Bell & Ross BR01-92 Gold Ingot Limited Edition Watch

Short post, but here the images say it all. If there was ever a gaudy watch that I wanted, it would be this watch. I typically shy away from euphemistically decadent watches such as this, but I am oddly drawn to the golden hues and texturing of this special limited edition watch from Bell & Ross. Take the extremely popular Bell & Ross BR01 series, make it out of gold, and make it after gold bars, and you have the Bell & Ross BR01-92 Gold Ingot. It is not just another gold watch, but a commentary on luxury itself. The entire 46mm wide case is constructed in 18k rose gold, and so are the hands, dial, and hour markers.

Special pyramid texturing on the dial really makes the watch special. Just a gold watch would be one thing, but this is a watch with a gold personality, and that is not just me sounding cheesy. It retains everything you like about the Bell & Ross instrument look and appeal. I like how the gold hands are skeletonized so that you can see the gold underneath. The numerals are gold on gold, for that golden look. Gold screws stand in for the typical steel, actually I don't need to mention all this, you get the point - GOLD!

Inside is the same Swiss ETA 2892A2 automatic mechanical movement powering the watch, while the shiny black alligator strap works well. I think a brown strap would look even a bit nicer against the rose gold, don't you think? The Bell & Ross BR01-92 Gold Ingot Limited Edition watch is available in select place to select people. This is the gold watch to own for people who would not otherwise shell out for a gold watch but suddenly must do so. There you have it, don't make me yell "gold" again.

Bell & Ross BR01-96 And BR01-97 Limited Edition Commando Watches

More with the gray watches it seems. I've been writing about this trend pretty extensively on Luxist.com, but it has finally come to Bell & Ross. Actually I knew this since Baselworld back in March, but only now it connected with me that this is all part of the gray watch conspiracy - and watch companies are always bitching about the gray market. Irony?

These two new pretty watches are part of a limited edition of just 500 pieces each and are part of the Commando watches that Bell & Ross will offer. Commando meaning gray in this instance. Maybe this is the perfect urban combat camouflage watch? We are familiar with the models as well. These are the big date and power reserve versions of the Bell & Ross BR01, or rather the BR01-96, and the BR01-97. The dials also make it clear that the watches are part of a limited edition. The Big Date has an automatic ETA 2896, while the power reserve model has an ETA 2897.

The black on the hands and indexes contrast well with the gray color dial, and are also lume covered to glow in the dark - pretty well. They come with a rubber strap or a synthetic fabric material strap also in gray. Aside from the concrete gray look of the watches and the fact that they are part of a limited edition, there isn't much new to tell. There will only be 500 made of each, and I am sure they will demand a bit of a premium over the non limited models. Now for the obligatory Commando movie poster shot to go with the Bell & Ross Commando watches.

Bell & Ross BR03 Watch On Metal Bracelet Sighted

It finally happened, Bell & Ross is giving everyone's favorite square watch a metal bracelet. Actually, let me clarify. They are testing it out on the BR03 watch models. Seen here is one of the first of these types... maybe the first ever in a retail store. It is the BR03-92 watch with the new style metal bracelet that you can now get in addition to the rubber or other straps available with this watch line.

Bell & Ross does not currently have any plans to give the larger BR01 (46mm wide) watches a bracelet at this time. They are merely seeing how it goes with the smaller BR03 (42mm) models. I do like the look. It seems to make sense and feels like a visually comfortable fit. Like the straps, the bracelet tapers from the case down to the clasp a bit so that it does not feel unwieldy on your arm. The design is a bit retro, and the bracelet is done with a brushed finish on the top side, with polishing on the sides I believe. The inner side of the bracelet has a middle link that holds the larger links together. You get that nice clean vertical link look on the outside of the bracelet. The bracelet moves nicely and is flexible enough for what you'll need to do with it. It finally happened, Bell & Ross is giving everyone's favorite square watch a metal bracelet. Actually, let me clarify. They are testing it out on the BR03 watch models. Seen here is one of the first of these types... maybe the first ever in a retail store. It is the BR03-92 watch with the new style metal bracelet that you can now get in addition to the rubber or other straps available with this watch line.

There is a folding doubling locking deployment clasp with a Bell & Ross signature on it. It all works pretty well. Bell & Ross proved to me that they could do a great bracelet with the one they have on the Geneva series of watch. The one here on the BR03 has sort of the same feel to it, light and airy, but well made. Not super heavy or dense like some sport watch bracelets. I have a feeling that the steel metal bracelet is going to be more of an option in the near future as more stores get these pieces, but it could very well be slow. I didn't even see images of the BR03 on a bracelet online before I saw it at the Lussori watch store in Carmel, CA. Even Bell & Ross themselves didn't tell me about it, and they are always so good about telling everything that is going on. Sure there is a press release about some high society thing that they sponsor, but you get a new bracelet where there never was one, and no one knows what to say about it?

Baume & Mercier Capeland Watches For 2011

The first time that I wrote about Baume & Mercier's new for 2011 Capeland collection watches I was a bit irritated. The reason for that sentiment was the revival of the Capeland name in a thoroughly retro collection, whereas the original Capeland watches from about a decade or so ago were much more modern. In fact, these heritage style timepieces are modeled after watches from the late 1940s, not the late 1990s. I still feel a tender sense of nostalgia toward the original collection and would have preferred that Baume & Mercier use a different name for these watches but, aside from than that, I am stricken by the appeal of these new Capelands.

Baume & Mercier will initially offer seven variations of this model. I am sure you can find them available already. The historic look of the watches is cleverly done with two different dial styles. One is a bit more classic with pomme hands and a snailed tachymeter scale. The other is a bit more to my taste with more mid-century-style Arabic numerals and bolder colors. Still, both dial styles are very handsome and Baume & Mercier's ability to capture nostalgia is impressive. Which, in my opinion, is ironic because with the name of the watch they captured the wrong nostalgia for me.

Two case dimensions are available: 42 and 44mm wide. There are both steel and 18k rose gold versions available. My choice pick, of course, is the 44mm wide version. The dials come complete with highly curved sapphire crystals and large chronograph pushers and crown. The large crown is a symbolic nod to manually wound chronographs that, in the past, often came with the larger crowns for easier winding. Back then, watches were much more about function than fashion.

Baume & Mercier Hampton Watches For 2011

I remember the good ol' days when watches were modern and design was fresh and enthusiastic. Boy, those where some crazy times. We sure have come a long way since then. Today things are better and we've learned our lesson. Don't try to improve upon watch design or create new things. No one wants to buy that. What people really want is old watches. Well, new old watches. Boy, I'll tell you... what a refreshing sight today's new watches are. No distracting innovation, just good old fashioned... "old fashioned."

So it makes me incredibly proud to introduce you to Baume & Mercier's "new" Hampton watch collection. Baume & Mercier really holds a special place in my heart for teasing me with the first watch I could truly not afford. That was a Capeland model back in the late 1990s. What a cool modern watch that was (back in those unfortunate times). Today's Capeland watch is thankfully stuck in a pre-World War II era.

According to Baume & Mercier the Hampton collection is based on a watch from the Baume et Mercier Museum from the 1940s - which is actually a nice looking piece. Using some inconceivable form of Swiss magic, the classic design is reborn mixed with the "discreet luxury" lifestyle of the New York Hamptons. The collection comes in a dizzying array of styles and options. There are gonna be around 20 variants at launch. This includes men's and women's models, as well as different movements options. The best part is Baume & Mercier's special little gift to me - the press release. Finding it as enriching as a morning cup of coffee and as enlightening as a school lesson, I'd like to share some of it with you. For the rest of this article you'll find selected excerpts for your reading pleasure and mental stimulation. The most entrancing part is just how unique these words are as applied to these timepieces.

Bedat & Co. No. 8 Watch For Men Available

Bedat & Co. has an interesting history for not being such an old brand. Life, lost, and then reborn, the brand today is now trying to attack Cartier's market share for women's pieces. During the brand's former life (and potentially again in its future) it had a few men's models as well. One of my favorite of them (and one of the only ones) was the Bedat & Co. Number (No.) 8.

Wit a sort of cushion shaped case that had a round dial, the watch comes in a few flavors. There was a power reserve model, and one with a bit date, as well as this most basic version that happened to also be a limited edition model. This is known as the Ref. 878 series of Bedat & Co. No. 8 men's watches. Each of the versions (a few steel, gold, and maybe a platinum one) were offered as a limited edition of just 878 pieces. The dials started with Bedat's really nice hands. For good luck, the number 8 was place at o'clock in contrast to the other applied baton hour markers. Each model has a deeply textured dial with a sunburst motif.

The dials came in three colors, being black, silver, and slate. For the life of me I can't find the size of the case. I've seen them, and I think they are about 40mm wide, but I can't find the measurement online.

Bathys Benthic Ti Watch Collection

I chose the Bathys Benthic Ti (titanium) as the first watch to write about for this brand. There is no particular reason that I haven't written about Bathys watches yet - I simply needed to get around to it. Now you might hear about this Hawaiian watch brand often. I like well-made, uniquely styled watch that are still not too controversial looking. The fact that Bathys watches as priced well helps it make a watch you should know about - a lot about. While Bathys has both automatic and quartz watches, this is one of the quartz versions. A similar watch (without the same calendar complications) is available with a Swiss ETA 2892-2 movement. However this version has a Swiss Ronda 7003 Mastertech watch that includes the retrograde day of the week display and date - in addition to the time of course. I think this is one of the most diminutive day of the week indicators out there. So allow me to go off on a tangent for a minute on what a day of the week indicator is good in a watch like this - from Hawaii.

