BULGARI,DANIEL ROTH & GÉRALD GENTA COLLECTIONS: MECHANICAL EXCELLENCE MEETS AESTHETIC REFINEMENT 2010 marks a decisive new step for Bulgari, with the unification of the Manufacture du Sentier Daniel Roth & Gérald Genta under the powerful and prestigious Bulgari image, as announced by the Group CEO, Francesco Trapani, on January 15th 2010. This strategic rapprochement, a first in the history of the Swiss watch industry, is now giving rise to a new resolutely high-end Bulgari collection. It highl...

These new models are characterised by a pure, serene design and an innate elegance underscored by the restrained formal architecture of the case.  A year after its 2009 launch marking the 125th anniversary of the House, the new Sotirio Bulgari appears with a slightly larger case measuring 43mm in diameter.  Featuring steel, rose gold and a black surface treatment, this new release is being introduced in a range of five models.  All of them are driven by the new Calibre 168, a mecha...

Vacheron Constantin Quai de l’Ile collection had been awarded "The Most Innovative Men’s Wristwatch Collection" title during the Fashion Olymp - 2010 ceremony in Moscow. The international award ceremony Fashion Olymp - 2010 took place on Thursday evening, 11 March, 2010 in The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Moscow’s very heart of cultural and business activity, and was attended by the best representatives of the fashion and luxury industry. Only the ever worthy, brilliant and legendary brands wer...

Swiss watchmaking company IWC Schaffhausen is releasing an impressive and definitive work of art – but this time, in the form of a book. "IWC Schaffhausen. Engineering Time since 1868" chronicles the company's fascinating history while leaving Paulo Coelho to describe the origins of the individual product families and famous cartoonist Enki Bilal to illustrate these fictional short stories with striking images. An exceptional book that will not only appeal to watch connoisseurs but also delight...

Antonio Calce, CEO of Corum, hosted 150 journalists to celebrate a half-century of the Admiral's Cup and the 30th anniversary of the Golden Bridge movement and share with them the path that Corum has traveled since its founding 55 years ago.   Thunderous Applause for CORUM Wednesday, March 17, 17:00 Corum Stand B01, Hall 1 Antonio Calce with Daniela and Angela wearing Corum novelties 2010 With "Happy Birthday" by the Beatles playing in the background, the conference bega...

The Haute Horlogerie movements developed in the Manufacture du Sentier have long since been housed within a distinctive ellipse-shaped case fashioned from precious metals.  The 2010 vintage of the Bulgari, Daniel Roth Collection features an evolved version carved in steel, Endurer Chronosprint. This watch immediately exudes a strong personality dominated by the contours of its generously sized case in Staybrite© steel ,a treatment ensuring extreme corrosion resist-ance and also endowed with ...

The creative partnership between Boucheron and Girard-Perregaux, initiated in 2007, culminates today in a truly unique piece beating with the famous Tourbillon with three gold Bridges. This movement is a modern, ethereal reinterpretation of the calibre Constant Girard-Perregaux presented at the 1889 Paris Universal Exhibition, earning him a gold medal – the very same year Frédéric Boucheron was similarly rewarded in the Jewellery category.   Ladyhawke Tourbillon: when High Jeweller...

For the 40th anniversary of the quartz watch Seiko has unveiled the Astron, a ultra high-tech and high-end quartz watch. - SJX The new SEIKO Quartz Astron: A demonstration of SEIKO’s four decades of dedication to the perfection of the quartz watch.      The SEIKO Quartz Astron 40th Anniversary Commemorative Edition     The 40th Anniversary of Quartz   In December 2009, SEIKO started a year of celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the launch of the ...

SEIKO WATCH CORPORATION is proud to announce that its renowned and respected luxury watch collection, Grand Seiko, is to be released into selected international markets during 2010. Long recognised by collectors, watchmakers and industry observers as one of the great watches in the world, Grand Seiko has, until now, been available only in Japan and a very limited number of retail locations elsewhere but, thanks to increased production capacity, Grand Seiko will be marketed in partnership with carefully sele...

42 mm diameter and available in several dial (actually inner bezel) variations. Yellow is shown. - SJX   TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Movement: Breitling Caliber 17, officially chronometer certified by the COSC, selfwinding, high frequency (28,800 vibrations per hour), 25 jewels. Calendar. Case: steel. Water-resistant to 1,500 meters (5,000 ft). Screw-locked crown. Unidirectional ratcheted bezel. Cambered sapphire crystal, glareproofed on both sides. Diameter: 42 mm. Dials: Abyss Black, Abyss ...

