marine

Breguet Marine Tourbillon Ref. 5839 High Jewellery Chronograph Watch

In the watch world diamonds seem to make just about everything better. This Ref. 5839 Marine Troubillon High Jewellery watch is a diamond encrusted version of the Ref. 5937 from a few years ago. Breguet outfitted the watch case and dial with an impressive amount of diamonds, but still was able to retain that signature Breguet Marine watch look.

The 43mm wide 18k white gold case as about 11.77 carats of stones on it. One of the neatest parts is how Breguet was able to maintain the coined edge of the case using specially cut diamonds. Also not the unique pattern the diamonds create for the bezel. On the dial smaller diamonds are set in the middle of the dial and don't overshadow the hands. The dial itself is silvered 18k gold. Overall Breguet did a great job giving a men's jewelry watch a functional face.

Inside the watch is a Breguet caliber 554.4 manually wound tourbillon movement with the time and a chronograph complication. The watch has 50 hours of power reserve with special features that include a silicium balance spring and escapement wheel.

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

Tags: 5839, 5839BB6D9ZU DDOD, breguet, diamonds, high, marine, tourbillon, watch

Ulysse Nardin Monaco 2010 Marine Diver Limited Edition Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Once again Ulysse Nardin is a sponsor of the Monaco Yacht Show (Sept. 22-25), probably one of the most important yacht shows around (ritzy ritzy!). Each year they have a special limited edition watch for the event, and this year the piece take a dark, sinister tone. The watch is in all black save for some midnight blue elements on the dial (hands and some of the markers). The steel case is actually covered in a matte black vulcanized rubber coating. This has been places on other dive watches in the past (think IWC), and it makes for a cool, professional type of look. Aside from perhaps parts of bezel, there will be no glitz to this watch. The case is 45.8mm wide (200 meters water resistant) and has a rotating diver's bezel and a rubber strap with a black ceramic link in each end. The clasp is also in black ceramic.

Inside the watch is a standard Ulysse Nardin automatic movement (UN-26) with a subsidiary seconds dial and power reserve indicator. On the back of the watch you can see the movement along with a special "Monaco" image on the sapphire exhibition window. The Ulysse Nardin Monaco 2010 Marine Diver watch will be limited to just 100 pieces.

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

Tags: 2010, diver, limited edition, marine, Monaco, Ulysse Nardin, watch

Breguet Marine Royale Alarm Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

This is probably the most aggressively styled Breguet Marine Royale watch to date, and is known as the Marine Royale Alarm for 2009. In addition to bold looks, this is the first Breguet watch in my opinion that could be characterized as a highly functional diver's watch. The main draw of the watch, aside from the lovely design and Breguet heritage, is the alarm complication. The mechanical alarm is specially designed to be optimally heard underwater - a difficult task for alarm watches. This is all done thanks to the Breguet. Cal. 519R automatic movement that uses a central hand to set the alarm - which itself has a specially calibrated chime. A window in the upper center of the dial tells you if the alarm is turned on or not. Other complications include a power reserve indicator, date, and the time of course. The large pusher located at 8 o'clock is used to turn the alarm on and off.

With a great deal of guilloche decoration throughout the watch, the 45mm wide 18k rose gold case has pushers applied with rubber for easier handling. A special claw between the crowns can be used to secure the rotating diver's bezel if necessary as to not accidentally move it. Aside from all of these handy features, the Breguet Ref. 5847BR/32/5ZU is a very capable diver with 300 meters of water resistance. In addition to the rose gold case, a white gold version is available with a dark gray colored dial. If you aren't keen on spending luxury prices for a watch with a rubber strap, you can opt for the alligator band.

With its iconic wave patterned decoration and mixture of Breguet class with diving utility, this new Marine Royale Alarm watch is easily the most interesting and notable sport oriented Breguet watch of the last few years. Price will likely be $30,000 - $50,000 when it is available soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 5847BR325ZU, alarm, basel, baselworld, breguet, marine, royale, timepiece, watch

Thankful Troops Smoke 7,000 Cigars

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

While we are constantly reminded of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we often lose site of the people serving. Sure, we support the troops and lament the fact that some are separated from their families for a year or longer ... with unfortunate regularity. But, these concepts remain abstract from those who don't don the uniform every day. Many have a friend or family member serving, but the vast majority is another step removed from the sacrifice. Chuck Ley, founder of the organization Cigars for Soldiers, is bridging the gap. His effort has added a personal and genuine touch to a "support the troops" message that the mainstream media has forced into cliché too soon.

Ley, like me, was a soldier. While my service entailed comfy pencil-pushing positions in Uijongbu, South Korea and Fort Gordon, Georga, he was an infantryman – the real deal – wounded in action in Mogadishu, Somalia. It wasn't the event immortalized in Mark Bowden's Black Hawk Down, but few realize that we fought more than once over there. Though back in civilian life for more than a decade, Ley has not forgotten his time in uniform, and many of his friends continue to serve.