If you work in an office you basically know what day it is all the time. I know, I used to work in an office . The rest of us who are lucky enough to make our own schedules sometimes lose track of the day. Especially if you are living the surfer lifestyle in Hawaii, or otherwise. This is basically what Bathys watches are subliminally telling you to do. Still, we have appointments now and again with the rest of the world. So when we aren't sure if it is Tuesday or Wednesday we can just check out watch. Also, the big date complicate set at 6 o'clock further helps with our stating in touch with the rest of the world. Aside from the these are watches for play and more independent type of lifestyle.

Bathys Bomb Timer Watch Hands

This is a working prototype of Bathys' upcoming Bomb Timer watch - and it is very cool. I want to make two things clear from the start. First, as I said, this is a prototype, and will undergo a few changes before production. This includes aspects of the case, dial, and movement finishing. So again, this is a test... this is only a test. Second, the name Bomb Timer (while open to interpretation) has a very specific meaning. You'll see in the images below, a small vintage Hamilton clock that was mounted in cockpits, and other areas of bomber planes. These small clocks were bomb timers, and provided necessary timing information to bomb drop operates to know exactly when to release their payload. Pre computer and GPS bombing was a pain when trying to hit specific targets, especially when in cloudy skies. Thus precising timing instrumentation was required when attempting to hit targets with an accuracy much of the time.

Apparently, bomb operators liked these little clocks enough, that many of them took them home with them after WWII. For 2010, Bathys of Hawaii has increased the size of the original bomb timer, and has made quite the interesting watch concept out of the theme. You can see the similar user of large, over-lapping subsidiary seconds dial next to the main time.

In steel, the comfortable case is 52mm wide, by 35mm high. It comes with a thick 35mm wide aviation style leather strap with white contrast stitching. The wide, and short proportions of the case make it interesting, and like I said, actually very comfortable to wear. This is a great watch, and it has loads of fashion appeal. Staying true to the manually would, mechanical nature of the original, the Bomb Timer will have a manually wound ETA Unitas 6947 movement in it (that was originally used in pocket watches). The movement is mounted upside down so that the crown can be mounted on the left side of the case. Bathys is most likely going to alter the shape of the crown guards to make the crown easier to un-screw and wind. The case is water resistant to 100 meters.

Giveaway: Bathys Benthic Ti Watch

OK, I have to admit I am jealous - I want one of these. One of you will get to win this fantastic Hawaii-based Bathys Benthic Ti watch this month. It might be cold outside, but you can dream about an island paradise. 48mm wide and in titanium, this large men's watch isn't going to be too heavy, and features Bathys' iconic sport suave styling that says, "I know how to look good when relaxing or having fun." A dive watch at heart, the Benthic Ti has a domed sapphire crystal and is water resistant to 200 meters. Of course it has a rotating diver's bezel and SuperLumiNova covered hands and hour indicators. Inside the watch is a Swiss Ronda quartz movement with a retrograde day of the week indicator along with a big-date indicator.

The dial is super easy to read, but has a laid-back calmness to it that is in line with the timepiece's Hawaiian origins. The Bathys Benthic Ti comes on a black (waterproof) leather strap with red contrast stitching and also includes a rubber diving strap. Like all high-quality Bathys watches, the Benthic Ti comes in a waterproof Pelican case.

This process it follows that will show as providing monitor among results of which move

AP is on a boat! (by the way, the video below is the censored version - I realize that - erring on the side of caution here as our friends in Switzerland in the watch brand marketing departments sometimes have weaker constitutions than we do. The uncensored version of the video is here). Often times a watch doesn't assert itself well until it is in its "natural environment." That is not the case with the new AP ROO Diver (Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver) because it looks good pretty much everywhere. But if you want to see what the design is really all about, and meant for - then you will take it on a boat. The Royal Oak collection as a whole began with influence from boats. You have no idea how many watches began with boat windows or portholes. Hublot is basically an entire brand that started around this concept. The porthole is a cornerstone design element of so many luxury sport watches!

Audemars Piguet invited me to join them in visiting l'Hydroptere - the fastest sailboat in the world, which they happen to be sponsoring. The trimaran style boat is quite large and can hit speeds of up to about 60 knots. That is really fast in the ocean! This is with optimal wind and a full crew. The boat is so fast, it doesn't even compete against other ships - only against the clock. It would easily beat anything else out there that didn't rely on an engine. We took a yacht ("I'm on a boat!") to see l'Hydroptere off the coast of Saint Tropez in the South of France. The ship plans to engage on a record setting trip next year in the Pacific ocean. The whole idea of the boat is to be one of a series of sailing vessels that will be faster and faster. L'Hydroptere is a collaboration between Swiss and French engineers and sailing experts.

Audemars Piguet's last sailing sponsorship was with the Alinghi, and since then has been eager to get back into the world of performance wind-powered boating. You could tell that AP as a whole loves the genre. In their offices and in the manufacture are posters and models of the Alinghi ship - those will likely be replaced with mini l'Hydroptere's soon enough.

Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Extra-Thin Watch

As there is a deep place in my heart for wild and complex watches, so too is there is place in my heart for the tasteful and simple. Honestly, some days you want a watch that soothes and elevates, as opposed to one that boggles the mind. The Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Extra-Thin is really a poster child timepiece of the new movement towards simple, minimalistic, think watches. If you can afford it, this watch is a stunner. Priced at just under $20,000.

The Millenary case here is 47mm wide and in titanium. AP is still on their "light" watch kick. At least it is not in a precious material - that would really harm the sound of minute repeater. Over on the front of the watch is a combo of a real dial and an open movement. The mix is well done from a style perspective. AP designers did a good job at combining a sense of technical sophistication with old world elegance. On the right of the dial the pink gold tones hour makers and hand are traditional and attractive. Moving to the right the dial is more futuristic. This starts with the white and red colors of the subsidiary seconds dial, as well as the open movement and exposed double balance spring style escapement. Great use of contrast by AP right?

The movement design is also interesting because of how elements are arranged. The front of the watch has elements like the minute repeater hammers and gong, as well as the escapement. These elements tends to be reserved for the back of a movement. Last, there is a new security mechanism the prevents the user from setting the time while the minute repeater function is in operation. This would otherwise potentially damage the movement. Details such as this are necessary for fully appreciating the work that went into a piece such as this. Not sure about price or how many will be made. I will learn more soon.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Watches For 2011

We are about a year away from a total re-shuffle of the Royal Oak for its 40th anniversary - but for 2011 Audemars Piguet has created arguably the best looking Royal Oak Offshore watch ever. Next year is also the 20th Anniversary of the Royal Oak Offshore I believe as well. The redo of the "ROO" (Royal Oak Offshore) for 2011 is simple, but involves a number of refinements and design tweaks. When speaking with Audemars Piguet's lead designer Octavio Garcia, he describes the new collection as "restrained" and more focused. These are meant to be more simple looking watches that emphasize the strengths of the collection and how its personality has developed over time. Some past Royal Oak Offshore watches have been accused of being too busy by some tastes. While I personally see merit in some of the more aggressive and experimental Royal Oak Offshore watches of previous years, the new models are certainly more broad in their appeal. They seem to offer a technical, polished look that suits the Royal Oak Offshore concept quite well.

When it comes down to it, Audemars Piguet took a lot of influence from some of those past experimental designs for much of what you see here. Interestingly the amalgamated design boiled down to a very cohesive look. For instance, you'll find a lot of elements here from the limited edition Royal Oak Offshore Rubens Barrichello as well as the limited edition Royal Oak Offshore Jarno Trulli. Between those two watches you pretty much have the make up for the dials and hands in this new model.

Audemars Piguet Watch Museum

It is ironic (and sad), that literally a week or two after I visited the Audemars Piguet Watch Museum in Le Brassus, it was burglarized! Yup, flat out heist. The thieves scaled the sides of the building with a ladder, broke into a window and ran off across the border into France with some watches. I am not sure what they were able to run off with. The museum is designed such that the exhibits are each in highly secured "vault" style rooms. Meaning that if you break into one room, chances are that you aren't gonna get into other rooms. I wonder what they were able to get. Some of those items are likely pictured here. Audemars Piguet and European police are clearly after the thieves, but a job like this requires a highly sophisticated client who wants the items for themselves. Not like you can sell one of a kind stolen watches on the open market. Everyone is gonna know they aren't legitimately for sale.

While I truly hope the stolen pieces are recovered, some might not, and images like these that I took might be all that the public has to look at when interested in a brand's rich history. Audemars Piguet is truly an historic brand, and the museum is located in the La Vallee du Joux where it all started. There are too many watches here to discuss individually. Many of them you'll find in the gallery below.

Aside from beautiful historic pockets watches, the museum has a number of Royal Oaks, and highly complex Audemars Piguet timepieces. A few highlights for me are the very first Royal Oak (designed by renowned watch maker and designer Gerald Genta), that is seen above. Below it you'll see an early dive style Royal Oak (looks like it predates the Offshore). The museum is literally a bastion for Royal Oak lovers - they have tons of them. It is actually amazing to see all the iterations of the Royal Oak. From the handsome, simple three-handed original - to models with grand complication movements in them.

Aryta Tesla Squelette Quadri Rotor Watch

Let's talk about weird. There is a good weird, and there is certainly bad weird. Which category any particular "weird" falls into it highly subjective. On most accords this watch is weird. I mean look at it? It is unlike almost everything else out there. A one of a kind creation by Yvan Arpa's Artya brand, this watch belongs to the "Coup de foudre" collection which is an ongoing series of watches that have "lightning struck" cases - hence the "Tesla" part of the name. Basically, Yvan's shop employs the use of a large Tesla coil array. Electricity (which is basically lightning) travels between the two coils and the watch case is stuck in the middle. These pieces undergo wild transformative effects aided by artists who help engrave and colorize the metal. A lot of the cases that undergo this treatment are unusable, but the ones that survive are pretty interesting. Again, "interesting" if you can follow suit with that type of thing.

