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Michel Jordi Icons Of The World Collection

Some time on the road this week might mean a reduced service, so my apologies for that.

We’ll do what we can to keep you up to date:-)

Michel Jordi has released an ‘Icons of the World’ Collection, celebrating eight notable locations, namely:

  • China’s Great Wall
  • India’s Taj Mahal
  • Japan’s Mount Fuji
  • Brazil’s Mount Sugarloaf
  • Switzerland’s Interlaken with the mountains of the Eiger
  • Switzerland’s Jungfrau, with its fountain Jet d’Eau
  • America’s Statue of Liberty
  • Russia’s Kremlin

Three pieces for each location will be made.

In titanium and an unusual red gold, this is a 46mm case.

Each location is revealed at 10 o’clock courtesy of the day/night indicator.

A ‘gong’ function sounds out a low-frequency, err, gong (bong?) on the hour.

Technical Specifications

Movement: Hand-wound, double barrel with one reserved for the gong-striking
mechanism, 28,800 vib/h, 45 jewels, 65-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, day/night indicator and 24-hour alarm with
day/night and on/off indicators
Case: Titanium and 18K red gold, 46 mm
Lens: Cambered sapphire crystal
Water-resistance: 100 m / 10 ATM
Dial: Openworked 18K white gold
Hours, minutes and seconds on an openworked and off-centred counter
Alarm day/night indicator at 2 o’clock
Standard time day/night indicator at 10 o’clock revealing an iconic place or
monument
Alarm hour and minute counters at 4 o’clock and on/off indicator at 6 o’clock
Strap: Black leather with steel folding clasp

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Vacheron Constantin Opens Boutique At Wynn Macau

High-rollers take note!

[Press Release] Vacheron Constantin, the world’s oldest Haute Horlogerie manufacturer with over 250 years of uninterrupted history, opened its latest exclusive boutique at Wynn Macau. It is the brand’s 29th boutique, following on from others such as Geneva (its birthplace), New York, Moscow, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Dubai. This new opening sets another milestone of the brand’s worldwide expansion; further reinforce its presence in the global map.

The new boutique creates an intimate and welcoming space for watch enthusiasts and collectors, displaying its exquisite timepieces in refined showcases. The interior design of the boutique incorporates contemporary elements into the traditional design through an architectural perspective that reveals the brand’s constant research for excellence and aesthetic perfection. The finishing has been created according to a detailed and elegant color scheme, emanating a contemporary, cosy and serene atmosphere.

To celebrate the opening of the new Vacheron Constantin Boutique at Wynn Macau, special collectors’ favorites will be showcased including the Patrimony Traditionnelle Calibre 2253 and Malte Tourbillon Regulator Boutique Exclusive timepiece, the stunning Métiers d’Art Lady Kalla Flame and the Métiers d’Art La Symbolique des Laques set. These timepieces are a representation of the unique watchmaking know-how and craftsmanship mastery of Vacheron Constantin in the world of decorative applied arts.

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Cartier Tank Folle

Do not adjust your set, or your glasses – the Cartier Tank Folle really does look as if it’s been run over by a truck.

Actually, that analogy is more appropriate than you might think – seeing as this watch is based on Cartier’s 1967 ‘Crash’ collection.  Legend has it that these came about following a fiery car crash involving a Cartier exec of the time.

The Dali-esque results certainly are memorable.

This new model will be made in a run of 200 pieces in 18Kt white gold.

Sizing is somewhat tricky, given the shape, but it’s relatively small at 30-34mm.  There’s a sapphire crystal – also crazily shaped – and water resistance to 30 meters.

The dial features 1.6 carats of diamonds.

Movement is the manual-wind Cartier caliber MC 8970.

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Locman Montecristo Professional Diver

I’ll admit straight off the bat that I don’t know an awful lot about Italy’s Locman watch brand.

What do you think of their Montecristo Professional Diver?

I do like the case lugs – although I’m not sure about a red strap (just my personal taste).

Thankfully you can also get this with a stainless bracelet too.

It’s is a 44mm piece, waterproof to 120m.

You get a sapphire crystal, a sapphire display back and a Selita-based automatic movement which has had a bit of rotor work performed on it.

You like?

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U-Boat GMT [Baselworld 2012]

There’s a new U-Boat GMT on the way.

Well, 300 pieces thereof anyway.

Would you like some technical specifications for that?

Sure you would!

Technical Specifications

3 time zone
Case, Back case, bezel in titanium.
Sapphire glass.
Brass dial, black.
Brass hands.
Diameter 53 mm.
Water-resistance and press-resistance 300 meters.