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If it could be summed up in just one phrase, the Octo Bi-Retro Steel Ceramic could be defined as a sports model born for intensive living!  Witness the combination of materials chosen for its case: a steel middle, a satin-brushed “studded” ceramic bezel, and a crown set with an onyx cabochon. Secured to the wrist by a natural rubber strap, this is a watch clearly built to face the trials of daily life.  Paradoxically, this decidedly sporty model houses a sophisticated movement power... more

These new models are characterised by a pure, serene design and an innate elegance underscored by the restrained formal architecture of the case.  A year after its 2009 launch marking the 125th anniversary of the House, the new Sotirio Bulgari appears with a slightly larger case measuring 43mm in diameter.  Featuring steel, rose gold and a black surface treatment, this new release is being introduced in a range of five models.  All of them are driven by the new Calibre 168, a mechanical... more

Don't try to make a search about it, you will find nothing about it.This is a document JLC sent to their ADs in ...1958, to promote the " Jubilée " Collection, and, concretely, the 125th " Grande Maison " Birthday.Besides the text, which was typical of some advertisements of this era, JLC didn't introduce 3 watches for the occasion, but 5, plus an Alarm Clock, and a combination of Alarm, Thermometer and Barometer. You will also notice the international campaign which was launched for the occasion.Th... more

Louis-Ulysse Chopard would doubtless be delighted to see how his company has developed. Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2010, the firm is still pervaded by the spirit instilled in it by its founder and nurtured by a blend of fine hand craftsmanship and daring technical developments. From the founding family to that of Karl Scheufele which took it over in 1963, Chopard continues to be governed by its enduring principles, including a taste for excellence, the pursuit of quality, creativity, innovation, ... more

BASELWORLD 2010,  CALIBRE 168, A MECHANICAL SELF-WINDING MOVEMENT, IS THE CULMINATION OF A LENGTHY VERTICALISATION PROCESS.  IT IS BEING LAUNCHED AT BASELWORLD 2010 AND NOW POWERS WATCHES IN THE SORTIRIO BVLGARI COLLECTION. BVLGARI LAUNCHES ITS OWN IN-HOUSE CONCEIVED MOVEMENT REPRESENTING A MAJOR MILESTONE IN WATCHMAKING STRATEGY   Achieving complete mastery of its own mechanical movement is one of the priority of objectives of any prestige watch brand with long-term am... more

Glashütte Original Baselworld 2010 novelties.  A whole new selections watches preview at BaselWorld 2010. . . . three of which - the Taschenuhr Nr 1 pocket watch, the Senator Sixties Panoramadate, and the steel Panomatic Lunar XL - have already been covered in previous threads. Let's get cracking on the rest . . . ===For the rest of Art's post in GO forum, please CLICK HERE ... more

The Haute Horlogerie movements developed in the Manufacture du Sentier have long since been housed within a distinctive ellipse-shaped case fashioned from precious metals. The 2010 vintage of the Bulgari, Daniel Roth Collection features an evolved version carve in steel, Endurer Chronosprint.   BASELWORLD 2010BVLGARI Collection Daniel Roth Endurer Chronosprint   This watch immediately exudes a strong personality dominated by the contours of its generously sized case in Staybrite© st... more

Kelvin Tan posted some great photos of a selection of watches from the 2009 and 2010 high watchmaking collections on the Cartier forum. click here to see his photos and drop a word of thanks for his effort. - SJX ... more

I know you've all long waited to see these pictures. The Patek Philippe 5070 has been a probable favourite for many years. Here comes the time of the new Patek Philippe 5170. The real news is that this new very classical two counter chronograph doesn't come alone. You'll see a bit later several other choices that will tempt you. The true news is that you'll keep coming back on the 5170!   Patek Philippe 5170J The new Patek Philippe 5170J is a 39mm Calatrava style cased with a moderate ... more

Last year I received a sample case from Montblanc to test its proprietary Dual Carbon Diamond Like Coating process :  click here I completed several tests, but here is the results of the final examination.  (I'll be releasing the results of the interval testing soon) For Montblanc's final examination I  recalled a post in the Chopard forum about a Purist who had lost his watch, only to find it 5 months later in a flower bed. "I lost the watch in August, turned the house, go... more