Artya employs two teams of people in their workshop. One team are artists and the other team are watch makers. The two work together to create "watch art." A sort of game that is played with mechanical movements and dials. The Tesla collection plays with the idea of electronic componentry and mixes it with the design. Expressionist art at its finest, you have a purely mechanical watch with inert electronic parts as decorative elements. Note the uses of copper wire coils, and various capacitors. Please not that I used the image of the back of the watch as a reference. This is not the rear of this specific timepiece, but a sister watch in the collection. I use it to show the "Quadri Rotor" part of the design.

Artya Perpetual Calendar Piece Unique Watches

I got a sneak preview of this watch a few months ago and am happy to now be able to show it to you. This is the Artya Perpetual Calendar watch - it combines an exclusive manufacture movement with a surprisingly clean and technical design from the "art watch" brand. The Perpetual Calendar will be available as 10 limited edition pieces. Each piece will have its own materials and colors so that it is totally unique.

The first thing I noticed about the watch was the bezel. According to Artya's Yvan Apra, the bezel was influenced by the art and style of Stargate - which is essentially futuristic ancient Egyptian. Aside from looking really cool, the engraved design includes hieroglyphics that actually say something (though I am not sure what). The motto of the watch is actually very ancient Egyptian in theme and is "Vita brevis, ars longa." Thank you Artya for helping to keep my knowledge of Latin fresh - that means "life is short, but art is eternal." We all need things to leave behind for the world to remember us by right?

The case here is in steel, in Artya's standard case that I believe is 45mm wide. There will also be versions in PVD black steel as well as in rose gold. The dial is actually quite minimalist for Artya - who applies their decorative style sparingly. You really only see "Artya" in the hands (of which there are six). The focus is on the movement which is the Caliber MHO138 (more details below). The perpetual calendar movement is manually wound with 66 hours of power reserve. It has the time, date, day, and month. Reading the indicators is done by the hands - but they don't move. You read where the hands are pointing, as the discs under them move. It is an interesting rendition on the skeletonized dial concept and feels in-line with Artya's "organic aesthetic." Also worth mentioning is that the movement uses silicum for in the escapement - which itself is said to be modeled after a system invented by watch maker Martin Braun.

Artya Time Shot Watches Use Real Bullets

Yvan Arpa's newest concept for his Artya brand is combining bullets and watches. The result will be a new series of strictly piece unique watches that somehow combine guns and timepieces. This one (called the Sun of a Gun) literally takes bullets and sticks them in the dial and the rotor. I am sort of surprised nothing like this has been done before. Maybe people are gun shy?

According to Artya the first piece in the Time Shot collection was commissioned by a collector. In a sense, the concept is a metaphor for what time is - a killer. There are a whole range of such "morbid" watches. A good example are those from Mr. Jones Watches that have hands which literally remind you that you will die. Nothing more uplifting that remembering that time is running out for you each time you check to see if your meeting is about to start. I suppose that type of messaging is good for the perpetually unmotivated who need some extra help to get stuff done.

Using the standard 47mm wide Artya steel case, this "bullets for brains" Son of a Gunwatch places six very small Flobert 6mm rounds around the automatic Swiss movement (which is placed in the center of the dial. A design on the bezel and inner dial hearken to targeting sights. The latter element is kitschy but acceptable. I am pretty sure the Flobert bullets are live rounds.

ngular Momentum Eerie Timepieces Make Me Wish Everyday Was Halloween

These watches might have Corum skull watches beat. They at least match them! These two watches are part of Angular Momentum's Artisan collection Eerie Timepiece line and have illustrative names such as "A Heap of Luminous Skulls" and "Juicy Skulls." I really love these watches, and am just awestruck at the variety of wonderful watch art pieces coming out of Angular Momentum. The most important aspect of these two watches is the luminant, and it is the basis of the "Eerie" theme. It is done using a proprietary compound known as Èmail Lumineuse, that will glow for roughly 30 hours if charged for about 10 minutes. You can see from the images how rich the imagery is in the dark.

Thick dagger hands add to these watches' personality. I like the change in color on the hands and dial from the steel case. The hands and dial are done in "Champleve," which gives them a slightly bronzed tone. The 42mm steel cases themselves are satin and polish finished attached to alligator straps. The crowns have black enamel inlays, and probably look as cool as the rest of the watch. Inside both watches have automatic mechanical movements, and 3mm thick sapphire crystals. They are also water resistant to 10ATM.

The first of the two versions is the "A Heap of Luminous Skulls" features a vivid image of glowing skulls akin to apocalyptic scene from Terminator, only cooler. The second watch, "Juicy Skulls" is decidedly more upmarket with diamonds set in the lugs and around the bezel. The image there showing a spiked helmet wearing skull who looks happy to see you. These are just really awesome watches, I am giddy like a school boy just looking at them If you are interested in either of these or other Angular Momentum watches, they invite you to contact them here

Layered Damascus Steel Makes For A Beautiful Timepiece

It should be clear that Angular Momentum is one of those luxury brands that feel comfortable with endless experimentation. I am amazed at the sheer wealth of watch designs the company has offered over the years. That combined with their one-off pieces and limited editions make for a brand that is worth watching constantly. I am always pleasantly surprised.

The process of layering steel has been going on for over a thousand years. Mostly in Japan to make swords. You know the typical Katana blade? I recall being in a Japanese sword museum in Tokyo, and seeing a good sampling of these swords. They had a few that were made literally over a thousand year ago, and looks like they were just made. This incredibly hardiness is a testament not only to Japanese dedication for their craft, but also the longevity of layered steel (part of process to prevent oxidation is the habitual oiling of the blades as I understand).

This layered/mosaic steel process is also known as Damascus steel. After the steel is layered, it is polished and shaped, with the thin lines of each steel later becoming visible. Often times there is a rainbow of color present which represents the effect of heat on the steel in the various elements in the steel that occur during the manufacture process. Damascus steel is commonly found today in high end knives and sometimes swords, which are mostly made for decoration. Occasionally however, you'll see the process used in watch making, which is the case with this wonderful Angular Momentum watch.

Angular Momentum Artisan Beauty & Glamour Collection

Before fond observation of this beautiful watch line, it is a good idea to know the historical source of the art faithfully reproduced in miniature. Without knowing history behind the art, these watches are just really nice reserve glass eglomise art pieces done with incredible skill. Much deeper appreciation for this line (and a better excuse for wearing them) comes from knowing what the painted scenes are all about.

In what I consider another move to become the worlds most culturally literate watch brand, Angular Momentum chose a specific form of early 19th century art to focus on in the Artisan Beauty & Glamour Orientalism collection. Without going into a history lesson, you can imagine the interesting artistic fervor that occurred in the late 18th century after France and Britain began to militarily move east, into the Middle East and North Africa.

After Napoleon defeated the Turks, and then was beat by the British, there was a new presence of Europeans in the region. To most, the sights were completely new, and the foreign culture was documented through photo realistic painting, as photography was not available at the time. Thus, this type of art was more involved with reproducing reality than impressionism or abstraction. The idea was to communicate what was seen in these exotic regions of the world. For many, the term "oriental," refers to "the Far East," or what most people refer to as Asian countries. While this is a modern use of the term, "oriental" literally means east (the opposite, "occidental" means west). Because the regions involved were east of where the Europeans were coming, the artistic movement was referred to as orientalism.

MB&F And Alain Silberstein HM2.2 Black Box Watch

Sometimes I wait a bit after news "breaks" to discuss a topic. That was the case with MB&F's new HM (horological machine) 2.2 watch. The timepiece is a further extension of the quite pricey luxury HM2 watch. MB&F has given the watch several version done in combos of metals (gold, titanium...), ceramic, and of course colors and styles. I've worn a few of them, and admit they are sorta cool. One of the biggest criticisms of that watch is that it was unwearable. True, the the wide box is tough to wear on your wrist, but it isn't exactly "unwearable" (like the DeWitt WX-1). From a practical standpoint MB&F watches are wearable art. Few people would actually wear and HM1, HM2, or HM3 watch all the time, but I for one quite appreciate them. Max Busser of the brand is a marketing master as well. He really knows how to get people excited about his watches, and items such as this limited edition of 8 pieces HM2.2 watch are a great was of doing that.

For me, this collaboration with watch maker Alain Silberstein is very impressive. I don't know whose idea it was, Max's or Alain's but the result is said to have quite shocked Mr. Busser. What Alain did is take a watch, make some arguably minor changes, and totally alter the look of the timepiece. His inspiration was vintage box style cameras from the 1940s, and you can see the connection in the design. Only the little colors triangle, square, and circle indicate his hallmark touch. Well those and the smiling moon phase indicator (styled after art nouveau characters. This "Little Nemo") .

Silberstein really changed how the watch seems to tell the time and other indications - even though he really didn't. What he did do is make reading the watch easier. As such, you can read the retrograde minutes, jumping out, and retrograde date and moon phase indicator with pleasant ease. While Busser is a showman, Alain is a true watchmaker who emphasizes function, and happens to be a great contemporary French artist as well. Oh, and I like that the dials have luminant on them. Much of the time these $100,000 watch forgo such "functional" embellishments.

