Posts Tagged ‘Baselworld’

Maurice Lacroix’s Masterpiece Régulateur Roue Carrée

March 19th, 2010

Maurice Lacroix have just unveiled a world first at the Baselworld 2010 expo. Their 'Masterpiece Régulateur Roue Carrée' uses a square wheel to indicate the hours. Maurice Lacroix have just unveiled at Baselworld 2010 a rather interesting World first in the history of watch-making. The uniqueness of their new Masterpiece Régulateur Roue Carrée lies in a square wheel that indicates the hours of the day. With this feature this watch takes Maurice Lacroix into the third millennium, with a decidedly futuristic combination of technology, innovation and modern aesthetics.

The timepiece has a central minutes hand, a small seconds sub-dial at six o’clock and a power-reserve display at three o’clock. But it is definitely the square wheel with geometric openwork at the top of the dial that commands attention. This square wheel is driven by cloverleaf shaped wheel, ensuring regular and reliable rotation. A raised corner that is highlighted with a Superluminova enhanced indicator that points to engraved numbers, also enhanced by Superluminova, indicates the hour of the day.

Anyone with more than a basic understanding of physics will probably know that gear profiles of non-circular wheels cannot be regular, and are therefore not the most reliable for telling the time. The main problem lay in defining the shape of the teeth of the two wheels to ensure constant power transmission through the gear. After numerous simulations, including with 10:1 scale models, the angles and profiles of the teeth now engage each other perfectly, meshing curve on matching curve so as to transfer power with the same precision as the circular counterparts in all other watches.

The 43 mm steel case has a black gold rim with alternating polished and matt finishes to emphasise the various features on the dial. This new men’s watch looks as sophisticated as it is innovative.

Maurice Lacroix’s Masterpiece Régulateur Roue Carrée was designed by watchmaker engineer, Michel Vermot.

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Raymond Weil Watches at Baselworld 2010

March 15th, 2010

Raymond Weil watches will be unveiling their new Titanium addition to the Nabucco Collection at Baselworld 2010In a few days from now the doors will open on the World’s most exclusive luxury watch show: Baseworld 2010. And Raymond Weil will be unveiling their new addition to the Nabucco collection.

As with most of the Raymond Weil watches, the new Nabucco Va Pensiero draws its inspiration from the the famous Verdi chorus, and reflects reflects Raymond Weil’s legendary love for classical music, the opera and the arts.

The Nabucco new addition retains all of the collection’s powerful architecture, but in this instance with a 46 mm diameter titanium case, with bezel and tachometric scale. There are three subdials: 30 minutes at 3 o’clock, 12 hours at 6 o’clock, and small seconds at 9 o’clock); along with a date-window at 4:30. Each of these are set on a grey dial. The indexes are made of luminiscent anthracite.

The audacious design of this masculine chronograph is matched by its mechanical prowess, the timepiece contains an ETA 7753 tri-compax movement, with automatic winding and 28 800 vibrations per hour. The watch has screwed-down push-pieces, crown and case-back, and is waterproof to a depth of 660ft (20 bars/atm).

The timepiece’s elegance is finsished with a saddle-stitched crocodylus niloticus leather strap that is fitted with a double push-piece security clasp.

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TAG-Heuer Watches Teams Up with Tesla Motors

March 8th, 2010

TAG-Heuer watches have teamed up with Tesla Motors and created the 2010 TAG Heuer Tesla RoadsterThe Geneva Motor show, currently underway, is the seeting for the launch of the 2010 TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster, pictured here to the left. This one-of-a-kind collector’s car is the result of a worldwide partnership between the luxury Swiss watchmaker and the electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors to celebrate the 150th anniversary of TAG Heuer watches.

The exterior colour scheme of the car is Foucault Field Gray, a colour that bold embodies the innovative spirit of both companies. The design was inspired by the new TAG Heuer concept watch, to be unveiled at the Baselworld show later this month. The car’s interior was designed by Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen, and incorporates TAG Heuer iconic design elements.

TAG Heuer has a rich history and expertise with the World’s most prestigious racing teams – but this is the first ever partnership we’ve forged with an electric sports car company,” said Jean-Christophe Babin, President and CEO of TAG Heuer. “We believe that high-performance drivers are increasingly searching for products that are efficient, socially responsible and stylish. TAG Heuer and Tesla are two of the few companies arleady achieving these ideals today.

The 2010 TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster will be on display at the Tesla booth of the Geneva Motor Show until March 14. The car will then be driven to Basel for a special event associated with Baselworld, the World’s most exclusive watch show.

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Perrelet’s new Prestige watch, especially for her!

February 12th, 2010

A Rose Gold variant of the Diamond Flower Collection by Perrelet - with 1057 diamonds!We have advance notice of yet another stunning luxury watch to be unveiled at Baselworld next month. This time it is from Perrelet, and the watch is a new prestige edition of their ladies Diamond Flower Collection; the ultimate in a woman’s luxury watch.

Given the time of the year are you thinking about the what two things capture a woman’s attention? Surely diamonds and flowers must rank up at the top of the list. Perrelet have not only brought together both flowers and diamonds, but they have also managed to combine two hitherto largely distinct and separate watch universes: luxury jewellery moving in perfect harmony with high-end, mechanical watch technology.

This is the world that is their Diamond Flower Collection, where jewellery serves the functioning of a mechanical movement. The flower is the lotus-shaped, diamond set rotor on the dial side that rotates softly with the natural motions of the wrist.

Currently there are seven variants in the collection, with different coloured dials and cases in steel, gold and rose gold. Each are exceptional models on which the art of gem-setting on a timepiece reaches new heights, as each are are bejewelled with emeralds, sapphires, rubies or diamonds. At Baselworld, Perrelet will be unveiling their Diamond Flower Duo, with a ceramic in black and white.