I happened upon the amazing creation of Laurent Ferrier who after 37 years at Patek decided to start a new adventure under his own name. To do so he teamed up with La Fabrique du Temps (Michel Navas and Enrico Babasini the NB of BNB fame who had launched their own movement development ateliers about 2-3 years ago focusing on a more traditional approach to watch making and calibers than what was done at BNB). Laurent Ferrier's son Christian also works for Fabrique du Temps and was responsible ... more

The PuristSPro team attended a special event in Beverly Hills hosted by Vacheron Constantin which showcased the brand's current Historiques collection along with the vintage watches that inspired and informed their design. The event, titled "Les Historiques - A Journey Through Time," was held at a posh mansion with expansive view overlooking the city. click here ... more

Unveiled in 2004 but delivered only late last year, the TAG Heuer V4 has been the subject of fluctuating levels of interest and speculation. Many wondered if it would be made at all. Originally devised by Jean-François Ruchonnet, one of the people behind the Cabestan, with input by Philippe Dufour, the V4 is a reinvention of the driving train of a watch.     This watch is about rethinking the driving train and energy generation of a mechanical watch. The escapement remains the conve... more

One of my goals when I decided to go to the Geneva Time Exhibition was to visit the Cornelius&Cie booth. I was a bit curious to discover these very large watches powered by a caliber from the 30's. Cornelius&Cie is the brand founded by two Dutchmen Kees Engelbarts and Paul Pertijs  who met each other at the Dutch Academy of Gold and Silversmith.The purpose of the brand is to create watches with a classic but original design using calibers from the past. Due to their education and background, Ke... more

It was a bit by chance that I had this encounter with Ikepod at the Hotel des Bergues during the SIHH. I took the opportunity of the appointments with other brands in the same Hotel to visit the Ikepod suite.  This brand was not at the top of my list of the presentations I should not miss.But, like it is very often the case, this incidental encounter led to a good surprise for me.We all have known Ikepod for many years but this time I had the feeling to discover a new brand. Of course, Ikepod is still ... more

Not long ago, spent a day to visit Montblanc's two manufactories.  I was pleased with the Le Locle plant as the preparations and processes are systematic and organised.After witnessing the assembly of the Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec series which are performed in a dedicated room and by specially trained team, it changes my perspective about Montblanc Watchmaking and the Nicolas Rieussec too.Please join me for the e-tour ....Began the morning session to the Le Locle facility  and started off fr... more

Following DRMW's great report on the Cartier Wynn Las Vegas store, AndrewD has started a thread on Cartier boutiques around the world. Here's his photo of the Venice Cartier store. click here  to share your photos. - SJX ... more

What's in a legacy?  Part I Highlights & Historical Interpretations from 125 Years of Bulgari  By Ping Tsai © March 2010     Bulgari Boutique on Via dei Condotti in Rome, Italy - photo courtesy of Bulgari     For a company that's been around since the late 1800s and has annual sales in excess of a billion dollars, Bulgari isn't likely to face much doubt of its success on a global scale.  Whether you love their watches, adore t... more

  Unveiled in 2004 but delivered only late last year, the TAG Heuer V4 has been the subject of fluctuating levels of interest and speculation. Many wondered if it would be made at all. Originally devised by Jean-François Ruchonnet, one of the pe...... more

PuristSPro Interviews Jerome Lambert, CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre  By PuristSProTranscribed by Ping Tsai & VL Kong © January 2010   (Interview took place in April 2009 at the JLC Beverly Hills Boutique.  Link to Dr. Ming Woo'...... more

Goris Verburg took the helm at IWC in South-East Asia at the beginning of August, after a stint as Regional Manager for Asia, Middle East and Africa at Schaffhausen.     Goris Verburg with Ronan Keating     Goris possesse...... more

  Interview with Demetrio Cabiddu, Master Watchmaker Montblanc Villeret   By Dr. Michael Ting © October 2009   This is the fourth time that Montblanc has given PuristSPro inside access to its staff.  Durin...... more

The following is the edited transcript of a brief chat with an eminent collector of timepieces from independent watchmakers. His collection is notable not only for its diversity but also for its high quality, including pieces like Kari Voutilainen, P...... more

  PuristSPro Interviews Alexander Schmiedt By Dr. Michael "mkt33" Ting © June 2009   For the third chapter in this series of interviews, I thought it would be nice to get to know the business manager and director behin...... more