Alain Silberstein iKrono Watch

This isn't a brand new release (still pretty fresh though) from French watch maker Alain Silberstein - and it is one of my favorites. Sort of like his take on the Bell & Ross BR01 instrument watch look and style. Best of is that I got to check some iKrono watches out last month in person. A square case in titanium with an elevated round dial. The case is available in a micro-grain finish (sort of like sandblasted) and also with black PVD coating. Alain Silberstein further uses a special silicium anti-stain treatment. This is a really good addition when dealing with things like finger oils and such. The cases don't really smudge when you touch them. I love the machine-like presentation, though it is softened by smooth bolts on the case and the overall smooth edges all over the case and surfaces. This gives it a more cartoon line, friendly look. The watch isn't small either being 47mm wide (BR01 is 46mm wide) and 20mm tall. A really great look on your wrist if you ask me - very charming and inviting looking (which can pretty much be said for all his watches). By the way, the strap is actually one long piece of material that is secured into the case. To remove it, you just need to unscrew the caseback.

There are a few color versions of the watch I believe, pictured are just some examples. The watch also look really nice with a white leather (or rubber strap I believe) Each version is in a limited edition (500 pieces each edition at most). In fact, you can see a few more images of a few more versions of the iKrono watch here on this quality French watch blog. I love the different color chapter rings on the iKrono watch (that have tachymetre scale on them).

Alain Silberstein Tourbillon Black Storm Watch

Are you ready for a watch like this? Is anyone ever really ready for a watch like this? Among his many watches, Alain Silberstein offers some tourbillon models. Less popular today, a few years ago these iconoclastic tourbillon timepieces really offered something very different. Take this Black Storm model (ref. TS511) that combines his playful French design, an interesting tourbillon movement, and urban toned camouflage.

The idea is really when you get to a watch like a tourbillon reason loses a lot of meaning. Art is what makes sense and here Alain Silberstein is having fun (like he always does). Not everyone is a fan of his aesthetic - that is OK. I believe design aesthetics such as his are meant to be polarizing. In the Black Storm watch is a manually wound tourbillon based movement that I believe are exclusive to his pieces. He doesn't make the movements, but no one else has them.

The tourbillon is a flying tourbillon, and done in a manner that I find interesting. The lower part of the dial is deeply recessed, allowing for a greater view of the mechanics. This lowered surface is perlage polished and contains Silberstein's three primary shape/colors logo. The rest of the dial has the time and date dial.

At 40mm wide, the case isn't huge, but size is assisted with the relative thickness of the case. In steel, the side of the case matches the main dial with the black and gray camo motif. The combination of this design with Silberstein's geometric bright colored pieces is interesting. I like the dial a lot actually, but wish the minute hand here a tad bit longer.

A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Daymatic Watch

Although I've written about the new A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Daymatic watch elsewhere, I needed to mention it to my primary audience here on aBlogtoRead.com, especially after getting my hands on them. Lange has officially released a new "grail watch." Extending the attractiveness of the Lange 1 line even more by essentially adding a new automatic movement and twisting up the design a bit. Plus, the watch has grown by just a hair from the Lange 1. When A. Lange & Sohne was a reborn luxury brand in the 1990s, the avant garde Lange 1 watch to be their flagship model - with a look and poise un-paralleled elsewhere. Now, 15 years after the Lange 1 debuted its asymmetric face, we are presented with a new vision of the model.

It is important to realize that there have been a number of Lange 1 watch iterations over the years. From the large sized XL model with its overlapping dials, to the world timer or moonphase models - the watch collection certainly has its share of versions. However, instead of just adding functionality here, the Lange 1 Daymatic is a real reinterpretation of the watch line - as seen in the eyes of an automatic. While it may seen unexciting to you that the major change is just the addition of an automatic movement - realize that A. Lange & Sohne makes very few automatic movements. Normally none of their flagship models have these convenient mechanical movements included. The movement has all the standard beautiful decoration with a gold rotor that has platinum around the edge for additional weight.

Manually wound movements are often preferred in high luxury watches - especially those of distinct Germanic flavor. Why? Because the movements feel more traditional when they are manually wound, but more importantly, you can have an unobstructed view of the movement. A. Lange & Sohne makes all of their own movements. This includes the design, to the manufacture of tiny parts, to the decoration, to the intense assembly and testing. Because each watch spends so many hundreds of hours being detailed and finished, the brand needs you to see what it is that you are paying for. It begins to make a lot more sense why a watch cost's $50,000 or more dollars when you know that it took 6-12 months to complete it by hand. Then when you see the movement and its beautiful, meticulous finishing and decor, you "get it." An automatic movement has so much of the movement covered with the oscillating rotor, that this becomes a bit of an issue. At least this is the idea. You can easily disagree with it.

Follow A. Lange & Sohne At SIHH In Real Time

Today I am at SIHH here in Geneva. But most of you are not. Too bad... As part of luxury watch brands further embracing the Internet, they are welcoming modern times by live blogging at the event. Finally, the Internet is their friends. How far we have come in just a few years. In addition to other brands such as Jaeger-LeCoultre, my favorite German luxury watch brand A. Lange & Sohne (the grail watch for many) will live blogging from SIHH 2010. To be honest I am not 100% sure what this will entail, but it believe it means sharing what is going on including images and new releases with you all out there.

What I do know is that A. Lange & Sohne people will be there live to answer your questions and help you with whatever you need. You'll probably need to be up late at night if you are in the US for this personal attention from their staff. Otherwise I am sure there will be good stuff up for you to check out. In addition to their live blogging at the event (at the address in the link below), they are also offering contemporaneous content via the A. Lange & Sohne iPhone app, Twitter feed, and some special mobile phone friendly website. I really applaud them for going all this. Keep it nice and traditional in the watch making department, but give me all your bell & whistles in the communication and marketing department. Maybe I will be able to say hello from their booth at SIHH.

A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Tourbillon Limited Edition Watch

Here is a rare watch from favorite German luxury watch maker A. Lange & Sohne. If you can take yourself back to the bubble building times of the year 2000, you'll recall just how sexy the idea of a tourbillon watch was. This was before a "mere tourbillon" was not enough, and when the complication was gaining steam as the haute mechanical wonder to wear. At this time most consumers still had no idea what the odd, but cool looking complication was. Later most consumers finally learned that the complication was in fact cool to look at, but of questionable value from utilitarian perspective. But who cares really, you don't get a $100,000 watch for utilitarian purposes.

2000 to 2003 saw the production of this mini-era defining watch. It took the Lange 1 watch design that really brought A. Lange & Sohne into the modern era and put a tourbillon in it. The area on the dial normally reserved for the subsidiary seconds dial, was now used for a partially open dial showing the tourbillon and the bridge holding it which maybe me referred to as a balance cock, but I can't use that term without giggling). Lange then places another smaller subsidiary seconds dial in the hour and minute dial. The Lange 1 was a pretty controversial in design initially, but is undoubtedly now a modern classic. You can learn a bit more about the watch at A. Lange & Sohne here.

The Lange 1 Tourbillon was actually released on the 100th anniversary of Emil Lange's release of his tourbillon pocket watch in Paris at the beginning of the 20th century. Dates and anniversaries are important to watch companies, but it does help put into perspective how nicely stable the watch industry has been... even over decades or centuries. The Lange 1 Tourbillon was produced in a limited edition of 250 pieces in 18k rose gold, and 150 pieces in platinum. The watches are pretty hard to find. In 2006, one of these watches in rose gold sold for about $94,000 at auction - just a few years after the watch was sold. Interestingly that was was not even in what I would consider mint condition. One of these watches is available on James List for about $130,000. I don't specifically know the condition of the watch, but the price should be negotiable. At the very least, the watch almost epitomizes the authentic luxury end of the spectrum, of the watches that came out during this era. It was a thin golden age of watch making excess, that may not come back again in such a force for decades.

Orient Mako Dive Watch Winner Follow Up

In August I held a giveaway for an Orient Mako Diver watch. I asked the winner to send an image with the watch on his wrist as a follow up to show all of you. Like all readers, he was busy in his work and personal life, but was finally able to get a snapshot for me to share with all of you. Here are a few meaningful words that Eric W. wanted to share with about the Orient Mako CEM65001B dive watch that he won on vipwatch-jp.com:

"The Orient Mako Diver watch is a terrific watch! I must admit that I was a bit skeptical for how an automatic watch in this price range would be, but I have been wearing this watch for over a week and it has performed beautifully. It is very accurate and is durable. I can tell that people that see the watch often do double-takes. They seem to be wondering if it is an Omega, a Rolex, or a Blancpain.

The watch comes in a beautiful box. There is no question in my mind that Orient makes the best automatic watches for the money. Island Watch was very good in terms of their customer service by keeping me updated on when it would ship. Thank you so much Ariel and Island Watch! [the watch giveaway sponsor]"

Thanks to Eric for sharing the image of the watch looking handsome on his wrist. And to all of you who didn't win a timepiece yet, please enter this month's watch giveaway and look forward to future watch giveaways right

Orient CDD00001W Pocket Watch Review

It's a pocket watch. It is also a nice pocket watch. Further still, it is a Japanese pocket watch, and from Orient Japan. Not what you expect to see these days, but there is still a market for pocket watches, and you might be one of those people who want one. Pocket watches have a sort of romance to them. Something from another era, when telling the time was a classy occasion. Back when not everyone could afford a watch - and having one meant you meant something.

Pocket watches today are admittedly rare, especially new ones. But here is an interesting one that is probably a good fit for anyone who might want one. Further, it houses the very first manually wound movement made by Orient. Until now, they have been making automatic movements (that don't feature hand winding). As far as pocket watches go, with Orient CDD00001W (which I will just refer to as the "Orient Pocket Watch") is relatively small. It is actually the size of a modern modestly sized watch at 40mm wide. A nice feature for those people who don't want to carry around large pocket watches. There is another reason for the small size. The Orient Caliber 48C40 movement is actually made to go into a watch. It just isn't in one yet (that I know of). It hearkens a future of more sophisticated movements made by the over 50 year old mechanical watch maker from Japan. Orient already makes a full line of nice mechanical watches, but I see them slowly moving up market a bit. The movement has a 40 hour power reserve, with a hour reserve indicator on the dial, and an escapement that beats are 21,600 bhp (beats/rotations per hour). Lastly, the movement features a hack seconds functions that stops the seconds hand when you full the crown out.

