All posts by Kidist Amanuel

News

Vacheron Constantin Unveil Two New Timepieces

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Written by: K. Amanuel

The Swiss manufacturer Vacheron Constantin has been around since 1755 and is one of the oldest watch manufactures in the world. The company recently unveiled two new timepieces: the Patrimony Traditionnelle small seconds watch and the Patrimony Contemporaine pocket watch.

Patrimony Traditionnelle small seconds watch and the Patrimony Contemporaine pocket watch
Patrimony Traditionnelle small seconds watch and the Patrimony Contemporaine pocket watch

The Patrimony Traditionnelle small seconds watch is a tribute to the manufacture’s creations during the period of the 1930 to 1950s. The watch comes in a case that is 38 millimeters in diameter and 950 platinum. A lender bezel is part of the sleek design of this case. The caseback features sapphire crystal and is a fluted screw-down. Inside this case is the Vacheron Constantin 4400 movement that meets the requirements of the Poincon de Geneve (Hallmark of Geneva). The flat surfaces of the movement are adorned with “Cotes de Geneve” motif. The calibre beats at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz). The movement has a power reserve of 65 hours. The dial is slate-grey and features the time with long 18-carat white gold applied hour-markers. The dauphine hour and minute hands stand out nicely against the dark background of the dial. Finishing off the look of the watch is a black alligator leather strap with a 950 platinum pin buckle.

Technical Specifics of the Patrimony Traditionnelle Small Seconds Watch:

Movement:

Reference: 4400 AS

Energy: manual

Thickness (mm): 2.80

Diameter (mm): 28.60 (12”½)

Number of parts: 127

Number of jewels: 21

Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph)

Power-reserve (hours): 65 approx.

Indication: hours, minutes, small second

Certification: Hallmark of Geneva

Case:

Material of the case: platinum 950

Size (mm): 38.00

Thickness (mm): 7.90

Shape: round

Back: transparent case back with sapphire glass

Water-resistance (bar): 3

Material of the dial: metal

Strap: alligator Mississippiensis

Clasp: buckle

The second timepiece, the Patrimony Contemporaine Pocket Watch, is a watch designed to commemorate the first pocket watch made in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron. It comes in a 43 millimeters diameter case and also meets the requirements for the Poincon de Geneve. The case is slender and is made of 18-carat 5N pink gold. Inside the case is the mechanical hand-wound Vacheron Constantin Calibre 4400 that can be seen through the transparent sapphire crystal caseback. The dial is a beautiful pure paline silver-tone that features pink gold baton-shaped hands applied hour-markers. The 30 cm brown calf leather cord and 18-carat 5N pink gold chain nicely compliment the look of this pocket watch.

Technical Specifics of the Patrimony Conemporaine Pocket Watch:

Movement:

Reference: 4400

Energy: manual

Thickness (mm): 2.80

Diameter (mm): 28.60 (12”½)

Number of parts: 127

Number of jewels: 21

Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph)

Power-reserve (hours): 65 approx.

Indication: hours, minutes

Certification: Hallmark of Geneva

Case:

Material of the case: 18K 5N pink gold

Size (mm): 43.00

Thickness (mm): 7.40

Shape: round

Back: transparent case back with sapphire glass

Water-resistance: 300M

Material of the dial: metal

Strap: calf leather

News, Rolex

Rolex Is Official Timepiece of Sebring International Raceway

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Written by: K. Amanuel

Sebring International Raceway has announced that luxury Rolex watch will be the Official Timepiece for the Sebring International Raceway and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring fueled by Fresh From Florida. The president and general manager of Sebring, Tres Stephenson, said, “Sebring International Raceway is honored to be affiliated with the prestigious Rolex brand. We look forward to the promises to be a truly special year at Sebring, and we look ahead to 2014 and the beginning of an exciting new era.” The Florida raceway is set to host America’s oldest sports car endurance race, the 2013 American Le Mans Series, on Saturday, March 16th.

Sebring International Raceway
Sebring International Raceway

The raceway was built on what was known as the Hendricks Army Airfield, which is the famed WWII U.S. Army Air Forces training base. It is America’s oldest sports car endurance race. Sebring’s legendary 3.74-mile circuit will be hosting the unified sports car series the following year, which resulted from the merger of ALMS and the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. For the upcoming event, the gates will open at Sebring on Wednesday, March 13, and they will stay open for four days of racing events and finish off with the 12-hour classic on Saturday. There will be many options for spectators throughout the event.

