perpetual

Roger Dubuis La Monegasque Perpetual Calendar Watch

2011 sees an almost brand-new Roger Dubuis under the rule of Georges Kern (also of IWC and Baume & Mercier). Attempting to give the brand a new personality, the Roger Dubuis of today is all about sexy Casio games and midnight intrigue. The main collection for 2011 is the La Monegasque. One of the most interesting models is this one with a perpetual calendar and moon phase indicator. It looks lovely in the new looking case that is 44mm wide and in 18k pink gold. The bezel is actually in black PVD coated titanium.

The dials of the La Monegasque models are themed after roulette spinners. One of the limited editions actually looks just like one. You can see that include in the rings of numbers around the center. In true Roger Dubuis fashion, the in-house made automatic movement is complex and has a provocative layout. On the bottom is a really great looking moon phase indicator next to a date dial. There is a small leap year indicator above the date dial, while two small windows serve to indicate the month and date of the week. Really beautiful in my opinion. The movement is the Roger Dubuis calibre RD821J. For those interesting in Roger Dubuis styling and the complications the manufacture is known for - this upcoming La Monegasque Perpetual Calendar watch might be just the thing.

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

Tags: la monegasque, MG44-821J-59-00-0RR01-B, perpetual, roger dubuis, watch

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Contemporaine Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

The theme of many of this year's watches at SIHH was sellability versus novelty. There is next to nothing new or exciting about this new incredibly long-named Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Contemporaine Perpetual Calendar Ultra-Thin watch. Though it is a handsome fellow. It will sell well in Asia - what else can I say? My favorite part of the watch is something which is hard to tell in this image. That being the fact that the blue background of the moonphase indicator is lapis lazuli.

I give the watch a hard time because it doesn't feel special - that doesn't mean it isn't. A watch like this will have a timeless appeal, which is enhanced by its easy to read time, 41mm width (in 18k pink gold), and very slim case. Inside the watch is a Vacheron Constantin made Calibre 1120 QP automatic perpetual calendar movement. Look for it later this year.

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

Tags: 2011, calendar, patrimony, perpetual, Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, sihh, thin, vacheron constantin, watch

Chronoswiss Perpetual Calendar Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Finally a straight-forward perpetual calendar watch, once again. Many companies attempt to breathe a breath of fresh air into the common set of complications, but sometimes it is just nice to see a simple classic. Not only is the look of this Chronoswiss watch basic, but so is the name being just the "Chronoswiss Perpetual Calendar" watch. The 40mm watch sits on the stealth wealth side of the fence being in white gold, that a few feet away is almost indistinguishable from steel. Love those classic long, thin lugs.

I believe the dial comes in silver or black (blued steel hands on the silver dial). Inside the watch is the Chronoswiss manufacture made C. 127 caliber movement. Wound via the large crown, and providing the time, perpetual calendar functions, and moonphase indicators. At $34,600 it is a classic looking and high value watch compared to prices from Swiss brand. Ironically ChronoSWISS is a German brand.

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

Tags: calendar, chronoswiss, perpetual, watch

F.P. Journe Octa Perpetual Titanium Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Someone mentioned to me a while ago that F.P. Journe watches were all starting to look the same. I tacitly agreed and then began to give the idea some thought. A watch company (especially one that does not release many models) has a tough task of keeping a brand identity secure, while at the same time delivering innovation in terms of design and function. F.P Journe watches each have a distinct character to them, which is important to preserve in each new watch. Though I do agree that many of the their models were starting to look the same with just the subdials doing new things. This new Octa Perpetual Titanium is a different matter because I sincerely get the feeling that this is a brand new model, but still characteristically a F.P. Journe timepiece.

The dial here features an off-center watch face and emphasis on the perpetual calendar with the retrograde date display taking up most of the dial. There are also windows for the day and month an an almost hidden leap year indicator located inside of the month window. Notice in the image the lower window that reads "BFE." The "B" is actually on a separate disc and is the leap year indicator. "B" stands for "bissextile," which indicators the 4th, and thus leap year (other years simply read "1, 2, or 3"). The time is easy to read in the functional watch dial that is applied over the face and features some light, but tasteful decoration. I further like how the subsidiary seconds dial is built into the design.

Titanium is the metal of choice for the 40mm wide case of the Octa Perpetual Titanium watch, a metal I am not sure that F.P. Journe has used before for cases. Inside the watch is an automatic OCTA Calibre FPJ 1300-3 movement made from 18k rose gold (nice). Having an all gold movement is rather sexy, and you are able to view it through he caseback window. I think that having a heavy gold movement rather defeats the purpose of having a light titanium case, but I am sure that F.P. Journe had their reasons. The watch is also quite thin at about 10mm thick. Overall a very classic looking timepiece that is undeniably F.P. Journe in character with a lot of luxury appointments. It does of course include its quirks, which makes for a well-natured luxury watch.

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

Tags: fp journe, FpJourne, octa, perpetual, timepiece, titanium, watch

A. Lange & Sohne Datograph Perpetual Grey Dial Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

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.

Tags: a lange sohne, ALangeSohne, datograph, gray, gre, lange urhen, LangeUrhen, perpetual, soehne, timepiece, watch