Get up-to-date on yesterday’s installment in our Top 20 most popular US choices for luxury watches under a grand.

 

#9 – Oris

Oris is a Swiss brand known for its signature Red Rotor. Oris has been manufacturing precision timepieces for over 100 years and it actively sponsors music and the arts. Brand Ambassadors include the Hong Kong entrepreneur and actor Nicholas Tse and legendary 60’s performer Bob Dylan.

 

Oris Classic Date makes a style statement that is distinctively simple yet fashionably timeless in any decade. This classic Oris automatic timepiece introduces itself with a multi-piece stainless steel case with an exquisite rose gold plated top ring. The silver dial is accentuated by rose gold plated hour indices, hour/minute and sweeping second hands. An understated date aperture window is located at 6 o’clock. It is fully loaded with Oris 733 Swiss movement with automatic winding date, and of course Oris signature bi-directionally rotating red rotor, all protected by a flat sapphire crystal. It is adorned with a beautiful dark brown alligator strap with a stainless steel buckle. This watch continues Oris endless tale of time for watch connoisseurs that insist on a classic yet elegant timepiece. (Reference 01 733 7578 4351 5 18 10)

 

 

 

#10 – Maurice Lacroix

If you’re not familiar with Maurice Lacroix timepieces, as their new brand slogan so eloquently states it, “Your Time is Now.” Maurice Lacroix makes timepieces that are the very essence of elegance and prestige.

 

Fabia is a gold tone (stainless steel) tank style watch with a 21 mm diameter case. The dial exhibits an intricate guilloche pattern that enhances the time telling experience which is complimented by gold tone hour indices and Roman numerals at 12 and 6 o’clock. It has a Swiss quartz movement which is protected by an anti-reflective sapphire crystal. This timepiece is adorned with a dark brown leather alligator strap and is an absolute must for the ladies. Fabia is a phenomenal example of the magnificent watches Maurice Lacroix manufactures and it’s under $1000, all the more reason to purchase this luxurious timepiece. (Model FA2164-YP011113)

 

 

 

#11 – Frederique Constant

Frederique Constant’s commitment and passion to articulate quality and innovation in the design of its timepieces translates into time that is luxurious.

Frederique Constant introduction of its elegant Double Heart Jewelry Collection extended its heart to include an exclusive watch collection designed for the elegant woman. Speaking of elegant women, Eva Longoria partnered with Frederique Constant last year to support her charity, Eva Longoria Fund, which helps women and the Angel Foundation committed in the fight against cancer. This watch collection is nowhere under a grand price tag mark, however, Frederique Constant’s Delight Hearts Diamonds  watch may woo your visual senses.

 

Delight Hearts Diamond watch woos hearts with a polished stainless steel round case and bracelet. The dial is white with heart guilloche in the center of the dial and mother-of-pearl, the piece de resistance. It also has applied diamond indices with a Roman numeral at 12 o’clock. Delight Hearts and Diamond has FC-220 Caliber movement which is protected by a sapphire crystal. Ladies, you will want to certainly want to romance this stone, pardons, watch. (Model FC-220WHD2ER6B)

 

 

 

#12 – Revue Thommen

Revue Thommen is a brand whose history is steeped in the manufacture of precision instruments for the aviation industry since 1920. This precision approach to aviation instrument expanded to the production of small wrist watches (and alarm clocks) one in particular the Cricket watch. The expansion led to the Grovana Watch Co. Ltd opening and dedication to the production and sales of its watches, which includes its exclusive watch movements and watch collections.

 

Revue Thommen Women’s Sport Ladies watch present time in a classic yet sporty charm that oddly is reminiscent of the Penn Station Clock (despite its Arabic numerals). It has a both a polished and brushed stainless steel 34 mm case which gives it dimensional character. The dial is silver and is accentuated by luminescent blued stainless steel hour/minute hands and a seconds counter hand.  It contains Revue Thommen caliber GT 12 movement, which is a Swiss manual wind mechanical movement, with a Power Reserve up to 42 hours. It is adorned with a black leather strap with pin buckle, and it is also a limited edition timepiece. This watch is for the active woman on the go and is also under $1000. (Model 15000.3532)

 

 

Written by Chaz Nash

Continued from Monday, we have our second installment of Top Luxury Watches that come in under $1k

# 5 – Longines

PrimaLuna (Model L8.110.4.71.6)pays tribute to the shimmering moon, casting its classic feminine charm with a round polished stainless steel case and link bracelet. Its radiant silver dial presents Roman numerals, hour markers and a date aperture window that is carefully nestled at 4 o’clock. The dial is complimented by contrasting blued steel hour/minute hands and sweeping seconds hand. Lithuanian actress Ingeborga Dapkunaite is as radiate as this timepiece and also happens to be an Ambassador for Longine’s PrimaLuna collection. Other Ambassadors for this enigmatic brand include Simon Baker, Kate Winslet, Stefanie Graf, Andre Agassi, Aaron Kwok Fu Shing to drop a few star studded names.

