This watch has to have one of the most detailed Chopard watch cases I have ever seen. The image here doesn't do this fact justice, but look at the sides and rear of the watch and you get a visual treat. This limited edition of just 500 pieces 18kt gold watch steps both forward and back with a refreshing look at the Chopard racing chronograph watch line. Case size is about 48mm wide (big for the brand!) by 15mm thick. It is water resistant to 100 meters.

Likely the brand's more popular collection are the Mille Miglia watches. The nomenclature burst open a bit so that the Mille Miglia name isn't applied to all of their racing themed watches, but fans "in the know" understand the heritage. One of the most fun elements is the gold three spoke racing steering wheel that is placed on the side of the rubber coated crown. The sides of the case are all nicely milled and cut with an interesting horizontal striping. The large screw columns intentionally protrude a bit giving it a very technical feel. The crown guard and rubberized integrated chronograph pushers are nicely done in a unique style. The black on rose gold tones are extremely contemporary.

Chopard never lets down with the dials on its racing watches. The hands (in gold) are always large and have a high contrast with the dial. Three overlapping chronograph subdials are subdued, but legible. The dial itself enjoys a vertical pattering which is new to the collection, while the minute marker scaled chapter ring is futuristic and retro at the same time. Inside the watch is a base ETA automatic chronograph movement that has been COSC Chronometer certified. Lastly, no Chopard racing watch would be complete without the requisite Dunlop tire tread rubber strap. Price is about $24,000.

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

As though such a dive watch needed any beautification to begin with? IWC thought otherwise and has now crafted one of its new popular Aquatimer Chronograph watches in gold. This is the IWC Ref. IW3769 and it represents that large demographic of fully capable dive watches that you'd never want to get wet. Unless you find yourself suddenly in a James Bond style action-filled chase that ends up in the ocean, you are going to baby this watch.

All rose gold cased watches such as this feel good in the hands being hefty and solid - just what a good diver's watch should feel like. Aside from rose gold, the case has the sapphire crystal covered bezel, and rubber for parts of the crown and pushers, and for the strap. You also get IWC's special quick release strap that was first seen on the 2009 aquatimer watches. The watch is 44mm wide by 15.5mm thick. Only water resistant to 120 meters though, so don't get any deep diving ideas.

Powering the watch is an IWC in-house made caliber 89360 automatic chronograph movement that I really love. Not only does it have a long-lasting 68 hours of power reserve, but it also has a 12 hour chronograph in a bi-compax array. It does this by have two hands in the upper subdial, making it count both the hours and minutes. IWC typifies the chronograph hands by making them in red. Really a fantastic layout from a popular movement that IWC uses in a few watches. The back of the watch has a sapphire caseback window showing the movement. Nothing is better for "everyday excess" than a luxury dive watch with an in-house movement in my opinion .

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

Harry Winston continues to fill out its line of sport watches with another Ocean Diver, this time a chronograph. A logical layout and color scheme for the chronograph subdials makes sense matched up to the luxury of 18k rose or white gold. The watch also contains copious amounts of Zalium - a special Harry Winston only metal alloy made up of aluminum and zirconium. Realize that "Ocean" is a name applied to an entire line of Harry Winston watches, so calling this watch the "Ocean Diver" Chronograph is not just a silly obvious statement. Harry Winston will not be releasing a "pond" or "stream" diver. The case is an admirable 44mm wide with three dial colors that are slate, silver, or rose gold. A fine looking dive watch with a nice rubber strap and the name of a good luxury brand attached to it. Pricey at between $36,400 and $39,400 dollars.

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

Girard-Perregaux has a number of timeless looking watches with the 1945 being among them. This restyled Vintage 1945 model watch is a triumph of a bygone era. Don't knock the 32mm x 32mm size of the square watch until you wear one. It sits small by today's standards, but I think you'll come to appreciate it. The 18k rose gold case blends with the honey alligator strap so nicely. It is also available in steel with a black dial.

New to the case are the "godrons." These are rib shaped areas that wrap around the corners of the watch. They mark the space between the case and the sharply angled lugs. Inside the watch is a automatic Girard-Perregaux GP3300 calibre movement viewable through a sapphire caseback window. The dial features applied gold hour markers and dauphine hands, as well as central guilloche engraving. The nicely placed date window sits between 1 and 2 o'clock while the prominent subsidiary seconds dial sit at 9 o'clock. A nicely in-set crown rounds out this beautiful little number.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Ok, we all saw the movie The Blood Diamond a while back and can no longer avoid contemplating the probability that the sparkly rocks on the market today were perhaps obtained by violence, human-rights abuses, child-labor, or environmental destruction. I practically swore-off buying diamonds all-together after seeing the movie -- for about a week. As conscientious consumers, we therefore must seek out alternative and ethical sources for our need to shine. Poom Fine Jewelry is one of these sources; not only does Poom use "conflict-free" diamonds, but she donates a portion from every sale to various local animal charities. Her designs are unique and current, yet simple and timeless. She has designed for important brides-to-be, movie stars, and has been featured in Elle Magazine numerous times. Her current collection includes very fashionable pieces such as cocktail rings, modern bangles, and circle-motif earrings meant for those of us who still value the elegant understatement in jewelry design. This creation, cleverly-named "Mr. Big" in 18K rose-gold, diamonds, and pink-sapphires, forecasts the hottest upcoming trend in diamond pendant forms: the circular disc. Stay envious and ahead of the rest all the while knowing that with your purchase, you may have saved a child from horrid working conditions and a goat from starvation. "Mr. Big" retails for $5,000.

I've commented before on brown watches and the winning combination of brown and rose gold. Iridesse Pearls has caught on to the trend combining Chocolate Tahitian pearls with rose gold. Their new collection pairs the luminous brown pearls and gold with cognac diamonds and pink sapphires in earrings and pendants as well as the bracelet shown here. The bracelet has big beautiful brown pearls and oversized gold links with a pink sapphire tassel. It sells for $4795.

This beautiful watch from Baume et Mercier is part of the Classima Executive collection. The Ref. 8690 is a a jump hour mechanical watch that uses an automatic ETA caliber modified by Dubois Dépraz into the caliber 14400 with jump hour function. The case is 18K rose gold and measures 39mm. There is a sapphire crystal and a display back that is engraved with the golden ratio and Pi. It is a limited edition of 176 pieces.