From time to time, Ley would get a phone call or e-mail from overseas, a friend in some far-flung place. The tone varied from casual inquiry to begging to near-demand: send cigars. How could a cigar-smoking former soldier refuse?

Gallery: Cigars for Soldiers

Soldiers smoke Pepin Garcia cigars in Iraq

Don Pepin Garcia addresses the crowd at De La Concha

The cigars donated to Cigars for Soldiers by Don Pepin Garcia

Tags: afghanistan, black hawk down, BlackHawkDown, charity, cigar, cigar accessories, cigar cutter, CigarAccessories, CigarCutter, cigars, donate, donation, donations, foundation, georgia, iraq, iraq war, IraqWar, lighter, lighters, marine, marines, mark bowden, MarkBowden, mogadishu, relax, soldier, soldiers, somali, somalia, south korea, SouthKorea, support the troops, SupportTheTroops

Continue reading “Thankful Troops Smoke 7,000 Cigars”

Seattle Aquarium Society, Charity of the Day

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity, Charity of the Day

The Seattle Aquarium Society is about not only supporting the Seattle Aquarium but also educating people about and preserving the Puget Sound and other marine habitats. Money donated goes towards researching marine species like the six gill shark and the giant Pacific Octopus, training "Beach Naturalists" who volunteer to teach beach visitors how to enjoy themselves without hurting the environment, or even simply helps feed the otters. High level memberships of $300-$5000/year get you additional goodies like behind-the-scenes tours and invites to special wine tastings, Presidential dinners, and the Splash! Reception that happens each year.

Source

Tags: aquarium, aquariums, charities, charity, charity of the day, CharityOfTheDay, marine, otter, otters, puget sound, PugetSound, seattle, seattle aquarium, seattle aquarium society, SeattleAquarium, SeattleAquariumSociety

Aboard the Earthrace Yacht

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

I first wrote about the Earthrace biodiesel boat last year and ever since I have been following the project so when I found out that the boat was making a United States tour I had to check her out. The Earthrace boat is a wavepiercing trimaran that runs on biodiesel fuel. The plan is to have the Earthrace break the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a powerboat, and using only renewable fuels. They are currently involved in an 18-month tour raising awareness about sustainable use of resources before the attempting to break the 75-day record next March. The Earthrace crew is hoping to complete the journey in less than 65 days. The Earthrace boat hits a top speed of 40 knots and the unique design lets her smash through the waves (up to 24 feet high according to one crew member I talked with).

At the Lido Yacht Expo in Newport Beach, California the Earthrace was definitely attracting attention even among the gleaming white luxury yachts on display (more on those later in the day). Unlike other boats at the show where you just take off your shoes and climb aboard, the Earthrace crew was charging $5 a pop (to help fund the project). And unlike other boats, this one wasn't for sale. As I checked out the boat I heard one little girl say to her mother, "Mommy, this boat smells. No one is going to buy this boat." It definitely did have a college-dorm funk to it but the New Zealand-based crew seemed to be in high spirits. After the jump, some more shots of the Earthrace including the tight quarters of the interior.

Source

Tags: biodiesel, boat, earthrace, marine, ocean, water, yacht

Continue reading “Aboard the Earthrace Yacht”

Gipsy Moth IV Runs Aground

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

One of our favorite yachts, the recently restored Gipsy Moth IV has run into trouble in the South Pacific. The yacht, which went through a £300,000 restoration last year, is owned by the United Kingdom Sailing Academy. The yacht was going from Marquesas to Tahiti as part of a round-the-world trek when she hit a reef. The yacht is lying starboard in deep water and the crew was rescued. Marine salvage is currently attempting to salvage the vessel. Hopefully this historic vessel can be saved and repaired but it isn't known yet if the yacht will continue on the global voyage.

Source

Tags: gipsy moth iv, GipsyMothIv, marine, tahiti, water, yacht, yacht accident

Fast Track To Power Cruising Program

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

If you'd like to learn how to navigate a power boat but are wary of spending your summer taking boating classes, the Fast Track to Power Cruising could be your dream working vacation. Steve and Doris Colgate, founders of the Offshore Sailing School have partnered with NauticBlue charters to offer a six-day live-aboard learning vacation in the Bahamas and British Virgin Islands. The course which starts June 1, will use 35 - 47 foot power catamarans. Participants are trained by US Cruising Power Boat Certified instructors and learn about on-board systems, docking, anchoring, navigation, engine maintenance and more so that they can confidently handle boats up to 50 feet. Up to four participants live aboard with an instructor during the program.

[via BYM News]

Source

Tags: boat instruction, boating vacation, boats, charter, cruising, marine, power boats, water