 

 

 

 

 

 

#6 – Poljot

Aviator Russian Poljot Black Chronograph (Model 31681/6975607) articulates the best of this Soviet-Russian watchmaker whose name literally means flight. Aviator Russian Chronograph features a round matte finish stainless steel 42 mm case accented by a black dial with a luminescent analog display, three chrono sub-dials and date aperture window between 4 and 5 o’clock. It features a mechanical hand wound movement protected by a sapphire crystal. Aviator Russian Black Chronograph is adorned with a black leather strap and has a buckle clasp. Poljot manufactured several historical watches including the world’s first space watch which was worn by Yuri Garagin.

 

 

 

 

#7 – Hamilton

Flight Timer Men’s Watch (Model H64514551) is synonymous with

American spirit combined with Swiss technologies – Hamilton’s brand mantra. Flight Timer is a combination digital and analog multi-functional aviation watch that offers dedicated pilots the ability to log up to 20 flights. It takes flight with a 40 mm stainless steel case and unidirectional bezel complimented by a silver dial. It features two digital time zones, UTC time, alarm function, chronograph and flight time recorder. It also has an ISA temperature display, end of life indicator and perpetual calendar. It houses ETA E20.373 quartz movement which is protected by a sapphire crystal. It is adorned with a brown leather strap. In the Die Hard film, Live Free or Die Hard, Bruce Willis’s character, John McClaine, wore a Hamilton. In the recent film, A Good Day to Die, both Willis and Jai Courtney (McClaine’s son, Jack) both wear Hamilton watches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#8 – TAG Heuer

Formula 1 Quartz Men’s Watch (Model WAU1114.BA0858) gives the fellas the of experience and excitement of Grand Prix racing behind the wheel of a Formula 1 race car (well maybe with an active imagination). This race inspired timepiece has a 42 mm diameter brushed stainless steel case and bracelet that is accentuated by a black dial and unidirectional bezel brought to life by a sporty red tachymeter along the flange above the dial. It also has dual date aperture windows nestled within a 60 seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock. Formula 1 has Swiss quartz movement which is protected by a sapphire crystal. TAG Heuer Formula 1 Ambassadors include iconic Steve McQueen and Jenson Button of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 Team. It is available on watchesonnet.com.

 

By Chaz Nash

 

Continue to #9-12…

If ladies and gents go crazy for a sharp dressed man or woman, then a luxury watch under a grand will certainly complete any wardrobe in winning style. We’ll start by listing the most popular entry-level watches that are under $1,000US  and as sharp as a razor when it comes to keeping time-

 

1. Certina

 

Certina is an exclusive Swiss watchmaker manufacturing a diverse collection of watches with contemporary designs that personify quality and precise timekeeping. Certina also happens to be a member of the renowned Swatch Group. Certina has been successfully attracting both men and women with its edgy yet innovatively styled watches since 1884. Its acclaimed “Double Security” or DS Concept watches provide reinforced cases that withstand scratches under an ultra resistant sapphire crystal, water resistance with O-ring gaskets on the stem and in the crown, and a specific gasket on the case back. It also has a shock resistant reinforced case back. One of Certina’s sporty watches is:

 

DS Rookie Chronograph (Reference: C016.417.17.057.01) is one of Certina’s striking yet sporty watches that show cases a black high grade steel 40 mm diameter case with three sub-dials for minutes, seconds and hours, it also features a date aperture window at 4 o’clock all against a black dial. It has is adorned with a sporty black rubber strap.

 

2. Victorinox Swiss Army

If you’re at all familiar with the story of the Victorinox Swiss Army brand then you are aware of the original legendary Swiss Army Knife and many of its multifunctional tool capabilities. Karl Elsener opened a cutlery workshop to provide soldier with a sturdy, yet compact knife. What started out as a specialized cutlery shop evolved into a brand with multi-offerings such as travel gear, fashion, fragrances and yes, watches.

 

Victorinox Swiss Army designs watches that fashionably appeal to people with active, classic or professional lifestyles.

