Source: Baselworld
Hi everyone,
As you no doubt will be aware Baselworld, the world’s largest luxury watch and jewellery fair, is now officially underway. Over the past few weeks we have been previewing a number of the new releases for this year from some of our (and hopefully your) favorite brands and now the time has finally come for us to get ourselves over to Switzerland to see some of these beauties in the flesh!
Yesterday Mercedes-Benz officially announced that seven-time Formula One world-champion Michael Schumacher is to become the newest ambassador for the German luxury car-maker. According to Mercedes, Schumacher, who has won the most titles in F1 history, will be involved in developing new on-board technology and everything related to the “Intelligent Drive” system and safety. He will make his will make his first public appearance as an Ambassador on May 1, 2013 during an event called “The future starts today.”
Last week we brought you the first in what we hope will be a series of phenomenal articles by the incredibly talented Ming Thein! If you missed this photographic essay on Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Tribute to the iconic Deep Sea Memovox please click here to read it as it’s definitely a must see (please be warned though, it contains some serious watch porn!)
As such, it gives us great pleasure to announce that Ming has agreed to become a regular contributor to the site, taking on the unofficial role of TWL’s Asia Correspondent.
According to Ming he is a physicist by training, although he has never actually worked in that field, and enjoys constantly stirring up trouble at local horological gatherings. One third of the time he dreams about the watches he’d like to own, another third he spends designing movements that might or might not work, and the rest of the time he can be found behind a camera living vicariously through somebody else’s collection or trying to make a living.
He lives in Kuala Lumpur, fights the eternal battle between more lenses or more watches, and additional photography work can be found at www.mingthein.com and www.flickr.com/mingthein.
Please join us in welcoming Ming to The Watch Lounge and we looking forward to sharing some more of his breathtaking photography with you in the very near future!
Panerai LUMINOR COMPOSITE 1950 3 DAYS – 47MM Special Edition
If you missed Part One of this two-part series you can click here to read it first.
After a refreshing and enjoyable lunch it was time to keep moving. First up Panerai.
Panerai
Panerai seems to have been in a bit of a lull for the last few years, but with a new calibre and some exciting research in making bronze cases things are on the up.
Of course the style doesn’t really vary from the look and feel we have come to expect, but for 2011 the Luminor 1950 3 days is another retro salute to earlier times. The 3 day reserve comes courtesy of two barrels, the movement is hand wound and is the basis of this Luminor 1950 and 2 limited editions. The historical case is 47mm and water resistant to 100m, the overall scheme is brown with a chocolate colored dial but unusually the watch has a plexi-glass crystal which is more historically accurate. Limited to 3000 pieces available from Sept and priced around 6,900 euros.
Of the two special editions one is in platinum and the other formed from composite for which the brown theme is extended to the case. The platinum will be available in Aug, limited to 199 examples for around 29,000 euros, while the composite is limited to 2000, each for 8,900 euros.
Panerai LUMINOR SUBMERSIBLE 1950 3 DAYS AUTOMATIC BRONZE – 47 MM Special Edition
Things get really interesting with the Luminor Submersible 1950 3 Days Automatic. That research that I alluded to has resulted in the creation of a case made from bronze. This, combined with a striking green dial, creates a very impressive look. But it is how this look changes over time that is the most interesting aspect of the design. When initially created the case is shiny, but over a year of so the case will weather and gain a matt patina. The run will be limited to 1000 pieces and I think the most exciting Panerai in many years.
Jaeger-LeCoulture
I have had one or two disappointing brushes with JLC, some very unhelpful PR people have made the whole experience rather disappointing, in spite of this though I still love their watches and especially the Reverso. This year is the 80th anniversary of the Reverso and I would very much like to own a vintage one, so if anyone out there wants to give/loan me one I would be happy to look after it for you.
The slim theme that seems to be dominating this year’s SIHH continues here with the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin. At only 7.2mm it sits pretty snugly on the wrist and the smaller size reduces the height to a much more comfortable level than some previous models such as the Quadra.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Répétition Minutes à Rideau
After several false starts we have our first true minute repeater on offer; the “Reverso Repetition Minutes a Rideau” has a metal curtain cover over one face of the watch that when drawn back activates the repeater. If creating a repeater was not complicated enough there are 270 parts just for the curtain even with all this it is still only 5.89mm thick and pretty cool
JeanRichard
At JeanRichard my eye was caught by the Highlands “Sands”. The form is a round bezel on a tonneau middle. The color tones are soft greys, greens and sand yellow firmly geared toward the adventurer. Each watch comes with two different straps, one brown, calf-skin leather and the other khaki fabric. Moderately priced at around 6,000CHF it seems like pretty good value
JeanRichard Highlands Sand
I just wish the speaker would take his hands out of his pockets
It is nice to see an understated watch from JR and the Bessel 1665 Small Hour Minute is clean and direct and simply fantastic , it reminds me very much of a Jaques Droz. It has date and power reserve, an automatic movement and a money is saving white lacquered dial but buy the steel not the pink gold, around 12,000CHF
JeanRichard Bressel 1665 Small Hour and Minute
Audemars Piguet
Well it’s the end of the day and it’s time for AP. Founded in 1875 remarkably it is still owned by the founding family which in these days of corporate dominance is astounding. The presentation opens with a frank representation of the 2010 sales figures. They are being surprisingly candid but with the European market stable, the Americas positive, Asia with double digit growth and the Middle East progressing well they can afford to be, announcing that they sold a total of 25,000 units last year. Not too shabby.
