thin

Rado True Thinline Is Thinnest Ceramic Watch

For 2011 Rado - the original brand of the ceramic watch - releases the thinnest ceramic watch ever with the True Thinline collection. Based on the True collection, the Thinline comes in a very thin round case in either black or white ceramic. Basically this is a high-end thin Swatch Skin, in ceramic. That is OK because both are part of the Swatch group. The watch is just 5mm thick. It is also 39mm wide by 43.3mm tall. 5mm in thickness is thinner than it sounds, and this is like wearing a wrist wafer.

Technically unisex, these are more or less women's watches. They come with or without diamonds in the hour indicators and are on while or black rubber straps with a ceramic buckle. The crystal is sapphire and inside the watch is a Swiss ETA quartz movement. My choice is the while model as the hands have the most contrast and I think it fits the thin watch theme the best.

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

Gallery: Rado True Thinline watch

Tags: ceramic, rado, thin, thinline, thinnest, true, watch, watches

A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Thin Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

My favorite high-end German watch maker released a new thin movement for 2011. Not that A. Lange & Sohne movements are super thick to begin with, but the new Saxonia Thin is an elegant two-handed watch with a surprisingly warm spirit. You'll notice that the piece isn't called an "ultra-thin." The movement is just 2.9mm tall, so it could technically be referred to as that. The watch itself is 5.9mm thick. I think that A. Lange & Sohne is not a brand of self-promoting names. The Germans are straight forward and sober in their execution of watches - and I like that. Technically speaking the concept of "ultra-thin" doesn't mean anything. The watch is "thin," end of story.

40mm wide, the case, hands, and hour indicators are in 18k pink gold. The dial is solid silver, done in a classic, but not boring style. This is a watch for when you want that Lange look in a simple watch. The in-house made and designed movement is the new Calibre L093.1 manually wound movement. It is the thinnest movement A. Lange & Sohne has done so far. Despite the thin size, it still has three days of power reserve. A good looking watch, expect it to arrive soon - with more colors in the coming years (I am guessing).

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

Gallery: A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Thin Watch

Tags: a. lange sohne, Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, saxonia, sihh, thin, 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

Richard Mille RM017 Tourbillon Extra Flat Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Richard Mille RM017 Tourbillon Extra Flat Watch

I was asked a while ago about the future potential of "ultra thin" tourbillon watches. I said that while I am sure a few would come out here and there, I didn't see it having lots of legs with collectors. That will be tested in 2011 and 2012 and brands begin to offer thinner tourbillon movements based on the "thin watch kick" that we are currently experiencing. It also makes sense because there really aren't too many more places we can go with tourbillons aside from flat. Part of the problem is that tourbillons require a certain amount of room as it is, and making them too flat starts to take away from the visual appeal of them in my opinion. Regardless, Richard Mille is about to release their own "ultra thin" tourbillon. What other case to put it in than their rectangular shaped "Extra-Flat" RM017.

The case is 8.70mm thick, so Richard Mille needed to develop a think tourbillon movement to place inside of it. They did, and the movement uses titanium plates which makes for an interesting look. It manually wound has about 70 hours of power reserve. There is a power reserve indicator on the dial, as well as a "function selector." Rather than pull the crown out, you press it in like a button to selection functions such as "set, wind, etc..." Trust that being Richard Mille, there will be a number of beautifully complex features in the movement that help justify the price.

The watch case itself is 38mm wide and almost 50mm tall. Here it is done in 18k rose gold with titanium. The case is really quite comfortable and comes with a rubber strap. I love the caseback window done in a tonneau shape to recall the case shape of most of Richard Mille's other timepieces. The RM017 Tourbillon Extra Flat will be limited to 50 pieces and available sometime next year.

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

Tags: flat, richard mille, rm017, thin, tourbillon, watch

Piaget Caliber 600P Is Thinnest Tourbillon Watch Movement In The World

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Piaget has a long history with ultra-thin mechanical watch movements. They pride themselves on having records such as the thinnest manually wound movement, as well as the thinnest automatic movement. Now they have created the thinnest manually wound movement with a tourbillon escapement. Considered to be very complex and hard to make, tourbillons aren't usually attempted in thin variants.

Piaget has succeeded in making its Caliber 600P movement just 3.5mm thick - which includes skeletonized bridges and a flying tourbillon. The movement is seen here in mostly 18k rose gold with diamonds set into much of the mainplate. The movement is 22.4mm wide by 28.64mm tall, has a power reserve of 40 hours, and looks to be made to fit in rectangle Piaget Emperador style watch cases. You can click "READ MORE" below to see a new Piaget promotional video that showcases the watch as well as the making of the movement.

Ultra-thin tourbillon movements are destined to remain highly niche, even more so that regular tourbillon, but it makes sense for Piaget to hold the honor (at this time) of making the thinnest one around. The 600P is an horological achievement under Piaget's belts, but in 2011 the Swiss brand will be setting another record with a tourbillon movement.

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

Tags: 600p, caliber, piaget, thin, thinnest, tourbillon, watch, watches

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