wristwatch

$2.5 Million Patek Philippe Stars in Christie's Megabucks Watches Sale

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions

An exceptionally rare and highly important rose gold Patek Philippe timepiece made in 1953 (above) is expected to fetch up to $2.5 million at Christie's Important Watches sale in Geneva on November 15. The two crown world time wristwatch with 24 hour indication and blue enamel dial, Ref. 2523 is one of three pink gold Pateks in the sale, all of which are expected to top out at over $1 million, an extremely rare occurrence in a single sale. The other two are a perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases, Ref. 2499, manufactured in 1957, estimated at up to $1.25 million; and a perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with phases of the moon, Ref. 1518, manufactured in 1948, estimated at up to $1.03 million. 388 lots in total will be offered in two sessions during the historic sale and are expected to realize a combined total estimated in excess of $13 million.

Gallery: Christie's Important Watches 11/10

Chopard?s L.U.C Louis-Ulysse - The Tribute

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: auction, Christies, chronograph, Geneva, gold, horology, Patek Philippe, pink gold, timepieces, watches, wristwatch

Howard Hughes' Patek Philippe Up for Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Auctions

A 1949 Patek Philippe chronograph that belonged to Howard Hughes, the dashing movie mogul portrayed by Leo DiCaprio in The Aviator, is being offered in Christie's' Important Watches Featuring the Leo Collection sale in New York on June 16.

The gold wristwatch, Ref. 1463, with breguet numerals is estimated at $150,000 – $200,000. In the 1960s the increasingly-paranoid Hughes gifted the watch to a private detective who carried out a number of surveillance assignments for him, and it comes accompanied by a note from Hughes to that effect.

Also featured in the sale is Roy Rogers' Rolex, a stainless steel triple calendar chronograph Ref. 6036, manufactured circa 1952 and estimated at $40,000-$60,000, consigned from the estate of the so-called "King of Cowboys"; and a rare and extremely important platinum Patek Philippe Ref. 5016, estimated at $350,000 – $500,000.

Tags: Christies, chronograph, gold, Howard Hughes, Leo DiCaprio, New York, Patek Philippe, Rolex, roy rogers, timepiece, watch, wristwatch

Fortis Spaceleader Chronograph by Volkswagen Design

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos

There's no shortage of automotive-themed wristwatches on the market. In some cases, the automaker for whom the watch is made has even had a hand in its design. Like the Porsche Design timepieces made by Eterna. Now Porsche's sister/parent company Volkswagen has entered the fold with Fortis.

The Fortis Spaceleader Chronograph by Volkswagen Design is a limited edition of just 2,012 examples, wrapped in chrome and rubber with all the usual suspects: push-button chronograph operation, butterfly clasp, anti-reflective crystal and more. It's already been winning all the major prizes, including the Red Dot design award, the iF design award, and the Good Design award. Nice work if you can get it.

Tags: automotive timepiece, automotive wristwatch, fortis, Fortis Spaceleader, Fortis Spaceleader Chronograph, Fortis Spaceleader Chronograph by Volkswagen Design, timepiece, volkswagen, volkswagen design, watch, wristwatch

Equipe Watches Offers Automotive Timepieces for the Everyman

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos

Automotive-themed timepieces share a lot with the cars from which they draw their inspiration, from the precision-crafted mechanics inside to the evocative metalwork into which they're placed. Unfortunately for many, they also tend to carry very automobile-like price tags in multiples of thousands of dollars. As with the cars they produce – many of which can give Europe's finest a real run for their money, whether on road or track – Detroit has come up with the answer. Or an answer, at any rate.

The range recently unveiled by Equipe Watches at this year's BaselWorld watch show are all automotive-inspired. But instead of four, five or even six-figure price tags, Equipe's Japanese-movement products sell for the hundreds. There's fifteen models in all, each very automotive in its name and design. And while the wealthy motorist bringing his Aston Martin in for service may not be sporting one on his wrist, the mechanic in the service bag very well might be.

Gallery: Equipe Watches

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Tags: automotive, automotive timepiece, automotive watch, automotive wristwatch, equipe, equipe watches, timepiece, timepieces, watch, watches, wristwatch

BRM V12-T-44 Abarth Chronograph

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos

Any performance automaker worth its logo has got to have a wristwatch to match. And while a carmaker's choice of wristwatch – think Panerai and Ferrari, Breitling and Bentley, Parmigiani and Bugatti – is meant to reflect the company's image, in some cases (like this PVD titanium one) it's more a reflection of the brand's aspirations. Because Abarth has always been about punching above its weight and taking on vehicles twice its size and ten times its price. So it should stand to reason that, even though its performance hatchbacks sell for relatively modest sums, the Abarth chronograph goes for more than €4,900, or the equivalent of some $7,300.