In the future, I anticipate that Orient will have a full line of manually wound watches, and then eventually watches that have both manual winding, and automatic winding (just as Swiss automatic movements do). Orient takes the time to decorate the movement with perlage polishing. Overall I am happy with the movement as it has nice operation and is made Orient themselves. It is a nice value for the money. Feels smooth in operation, and it is nice to wind via the top-mounted crown. It has all the feeling you want from a traditional style manually wound mechanical movement. You can see the movement through the sapphire caseback window. Lovers of this genre can't really go wrong.

Cartier caliber 690 sets this timepiece apart with precision

There is a word that is thrown around a lot in the watch world that means the public takes a watch (or anything else for that matter) seriously. That word is legitimacy and I love to hear the French pronounce it. Cartier is what they call a legitimate brand. They have heaps of reputation, a solid history and plenty of important people who wear their products. Classic Cartier designs are also a great influence to their direct competitors. They really are the model of a solid luxury watch brand.

A few years ago, Cartier decided that this was not enough. They wanted even more legitimacy, especially with the growing population of seasoned watch lovers. This meant adding a lot more high-end watches to their range, as well as offering in-house made movements. Well, sometimes "in-house" just meant no one else was using those movements but that's another matter altogether. I also suspect this push to make movements was partly due to ETA's (Swatch Group owned while Cartier is Richemont) continual threats to stop supplying movements to outside brands. ETA hasn't done this yet but Cartier was smart to invest in movement manufacturing in the event that it does happen.

The first watches to contain in-house Cartier movements were very high-end. Cartier offered a brand new look and feel to the type of watch that could bear the Cartier name. All these watches had exotic movements and prices were on par with that of some very nice real estate. In 2010 Cartier announced the release of the simply named Calibre, a story that I covered here. The new masculine watch offered a sporty look (more so than Cartier's other sport watches such as the Pasha, Santos, and Roadster) as well as, for the first time, an "entry-level" Cartier with an in-house movement.

Cartier New Calibre Timepiece‎ Watch Club‎

Over the last few years my interest and respect for Cartier has really grown. Sure, a lot of their timepieces are mass produced, but they have a penchant for good, lasting design. No doubt I am not a fan of all of their watches, but little escapes from their manufacture without being really good for at least some people. Good design - as I am learning more and more - is not easy. Designing something to look outstanding and really cool for 5 minutes is really not that hard. Executing a design that looks good each time you look at it, for years, isn't so easy. In this department, Cartier has succeeded for a long time. I find myself wondering what their secret is.

Over the last few years my interest and respect for Cartier has really grown. Sure, a lot of their timepieces are mass produced, but they have a penchant for good, lasting design. No doubt I am not a fan of all of their watches, but little escapes from their manufacture without being really good for at least some people. Good design - as I am learning more and more - is not easy. Designing something to look outstanding and really cool for 5 minutes is really not that hard. Executing a design that looks good each time you look at it, for years, isn't so easy. In this department, Cartier has succeeded for a long time. I find myself wondering what their secret is.

Now there are the new super high-end manufacture watches from Cartier. Haute Horology now gets Cartier worthy designs. While these super high-end pieces are not all keepers, there are enough outstanding ones. My favorite from last year was the Cartier Rotonde Astrotourbillon watch. The mechanism placed the escapement on a hand that functioned as the seconds hand. The dial has a special "trench" that gave space for the astrotourbillon complication.

Cartier Calibre Watch infinitely captivating‎

The Cartier Calibre is not only Cartier's new flagship men's watch, but also their new flagship case to to use for high-complication men's watches. The Cartier Calibre model debuted last year, and came only on a strap. The Calibre was further not just a new piece for men, but a decently priced high-end timepiece with an in-house made Cartier automatic movement (the 1904-PS). Mid 2010 I asked Cartier if they offered a metal bracelet, as it seemed logical that they would. The answer at the time was "no," but as of recently the answer is "yes." Here finally, is the lovely Cartier Calibre watch on a metal bracelet.

You can say a lot of things about Cartier, but one of those should always be that they put in a lot of effort into the refinement of their watches. The cases are always attractive looking (even if they aren't your style), and they have an impeccable reputation for quality. That is not however always true with their clasps. Because they don't often use locking clasps they can loosen over time and open without you wanting them to open. For this reason I was thrilled to see them use a push-button locking butterfly style deployment for this bracelet.

In my opinion the bracelet is a perfect compliment to the design of the Calibre case. I wanted one of these watches before, but now I really want one. The bracelet fits flush with the case and is very nicely integrated into the design. The long links are highly curved, but not as long as the ones on the Cartier Roadster are. The connection between the parts is good, while the bracelet feels to be designed and constructed well. For ergonomics the links are curved to fit over your wrist better. The first major link tapers, while the rest of the bracelet is the same size. I like that they used visible screws to secure the links together. Visible screws have long since been a design element in Cartier men's items.

Retro Done Well: Louis Vuitton Tambour Diver Watch

It is easy to find the style of the 1970s unappealing. Despite the fact that it is "coming back," (from what I hear) it was an era of too many browns, too much synthetics, and too much hair. One thing however that the 1970s encouraged was large size. Big hair, big cars, big pants, and big watches. Especially the diving watches. While many of these things are coming back, so are big watches. 40mm cases are now considered small or average, and most watches, which matter, are approaching 44mm or even 50mm (and larger). The Louis Vuitton Tambour Diver takes large size, with its 70's browns, and is able to present a very pleasing ,aesthetic highly reminiscent watch with a 70s modern design.

The first thing I noticed when I saw the case of the watch was its tapered look. The bottom of the case (close to your wrist) is wider than the top. It almost looks like a volcano sitting on your hand. The circular curve of the bezel and the rounded edges of the case are complimented by very angular features in the face of the watch. Square time markers, hands, and numbering add to the mod look and feel, and contrast well with the bulbous crowns which are asymmetrically placed. I like this look because it is very clinical in design. A symmetrical look often feels too designed and detracts from a watch's appeal as an instrument. The whole idea behind a watch, is that it is a tool to do something. The Tambour Diver is a diving timepiece. It is meant to tell the time with the additional functionality of the rotating bezel to (classically at least) measure dive time and surfacing periods. What a nicely designed watch is supposed to do, as displayed here, is perform its primary function flawlessly, while harkening to a theme. In this instance the them is a diving watch based around a 70s design motif.

Another function of the large design and bulbous looks is to remind the wearer of it's nautical theme. Ocean diving vessels are often rounded and large in order to combat water pressure at depths. They also operate to allow for function wearing diving gloves. Thus the large crowns and indicators on the watch are functional along with being attractive and reminiscent of the deep.

Louis Vuitton Tambour Mystérieuse Watch

Louis Vuitton watches always feel special. They don't release new watches too often, and when they do, they barely give any information about them - they are also quite rare. They have been playing with the Tambour case for a while, adding new designs and styles all the time. This is likely to be the "highest-end" Louis Vuitton Tambour watch of them all. My favorite is still the Louis Vuitton Tambour Diver watch. Now you might not think of Louis Vuitton as a watch maker. You'd be right in theory, but you'd be missing a major point. The LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) Group owns several important watch brands including Zenith, Tag Heuer, and Hublot. This gives them a bit watch making asset pool to pull from. So in a sense, Louis Vuitton branded watches are not just another fashion watch. While they have been making watches for a little while, and this new Tambour Mystérieuse watch is the first in-house movement for them. Previously they pulled movements from else where. The price of the new watch is very high, almost too optimistically so, but we can get to that in a moment.

The Louis Vuitton Tambour Mystérieuse has a floating manually wound LV115 movement in the center of the dial sandwiched between sapphire crystals. The "Mystérieuse" part comes from the fact that you cannot see how the movement is connected to the rest of the watch (or for the crown for that matter). Not really sure how it works actually. I guess that if there is no actual hidden rod, there would have to be a special sapphire crystal that itself turns, acting to adjust the time and wind the movement. The good news is that the watch has a power reserve of over eight days, which means you won't have to wind it all that often. The movement itself is has a built-in power reserve indicator, and has been designed to look quite pretty with the exposed palette jewels. The hands of the watch are attached inside and come out from the sides of the movement. It is a nice effect, and relatively legible. Certainly unique. The Tambour case itself is likely to be quite thick, but its tapered look is designed to allow for that without it looking too awkward. The highly sloped chapter ring around the face has attractive but simple hour markers. The lug structures are almost futuristic looking, but tasteful, and specially made alligator straps bit into the lug settings for a satisfying cohesive look.

Louis Vuitton Tambour Spin Time GMT Watch

Oh Louis, how you tease us. Going back and forth between fascinating watch releases and not quite innovating enough for most watch heads to love you. I however have been a fan since the days when Tambour was a fresh name. Now the Tambour is the mainstay model for the brand, that is in need of more goods. In such an economy when brand name rules over brand value, Louis Vuitton could really be taking the Cartier route and upping their game. With the LVMH family of brands to help (such as Tag Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith), it could be a powerhouse high-end fashion watch brand. Until that day comes (or never does) we have to look at these quite rare creations from afar. My close interest with Louis Vuitton started with the Tambour Diver watch, a beautiful piece that really needs to be on more wrists (including my own). Though its high price and utter rarity on the used market hasn't made it part of my collection yet. Though if I really wanted, I could get it from Louis Vuitton's website for $4,700 - $5,500 depending on the strap - but I digress!

