History and jewelry meet watch making once again at Angular Momentum with this Belle Epoque Eternal Time watch. The Belle Epoque era occurred before the Art Deco era, and was located mostly in the newly modernizing Europe of the late 19th century. The style combined classical elements with new forms of industrialization inspired decoration. It was edgy for the time, and certainly a bit baroque.

This new watch from Angular Momentum (as part of the Time Galley collection of timepieces) captures some of that look in this 18k white gold 41mm wide case decorated with an impressive number of diamonds. Two larger baguette cut diamonds sit at 12 and 6 o'clock. Time is told via the two gold colored orbs set behind the white gold and diamonds star medallion in the center of the watch. The larger orb is for the hours, while the smaller orb is for the minutes. Inside the watch is Swiss automatic mechanical movement. Quite an interesting and rare jewelry piece of horological art.

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

Louis Vuitton has just released two new Monogram watch cases. While Louis Vuitton has been making watches for a while, it is not clear whether or not they have previously made watch cases. Though it makes total sense for the luxury bag and luggage maker to do so. One case is trunk style, and suitable for 8 watches. While the other is more like a roll case, and sized for 3-4 watches. Each are made in France, with the brand's usual style and noticeable exterior.

The inside is made of a microfiber material that should be nice on your watches, while pads are used for the watch themselves (which are removable). The smaller case has a brass buckle, while the larger mini-trunk case uses a lock and key. They both make good travel cases - something which is hard to find for watches as most travel cases take up more space than they are worth. Louis Vuitton also suggests that the cases are ideal for storing watches in while they are in a safe. I'm sure you'll think of all sorts of good ways to show these Monogram cases off. Prices are up there - $620 for the 8.3 inch wide smaller case, and $4,070 for the 13.4 inch wide mini-trunk.

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

Different watch companies are doing different things to address their less-than-stellar sales performance these days. A large area of focus is the confusing US market. Even in good times, most foreign watch companies are confused by American watch buying trends. That combined with the fact that they rely on third parties much of the time to oversee and manage US operations and distribution has got them thinking about how to improve things. One approach being enacted by a few companies is what Raymond Weil watches just did - that is take over US operations themselves.

The recently incorporated Raymond Weil (RW) USA Corp. is a new company, but is related to the parent brand. This allows the company to have more control, and a better understanding of what is going on in the States, and how best to conduct business here. Raymond Weil is fortunate to have a history of good sales and a strong market presence in the US. The new RW USA Corp. will hire many of the existing employees from the previous distributor and focus on strengthening relations with its best retailers - mostly department and jewelry stores around the US. There is also dedication to assisting with marketing support (very important as brand tend to not help wit expensive marketing costs), and to giving US retailers the best products for the holiday season - which is also important as for some reason US stores get shafted when it comes to getting the newest and best watch products compared to the rest of the world. As a reasonably attractive, and well priced luxury brand, Raymond Weil should come out ahead in the future if they play their cards right in the US.

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

After teasing me for months with a simple placeholder movie on their website, the CONFRÉRIE HORLOGÈRE website is finally ready for action. The Confrerie Horlogere is new watch making arm of BNB Concept, one of Switzerland's best complex watch movement makers. One of their first watches was sold as a one-off piece for the sum of 280,000 euros. The brand combines the talent of enthusiastic young watch makers with the engineering prowess of a movement making powerhouse. One of the best things about the watches is that many of them carry lifetime warranties.

The new website is just as interesting and daring as some of the timepieces. Like a skeletonized watch, the website is also skeletonized. In website design, a navigational map or tree is often made to explain how the site will work, and how pages are connected to one another. In a unique move, the Confrerie Horlogere made the finished site to look like this. You literally navigate around the tree as new areas pop up. I've personally never seen anything like it before, and I like the concept. It isn't perfect, but it is a novel way of checking out the website of an interesting brand. They could use the addition of a more traditional navigation bar in addition to the system they have, and of course they need to flesh the site out with more content. Overall I think you'll be impressed with the courage and dedication the brand has with not only their watches, but with their media presentation as well.

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

Linde Werdelin aims to please and knows that you really need to handle their watches to appreciate them. That is a bit hard if you aren't near one of the few spots around the world where you can get their watches. Since conception they have offered a "trial run" of their line, and have just now revamped the watch trial program to include new watches. The new offer is better and easier than ever. Linde Werdelin presents the "Test Set," a combo pack of a watch plus Linde Werdelin's "The Rock" Land Instrument. It is a computer device that attaches on top of their watches that provides you with many sensors and useful features for extreme Earth surface exploration.

