Archive for the ‘Watch News’ Category:
UPDATED: Rafael Nadal’s $525,000 RM 027 Tourbillon Stolen?
UPDATE: We have just received an update from professional watch journalist Miguel Seabra who has confirmed that Nadal’s watch was stolen during the Masters 1000 Toronto event, that went from 9-15 August, and that the star athlete then played watch-less the following week at the Masters 1000 Cincinatti.
We are still waiting for confirmation though if the timepiece was recovered, or if in fact Nadal has received a replacement. Stay tuned.
Rumours have emerged that the highly complex Richard Mille 027 Tourbillon gifted to tennis superstar Rafael Nadal was stolen a few weeks ago at the Toronto Tournament. The timepiece (which we first wrote about here) gained worldwide fame when it was first announced that it would adorn Nadal’s wrist during every game of every tournament he played.
The $525,000 price tag didn’t hurt either.
However, it remains unclear as to whether the timepiece was actually stolen or if perhaps this is a PR stunt to renew interest in the product, as we have tracked down conflicting reports (and photos) that show Nadal wearing his favorite new timepiece at the US Open Nike Primetime Knockout Event as well as during training sessions ahead of the start of the US Open.
Picture via Nadal News
Picture via Nadal News
Alternatively, it is highly possible, as our favorite tennis journalist Miguel Seabra points out, that Richard Mille has simply given Nadal a replacement timepiece to fill the half a million dollar gap left on his wrist.
We should all be so lucky!
We’ll keep you posted as soon as we hear more news but so continues the interesting, and sometimes controversial, story of the Richard Mille 027 Toubillon.
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Linde Werdelin Announces Very First Ladies Watch – And She’s A Beauty!
It’s no secret that the luxury watch market is largely geared towards the male population, with many brands not even offering collections for women, or if they do, they are quite limited and often don’t seem to really embody the brand’s strengths like their male counterparts. Linde Werdelin looks set to buck this trend, however, with the announcement of their very first ladies watch, the gorgeous (and aptly named) The White Watch.
Staying True To The Brand
Linde Werdelin is one of our favourite up-and-coming brands to watch for a variety of reasons but especially because they have a strong, clear vision of how their timepieces should look and function, and they adhere to it religiously.
As such, we would expect that the look and style of their very first ladies piece should not differ dramatically from the design cues of their core, male oriented, collection and happily for us (and we’re sure for female consumers world-wide too), it doesn’t.
Based on the highly popular 3-Timer model, the new White Watch reinforces LW’s commitment to quality and understated style whilst all the while providing the wearer with a highly practical tool. Even more importantly is the fact that, unlike so many other brands, LW hasn’t “dumbed it down” for their ladies collection, which is absolutely fantastic to see. This is a timepiece for an intelligent, active woman with discerning tastes which does not compromise on the brand’s core offering.
Be assured though that this didn’t just happen by accident, it was most certainly a conscious decision on the behalf of the brand’s founders, Morten Linde and Jorn Werdelin, who have worked incredibly hard to build a strong identity for their young company. To reinforce this point Linde, LW’s Creative Director, states simply that; “I am very pleased that our designs although male marketed are appealing to women as well. Maintaining the brand’s DNA is very important for LW and The White Watch is no exception.”
Although The White Watch takes its design cues from the 3-Timer, there have been some subtle changes to reflect its more feminine status. While the strap mechanism remains the same, the white calfskin chosen for the new model has a reduced width which allows the watch to sit well on slender wrists. With white as the dominating colour the dial and calfskin strap match the details in colour on the screws and 24-hour bezel markings.
Powered by an ETA 2893 automatic movement complete with GMT function, the stainless steel case is definitely on the large side for a woman’s watch at 46mm across but we don’t think this is a timepiece that will sit especially large on the wrist, and given the current trends this sizing is more than acceptable.
The White Watch is limited to just 51 pieces worldwide and will be soon available at LindeWerdelin.com and authorised retailers and will retail at €4,680. If you are keen on this piece though our advice would be to register your interest now as we don’t think they will have any trouble selling out this collection.
The Final Word
In our humble opinions the result of LW’s first foray into the women’s market is nothing short of stunning. Linde Werdelin has somehow achieved the seemingly impossible task of making a timepiece look tough and delicate at the same time, all whilst remaining true to their brand DNA. Certainly it won’t suit all tastes and there will be those who say it’s not feminine enough and the like, but we believe this timepiece reflects exactly the attributes of a female LW wearer.
Sexy, tough and just downright cool.
To learn more about this great brand and to keep up to date with all their latest happenings be sure to check out of the official Linde Werdelin Facebook page: www.facebook.com/LWuniverse
Peter Speake-Marin Announces World Tour To Launch Highly Anticipated Marin 2
The name Speake-Marin resonates profoundly with a number of watch enthusiasts around the globe, and with good reason. He is without a doubt one of the most talented independent watchmakers of this century and, like his passionate colleagues, he is unreservedly committed to his craft.
Those who know Peter admire him for his unrelenting drive and will to succeed, not to mention his exemplary watch-making abilities. At the same time he is also well regarded for his affable nature and approachable demeanor, demonstrating on numerous occasions both his willingness and indeed desire to meet with past, present and future customers, as well as just watch enthusiasts in general (this author included).
And now, he might just be coming to a city near you.
The Marin 2 World Tour
If you have been following the Speake-Marin story you will know that over the past few years he has spent countless hours and invested significant sums of his own money into developing his own in-house calibre, the superb SM2, which made its maiden appearance this year in the highly-praised Marin 1, at Basel World 2010 (pictured above).
The sublime SM2 Calibre.
Now, after many more hours of hard work he is almost ready to unveil his next creation; the Marin 2. This new piece will feature a manual winding movement, a variation of the new in-house calibre SM2, which allows for a thinner case and – without the winding rotor blocking the view – grants the fascinated observer a full appreciation of the movement through the display back.
A Marin 2 prototype…bring on the finished product!
In Peter’s own words he has put his heart and soul into this watch and is eager to learn what you, his fans, think. The difference is that unlike so many others, he actually means it and to prove it, he will be undertaking a world tour in September this year to effectively launch the Marin 2 in person.
The tour will begin in Canada and encompass the USA, Hong Kong, Australia Singapore, Vietnam, Japan
and Malaysia. So if you leave in or around any of these areas this could be your chance to meet one of the world’s best independent watch-maker’s and listen first-hand as he explains the intricate details of his latest creation.
The master at work.
To stay up to date with all the details of Peter Speake-Marin’s up-coming world-tour and to follow his progress around the globe be sure to check out and ‘like’ his regularly updated and highly informative facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/SpeakeMarin.
The Final Word
This is a unique opportunity to meet one of the greats of the horological world and experience first hand the ineffable charisma and passion that is Peter Speake-Marin. Having had this great man explain the intricate details of his creations to me first-hand, I can guarantee that this an event that any true watch enthusiast will cherish for years to come.
So don’t miss out, join the Facebook fan page and keep up to date with all the details and who knows, in the not too distant future you could be shaking the very hand that has crafted and constructed some of the most exceptional timepieces of the last decade!
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