The Tambour watch case has been seeing new life recently in hard to find watches with unique complications. Louis Vuitton is trying to assert themselves a bit as being a more serious watch maker by doing a bit more than placing an ETA movement in a pretty watch. This clever Spin Time GMT watch is a clever take on telling the time, built on top of a base ETA automatic movement (likely a 2893). The module has 12 cubes and turn around showing an Arabic numeral when it is that cubes "turn" to indicate the hour. Consider it an interesting variation on a jumping hour watch. Now, it get a little bit more complex. Each cube has numbers on the top and bottom. These are AM and PM times, but in 24 hour format. So the cube for 2pm, has a "2" on it, and a "14" on the other side of it when it is PM time. Just grasp for a moment the meaning of all that. To tell the time, you first search for the cube with an exposed number, and then track the minute hand traditionally.

The watch also has an orange GMT hand (which would likely be confused for an hour hand but people who don't get the watch). I like that it has a GMT hand, but am irritated that the hands doesn't have a 24 hour scale, just a 12 hour scale? Is that right, or am I utterly missing something? The module that makes all this happen, also provides for a GMT quick set system. There are pushers on the left side of the case that operate to move the GMT hand forward or backward in one hour increments. To up the value proposition of the watch, Louis Vuitton makes the module in-house at their watch maker workshop in La Chaux de Fonds, in Switzerland.

Last Chance To Enter For the Free 2CAN Watch

Congratulations to Rok from Slovenia who won last month's aBlogtoRead.com watch giveaway. This was the first international reader who got randomly chosen to receive the the giveaway prize. This makes sense as only half of aBlogtoRead.com readers are in the US - a truly global readership. Rok opted to win the 2CAN model Sl1536cch Chronotron watch from the selection of 2Can watches that the giveaway sponsor WatchWear.com had. You can see more details about the 2CAN watch pictured here.

I like the neat looking perforated dial and the moving lugs. Rok thinks that the watch fits well on his wrist and loves the looks. Here are more words straight from him: "The watch looks really great, it's got a modern and quite a unique design. I've been wearing it for a day and already got several compliments. It wears great and the size of the watch fits me perfectly. It also looks like its very solid build, only the strap looks like it won't really last long, hope I'm wrong. Overall I'm very pleased with the 2can watch."

Thanks for everyone who participated in the aBlogtoRead.com October watch giveaway. Please enter the November watch giveaway (see link on left sidebar column), or whatever the current month's giveaway maybe. Please also thank WatchWear.com for sponsoring the 2CAN watch giveaway. I recommend their large selection of reasonably priced watches for your holiday shopping.

666 Barcelona Watch Assortment Reviewed + Discount

When I met with someone from Watchismo to first check the 666 Barcelona watch collection, I quickly wanted to get a question I had out of the way. On the 666 Barcelona page on the Watchismo website, there is a small story about how the retailer learned about the brand by literally stumbling upon it while in Spain during a walk down a busy street. As the story goes, the brothers who run Watchismo saw the collection in a storefront, and later learned that the brand was locally distributed only. The cool, modern styles of the brand fit their tastes and eShop well, and soon after they brought the brand aboard.

666 Barcelona ("666") is a fun, lighthearted watch brand with a lot of character, and not a lot of price. Not luxury watches, these are instead enjoyable diversions that make a fun impression. While you don't have to like the entire collection, there are some gems in the mix. Here I'll show you a sampling of the cool things you can get from 666 Barcelona, for between $150 - $200. These are fashion watches for people who don't actually want a fashion watch. 666 designs range between mod retro and purely avant garde. Lovers of quirky LED timepieces will find offerings here, and people who want a "big, different watch for not a lot of money" will also spend time browsing the brand's offerings. Actually, the brand has a lot of pieces, and ones for both men and women. I would say that the design theme is a sort of polished deconstructionist. Shedding away rules of conduct that govern most conventional timepieces.

666 watches don't want to obfuscate telling the the time, but are more interested in playing with themes and visual space. Take for example the 666 Megabyte collection. An offering of large black square dialed watches with a mystery face. Looking more 2001: A Space Odyssey than timepiece, the watch uses a Swiss quartz movement to push around two discs with dots of them around a colored ring to tell the time. It is actually not hard to read, and the colored ring comes in a few colors as well. 45mm wide and $199.

Bell & Ross BR 01-92 Carbon Watch Review

The BR 01 (BR01) watch collection is probably the most iconic timepiece of the Bell & Ross brand, and one of the most influential timepieces of last decade. Exactly where did it come from and why is it so popular? Bell & Ross as a brand is highly inspired by the German brand Sinn. In fact, one of the founders of Bell & Ross worked at Sinn, and early Bell & Ross watches were actually Sinn watches that were dual branded.

Sinn is sort of the anti-Swiss watch in theme. The brand offers high-quality tool and professional-use watches that are reasonably priced and have zero lifestyle marketing behind them. I believe at the time, the new Bell & Ross brand saw an opportunity to market the Sinn concept to a more lifestyle and fashion oriented demographic, while retaining the core look and functionality that made Sinn what they were.

Soon after having success with offering Sinn watches in a new way Bell & Ross quickly started to develop its own personality and was among the first high-end watch brands that I recall ever noticing and lusting for. Born from historic military watches and functional instruments, the brand then (about 10 years ago), and now is still easy to love. A major part of that reason is that the majority of Bell & Ross watches feature very refined designs and dials that are often extremely easy to read. The mission of the brand was to offer a good-looking watch that said the people wearing them had good, but conservative taste, and weren't afraid to get their hands dirty when necessary.

Using Swiss movements, Bell & Ross is a contemporary French company. Even their "vintage" models have a fresh feel, while the brand's entire collection is modern through and through. How did Bell & Ross manage to retain this look while featuring a collection that is mostly aimed at the past for inspiration? I think it has to do with restraint. Design restraint. Most Bell & Ross watch designs are simple at first glance. There are a few key design features that make each piece what it is - without going overboard. I can only guess that this type of design process is difficult because rather than adding features designers often need to strip them away.

Longio SG3824E Automatic Watch Review

This is a very fine watch from China. I've mostly been exposed to low quality Chinese watches that I think have skewed my perception of what the country in capable of. Don't let the mass amount of not so great Chinese watches overshadow the good stuff that is available.

It makes sense that China produces decent watches. Wealthy Chinese people are voracious watch lovers. Hong Kong alone is one of the largest watch markets in the world and it is but one city. For a few years now, major Swiss watch makers have been eying the impressive economic growth of China. Watch stores are opening up faster than anywhere else. But before Chinese people were buying nice watches, they were making nice watches. A hidden little secret of European watch makers is that much that goes into their "Swiss Made" watches is actually made in China. This has to do with the rules around the term " Swiss Made" and what that means. It mostly refers to the movement, and where the movement was assembled. Cases to clasps, and crystals to cogs are all to be found from reputable Chinese suppliers. Even parts that go into Swiss Made watches often have Chinese origin. There is nothing wrong with this, as quality must always be high. Over the last decade or so, China has really learned how to make some nice watches.

At some point they just decided, "hey, we will make our own watches, with our own name." As opposed to making watches for other people, China still is lacking in the communication and marketing side of things. In that department, Europeans and Americans will always do better. That still should not mean that nice Asian watches should be overlooked. In addition to the newer Longio, a popular Chinese watch maker is Sea-Gull. You can find a review of a Sea-Gull watch here on aBlogtoRead.com. Longio is different than Sea-Gull, and this Automatic SG3842E watch is a different, and more luxurious beast.

Longio Telamon Tourbillon 1000m Diver Watch Review

My first tourbillon. The package was delivered to me and I quickly opened the box to find the Longio case inside. It was a larger presentation box, but that made sense given some of the included accessories. I hastily lifted the leather lid and a wide smile appeared on my face to see the almost mythical complication operating under the plastic film cover on the watch dial. Being an automatic movement, the transit had kept the watch wound enough for it to be moving when I first saw it. That little rotating balance wheel, spinning while it oscillates had a profound effect on me - given that I have been writing about $100,000 plus tourbillons for a while. Now I had one in my home. The difference here is where the tourbillon was made (that of course implies a host of differences). While most of tourbillon movements I have written about have European origin, this guy was from China.

And the watch totally is a "guy." Very masculine proportions and an aggressive stance. Maybe I am wrong for saying this, but I am surprised that a design from China has such a cool look. The design isn't necessarily a complex feat of refinement and careful study - but more a raw, architectural style with a guttural sense of strength. It is like the unpredictable marriage of Japanese armor design and the architectural style of proud looking propaganda-run state government buildings. I need to caution that last point, because if you've never seen government buildings made out of the direction of propaganda driven countries (communists, dictatorship, etc...), you'd have no idea what I am talking about. Unlike the cheap residences of communist era countries for example, the government buildings were very strong looking and meant to illicit a strong sense of pride and respect for the "establishment." I see a lot of this almost neo-Roman mixed with art-deco on steroids style in this watch. I feel as though this exaggerated explanation is necessary, because I want to show you that this is a unique design, but also why I think it stands out. It is possible that given China's government, there is a bit of this design element in their government buildings, which might have influenced the watch design. Not having been to China, I can't really say. Though a hint about their design philosophy comes from the brand's sub-slogan "The P.R.C. (People's Republic of China) Manufacture of Exceptional Mechanical Timepieces."

Longio Tourbillon Watches For 2010

To my knowledge, Longio is one of the only Chinese watch brands trying to push and market their tourbillon watches aggressively. I reviewed one of their Telamon 1000m Tourbillon Dive watches here, and originally discussed Longio Chinese tourbillon watches here. You can find more information about the brand in those articles. Here I would like to share with you a few of their new, or other pieces. I visited them at Baselworld and snapped some shots - though the above images of the green numeraled Asamara Tourbillon were sent to me from Longio themselves.