After filling out a short form, Linde Werdelin will send you a watch that you choose (depending on availability) and you can test it out for five days. If you don't like it, you can return it with no obligation to purchase. Available watches in the Test Set include the all titanium SpidoLite, Oktopus, The One (various styles), Two-Timer, and 3-Timer (various styles) watches. They will come with an aluminum The Rock as well. Very cool watches that I am a fan of. For more information go to Linde Werdelin.

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

More bad news from the hard hit watch/jewelry world. This time it's jewelry manufacturer and watchband seller Speidel. The Rhode-Island-based company filed for receivership last week and all the employees have been laid off . The company's assets will be put up for the sale in the next 90 days. JCK Online reports that the company's largest creditor, Sovereign Bank, is owed $4.4 million.

Speidel also owns the watch repair company Providence Watch Hospital which is now also in receivership. The Providence Journal reports that people who have left items for repair will be notified about how to claim their pieces. The company employed seven watchmakers and five technicians who serviced 55,000 timepieces a year.

UPDATE: Speidel's assets have been sold to private equity firm Cerce Capital for $1.65 million.

Concord and I have had a funny little brief history as I have not been as kind to their watch designs as they would have hoped for. I reviewed such watches at their "$$$,$$$" priced Quantum Gravity Tourbillon with less than jovial enthusiasm. Concord even responded to me via their CEO Vincent Perriard who admirably defended the brand, and his ideas. It was a sign of his dedication to his position and the brand that he helped rebuild. Now that dedication has waned and Mr. Perriard has resigned from Concord, to be effective as soon as possible. He will now take the helm at TechnoMarine, a wholly different type of watch company fitting into a lower end segment with much higher volume production.

I have to ask myself whether this move was prompted by Mr. Perriard's outgrowing of Concord, or vice versa. There have been many critics (such as myself) of where Concord strayed during its "re-birth." Others seemingly loved it as a few of the watches even received design awards. Though I suppose not all was well, and now the critics may have prevailed as Concord might have the possibility to offer arguably more "marketable" watches under new leadership (as of now still undecided). I can't speak as to the sentiments on each side of the table, but I sense a degree of "bad blood" as it appears Perriard ditched camp before his time was due - leaving Concord floundering to fill the position and delicately plan its future. We will see what types of new ideas Perriard can breathe into TechnoMarine that has traditionally enjoyed a fair amount of market success.

Via WorldTempus (in French).

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

This is something you should certainly see if you are in, or going to be in Paris at the right time. Breguet watches will be having a special exhibition at the splendid Louvre museum in Paris, France from June 25 until September 7, 2009. The special exhibit is will be known as the "Apogee of Watch Making" a pretty lofty title, for what is essentially a history of Breguet, but what a history it is! Abraham-Louis Breguet is often known as the father of modern watch making. A lot of what he developed in his lifespan in the latter half of the 18th century (up to 1823) is still used in many of today's luxury wrist watches, even though he never made a wrist watch during his life (just clocks and pocket watches). The exhibit will showcase historical pocket watches and clocks, watch making tools, art, and historical documents and watch-related patents. Breguet watches were, and are today extremely inventive and also beautiful. They are probably the "favorite-child brand" of Nicolas Hayek, leader of the Swatch Group that has Breguet under its brand umbrella. The exhibit of course was helped by a generous contribution from Breguet to the Louvre.

The exhibit will require a separate entrance fee and will be open regular hours, and until 10pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. For more information please visit www.louvre.fr or call 01 40 20 53 17 (France number).

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

Tourneau is the largest chain of watch retailers in the world with their largest store in Las Vegas in the Caesar's Palace Forum Shops, and headquartered in New York City. Like all retail watch stores, Tourneau has been hit hard by the economic slump due to drastically decreased luxury watch demand. On the plus side, they finally started to sell (some) watches online via their website. Notable is the sale of Tag Heuer watches online. Whether or not related to rapidly changing business environment of watch sales that prior to 2000 (or so) was more or less the same for 100 years, Tourneau's CEO of 18 years Howard Levitt will step down at the end of 2009.

His term might end sooner, as he will stick around until the company finds a replacement which might come earlier than the end of the year. Tourneau really became a focal point of luxury watch brands having such a vast presence all over the world, and having so many different brands for sale (which differ by location). Levitt was of course instrumental in that fact. Not sure if he was also responsible for Tourneau's in-house brand of less expensive watches which sort of serve as a consolation item to people who step in to the store not able to afford most of the popular brand watches but still wanting something.

