and sophisticated is what I want to think about when I think of Harry Winston women's watches. This Avenue Traffic watch fits the bill and is based on the architecture of New York City - mostly the classic architecture that is. The long and narrow case is meant to allude to the many tall buildings of the great city while the dial is meant to remind you of looking down Fifth Avenue at night in conjunction with the 58 diamonds all over the dial to serve as the "sparking lights." The overall case has 97 diamonds, while the dial itself is mother of pearl. Total stone weight for the movement is 3.18 carats and the case is in white gold.

Inside the Harry Winston Avenue Traffic is a Swiss quartz movement. The style of the watch is elegant with a sense of industrial modernism in the quasi art deco charm that does have that city feel. While the small hands might be on the hard side to read, this is an almost pure jewelry watch that is meant to communicate the sophistication of the wearer as opposed to being a trusty timepiece, though it functions for that need when called upon to do so.

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

It was only a matter of time before the popular Graham Swordfish watch got overhauled into a woman's watch. It doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense given the fact that the Swordfish is a large aggressive watch attempting to evoke an image of air combat, but with popularity comes marketability. The image of the watch has been reformed into something sparkly that makes you think of the well-known Beatles' song. The clever connection links the British band to the British watch brand, and suggests that "Lucy in the Sky" is still a watch with an aviation theme. Though I don't think Graham wants its potential customers considering floating over strawberry fields - forever.

Inside the watch is an automatic mechanical chronograph movement. The bug-eyed chronograph subdial magnifiers remain, but are basically useless as the dials now just have hands with some random placed diamonds. You'd have to be really sharp to use the chronograph with any precision. The watch does look pretty with over 150 diamonds organically placed all over the dial and case. Oddly enough, the watch is still 46mm wide, which would look silly on all but the largest wristed of women. There are plenty of men even who won't wear a 46mm wide watch. The main draw of the timepiece is the aggressive large size with soft decoration making for bold statement of a watch. The Lucy in the Sky collection is available in stainless steel or red gold, with a white or black face. Prices are likely to be between about $10,000 and $20,000.

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

Versace watches are made by the Timex Group under a licensing agreement. Thus, Timex is responsible for making interesting watches on par with the Versace image. That hasn't quite always worked out, but at the least most of their watches do bear the emblematic Versace medusa head. The newest watch out of the Versace watch line is the Eon, for women. The imagery is appealing, but what is the point? Laying flat on your wrist is the outer ring and watch face supposed to spin? It occurs to me that this watch is likely more fun to play with off, rather than on, one's wrist.

Aside from this mystery the double case look is interesting, reminding me of a globe of sorts. Materials used are rose gold plated stainless steel lined with diamonds on the bezel as well as used on the four present hour markers. The rear of the watch is supposed to hold the Versace medusa head, while the typical Roman architecture inspirted geometric patterns are engraved on the sides of the outer ring. The watch is attached to a satin strap and has a matching buterfly clasp. Inside will be a quartz movement. I expect price to hover around $3,000 if my senses are correct.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch reivew site aBlogtoRead.com.