metronome

Chaumet Dandy Edition Metronome Watch

The Richemont Group often reminds me of General Motors. Especially the GM of "back in the day" that would re-purpose engines, car bodies, chassis, etc... Not that this practice is bad (actually it is smart), but from an informed perspective it does allow for a chuckle now and then. I recently wrote about a new movement inside of a Steinway & Sons watch that turned the seconds hand into a metronome. Cool right? It also made a lot of sense given the fact that Steinway & Sons is primarily a piano maker.

Now I see the exact same movement used in a watch by Chaumet. To be honest, I actually like the Chaumet version better from a design perspective. Does it make any sense with the Chaumet brand? Not really. They position the limited edition as a tribute to Chopin (who would have celebrated his 200th birthday this year). Placed in a Dandy watch case, the "Dandy Edition Metronome" will be limited to just 100 pieces, and be in an 18k white gold case. I like the black and white contrast meant to resemble piano keys. You can see the small metronome through a window in the dial placed at the bottom of the off-centered watch face. The little Lyre shows up once again - just like on the Steinway & Son's model.

At least Chaumet pay's tribute to Jean-Marc Wiederrecht, the watch maker who is more or less responsible for the cool little complication as part of the mechanical movement. Both the Chaumet and Steinway & Sons models are impressive, and unique from a design perspective. Though the fact that the movement wasn't really designed specially for Chaumet does take a bit away from the "reason" for the limited edition. Get the piece because you like the design and the complication, not because you think Chaumet really has anything to do with Chopin or timepieces in honor of great composers.

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

Tags: chaumet, dandy, metronome, watch

Steinway & Sons Seconde Metronomique Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Famous German piano maker Steinway & Sons has been also making watches for the last few years. Not directly I am sure, but via a partner who creates timepieces "in tune" with the theme of high-end pianos. A new watch with the Steinway & Sons name on it offers an interesting complication that fits quite nicely with the theme of the musical brand.

The Seconde Metronomique timepiece has a small metronome on the dial that "beats" each second, moving from side to side. It is unclear as to the audible nature of the complication, but it is an interesting feature and appropriate for the theme of the timepiece. It is part of the hand-wound caliber C60 mechanical movement that has a power reserve of 38 hours. Behind the metronome hand is a revolving gear with a lyre image in it, along with another lyre image on the deeply engraved guilloche gold and enamel dial.

The watch case is 43mm tall by 26mm wide and 10mm thick. The Steinway & Sonds Second Metronomique is part of a limited edition of just 300 pieces. This will be segmented in 100 pieces in either yellow, rose or white 18k gold cases. Certainly an interesting piece for music lover or instrument collectors.

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

Tags: metronome, seconde metronomique, steinway sons, watch