The Asamara Tourbillon watch is probably their most distinctive piece. It also features what I call an "architectural" design that the Telamon Diver watch also had. Not that they look the same, but they feel as though they are adapted building designs as opposed to traditional watch designs. All the watches here have a certain "polish" to their case designs. It makes them feel modern looking and easy on the eyes. They aren't the highly complex designs that some other brands gravitate towards, but feel more like frames for the dials and movements. They are also all designs based on having a low number of parts in the case design. Thus, the designs play with shapes, cuts, and polishes.

It is true that Longio is efficient with parts, meaning that you'll see the same hands or cases on a number of models. I see it as economical experimentation. Unlike many boring euro-copycat Chinese watches, you see a distinct level of unique design in Longio pieces that still feel as though they fit in the watch industry. The Asamara watch certain conjures up this sentiment, as does the watch with the engraved dial, and the other roundish watch with the green numerals. Apologies for not having all the model names at my disposal.

Edox WRC Xtreme Pilot & Chronorally Watches

For 2010, two of Edox's new models are meant for people who wish to measure speed. Dedicated to the World Rally Championship (WRC), these two quartz movement based watches look a lot like sophisticated modern stopwatches that go on your wrist. Just look at the large red chronograph pusher. Very serious looking instrument like pushers... The two watches are the WRC Xtreme Pilot Limited Edition with a more traditional looking chronograph, and the WRC Chronorally with a more complex multi-function chronograph and other timing set of features.The Chronorally must look a bit intimidating if you don't know how to use it. And if this is a racing themed watch collection, why is the word "pilot" part of the limited edition version?

The watches are in 45mm wide steel cases that have a no-nonsense look that feels directly taken from the look of rally car or other race car instruments. The relatively open dials feature carbon fiber, with clean looking subsidiary dial sections. The cases are water resistant to 100 meters, and probably look best while being worn with one of those full race car get-ups. You know, the jumpsuit with all those brand logos? The watch would fit with that right? Nice little bit of tire tread on the fitted rubber straps.

Edox Grand Ocean Jumping Hour Watch

Things have been quiet from Edox for a while, and suddenly they present a few new models. The brand has been crawling upmarket as of late, with the pictured recent addition to the line priced at over $5,000. This is the new Edox Grand Ocean Jumping Hour, and it takes full advantage of the brand's common nautical theme, and places a unique jumping hour display in the watch. As is the trend with "open displays," you can see a bit more of the hour disc than is necessary, but only a portion of it is framed (showing the appropriate hour). The minute hand is shown as a dial the encompasses the hour display. The minute hand style is common on each of the new watches from Edox this year. For the seconds, you have one of those clever half circle displays. Basically, you look at the hand which has two sides to determine what you are counting. If the red portion of the hand if going across the display, you read the red seconds, and vice versa for the unpainted steel side.

An interesting feature in the watch is the application of blue PVD, something that is pretty rare as PVD is almost always black. The rest of the case is done in polished steel. The case itself is pretty big at 45mm wide, with a design that reminds me distinctly of the sporty Jaquet Droz Grande Second SUW watch. You can click the link to compare the two and come to your own conclusion. This is not a bad thing though, as both watches are very cool looking in my opinion, with the Edox costing less than half of what the Jaquet Droz watch costs. I particularly like the grooved bezel and metal work into the lugs.

The movement powering this unique display is an automatic ETA 2892-2 with a special jumping hour module from Dubois Depraz. For the price of this watch, given the design, movement, and appeal; I would argue that it is probably a pretty good value. The pictured watch has a label indicating Sea Dubai, and you might be wondering why that is. Well I can speculate by suggesting that there might be regional editions. Dubai is one of the fastest growing luxury markets, and it is no surprise to see luxury makers give personal attention to the watch hungry region. With the unique yet functional design complimented by the blue tones on the case and alligator strap, you get a refreshing new watch from Edox that is the star of their 2009 line up.

Edox Grand Ocean Decentrique Date Automatic Watch

Here is another new Edox watch for 2009, the Grand Ocean Decentrique Date Automatic. If you aren't sure about the "decentrique" part of the name, just see how the face itself is "decentered." Yes, putting the suffix "ique" on just about anything gives you the ability to charge a 10-20% premium when selling it. Its a marketing fact (no its not actually). Sarcasm aside, the watch is pretty nice, and gives me the hopes of owning a styling asymmetrical faced watch that I might actually be able to afford someday (you hear that Audemars Piguet Millenary collection?). Actually, the Audemars Piguet watch is not decentered but rather has two elliptical dials that create the appearance of being asymmetric while the watch face is still centered.

Like the Edox Grand Ocean Jumping Hour watch that I recently discuss, the Grand Ocean Decentrique shares the same beautifully constructed case in 45mm comprised of a mix of rubber, PVD coated and un coated rose gold plated steel. It is certainly the type of watch that makes a statement. There is also the inherent sportiness to the watch. Having the rubber strap, combined with the 100 meters of water resistance surely gives you confidence when throwing it around, right?

The dial has the watch face set low and to the right, with a crescent mood of Roman numerals enveloping the face from the left. The watch dial is encompassed by a brushed rose gold colored ring that has two screws holding it in place, further enhancing the sporty look. I am not in love with the hands (save for the seconds hand with its prominent red tip), but they do the job, and are up for interpretation. That appear to be too classically derived for such a modern and sport watch. Powering the watch is a smaller sizer ETA 2004.1 automatic movement.

Cadence Oarsman Aviator Watch Review

One of the best things about what I do is the opportunity to hear from enthusiastic watch companies who want to share knowledge of their watches with me. This has resulted in my learning not only about a dizzying variety of watches, but also a variety of reasons people make watches. We tend to think of watches as satisfying a sole purpose (to tell the time), but in reality a simple wrist watch can do so much more. Of these things I am thinking of one particular metaphysical function - to evoke emotions.

That's right. In fact I dare say you've never bought a watch devoid of an emotional reason. You don't just get them for practical purposes like a radio. There is another element. Something about how you feel when wearing or looking at a watch. At one end of the spectrum, this is how ultra luxury watch companies sell any watches - as there are inherently no practical reasons a watch should cost in the several hundreds of thousands of dollars. Here however the focus is on a watch under $200, and I'd like to explore the emotional as well as practical elements that it has.

This is the Cadence Oarsman Aviator from an American company located in Philadelphia. Cadence is most known for their rowing watches, and the Oarsman is an extension on this concept. Instead of being one of their digital rowing training watches, the Oarsman has a bit of a different function. It allows you to measure the stroke rate (between 20 and 60 strokes per a minute) of a rowing team or rower that you are watching. Using a Japanese quartz chronograph movement, the seconds subdial has been altered to allow for a proper measurement. The large white subdial measures 1/20 of second intervals and has a cool looking spiral set of numbers from 20 - 60. Using the special rowing rate function is quite easy. You start the chronograph when a rower begins a stroke and you end the chronograph when a lower completes the stoke. Then looking at the red hand on the white subdial, you can see how many stokes per a minute that rower is rowing at.

Cadence 4:20 Watch For The Most Important Time Of The Day

Cadence uses specially modified Japanese Miyota OS90 quartz movements in the Oarsman Hammer watches. The movement has the time, a subsidiary seconds dial, the case, a synchronized 24 hour hand (for AM/PM indication), and a one minute chronograph that is able to measure in 1/10 of a second increments. The subsidiary seconds dial doubles as a dial for the chronograph when it is in operation. The centrally mounted chronograph hands rotates around the dial once each second. The chronograph is also used for measuring the stroke rate of a passing rower. Basically, you start the chronograph at the start of a stroke, and stop it at the end of the stroke. Find where the large central second hand lays, and it is pointing to the stroke rate. So if you are one of the rare people that merely watch rowers and are interested in someone's stroke rate - Cadence watches are for you. I imagine some hot headed parent of a rower who just watches their kid and reminds them regularly of their poor stroke rate.

Prices at $275, the watch isn't expensive, but more than $100 above the Cadence Oarsman Aviator watch, and $80 more than the Oarsman Remus model. Nevertheless, you get a lot more watch for your money. Even though who aren't into the rowing theme might like this watch. It has a good look to it, is certainly wearable, and could nicely serve as a good gift watch to many types of people. The Cadence Oarsman Hammer is available to purchase via Cadence's website.

Cadence Oarsman Hammer Watch Review

Even though I have no real rowing experience to speak of (save for a few times on a kayak), I am drawn to the simple, value-laden Cadence Oarsman watches. In fact, according to the brand themselves, the watches aren't just for rowers, but people who enjoy the theme, and the values of hard work, determinations, and team efforts involved in the sport. I first reviewed their Oarsman Aviator watch here. Actually, they added the "Aviator" part of the name after I reviewed it, so I needed to add that in later as best I could. While the Oarsman Aviator was certainly wearable, the newer Oarsman Hammer is even better. Upgrades all around, and a more substantial feel to it. Price is more than the Aviator of course, but still really reasonable at under $300.

The Oarsman Hammer is another large watch at 45mm wide in steel. It is 49mm wide including the good looking large crown. While Cadence is an American company, they almost proudly indicate on the back of their watches that they are "Invented in [the] USA. Made in China." Their OEM partners aren't half bad. The case, while a bit generic in style, is nevertheless comfortable, and arrives with a nice satin finish all around. It has 50 meters of water resistance, and Cadence gave the watch one of those sapphire coated mineral crystals.