 

From the Professional Category – Dive Master 500 Mechanical (Model # 241561) impresses with a masculine round 43 mm diameter case made of PVD. It features a mechanical movement which is protected by a scratch resistant, triple coated anti-reflective sapphire crystal. It is water resistant up to 500m (1650 feet) and has a protected screw-down crown.  Available on watchesonnet.com

 

From the Classic Category – Maverick GS Dual Time (Model #241441) is a polished 316L stainless steel case and bracelet watch with a unidirectional rotating bezel. It features a dramatic black dial with a date aperture window at 12 o’clock and a second time zone sub-dial just above 6 o’clock. It has luminescent hands and hour markers with polished numerals. It also features a Diver extension. It is available on watchesonnet.com

3. Seiko

Seiko carries several worlds’ first historical batons, one of which happens to be the world’s first quartz watch. While it is true that the first quartz clock was built by Warren Marrison, Seiko developed the first radio broadcast quartz clock which was the size of

filing-cabinet. Seiko developed a small accurate quartz marine chronometer clock in 1962, it weighed 30 kilos and helped to significantly improve navigational precision out at sea. By 1964 Seiko produced the Crystal Chronometer QC-951 which weighed only 3 kilos. It was the first quartz timepiece to ever be used at the Tokyo Olympic Games. It is around this same time period that many Swiss watchmakers were in a dead heat to develop a quartz watch; and Seiko President, Shoji Hattori commissioned a special project team to do just that within a year’s time in1968. December 25, 1969 Seiko released the worlds’ first quartz watch, Quartz Astron with an 18 karat case.
Seiko watch technology continues to evolve with worlds’ first watches such as its Spring Drive and EPD watches. Seiko’s four watch technologies are the spring drive, kinetic, mechanical and quartz watches.

 

Seiko Arctura Kinetic Chronograph (Model SNL049P1) has a generous masculine round 45.5 mm stainless steel diameter case accentuated with a sporty silver dial that show cases chronograph functions of 60 second and 45 minutes in 1/5 second movement sub-dials and a round date aperture window at 6 o’clock. It has Seiko’s Japanese Kinetic 7L22 movement which is protected by a scratch resistant sapphire crystal. It is adorned with black rubber strap that has a buckle type clasp. Available on watchesonnet.com

 

4.Citizen

 

Citizen signifies its commitment to the very people it designs its watches for – citizens. Recognized as a worldwide leader in

 

advanced technology, it has gained worldwide acclaim for its Eco-Drive collection of watches that operate in both natural and artificial light for a lifetime of use.  Ambassadors for the enigmatic watchmaker include:

 

Eli Manning, two-time MVP and Champion Quarterback for the New York Giants, sports the Perpetual Calendar Chronograph (Model BL5405-59E)watch.

 

Matt Kenseth, two-time Daytona 500 Champion, years 2009 and 2012, drives on and off the track in the Skyhawk A-T (Model JY0000-53E) watch.

 

Paula Creamer, the youngest US Women’s Open Champion, intently swings her golf clubs wearing Citizen’s Eco-Drive Firenza (Model EP5970-57A) watch.

Victoria Azarenka, two-time Grand Slam Tennis who also ranked as the #1 woman on the pro tour, serves her power ball sporting the Citizen Regent Chronographs Eco Drive (Model FB1220-53D) watch.

 

These champions represent Citizen’s eclectic brand of watches with sporting sovereignty.

 

Sharpen your style with one of these amazing watches and you too may soon gain a wealth of admirers!

Click to continue through our top 20

 

By Chaz Nash

 Written by: K. Amanuel

IWC Schaffhausen unveils the IWC Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month with perpetual calendar and large digital display of the date and shows its love for innovation and ingenuity. The watch has a sporty design and unique features and pays special homage to the partnership between Schaffhausen and Formula 1 team Mercedes AMG Petronas.

This IWC Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month will be in a case made of titanium aluminide (TiAI), which is first for IWC Schaffhausen timepiece and took 3 years for specialists to master it. This alloy is lighter and tougher than pure titanium. The crown, push buttons, screw heads are made of black high-tech ceramic (zirconium oxide). The combination of titanium aluminide and ceramic in the case makes the watch tough and resistant to heat and mechanical wear and tear.

Inside the case is the movement that powers this Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month watch. The movement has 474 individual parts and can build up a power reserve of 68 hours. Through the transparent sapphire-glass back on the reverse side of the watch, one can observe that the rotor has a shape of wheel rim.

The black and white dial looks complex and reminds one of Formula One steering wheel. There are four totalizers that are grouped around the central axis with over-sized numerals in the perpetual calendar, which shows date and month on a large digital display. The central chronograph shows the measured times up to 60 seconds. The hours and minutes times are on a counter at the 12 o’clock position. The integrated fly-back function resets the chronograph at a current timing and restarts a new one. There are cut-out sections in the middle of the subdials that reveal the arbors of the sophisticated disc mechanism. The 4-year leap year cycle is shown digitally. The dial also has semitransparent sapphire-glass inlays over the date, month and leap year discs. The five displays move simultaneously on New Year’s Eve.