Perrelet’s Diamond Flower Collection is available from Jura Watches for anyone needing Valentines gift inspiration.

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A New U-Boat for Baselworld 2010

February 11th, 2010

The new U-Boat - limited to 999 pieces We have just received news of a new limited edition U-Boat watch to be launched at Baselworld, the World’s most important event for the luxury watch and jewellery industry taking place in Switzerland next month.

At Baselworld last year, U-Boat unveiled their U-42. At 65mm the watch required the widest sapphire glass available in the world. With only 29 pieces produced, and each one made of grade-5 titanium, they are very definitely a collectors piece. At Baselworld this year, U-Boat will be launching a 45mm version of the same model, limited to 999 pieces worldwide.

This new smaller model is fitted with the U-28 movement and has a 40 hour power-reserve.

The winding crown is made up of two parts: one is attached to the movement stem whilst the other is hinged to it with a pivot. This gives a flexible joint configuration which allows the crown to protrude considerably from the watch itself for winding and setting, yet returning it to a protected and hidden position. Compare the positions of the crown in the two photographs.

This type of crown diminishes the side clutter when the watch is in action. Also, this crown is important under certain conditions when it is necessary for activities during which gloves are required, such as underwater operations and environmental practise at Arctic temperatures.

The particular make up of the crown for this watch does not compromise the watch being fully water-tight. The crown and stem’s water-tight protection is guaranteed by a clipping gasket that is made of polytetrafluoroethylene, and also by a specifically designed O-ring twin-arrangement. This enables the U-42 dive watch to be water resistant down to a depth of 300m.

The dial is made with a slab in brass. All engravings on the watch are carried out by mechanical pantograph, including the brass dial which is galvanized and finished with a bright enamel paste.

This year’s model may be smaller than last year’s model, but it is every bit as amazing. Remember it is limited to only 999 pieces worldwide, the U-Boat will be available from Jura Watches, London.

U-Boat Watches will be at Baselworld 2010

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Jura Watches Brands at Baselworld 2010

January 30th, 2010

Baselworld - where some of Jura Watches's Brands will be unveiling their novelties for 2010The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva may have only just shut its doors for another and already there is talk of Baselworld. This show may only be opening 18 March 2010, but already some of the leading watch brands that will be exhibiting there have been giving us some sneak previews of what it is they will be unveiled there. Two of these have already been reported here: the Corum Golden Bridge and the new Bremont dive watch.

Every year in spring some 2000 companies from the luxury watch, jewellery and precious-stone industries present to about 3000 journalists form over 70 countries their latest developments and innovations in the Swiss city of Basel.

Baselworld is the World’s biggest and most important event for the luxury watch and jewellery industry. François Thiébaud, the President of Tissot and President of the Swiss Exhibitors’ Committee, says “The entire Swiss watch industry meets up at Baselworld to show the world the very best that it has to offer.”

In the lead up to Baseworld 2010 we will be reporting here on further previews of watches to be unveiled there. And of course during the show, 18-25 March, there will be further news.

Bremont and Corum watches are available from Jura Watches.

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The Supermarine Descent – Bremont’s New Dive Watch

January 29th, 2010

Bremont Watches: available from Jura WatchesBremont’s recent Supermarine 500 dive watch turned out to be quite a hit. Following on from this success Bremont watches are about to unveil a new luxury, limited edition dive watch, the Supermarine Descent.

The ‘Descent’ has Bremont’s unique three-piece case construction which allows this dive watch a water resistance of up to a depth of 500m, or 1660ft. But this case retains Bremont’s distinctive curved profile and a size of 42mm. The sapphire crystal protecting the dial is coated on both sides with Bremont’s usual nine layers of anti reflective coating.

As with all good dive watches this model has been extensively tested in the UK by Bremont at their testing facility resulting in the construction of an ‘anti-shock’ movement mount specifically designed to help protect the movement against significant shocks. The Swiss made movement is housed in an anti-magnetic Faraday cage so as to protect the balance, the balance spring and the escapement from any adverse effects of magnetisation.

The Bremont Watch Company is a British company founded by Nick and Giles English. And this model takes its name from the brother’s love of the iconic British aircraft manufacturer responsible for the Supermarine S6B Schneider Trophy Seaplane. And following through with this theme, the watch is limited to 407 pieces, which is the top speed George Stainforth achieved in 1931 with the S6B.

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New Corum Watches for Mr and Mrs

January 24th, 2010

Corum WatchesThirty years ago saw the launch of the most iconic of all the Corum watches – the Golden Bridge. Back then Corum was intent on positioning itself at the forefront of the Swiss Watch Industry. To these ends the ultimate in transparent timepieces was produced. This watch also featured the rarely used ‘baguette’ movement.

To celebrate the success of this legendary model Corum have produced limited editions of the Miss Gold Bridge and the Golden Bridge for men, in which transparency has been taken to new limits. Traditionally a watch’s dial is arranged to the front of the movement, the 2010 Golden Bridge model has a dial behind the movement. The visual impact is a case in which the dial forms the background to a prominent baguette movement.

Until now women only had the men’s Golden Bridge or high jewellery models to choose from. The new Miss Golden Bridge has been given a more slender and curved tonneau shape. The slender shape is accentuated by the placement of the winding crown at 6 o’clock.

This new interpretation of the women’s Golden Bridge is available in 18 carat white or red gold, in non-set and set models with 90 full-cut size diamonds. Only 333 pieces a year will be produced. The 2010 Golden Bridge for men, is available in 6 different models and also in limited quantities. The movement bridges are 18 carat yellow gold, red gold or white gold.

Corum watches for men and women are available at Jura Watches, London.

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