One of the most famous watch brands in the world, the Swiss watch, Rolex, has enjoyed success for many years. Founded in London in 1905, Rolex moved its headquarter to Geneva in 1919. This global and largest luxury watch brand has various popular collections and produces thousands of watches a day. It introduced the first waterproof wristwatch “Oyster” in 1926. It was the first company to create a water resistant wristwatch that could withstand 100 m depth pressure. The Oyster watches have all been certified as chronometers for their precision. Rolex then introduced the first Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism in 1931. The brand had a hand in the development of the original quartz watch movement in the late 1960s, and introduced to develop the Beta 21 quartz movement in the Rolex Quartz Date 5100 in 1968. This leading brand, which is known for its quality and expertise, now has various watches that are suitable for different occasions and circumstances, ranging from deep-see diving to aviation and everything in between. This collaboration of a prestigious brand such as Rolex with America’s oldest sports car endurance race only seems fitting and appropriate.

News

Going Deep With Louis Moinet

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jules_verne_instrument_iii_watch_by_louis_moinet_rc6ywWritten by: K. Amanuel

Louis Moinet is a Swiss luxury watch brand that is named after legendary watchmaker Louis Moinet, the 19th century watchmaker. During his lifetime, Louis Moinet produced watches for people like Napoleon Bonaparte, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and King George IV of England. His clocks were as famous as the people he made them for. The present Louis Moinet company is located in Saint-Blaise on Lake Neuchatel in Switzerland and is run by its founder Jean-Marie Schaller.

Louis Moinet brand has been doing Jules Verne homage watches for a few years and released its newest Jules Verne Instument III timepiece in 2012, which was inspired by the protagonist in Jules Verne’s 20000 Leagues Under the Sea novel published in 1869. According to the press release, “Louis Moinet has created a high-precision instrument for Captain Nemo – a loyal companion to accompany him alongside his various locomotion devices in his many confrontations with known and unknown worlds.”

20000-Leagues-Under-the-Sea-Novel-Cover The Jules Verne Instrument III Features:

  • Monopusher chronograph
  • Limited Edition:
  • 365 watches in 18-carat rose gold 5N & titanium grade 5 & black PVD
  • 365 watches in titanium grade 5 & black PVD & 316L stainless steel 


Movement:

  • Mechanical self-winding Louis Moinet caliber in collaboration with Concepto Caliber LM30
  • Decoration: Engraved with “Côtes du Jura” & blackened finish & blued steel screws; Balance with screws
  • Oscillations: 28,800 vph
  • Frequency: 4 Hz
  • Power reserve: 48 hours
  • Jewels: 27
  • Rotor: Mounted on ball bearings, openworked segment
  • Functions: Hour & Minute, Small seconds (at 9 o’clock), 30-minute chronograph counter (at 3 o’clock), Date (at 7 o’clock), 60-second chronograph (center)


Case:

  • Louis Moinet design, bezel secured with 6 hex screws
  • 18-carat rose gold 5N & titanium grade 5 & black PVD
  • Titanium grade 5 & 316L stainless steel & black PVD
  • Diameter: 45.50 mm
  • Thickness: 16.65 mm
  • Water-resistance: 50 meters
  • Case-back: Secured with 7 screws, engraved with individual number and markings
  • Crystals: Two sapphire crystals with anti-reflective treatment on both sides
  • Function indicator with a design inspired by the “Chadburn telegraph transmitter”
  • “Start-Stop-Reset” function indicator active by monopusher


Dial:

  • “Côtes du Jura“ design, milled appliques with hex screws
  • Hands: Cut-out segments filled with white and blue luminescent substance


Strap:

  • Rubber, Interhorn width: 24 mm
  • Buckle: Double folding clasp in grade 5 titanium and 316L stainless steel


This limited timepiece is a great addition to the Louis Moinet collection and has beautiful aesthetic and function. Similar to the two models that preceded it, the Jules Verne Instrument III epitomizes the steampunk genre.