MOVEMENT: automatic mechanical modified and personalized to U-BOAT specifications for date display and stem position at 9 o’clock. Power reserve 48 hours.

FUNCTIONS:
Display by means of hands:
Hours, minutes, seconds.
24 hour hand with time–zones mechanism.
Date display in window

STRAP: brown leather handcrafted, width 23/23, and fitted with a titanium tongue buckle. Strap with plate in titanium with tag for personalization.

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Kudoke Golden Dragon [Baselworld 2012]

Chinese year of the dragon means, of course, plenty of watches featuring chicken dragon designs.

Here’s Kudoke’s contribution – the Golden Dragon (lucky it wasn’t a chicken …).

A 38mm piece with an automatic movement, here’s what Kudoke had to say about it:

“The dragon standing for luck, intelligence and graciousness has a fiery temperament as well. So we locked it in between two sapphire glasses to protect its wearer against its fire spitting and sharp claws! “

Indeed :-)

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Tissot Heritage PR 516 [Baselworld 2012]

I’ve had a ‘modern’ PR516 Chronograph for a while now and I have to say it’s been superb: rock solid and a great everyday wear.

This version of the 516 is also ‘modern’, but stylistically harks back to Tissot designs of the 60s and 70s.

Looks great, don’t you think?

It’s a 40mm stainless steel or PVD gold piece, water resistant to 100m and powered by an ETA movement (7750 I believe).

I do like the ‘steering wheel’ in the case back – although I think the gold rotor in my version is an even nicer touch ;-)

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Ulysse Nardin Blue Toro

[Press Release] This high tech perpetual calendar with a dual time function and the legendary in-house developed and manufactured self-winding movement is the most consumer friendly perpetual calendar ever produced and has passed the tests of time.

The striking aesthetic of Blue Toro combines modern materials with a timeless dial design that inspired its name.

The bezel and pushers are made in ceramic.

The squeletted hands permit easy reading of all calendar functions and the sapphire caseback allows to observe the mechanics of time.

Limited to 99 pieces, ‘Blue Toro’ Limited Edition is available in Ulysse Nardin Boutiques, exclusively.

• The only perpetual calendar that adjusts forward and backward in seconds over the quick corrector position of a single crown, even in the year 2100.
• The hour hand is adjusted instantly to a new local time with pushers (+) or (-) without taking the watch off the wrist or interfering with its time keeping.
• The arrow keeps track of one’s home or reference time.
• The oversized date, the day, the month and the year change instantly forward or backward when the hour hand is moved to a new local time across the dateline with pushers (+) or (-).
• The 22 ct gold rotor ensures that the watch is automatically wound with a power reserve of 45 hours.

Technical Specifications

Ref. 326-01LE
Limited Edition to 99 pieces

Movement: Caliber UN-32, 34 jewels
Power-Reserve approx. 45 h
Winding: Self-winding with COSC certificate.
Functions: Perpetual Calendar adjustable over single crown. 2nd Time zone on main dial with a patented quick setting mechanism. Permanent home time indicated by 3rd hand. Big date in double window.
Case available in 18 ct rose gold with a blue ceramic bezel
Dimensions: 43 mm
Water-resistance: 100 m Dial blue
Crystal: Anti reflective sapphire crystal
Case-back sapphire crystal
Crown screw-down
Band rubber strap with titanium/ceramic deployant clasp or leather strap with folding buckle.

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Brisbane City Hall [Clocks In Public Places]

It’s been a long time since we had a ‘Clocks In Public Places’ post but I was out and about taking some photos this weekend (you can see some of them here if you’re interested) and remembered to grab this one :-)

This is the clock tower for Brisbane’s City Hall.

The building itself – fully opened in 1930 – is undergoing some major renovations, but thankfully the clock is working just fine.  The clock chimes on the quarter-hour.

The tower in which it’s housed is 70m tall and is based on the design of the St Mark’s Campanile in Venice, Italy. Ironically, Brisbane did a good impression of Venice last year. Luckily, City Hall was not affected.

Apparently there’s a viewing platform in the tower, although whether that’s still open during the building works, I can’t tell you.

On a final note: an interesting image of the tower under construction can be found here.

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Salvatore Ferragamo Poema [Baselworld 2012]

Hello Madam, can we interest you in some bling?

How about you sir?

Oh, sorry Madam!

Sizes vary from the small (for men) at 34mm to the very small (for the laydeees) at 25mm.

You get a sapphire crystal, and the sparkle includes sapphires, rubies and diamonds.

Movements are Swiss made automatic and quartz models.

Flash-tastic!

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