tourbillon

New Luxury 'Scuderia One' Ferrari Watch By Cabestan - Only For Ferrari Owners

Murmurs about a deal between Ferrari and a new watch maker partner have been looming since their mutual break-up with Panerai. While Ferrari has some less expensive watches out there, they need a good high-end timepiece with their name on it. I suppose the question for them was to go classic or wild? Well they went wild. The new deal seems to have been a product of courtship by talented watch designer Jean-Francios Ruchonnet on behalf of Cabestan, one of the brands that he designs watches for. Recent news has confirmed that the deal has been signed, and Ferrari will soon have watches made by the boutique luxury watch brand. Ruchonnet will design the watches - and here is a prototype.

The new watch, called the Scuderia Ferrari One by Cabestan, is clearly based on a design combination of the new Cabestan Nostromo and the existing Cabestan Winch Vertical Tourbillon. The design has of course been influenced by modern Ferrari design and technology. The middle bridge section is in carbon fiber, and I wouldn't be surprised is the strap is made in materials used for seats and/or steering wheels. Of course, this may be just a prototype images, but Ferrari is likely happy with the look.

Price for the piece will be 300,000 euros and will be a limited edition of 60 pieces. It will have a tourbillon and does have the very time-consuming-to-produce fusee chain - where each link in the tiny bicycle chain style series of links is made by hand (by master watch maker Eric Coudray). The movement is extremely accurate for a mechanical watch at about plus or minus one second per day. Units of production? Not sure. Is this the idea watch that you want a poster of next to that new sexy Italian super car? Maybe. For those who aren't in the know, the time is told on rotating, vertically aligned barrels. Overall, the watch is certainly cool. It was when it was just a Cabestan, and it will be with the Ferrari name on it. According to Cabestan, the watch will only be available to Ferrari clients. Not sure what that means, but it sounds like it will be sold only by Ferrari, perhaps only to Ferrari automobile customers.

Partially Via Business Montres (in French).

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

Tags: cabestan, ferrari, one, ruchonnet, scuderia, tourbillon, watch

Bulgari Daniel Roth Tourbillon Chrono Rattrapante Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

I am not sure exactly what is happening to the Daniel Roth visual aesthetic now that Bulgari has officially sunken its teeth into the each watch by having Bulgari branding. A small "Daniel Roth" label lives at the bottom next to the name of the movement. Looks like the branding message going forward is Bulgari design and character, with Daniel Roth movements - or something like that. This watch takes the (presumably new or newer) Calibre 8300 manually wound tourbillon movement with rattrapante (split second) chronograph and fumbles with a design to stick it in. From an academic standpoint the Calbire 8300 is an interesting a well laid out movement. The dial has a subsidiary watch face, with an emphasis on the 30 minute chronograph mechanism. It also has an exposed tourbillon window, and a power reserve indicator for the movement. All necessary things, and laid out well, in a logical, user friendly way. Though. when it comes down to it, this is a watch almost exclusively for collectors. The pool of people that need a very expensive watch that gives most of the dial real estate to a split second chronograph is minimal.

Tags: bulgari, bvlgari, chrono, chronograph, daniel roth, rattrapante, tourbillon, watch

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Concord C1 EternalGravity Jewelry Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Imagine you run Concord and get antsy one day. "Everyone else has a crazy one-of-a-kind jewelry watch, why can't we?" So you take your flagship watch from a couple of years ago an slather it richly with precious diamonds and carnelians just like a deli would put cream cheese and lox on a bagel. In a sense, that is what the Concord C1 EternalGravity tourbillon watch looks like. The diamonds are the cream cheese, and the pink/red carnelians is the smoked salmon. Though it won't be easy to take a bite out of this massive timepiece that is 48.5mm wide and 18.5mm thick in mostly 18k white gold.

Before it was the EternalGravity, the watch was merely the Concord C1 Tourbillon Gravity watch. The focus being on the tourbillon escapement that was vertically aligned and placed facing outward on the lower right hand of the case. The hand-wound movement featured a power reserve indicator for the movement, a torque indicator, time, and a 12 hour flyback chronograph (placed into one dial) that includes hour and minutes, but not seconds. BNB Concept made the Calibre C100 movement but is no longer around. So perhaps the movement is more interesting because in a sense the artist that made it is dead.