The timepiece is crafted by none other than Bernard Richards Manufacturer, a watchmaking atelier already known in motor racing circles for their inspiration from automobiles. To top the racing-themed design of the stock V12-T-44 chronograph, BRM has further differentiated the Abarth special edition with such custom touches as chrome hands and red stitching on the Nomex wrist-strap. Only 49 examples will be made available exclusively from BRM's website, making this timepiece considerably more exclusive than the cars its made to accompany.

Tags: abarth, bernard richards manufacture, BernardRichardsManufacture, brm, brm abarth, BrmAbarth, chronograph, fiat abarth, FiatAbarth, timepiece, watch, wristwatch

First Lady Michelle Obama Wears Cartier Watch For Official White House Portrait

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Of course people are talking about Michelle Obama's choice of wardrobe for her official White House image located on the White House website. The attire while elegant, is distinctly modern and does not draw attention away from the face. Associated Press writer Caryn Rousseau reported on the photograph and commented on the first lady's choice of accessories including her jewelry and wrist watch. For the photograph, Michelle Obama chose her steel Cartier Tank Francaise - a popular Cartier Tank watch that is tasteful and luxurious without being showy - a good choice for any First Lady. The watch comes in both male and female models with various levels of gilding.

Michelle Obama's subtle yet sophisticated taste shows in her choice of wearing the undecorated version of the watch in steel, although the watch is available with gold and with diamond settings. The White House portrait of the first lady does not make the model of the watch clear, but the trained eye is easily able to pick up the recognizable timepiece. Cartier themselves expressed surprise and excitement over the picture as they had no idea she would be wearing the particular watch for the occasion.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Cartier Tank Francaise

Tags: cartier, first lady, FirstLady, michelle obama, MichelleObama, tank francaise, TankFrancaise, timepiece, watch, wristwatch

Louis Moinet Magistralis Watch

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

A piece of a 2000 year-old lunar meteorite is part of the mechanism inside the one-of-a-kind Louis Moinet Magistralis watch. The 18K gold watch has a movement that includes complications such as the minute repeater, perpetual calendar and mono-pusher chronograph. A striking mechanism hammers out the hours, quarter-hours and minutes. The movement was created 100 years ago and beats at 18,000 vibrations per hour. Even the case is complex involving 90 pieces that include a pressure-controlled striking mechanism lever.
The presentation box includes an original of Louis Moinet Traite d'Horlogerie, the second edition, dated 1856, a book on watchmaking techniques with illustrations of watch movements hand-drawn by Louis Moinet. The watch costs one million Swiss Francs (around $862,000).

Gallery: Louis Moinet Magistralis

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Tags: louis moinet, LouisMoinet, timepieces, watch, watches, wristwatch

Alfex Happy Moments Watch

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

The Alfex Happy Moments watch is for the sentimental women. The watch, which uses the 1019 quartz movement by Ronda, has an open calendar and a small star-shaped seconds counter. It has a stainless-steel case with a sapphire crystal and an integrated reflector highlighted with a real diamond. Using a crown located at 2 o'clock, the reflector can be turned and the diamond locked on the selected hour you want to remember or to the current time in your preferred city. No one will know what the setting is except for you. It comes with a white, black or chocolate-colored dial, with matching leather wrist band.

Gallery: Alfex Happy Moments Watches

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Tags: alfex, ladies watch, LadiesWatch, timepiece, watch, wristwatch

Omega Keeps Time in Beijing

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Swiss watchmaker Omega is the official timekeeper of the Olympics and they have created the Omega Pavilion on the Olympic Green in Beijing for the Olympics. The Pavillion is 2,500 square meters (nearly 27,000 square feet) over two floors and includes a large exhibition area, boutique and a stage for special events. The opening ceremony for the pavilion on April 4 was attended by several hundred members of the international press and other invited guests and four Omega brand ambassadors, Olympic multiple gold medallists Ian Thorpe and Alexander Popov, speedskater Yang Yang, the first Chinese athlete to win a gold medal at a Winter Olympic Games and shooter Xu Mai Feng who was the first Chinese gold medallist at a Summer Olympic Games.

Omega has 450 professional timekeepers and data handlers in Beijing to time all 302 events in 28 sports at 37 different venues. The Swiss brand's 420 tons of equipment include the many scoreboards and display units used at the Olympic Games.Omega first served as Official Olympic Timekeeper at the Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Omega has created limited edition Olympic versions of some of their most popular watch styles such as the DeVille, some of the collection is shown in the gallery below.

Gallery: Omega Olympic Beijing Watches

Tags: beijing, olympic, omega, timepieces, watches, wristwatch

Backes & Strauss Regent 1609 AD Watch

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

The Backes & Strauss Regent 1609 AD limited edition watch packs a little history into a gorgeous package. The watch is named for the year when English astronomer Thomas Harriett made the first drawings of the moon . To celebrate the event the watch features a moon-phase indicator decorated with a 17-star constellation delineated in diamonds. The waches are produced in collaboration with Geneva's Franck Muller Watchland, which manufactures the movements and completes assembly. The watch also features a diamond set in the crown as well as on the bezel and lugs.