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

It was only a matter of time before the popular Graham Swordfish watch got overhauled into a woman's watch. It doesn't make a heck of a lot of sense given the fact that the Swordfish is a large aggressive watch attempting to evoke an image of air combat, but with popularity comes marketability. The image of the watch has been reformed into something sparkly that makes you think of the well-known Beatles' song. The clever connection links the British band to the British watch brand, and suggests that "Lucy in the Sky" is still a watch with an aviation theme. Though I don't think Graham wants its potential customers considering floating over strawberry fields - forever.

Inside the watch is an automatic mechanical chronograph movement. The bug-eyed chronograph subdial magnifiers remain, but are basically useless as the dials now just have hands with some random placed diamonds. You'd have to be really sharp to use the chronograph with any precision. The watch does look pretty with over 150 diamonds organically placed all over the dial and case. Oddly enough, the watch is still 46mm wide, which would look silly on all but the largest wristed of women. There are plenty of men even who won't wear a 46mm wide watch. The main draw of the timepiece is the aggressive large size with soft decoration making for bold statement of a watch. The Lucy in the Sky collection is available in stainless steel or red gold, with a white or black face. Prices are likely to be between about $10,000 and $20,000.

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

Stauer has a collection of stunning and extremely affordable watches for men.

At right is the truly unique 1930's Dashtronic Limited Edition Watch from Stauer. The watch is crafted in the 1930's "jumping mechanism" style, which, rather than incorporating hands, utilizes a window reminiscent of a dashboard or radio tuner to tell the time.

The watch features 3-ATM water resistance, 21-jewel automatic movement, stainless steel casing, and a black alligator embossed leather band.

This compelling watch is a very small splurge at just $99. If the 1930s isn't an era you'd care to think about right now, check out some of the other watches at Stauer -- our favorites, including a skeleton pocket watch for a steal are below:

The new Swiss watch company Aspen Jewelry & Watches does not have a real relationship with the ski town Aspen, Colorado for which the watches are named. They do however have a license to use the "Aspen" name in connection with watches, exclusively in certain areas. They recently released their first watch, the Aspen One in Aspen Colorado (of course). There to help announce the new timepiece was business woman and supermodel Elle Macpherson. A face like hers is enough to draw attention, and better yet she was there to donate an almost $50,000 diamond version of the Aspen One watch to a local non-profit, the Challenge Aspen and Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club (AVSC). They will sell the watch (auction likely) to raise money for ski trips to families with members who have disabilities.

The new Aspen One watch is an interesting timepiece. A few versions of the watch are available in white or rose gold, with diamonds or without. The 45mm case is very thick, because it flips open to reveal a height resistant compass. The watch movement is a ETA 2894-2 with a chronograph module. The style of the watch is pretty sober actually and will likely have a lasting design. The face reminds me of the also relatively new Bremont brand watches. You can tell that with the compass, the case is almost amusingly thick, but when you spend this type of money, you probably want some bulk in your investment. As a watch that is named for a ski city, the watch will have an unusually high altitude and cold temperature resistance - for a luxury watch that is. Prices start at about $39,000 and peak at about $50,000. They also come with a fancy pair of Casteljin & Beerens deerskin gloves.

Via National Jeweler.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Fossil Watches is the latest company in the troubled jewelry and watch sector to hit hard times. The maker of casual mid-priced watches, jewelry, handbags and accessories has announced that it is laying off hundreds of employees around the world to cut costs. JCK News reported that the company could be eliminating up to 260 positions which is four percent of its approximately 6,000 employees. Fossil's executive officers and senior vice presidents will be taking a pay cut and a hiring freeze is in effect. The company saw a 12.9 percent decline in fourth quarter net income but in fiscal 2008, Fossil's net sales rose 10.5 percent.

Fossil has slowed their plans for retail store growth. The company also has licenses for Giorgio Armani, Michael Kors, Adidas, Burberry, Marc Jacobs, and Donna Karan and sells their various lines through department stores, jewelry and watch stores, and specialty retailers around the world as well as on their website. The total payroll cost cuts should save the company about $16 million annually.

Ducati has unveiled two new watches for Spring 2009, a new version of the Ducati One, which we first covered last fall, and the Ducati Corse (after the jump).

The Swiss-made Performance Time Ducati watches are made with sapphire glass, plus technologically advanced cases and watchstrap materials that include steel and titanium. In case watches and motorcycles aren't your only hobbies, the watches are guaranteed waterproof up to a pressure of 10 atmospheres.

The $2,500 Ducati One evokes Italian-made motorcycle images like tire treads, wheels, and the elegant Ducati dashboard. It's made with black diamonds on the bezel and a crocodile strap.