Gallery: Concord C1 EternalGravity Jewelry Watch

Tags: c1, concord, diamonds, eternal gravity, eternalgravity, tourbillon, watch

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Richard Mille RM027 Rafael Nadal Watch Is Ultra Light Weight

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Richard Mille excites us with another ultra-expensive timepiece with an interesting bragging point. This complex tourbillon mechanical watch weighs just 20 grams (with the strap). An incredibly light timepieces, which boggles the mind given its complex movement (which itself weights just 3.83 grams). Amazing! Probably the lighted luxury watch of its type ever. Adding to the the wow factor is the intended durability of the watch. The piece marks the official partnership between Richard Mille and tennis player Rafael Nadal - who will actually wear the watch during his tennis matches. Watch lovers understand that this last point is bound to raise questions. An ultra light weight watch, with a tourbillon, made to survive the abusive stress of a wrist while playing professional tennis? Yes.

A few years ago Tag Heuer was proud of its special golf watch for Tiger Woods, made to be worn (and be comfortable) while playing golf. This new announcement by Richard Mille makes the prior Tag Heuer watch seem almost irrelevant. Though there is a price. The RM027 Tourbillon watch will cost a whopping $525,000 and be limited to just 50 pieces. So what makes it so light and durable?

The answer is all in the materials. The case itself is 48mm by 39.7mm in size, and just 11.85mm thick. It is made from a composite of mostly carbon. Richard Mille isn't clear on the crystal, but it is probably something other than sapphire, and is said to have a high degree of durability and flexibility. The watch strap is a flexible polycarbonate. All the magic is in the movement. It is a manually wound caliber RM 027 with a tourbillon and 48 hours of power reserve. It is with a titanium baseplate, and bridges made from something called aluminum lithium (LITAL). The exotic metal alloy is extremely light and used for some high-profile industrial or aeronautical uses. By using interesting materials that are light and strong, Richard Mille has succeeded in developing arguably one of the most important luxury sport watches ever. With its ultra light weight and durability, Richard Mille should continue to be looked at as a maker of "useful" luxury watches for the highly privileged watch lover.

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

Tags: lightest, Rafael Nadal, Richard Mille, RM 027, RM027, tourbillon, watch, weight

UTS Tourbillon Watch - Really?

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Call me old fashioned by I like my rugged durable watches - rugged and durable. When I think of a tank manufacturer, I don't ever want them to consider making a tank out of gold. That seems to be metaphorically what German UTS did by making this tourbillon watch. The expensive complication is delicate and more of an horological cause for bragging. It's barely something that assists in function or durability. So why put one in there? Pretty much just to say that you did, and to satisfy a certain realm of collectors. The manually wound tourbillon movement has a power reserve of three days and is made by SST, a movement company now owned by Bovet Dimier. The watch is water resistant to 1000 meters and the open tourbillon escapement carriage looks misplaced on UTS's typically minimalist, functional dials. I just sort of roll my eyes at this and think of the brand as a little less pure. Price for this rare piece is about 30,000 euros. No deal for me.

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

Tags: tourbillon, UTS, uts tourbillon watch, watch

Volna Volnatomic Tourbillon Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Horological artist extraordinaire Yvan Arpa is at it again. Due to the popularity of pieces like his Artya Tourbillon that I discussed here, he has been influenced to continue this trend of mini diorama works of art with high watch complications. This here is a prototype of the Volnatomic Tourbillon watch. What is Volnatomic? Well it is a special collection of watches that Arpa is making for Volna. The top of the line will be a limited edition set of tourbillon watches such as this. The tourbillon carriage will look like an atomic symbol, and the design of the dial will be loosely based on the inside of an atomic submarine. Look at the left of the dial to discover two liquid filled canisters. These are filled with liquid SuperLumiNova that is meant to glow in the dark - a concept Arpa wants to take further.

Fans of Volna watches will recognize the watch is in the Volna case - large and in PVD steel. On the side of the case is a sapphire window showing more of the movement and art contained in the watch. You have to love a piece like this for its humor, artistic bravery, and good use of high-end watch complications. The rest of the Volnatomic collection uses a lot of the same imagery, will be much less expensive, and should be released later this year. For lovers of this awesome Volnatomic Tourbillon, the final version will be a limited edition of a yet to be disclosed amount.