I find the Royal Oak Offshore range rather too bulky for me but luckily the Millenary 4101 is a much more up my twisted alley. Small hours and smaller seconds with an exposed balance wheel at the 9 o’clock position, subtle oval shape to the case and a movement containing 12 bridges results in a stylish watch with a deep 3D appearance.
Audemars Piguet Millenary Minute Repeater
To go with this they also have a Millenary Hand-Wound Minute Repeater with a dead beat minor seconds in contrasting white and red. The balance wheel is also exposed in this watch and it has a similar deep appearance. Only 8 pieces will be created and the power reserve is rated at 165 hours, impressive. It’s good to see that AP have real alternatives to The Offshore range.
The Final Word
An excellent day with wide ranging styles and prices. The general mood seems to be that the worst of the recession is over, and that many brands have come out the other side in very good shape
Vacheron Constantin’s Quai de Lile Annual Calendar to be officially released at the SIHH 2011.
It’s that time of the year again. Show time! In just under a week’s time the watch fair season will officially kick off in Switzerland with the Geneva Time Exhibition set to open its doors for only the second time ever on the 16th of January. Following closely will be the exclusive, invite-only Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie which officially gets underway on the 17th of January.
Whilst quite different both shows have attracted a number of exceptional brands who will be presenting their timepieces for the new year, many for the first time. The SIHH, as is traditional will be largely dominated by Maisons from the Richemont stable (the Group does not exhibit at Baselworld) such as personal favorites Jaeger-LeCoultre and A. Lange & Sohne as well as a handful of other very special brands including Greubel Forsey and Richard Mille.
The Geneva Time Exhibition on the other hand will be hosting a staggering 55 different brands (almost double the number of exhibitors from last year), including Cornelius & Cie showcasing the exceptional talents of Kees Engelbarts, Ladoire Geneve, Laurent Ferrier, Rebellion, and Speake-Marin among others. At the same time several brands will be hosting their own private events in Geneva, such as Urwerk who will unveil their all new UR-110 at the Hotel des Berges from the 17th – 20th of January and Christophe Claret who will present his new timepiece under his own brand name, Adagio, at the Beau Rivage Hotel from January 17th – 21st. However, these events, as with the SIHH, are strictly by invitation only.
So, what can you expect? Well, we’ve put together a small sample of the pre-releases that we think might take your fancy. This is by no means an exhaustive list, just something to whet your appetite and perhaps tide you over until Sunday. Of course, if it’s not enough be sure to check back tomorrow, because we’ll have plenty more for you!
Girard-Perregaux 1966 Small Seconds
An instant classic for us the Girard-Perreguax 1966 Small Seconds timepiece is the perfect companion when sailing your yacht leisurely around the Mediterranean or taking spirited drives through the Italian countryside in your vintage sports car. According to the brand the design is largely inspired by Girard-Perregaux’s 19th century pocket watches, giving it sense of enduring style complete with enamel dial.
Presented in a pink or white gold 40mm case, the timepiece is powered by a new automatic movement developed from the Girard-Perregaux calibre 3300 with a minimum power reserve of 46 hours. Presented on an alligator strap this is a watch that is likely to feature strongly in your regular rotation.
For more information check out www.girard-perregaux.com
Zeitwinkel 273°
Newcomer Zeitwinkel will be one of the brands exhibiting for the first time at the GTE this year and from the looks of things they have certainly come prepared. Of the four different models on offer our pick is the 273°, a timepiece that appears as elegant as it is functional. Highlights of the extremely functional dial (typical of German design) include the large dual window date display at 11 o’clock and the power reserve indicator placed just between 2 and 3 o’clock.
The movement itself is equally as interesting. A newly developed manufacture movement designed and manufactured in the Jura region of Switzerland, it features a robust three-quarter plate and bridges made of high-quality German silver and boasts a respectable power reserve of 72 hours. Precise German design at its best, this a timepiece destined to be a daily wearer suited to almost any occasion.
To learn more visit www.zeitwinkel.ch
Van Cleef & Arpels Five Weeks In a Balloon
Mixing things up a little is this gorgeous piece from Van Cleef & Arpels, aptly named ‘Five Weeks In A Balloon.’ Inspired by the classic adventure novel of the same name written by Jules Verne, the dial, decorated with champlevé enamel and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, depicts a hot air balloon rising into the air of Zanzibar.
Part of VC&F’s successful Poetic Complications collection the piece features retrograde hours and minutes with the balloon’s anchor and the bird flight providing the indications of time. Much like last year’s collection the Poetic Complications series are guaranteed to be a big hit with female connoisseurs again this year.
The Final Word
This is undeniably the most exciting time of the year for watch enthusiasts and industry observes the world-over and like you we are very much looking forward to what the coming weeks hold. As always our man on the ground, Ian Ellery, will be providing us with live daily updates from both the SIHH and the GTE, and perhaps we’ll even be able to smuggle him into some of the private, individual brand exhibitions!
Make sure you stay tuned; it’s going to be a sensational couple of weeks!
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