Posts Tagged ‘watches’
Press Release: Jaeger-LeCoultre Launches Second World Heritage On-Line Auction
Jaeger-LeCoultre launches its second online auction for the preservation of World Heritage sites from March 18th to March 24th.
After last year’s Tides of Time campaign, Jaeger-LeCoultre presents its second online auction to benefit the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. This year, the Manufacture is offering an iconic and unique timepiece: one of the two vintage 1958 Geophysic Chronometers Model E168 tested by professional climber Stephane Schaffter and his team during their recent Geophysic Expedition to the Himalayas.
As a tribute, the case-back of this collector’s timepiece is engraved with the words: “Geophysic Expedition ; Mt Antoine LeCoultre, 6589m, Himalayas, October 22, 2009.”, and will be delivered with the very Ostrich leather strap used by the climbers (+ a 2nd new strap), a special Geophysic packaging and the extract from the Archives Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Proceeds from the auction will go to the India’s Sundarbans UNESCO World Heritage site inscribed in 1987.
The website is already LIVE for informing all the interested bidders about the auctioned timepiece: the bidding zone is not active, but registering is possible for interested bidders.
The online auction will start on March 18th, 2010 at 12.00 C.E.T. and ends on March 24th, 2010 at 12.00 C.E.T, on https://auction.jaeger-lecoultre.com
What do you think? Leave a comment. | Filed under New This Week, Press Releases
TechnoMarine To Tweet Live Updates From Basel World
If you read our exclusive interview with Vincent Perriard, Global CEO of TechnoMarine, late last year you would know that the company is planning to use Basel World this year as the platform for the unveiling of their new identity. The brand is promising to introduce not only a whole new look but also a whole new approach to doing business, refocusing on their core strengths and reinvigorating the TechnoMarine name.
Don’t just take our word for it though, the brand themselves have made a cool video to convey their point.:
As part of this new identity the company has made a significant commitment to connecting and communicating with its customers, both present and future, in a meaningful way. The intention is not only to give them the opportunity to get all the latest updates on developments at the brand but also the ability to interact and ask questions.
It is thinking therefore that has led TechnoMarine to give its fans unparalleled access to Basel World 2010. Starting from the 18th of March the company will be tweeting live updates on Twitter for the entire length of the show. Even more exciting is the fact that Vincent himself will be tweeting live and will also be answering questions whenever possible.
Certainly there have been several brands of recent times who have promised this level of interaction and failed to really deliver, however, Vincent has already proven his commitment to this aspect of the business right here on The Watch Lounge, answering a number of readers’ questions in the comments section below his interview.
As such we’re pretty confident in saying that this is the real deal and you will be well rewarded for following.
So, to get all the latest updates from the brand as it unveils its new identity at Basel World be sure to follow @TechnoMarine and @TechnoMarineCEO.
And why not ask a question or two, you might just be pleasantly surprised with the answers you get.
Baselworld 2010: The Time Is Now!
If you have visited this site even just once over the last couple of months you would probably have a fair idea that Basel World 2010 is about to get underway. Heck, we’ve even got a special category dedicated to it! However, chances are if you’re new to the world of luxury watches or you’re just a curious visitor you probably don’t really know what all the fuss is about.
As the name suggests, Baselworld is the annual World Watch and Jewellery Show which runs from the 18th to the 25th of March. It is based in picturesque Basel, Switzerland, and attracts some 2,000 of the most well known companies from the watch, jewellery and precious-stone industries as well as other related sectors.
Unlike Salon International Haute Horologerie (SIHH) which is an industry only event, Baselworld is open to the public. As a result about 100,000 visitors descend on the Fair every year to discover the new trends and view the latest creations from the watch and jewellery sectors.
And they are not disappointed!
The “New Spiral” from DUBEY & SCHALDENBRAND is just one of the pieces that will make its debut this year.
The world’s most renowned brands, such as Jaeger-LeCoultre, Breguet, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Hublot just to name a few, all come together to display their products exclusively at Baselworld. In fact, chances are if you think of any luxury watch brand you’ve heard of before, even just in passing, they will be there exhibiting their latest designs and innovations.
Just as exciting though is the opportunity to discover breathtaking, new pieces from the thriving independent industry. Highly innovative and exciting watch makers such as Christope Claret, Thomas Prescher, Peter Speake-Marin and Maximilian Büsser as well as many more you’ve probably never heard of will also be there to blow your mind with their awe-inspiring works of arts.
As you can see this highly regarded annual show really does bring together the best of the best in the luxury watch industry and this year will be no exception. Undoubtedly there will be a myriad of alluring surprises unveiled, a selection of which we will feature right here on The Watch Lounge.
As is the Instrumento Grande Chrono from DeGrisogno
So stay tuned as all the excitement unfolds this week, we guarantee it will be well worth your while!
MB&F Releases First Images Of The All New Thunderbolt Calibre For HM No.4
It’s here! Well sort of. Today, MB&F have released the first images of their brand new movement, aptly named the “Thunderbolt”, which will form the engine of the highly anticipated HM No.4. Unfortunately no images are available of the HM No.4 as yet, but these pictures of the movement alone are enough to make us go weak at the knees!