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

Tags: Baselworld 2010, BaselworldWatchShow, tourbillon, volna, volnatomic, watch, yvan arpa, YvanArpa

Chopard L.U.C Engine One Tourbillon

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Just say the word "tourbillon" and you'll have most watch enthusiasts drooling. But even in such a rarified field, the Chopard L.U.C. Engine One Tourbillon stands a breed apart.

The outcome of years spent participating in motor racing on the part of the company's owners, the Engine One Tourbillon draws its inspiration from a car's motor, both in style and substance. The manual movement – which like any tourbillon rotates inside its case once every 60 seconds to stay accurate and double as a second hand in and of itself – is attached to rubber mountings and three lever-arms. The 60-hour power reserve at 12 o'clock – uncluttered by the hour indices which have been etched into the sapphire crystal – looks like a fuel gauge, mounted on a face that would look at home under the hood of a Bentley.

All that is housed in a titanium case and strapped down by hand-stitched alligator with a titanium clasp. But don't start drooling just yet: Chopard's only making 150 examples, and each is tipped to sell for more than $100,000.

Gallery: Chopard L.U.C. Engine One Tourbillon

Tags: chopard, Chopard L.U.C., chopard l.u.c. engine one tourbillon, tourbillon

Louis Moinet Jurassic Tourbillon Watch With Fossilized Dinosaur Bone

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Rare and old rocks on watches are quickly becoming one of Louis Moinet's specialties. Until now it was mostly space rocks and old stones, but they are are getting into the fossil business. The operative term for this collection is "Time Explorator." A strange sounding term that refers to a yet-to-be-shown display box with all sorts of cool stuff going on. It will contain a bunch of watches and other time travely features - and will otherwise be known as "the treasure chest of origins."

So the Jurassic Tourbillon watch is just that - one of Louis Moinet's standard Tourbillon timepieces with a dial made from actual fossilized dinosaur bone. Cool! The case is in white gold and 47mm wide with baguette cut diamonds on the bezel and lugs. Louis Moinet chose rust colored galuchat for the strap to make the style of the fossilized bone on the dial. Now I want a watch with T-Rex teeth styled hands. Look out for more Time Explorator watches and items soon.

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

Tags: Fossil, Jurassic, Louis Moinet, LouisMoinet, Time Explorator, TimeExplorator, Tourbillon

Haldimann Horology H8 Sculptura....Watch?

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Can you call something a watch that does not tell the time? I am not sure. Well assuming you can, this new watch is from Haldimann Horology, and it is the H8 Sculptura. In a nutshell it is a tourbillon movement with the tourbillon in the center of the dial, and well nothing else. The starkness of everything except the tourbillon is meant to emphasize and draw all of your attention to the tourbillon escapement.

As most of you know (and some don't), a tourbillon is an expensive source of visual interest. They are fun to watch, and that is just about it when it comes to practicality. Of course, they are hard to make as well. Haldimann Horology touts this as an "art piece," or rather a moving sculpture where the tourbillon is the art. Yea, that is sort of cool, but for the money this watch likely costs, you can probably get a watch with a tourbillon that you can see in operation, as well as other things, such as the time maybe? The H8 Sculptura comes in a 39 or 42mm wide case in platinum, with a sapphire crystal (front and back), and features a relatively nice case design.

Tags: H8, Haldimann Horology, HaldimannHorology, Sculptura, tourbillon, watch

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Alpina Extreme Tourbillon Regulator Manufacture Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

As a limited edition of just 36 pieces (18 of each version) Swiss Alpina will release this new Extreme Tourbillon Regulator Manufacture watch. What exactly is extreme about it? No idea. Perhaps use of the term "extreme" is extreme. Though I do know this watch stems from a long line of "extreme" Alpina watches. Unique in the world of tourbillon movements are regulator watches, which this timepiece is. This is all part of Alpina's own caliber AL-980 automatic tourbillon movement. It has got a silicium lever and escapement wheel in the movement - if that doesn't mean anything to you, don't worry. Though those are good talking points for a luxury watch. The watch will come in two versions. Each has a 48mm wide case. One comes with a brushed titanium case and a pink gold bezel, and the other with a black ceramic bezel and a pink gold case. On the dial you get the large minute style hour markers and skeletonized 'bubble baton' hands in brushed steel for an intended sporty look. The simple style is one of those looks that appears best while being worn. In such a limited edition, pieces like this exist in a large sense to promote Alpina's more reasonably priced timepieces.