The most peculiar design area of the watch is the dial. I overall like it, but I want to point out a few things. First is the two region style of the dial, with an outer ring and inner dial with a concentric circle patter done pretty nicely for the price. Because the dial is a bit busy, Candence seemed to not want anything to interfere with the legibility. So the Oarsman Hammer has large, high contrast hands, and applied hour markers. Both with lume. The really make the dial easy to read. Even if this watch were a Breitling, it would be harder to read. To achieve this, Cadence made the interesting decision to make the hands actually too long. Probably the first time I have ever said this - but it totally works. Notice how the minute hand extends past the hour markers into the rowing rate indicator zone. The dial also has two orange oars on it that are a nice reminder of the theme.

Blancpain Tribute To Fifty Fathoms Watch

2010 sees an interesting release from Blancpain. Given the plethora of "vintage" or "re-release" models, I wasn't at all surprised to see that Blancpain too had dug something out from their past to share with everyone. This is a model in the Fifty Fathoms collection called the "Tribute to Fifty Fathoms Watch." It is modeled after one of the original Fifty Fathoms watches from the 1950s. If you want to know more about the history, the go here.

I don't think that Blancpain has officially released anything regarding this watch yet. They often wait a long while to do so... which is frustrating. This is more or less the same Fifty Fathoms watch you know and love, but with a special "re-issue" dial. The original Fifty Fathoms watch has that interesting atomic label on there that actually meant to indicate that the watch was radiation free. Why? Well, luminant for a long time was radioactive. Radioactive waste is portrayed as glowing green and so does most luminant. Coincidence? Not exactly.When people started to realize that luminant was radioactive, they needed to find non harmful alternatives - and luminant is pretty darn important for dive watches. Thus, this timepiece back in the 1950's proudly advertised right on the dial that it had "No Radiations." The new version comes complete with the poor English. I wonder if it would have been so bad to change it simply to "No Radiation." Apologies for not having a larger image for you to inspect the text for yourself.

The case is in steel, and I believe it is the exact same as on the current Fifty Fathoms watch model. Inside the piece is a Blancpain in-house made calibre 1315 automatic movement with 5 days of power reserve. The retro dial is more minimalist (aside from the no radiation stamp), but it has the same hands as the standard Fifty Fathoms. Is it enough to call it a while new model? I don't think so. More like a different dial version of the Fifty Fathoms - so that is why it is called the "Tribute To Fifty Fathoms" (Fifty Fathoms) watch. I don't think it is a limited edition, and price is about $10,000. Available now.

Jacob & Co Blancpain L-evolution Tourbillon Large Date Watch

The name of this watch doesn't actually include its most thrilling feature. For 2011, this is the Blancpain L-evolution Tourbillon Large Date watch. It is true that it has a flying tourbillon and a big date indicator but turn it over and you see the power reserve indicator on the rotor. Complications on rotors seem to be really "in" this year. In 2011 alone, on automatic rotors, we have seen seconds indicators (Cartier), tourbillons (Jacob & Co.), and now a power reserve indicator on this Blancpain. Coincidence? Probably not.

As part of the larger L-evolution range this watch is actually quite cool and cohesive in design and execution. I have always looked quizzically at the two large lume coated Roman numerals on the dial - I don't know that I understand that design component but some people seem to love it. Other than that, the collection is really cool. You have a nice skeletonized dial - but one that at least still has a dial, and you have an interesting looking case design. This range is very different from most other things that Blancpain offers. I like how they really try to diversify their offerings, with classic watches, sporty watches, complex watches, and sporty complex watches.

The case is offered in either 18k rose or white gold and is 43.5mm wide. Going along with the sporty theme the watch case is satin finished - which is interesting actually. The dial has a mixture of finishes including perlage, sunburst, and Geneva stripes. There is a lot going on in the dial but I appreciate the easy to see hands and presence of lots of lume. This is a good example of decorate skeletonization where a movement is design from the ground up to be partially "open."

Inside the watch is the in-house made Blancpain caliber 4225G automatic movement. It has a pretty massive power reserve of 168 hours (7 days) and is made up of over 400 parts. The trick rotor is fascinating to see in action. The system keeps the power reserve indicator always pointing up making it fun to play with as you can see in the video. Blancpain needed to really get innovating with the gear system as well as the clutch which separates the rotor from the movement when the mainspring barrels are full. I love watches with long power reserves that are also automatics and have power reserve indicators.

last year Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms watch

This is the second "tribute" model in the Fifty Fathoms watch collection and to get both models straight you'll need to pay close attention to the names. This one is the Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms Aqua Lung watch, whereas last year's model is the Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms watch (note no Aqua Lung at the end).

As it is a limited edition, I am not exactly sure how many pieces will be made but this model is very attractive. Is it more so than last year's model with the "no radiation" dial? Just a different look. This Tribute to the Aqua Lung has a more mainstream feel, which I like. The case and movement are the same as you'll find in the standard Fifty Fathoms watch. That means it is in steel and 45mm wide. It also has an in-house automatic movement with several days of power reserve and I love that blue-tinted nautilus style automatic movement on the rotor.

The original Aqua Lung model that this watch is based on is from the 1950s and is, of course, a collector's item. You can view a picture of it in the post here and see how Blancpain took steps to replicate the dial while maintaining the feel of the modern watch. The resulting dial is simple and utilitarian, but made nice by the high-end features and construction of the timepiece. I am still loving this watch even though it s a few years old (the base Fifty Fathoms I mean). I enjoy the size, curved sapphire over the bezel, and the great finishing on the case.

This model also gets a textile strap with large portholes in it. Not sure if the original had those but it looks cool. I feel pretty strongly that among high-end dive watches, the Fifty Fathoms is overlooked a lot. These tribute models are a good way of helping Blancpain remind people of the brand's heritage and history. Aside from the dial and some minor details, there isn't too much new for this year. Look for the Tribute to Fifty Fathoms Aqua Lung watches soon.

Omega Ladies Watch Series Ladymatic new release

Have you ever imagine such a ladies watch: she not only reminiscent of the golden age of the fashion industry magnificent design style, and equipped with the world's most outstanding mechanical watch movement. Beautiful ideal of the two combined can achieve? Omega answer succinctly: Ladymatic.

Ladymatic watch series was born in 1955, and at that age, its inherent charm and elegance of women lasted nearly an era of elegance. Omega is the first designed specifically for women a self-winding watch series, and the smallest device ever with Omega automatic movement. When Omega was first launched in 1955, when Ladymatic watch, the name accurately conveys the characteristics of this series: Designed for women on the list developed automatic models. Omega Masters in 2005 to become Ambassador Oscar winner Nicole Kidman •, perfect interpretation Ladymatic watch.

Nicole - Kidman Omega Ladymatic endorsement

October 29, 2010, the top world-renowned Swiss watch brand Omega held a press conference in Beijing, the world's first series released new Ladymatic female form. The women designed specifically for mechanical watches series will be a pioneer of watchmaking technology and dazzling aesthetic design the perfect melt-in-one. International film star Nicole Kidman • (Nicole Kidman) coming out press conference, and the global media to witness this event.

Omega Global CEO Ouke China (Stephen Urquhart) Mr. suffering from laryngitis voice hoarse, he said in his opening remarks: "Today I am a little speechless, but Omega has never lost its voice." These words attracted the audience's enthusiastic applause. Responsible for Greater China and Australia extend the Swatch Group Management Board member Luke Qin (Kevin Rollenhagen), on behalf of Ouke China speech. Omega belonging to the Swatch Group. Mr. Lu Keqin at a news conference guests to address the media from home and abroad.

Mr. Lu Keqin introduced the Omega series launched Ladymatic female form and the reason behind this concept watch created, and about women in business, politics, fashion and media are playing an increasingly important leadership role. For this reason, Omega decided to launch an extraordinary global success of the ultimate female ladies watch.

Luke Qin said: "Omega's goal is to create an eye-catching both innovative technology and design of the watch, she not only fitted with the world's most perfect mechanical watch movement, and its elegant design to convey the beauty, it is moved. "

Nicole Kidman and Omega • Behind the scenes

Nashville, Tennessee, famous for its music industry, large and small studio located in parts of the city, in the Music Street (Music Row) in the region, especially intensive. Hot day in June, pedal electric guitar and violin wonderful music heard, and not far from the quiet streets, a highly respected fashion photographer is to capture an Oscar into the lens.

The Oscar winner is the annual period of residence in Nashville, Kidman • Nicole (Nicole Kidman), she is the female form for the new Ladymatic Omega series shooting print ads. Zhang Jing who is the great fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh • (Peter Lindbergh).

• Lindbergh Peter: Magic poet Lindberg, known as the "magic poet", is one of the world's most respected photographers. In the past 30 years, his photographs often appear in each of the top of the top international fashion magazines, and big-name fashion designers are often invited by their most influential print ads Zhang Jing.

Turning to the female form in the series Ladymatic shot print ads, Lindbergh said: "I enjoyed this film. Nicole and I have worked with, we work together very happily. Omega requirements of this ad so that we can be very interesting side to the shooting, the last out of the picture perfect charm to show the product. print ads usually take into account two aspects, which requires both artistic expression of power, but also to convey the brand message in my view, • Nicole Kidman interpretation of this group in both print ads are a success. "

• Nicole Kidman: "I like natural, free"

• Lindbergh Nicole Kidman has taken over for the photos, this time to once again cooperate Nicole Kidman • very excited. "I appreciate Lindberg, who is very smart, knows how to capture the dynamic beauty into the lens, which is what I value and I do not like taking pictures a long time. I like natural, free, while Lindbergh in his well the photos convey this information. " Two professionals in a clean simple scenery and relaxed atmosphere of co-operating results for the final shot nod commendable. Asked whether the performance element into the screen when still photography, Nicole • Kidman smiled and said: "This feels like a child playing dress up game as well."