The Regent 1609 AD is currently on display in the Harrods Fine Jewellery and Watch Room opposite the de Beers boutique, until it is officially launched in October 2008. This is the first limited edition watch from Backes & Strauss and it is limited to 219 pieces (in two sizes) and available in different diamond combinations (from £17,000).

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Tags: backes and strauss, BackesAndStrauss, limited edition, LimitedEdition, timepiece, watch, wristwatch

Ducati Watches

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

While I was in Las Vegas at the JCK Jewelry Show, I checked out the Ducati watches from Binda and fell in love. I'm a sucker for anything Ducati anyway but really integrate the Ducati aesthetic very well, sticking to a red, white, black and gray palette and integrating a rugged motorcycle-ready look.

The watch at left is from the Ducati One Collection and has a Swiss made ETA 2824 automatic movement and a 42mm case in black titanium. The dial is reminiscent of a motorcycle wheel while the texture of the rubber strap looks like a tire tread. It sells for $1,175.

The watch on the right is from the Desmo Collection. It as a Swiss made Ronda 5030 quartz chronograph and the 44mm case is stainless steel.The water-resistant watch has a case back with eight screws and stainless steel screws on the bezel with a stainless steel and red screw crown. It sells for $1,095.

Gallery: For the Love of Ducati

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Tags: ducati, motorycle, timepiece, watch, wristwatch

New Dior Watches

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Shown above are the latest watches from Dior. On the left we have the newest design from John Galliano for Dior, the Christal Midnight Blue rubber watch. The watch has a 33mm stainless steel case and a blue mother of pearl dial set with 36 diamonds. The bezel is set with 90 diamonds and the bracelet is stainless steel set pyramid-cut, scratch proof blue sapphire crystal. The watch is a limited edition of 500 and sells for £3,150.

On the right is the latest La D creation from Victoire de Castellane, artistic director of fine jewelry at the Dior house. This watch has an 18K rose gold case with a mother of pearl dial and an 18k rose gold in-set spiral of 55 pink diamonds. The bezel features 76 diamonds and the band is a black satin strap. This watch is a limited edition of 15 and sells for £14,900.

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Tags: dior, john galliano, watches, wristwatch

Richard Mille for Boucheron Watch

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the House of Boucheron jewelers, the company has commissioned a variety of special commemorators of the occasion. To start with, they have opened a new store on the rue du Rhone in Paris to showcase the firm's famous designs.

The company has also created unique objects in collaboration with international brand names such as Vertu, jewelry designer Harumi Klossowska, la Maison du chocolat and Richard Mille. From Mille comes the Hommage à Boucheron RM 018 timepiece, in which the gear-train of the movement is manufactured from precious and semi-precious stones. The tourbillon watch has a case and movement produced by Richard Mille and features the precious and semi-precious stones selected and elaborated by Boucheron. The 18K white gold watch is limited to 30 pieces and each piece will have a different combination of stones.

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Tags: richard mille, RichardMille, timepiece, tourbillon, watch, wristwatch

Maitres du Temps Chapter One Wristwatch

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

The first watch from new brand Maitres du Temps is the Chapter One and it's practically a book unto itself. The new brand was founded by Steven Holtzman the ex-distributor of Roger Dubuis in North America and will showcase designs from Christophe Claret, Roger Dubuis and Peter Speake-Marin.

Their first model is the Chapter One which is thickly stuffed with complications including a tourbillon, mono-pusher chronograph, retrograde date, retrograde GMT, and two rolling bars at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock, indicating the day of the week and phase of the moon. A small window between the day roller and tourbillon allows a peek at the gyrating tourbillon cage. The watch is done in an 18K red gold case and has some pretty hefty dimension, 62.60 mm x 45.90 mm

[via Time Zone]

Gallery: Maitres du Temps, Chapter One Watch

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Tags: maitres du temps, MaitresDuTemps, tourbillon, watch, wristwatch

Ulysse Nardin Sonata Silicium Limited Edition Watch

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Watchmaker Ulysse Nardin has introduced their new watch for Baselworld. The Sonata Silicium Limited Edition watch is a limited edition of 300 pieces (in an 18K white or rose gold case). Nardin is now using silicium in all its new models. The movement is the automatic UN caliber 67 with a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. The functions include hours, minutes, seconds, large date, dual time system with instant time zone adjuster, countdown, cathedral gong alarm. The case is 42mm and it has front and back sapphire crystals with an alligator strap. It's handsome enough and I'm sure the alarm sound is beautiful but I find the yellow hands a bit jarring on such an elegant watch.

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Tags: baselworld 2008, Baselworld2008, timepiece, ulysse nardin, UlysseNardin, watch, wristwatch