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

Gallery: Alpina Extreme Tourbillon Regulator Manufacture watch

Tags: Alpina, Extreme, limited edition, LimitedEdition, Manufacture, Regulator, Tourbillon, watch

DeMonaco Carre d'Or Squelette Tourbillon Minute Repeater Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Shown at the Geneva Time Exhibition, but apparently not for official release until Baselworld, here is the newest creation from DeMonaco. The parts for their watches are Swiss made and assembled in Monaco. They further have their own designed movements. The main reason for the official release later on? Because of the 8 pieces they plan to produce in the limited edition, only this one has been made, and it has already been sold.

Showing great talent for design and finishing, the new DeMonaco Carre d'Or Squelette watch comes in a 46 by 50mm square-ish case in 18k rose gold with a titanium core. Movement is the new TB-RM1 manually wound tourbillon movement with a 48 hour power reserve. The tourbillon has DeMonaco's signature sapphire crystal bridge which is very cool, and a pain to manufacture. The mainplate of the movement is seen right through the skeletonized dial of the watch, that is cut to form the art deco style Roman numerals. Check out the diamond shaped titanium hour markers that are polished and neat looking. The watch hands are solid gold. Flip the watch over to reveal a beautiful and unique manner of movement decoration. Much of the shapes are small pyramids.

Aside from the tourbillon and the time, the major complication here is the minute repeater. It is operated via the slide lever on the left side of the case. The watch comes with a large wooden amplifier as part of the case that helps the minute repeater chimes sound louder. The hand finishing all over the case is really well done and I am certainly impressed with this new brand. Price for this watch is high, I don't recall the exact amount, but it is over $100,000.

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

Gallery: DeMonaco Carre d'Or Squelette Watch

Tags: carre dor, CarreDor, Demonaco, dMc-TB-RM, minute repeater, MinuteRepeater, monaco, skeleton, tourbillon, watch

Cabestan Winch Tourbillon Vertical Watch & Upcoming New Release

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Last week I had some one on one time with every one's favorite winch wound tourbillon watch, the Cabestan. The mechanics of the Cabestan Winch Tourbillon Vertical watch are as impressive as its finishing. In Cabestan's employ is a truly remarkable watch maker who ensure that the entire system looks and works beautifully. Plus, the Cabestan was designed by the heralded watch designer Jean-Francois Ruchonnet.

The most recent Cabestan Winch Tourbillon Vertical watch has some differences from the original that came out a few years ago. Notable is the removal of the winch. Instead, to stream line the look and feel of the watch, the winch is including as a separate part - and is very complex and interesting in its own right. You attach the winch device to the watch to wind it. One of the most notable things about the Cabestan is just how small it is. Not that it is little, but you'd imagine it was massive in size when it is actually very wearable. This is also a testament to the ingenuity of the watch maker. And of course the watch is very cool.

Looking inside the watch you have two sapphire crystals through which you can see the vertically mounted tourbillon (lower right hand corner) that doubles as the seconds indicator, the hours and minutes, and a power reserve indicator on the mainspring barrel. As a means of power transfer, the watch relies on a fusee and chain complication that uses a tiny hand-make chain. The watch is truly a remarkable horological machine.

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

Gallery: Cabestan Nostromo watch

Tags: Cabestan, Nostromo, tourbillon, vertical, watch, Winch

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Omega Central Tourbillon Co-Axial Platinum Limited Edition Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

In a time when ultra expensive watches aren't doing as well as well-designed moderately priced ones, it is funny to see Omega release a clearly expensive limited edition tourbillon watch in platinum. But with only 18 pieces their motive isn't likely profit here, but street cred. There is a growing tendency among mainstream level luxury watch brands to assert themselves technologically. Meaning, prove that they have what it takes to build very complex modern watches, with the hopes that this conceptual perception will seep its way into consumer's minds who wish to purchase everything from a Speedmaster to a Seamaster. Yes of course it is true that the movements in those watches came way before this the new Omega manually wound Calibre 2636 in this Central Tourbillon Co-Axial Platinum watch, but we are talking "perception" not necessarily reality.