According to Maximilian Büsser, Founder and Creative Director of MB&F, the whole ethos of the brand is about “creating ‘kinetic art which gives time’, this HM4 engine symbolizes pretty well our creative philosophy.”
Just looking at the images its not hard to understand why MB&F have chosen to release details of only the movement first. It is an absolute work of art in itself, a complex piece of machinery comprised of hundreds of carefully constructed, intricate parts. This is like no other calibre you have ever seen before and represents a complete departure from any watch movement known today.
Whilst the “Thunderbolt” movement itself will be exhibited at Basel World next week, HM No.4, said to be MB&F’s most radical machine to date, sadly will not be unveiled until July 2010.
Fingers-crossed we can wait that long!
If you would like to find out more about MB&F check out their official website. And for all the latest updates make sure you become a fan on Facebook.
Weird Watch Wednesday: The Tuscar From McGonigle
John McGonigle © Harry Sk Tan
As you well know by now, we love introducing you to new and original timepieces here on The Watch Lounge. Well this week’s piece from Irish watchmakers McGonigle is so new and original that there aren’t even photos available yet! However, given this young brand’s success with their first piece, a superb watch featuring a stunning tourbillon complication which received critical acclaim for the purity of its design and function as well as for it’s high standard of workmanship and finish, this latest creation promises to impress.
McGonigle Watches
It’s not often you come across Irish watchmaking brothers, however, John and Stephen have forged quite a name for themselves in the exclusive circle of independent manufacturers. Whilst you may not immediately recognize their names, chances are you would have seen their work in some form or another. Both men spent many years working on complicated timepieces with some of the most prestigious brands in Switzerland, before deciding to launch their own brand, “McGonigle Watches” in 2007 at Baselworld.
The Tuscar
Now they have embarked on the next step of their journey with the announcement of their newest creation. Named the “Tuscar”, in reference to a group of rocks with a lighthouse that is often the first part of Ireland seen by those approaching by sea from the west, this new piece features the brand’s new time-only in-house calibre movement.
And believe us, this in-house caliber has some serious credibility.
“First-look” – A drawing of the new Tuscar from McGonigle © McGonigle
“To ensure the success of our new calibre, we teamed up with the legendary Alberto Papi, one of Switzerland’s finest designer constructors, to help refine our movement design and specifications.” says Stephen McGonigle.
That’s Alberto Papi, as in Renaud et Papi. Need we say more?
Retaining the qualities that were so successful in their tourbillon, including its distinctive design elements and transcendental levels of fine finishing, the brothers have taken these unique features and distilled them to their pure essence in the Tuscar.
According to John McGonigle, the intention was to create a “time-only watch with a high focus on excellent timekeeping; a substantial power reserve; solid reliability; and with superb finishing and decoration. The design had to have a clean coherent style and we wanted the principle mechanical elements visible on the dial side. To achieve all of that we had to develop our own movement from the ground up.”
Sounds amazing!
The Tuscar launches with a subscription-only limited edition series of 10 pieces called, “One of Ten”, featuring a white gold case and a transparent sapphire dial revealing all of the subtleties of the stunningly finished movement beneath.
The boy’s first creation, the McGonigle Tourbillon © Ian Skellern
As a subtle point of further differentiation each watch will be marked “One of Ten” rather than traditional method of individual numbering. This first series will be distinctive from the models to follow by virtue of materials used in the movement, the design and shape of certain bridges, the type of finish of individual parts and the engraving.
The Final Word
The McGonigle brothers are true independent watchmakers. The focus is completely on quality, originality and craftsmanship. Nothing is rushed and every step taken is well thought-out and planned in detail. These are watches that are created purely for the love of watch making by two exceptionally talented craftsmen.
If you are looking for a high quality, superbly finished timepiece than look no further, you’ve just found one of the most underrated brands in the industry.
To find out more visit McGonigle’s official website – www.mcgonigle.ie
Tuscar – Technical Specifications
Calibre: McG01 manual-wind mechanical movement
Double mainspring barrels connected in parallel
Power reserve: 90 hours
Balance: free sprung balance spring with Breguet overcoil
Balance frequency: 18,000 bph/3hz.
Balance diameter 12.8mm (large diameter for timekeeping stability)
Gold escape wheel (to function without oil)
Number of jewels: 31
Case
22k white gold case and crown
Case diameter: 42.5mm
Crystals: Anti-reflective treatment on both top crystal and display back
Water resistance: 30 metres/ 3ATM
Dial & Hands
Transparent sapphire dial
Flame-blued hand-polished steel and hand-polished gold hands
Strap & Buckle
Hand engraved 18k white gold deployant buckle.
Black hand-stitched alligator
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Latest Comments
- Nick Orloff: Beautiful piece, regrettably a little (?) out of my price range. I’d love to...
- Olivier Muller: Thanks, BMW
Stay tuned ! - Jack: Looks like a really nice watch for the price!