The whole techno point of this new Omega tourbillon watch is to have a centrally mounted tourbillon. As you can see it is placed in the middle of the watch dial. This hasn't been done before in just such a manner, but there are other watches that could claim to have centrally mounted tourbillons - such as the new Thomas Prescher Mysterious Automatic Double Axis Tourbillon watch (square case though). What Omega can claim is that everything here is centrally mounted (sort of). Because there is no place for the hands to be mounted in the middle of the watch, they are actually printed on sapphire discs that move around the dial. This gives it a "mysterious" look meaning you can't easily see how the hands are attached to anything.

Each tourbillon carriage is hand made meaning it is a bit different from the last. A master watch maker dedicates 100s of hours to making each one. You can see the seconds hand placed over the 60 second tourbillon as it doubles as a seconds counter. In Omega fashion, this tourbillon is certified as a Chronometer (for accuracy) making it a bit unique among tourbillon watches. Aside from the tourbillon you have a nice open dial showing you the movement. The platinum case is De Ville style (from that current watch line) and is matched to an Alligator strap. The watch isn't the most attractive novelty I have seen lately, but is probably pretty impressive in person. Surely Omega will find 18 collectors who "gotta have it." Not sure about price, but it won't be affordable.

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

Tags: central, limited edition, LimitedEdition, Omega, platinum, tourbillon, watch

Hublot Gold King Power Tourbillon GMT Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Hublot strikes hard with a less-than-innovative, but still satisfying large Big Bang watch with a host of luxury features. First is the new type of gold alloy used for most of the case called "King Gold." It is basically what looks to be rose gold with less rose in it. Think of it as a hint of white gold as it has 5% platinum in it. Interesting that Hublot is not the only brand this year to make up a new gold. A. Lange & Sohne have released their Honey Gold alloy as well.

The Hublot Gold King Power Tourbillon GMT is also the first watch to have a tourbillon as well as a second timezone and retrograde date indicator. Does this really feel innovative? Again, no - but you do have "technical" bragging rights. The case is large at 48mm wide in King Gold, titanium, ceramic, composite resin, and rubber. The dial has a nice look in theory, but a lot of it likely gets lost as the tones as similar. Meaning the watch is not super easy to read. Still, it looks pretty sharp, and that is what Hublot watches of this caliber are going for. In The dial is a mix of a real dial with hour indicators on it and the exposed movement. You have a view of the tourbillon as well as some of the major gears that power the watch. Price will of course be expensive by this is part of a limited edition of just 28 pieces. Hublot collectors are getting giddy as I speak. More details closer to release at Baselworld 2010 in March. It might sound as though I am speaking both negatively and positively at the same time out the watch - this is true. I am irritated that Hublot does not need to try hard anymore to have nice watches, but am happy that they have such a winning formula.

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

Tags: Hublot, king, power, tourbillon, watch

Richard Mille RM022 Aerodyne Tourbillon Dual Time Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

The newest dual time watch from Richard Mille applies some rather exotic materials to the component mix, further making Richard Mille watches standout as those who enjoy fascinating mechanical features as well as fascinating construction. Actually, as far as Richard Mille watches go, the RM022 Aerodyne Tourbillon Dual Time watch is pretty "simple." This, the watch has an impressive level of complications that are meant to keep your eyes busy on the dial.

As a watch, the RM022 tells the time as well as a second time zone. The second timepiece is displayed on a transparent ring that travels around the main dial. The hour here being indicated on that part of the ring over the white colored segment. That is it for telling the time. However, the Aerodyne Tourbillon doesn't stop there. Of course there is the tourbillon escapement complication located under the cage at 6 o'clock, a function indicator on the dial (you press a button in the crown to select its function rather than pulling the crown out), a power reserve indicator for the 70 hours of power reserve in the RM022 manually wound movement, as well as a torque indicator for the movement. Does that watch need all this? No, but it certainly distinguishes the luxury sport watch buying experience with Richard Mille.

Materially speaking the 39.7mm wide by 48mm tall case is in either titanium or 18k red gold (would look nice in either material). The front and rear of the watch contain an interesting alloy known as Orthorhombic titanium aluminides. This metal creates the honeycomb pattern that you see and is utterly spage-age in origin. Beyond looking cool and sounding like a necessary part of a growning space shuttle's diet, it is only there to delight your senses.You don't have to love the watch via first glance, but once you get a chance to handle Richard Mille watches in person, you'll realize they are a different type of luxury item.

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

Tags: aerodyne, dual, richard mille, RichardMille, rm 022, rm022, tourbillon, watch

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