Technical Specifics: IWC perpetual calendar digital date and month

Case: 46mm in diameter, 17mm thick titanium aluminide

• Water resistant to 12 meters

Dial: Black inlaid sapphire crystal, sapphire glass, flat, antireflective coating on both sides, screwed crown, transparent sapphire glass

Movement: mechanical chronograph with automatic winding, oscillating weight shaped car rims

• Caliber 89802
• Frequency: 28,800 A / h (4 Hz)
• Parts: 474, 51 jewels
• Power Reserve: 68 hours

Function: stop hour, minute and second, the hour and minute together in one counter 12 hours flyback

• small seconds hand with stop function
• perpetual calendar
• large displays two digits for the date and month display leap years

Bracelet: Black rubber inlaid textile, titanium buckle

Raymond Weil is a family-owned company that knows the importance of helping its community. The luxury watch brand spent January 24th of this year hosting their Annual Music Dinner with some of the best-loved artists in London. Not only did Raymond Weil help promote the local music scene, but also helped a non-profit earn the money to keep moving forward.

 

The Annual Music dinner was hosted by famed singer, songwriter and producer Labrinth. Labrinth opened up his restaurant, Mosaica in London, to other artists from all over Britain. The 120 guests that attended included local music celebrities such as Yasmin, Angel, Dot Rotten and Etta Bond.  The Mosaica offered each guest a three course meal and cocktails given by Grey Goose. The night to remember was not just about gathering emerging artists, but also helping War Child.

War Child is an organization that has been around for twenty years – this year in fact being its twentieth. Its goal is to help children who are in countries living with war. So far, over 800,000 children’s lives have been changed for the better because of War Child. Raymond Weil gave the organization a Special Recognition Award to celebrate their two decades.

 

Every year, Raymond Weil hosts its Annual Music Dinner with the help of companies and artists because they are invested in helping the local economy. Not only did the dinner include a scrumptious dinner and cocktails, but performances were also given by George the Poet, Shakka and Michael Duke. Raymond Weil is a brand that stays current and innovative, not only in its beautiful watch design, but in the way it treats the public. In one dinner, Raymond Weil promoted new artists and War Child – a hugely successful night by anyone’s standards.

 

Written by: Stacy McCullough

 

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/raymond-weil-annual-music-dinner-ho…

Written by: K. Amanuel

 

Travelers around the world can now rejoice as Montblanc has introduced the TimeWalker World-Time Hemispheres watch with world time display function. This pair of watches are sporty and come at a very reasonable price, where the watch with a textile strap is priced at $4900 and watch with titanium and steel bracelet is $5700.

 

The two models of this watch are the Northern Hemisphere with a silver-colored dial and the Southern Hemisphere with a grey dial. Both models have distinct color schemes and style. The watches come in a 42 mm, ergonomically shaped TimeWalker steel case with brushed titanium bezel. The local time zone the wearer is at is shown by the central hands, and the flange around the dial have the names of 24 cities that represent 24 time zones. As the names imply, the Northern Hemisphere model only features cities in the northern hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere model only features cities in the southern hemisphere. On the Northern Hemisphere model, the central disc rotates clockwise, while it rotates counter-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere model. One must own both version to see time zone of the entire earth.

Technical Features:

Movement

• Calibre: MB 4810/412 & MB 4810/410
• Movement Type: Mechanical movement with automatic winding
• Number of Jewels: 21
• Power Reserve: Approximately 42 hrs.
• Frequency: 28.800/h (4 Hz)
• Indications: Central hours, minutes and seconds
• World time indication with 24 hour time zones and 24 hour hour-disc
• Date window at 6 o‘clock

Model Northern Hemisphere

• Material: Stainless steel, domed sapphire crystal with double antireflective coating
• Satin-finished titanium bezel
• Stainless steel case back with display of 24 time zones of southern hemispheres
• Case Dimensions: diameter: 42 mm; height: 12.05 mm
• Water Resistance: 3 bar (30 m)
• Dial: Silver-coloured dial showing the northern hemisphere as seen from the north pole, rhodium-plated luminescent hands, flange with 24 city names of the northern hemisphere; Central 24 hour hour-disc with day/night indication
• Crown: Stainless steel with Montblanc emblem
• Strap/Bracelet: black embossed calfskin strap with blue stitching and stainless steel pin buckle

Model Southern Hemisphere

• Material: Stainless steel, domed sapphire crystal with double antireflective coating
• Satin-finished titanium bezel
• Stainless steel case back with display of 24 time zones of nouthern hemispheres
• Case Dimensions: diameter: 42 mm; height: 12.05 mm
• Water Resistance: 3 bar (30 m)
• Dial: Anthracite-coloured dial showing the southern hemisphere as seen from the south pole, rhodium-plated luminescent hands, flange with 24 city names of the southern hemisphere; Central 24 hour hour-disc with day/night indication
• Crown: Stainless steel with Montblanc emblem
• Strap/Bracelet: Stainless steel bracelet with satin-finished titanium central links
• Triple-folding clasp 

 

For more information, please visit the company’s website:http://www.montblanc.com/en-US/Flash/Default.aspx?sc_lang=en-US

Marketing tactics have had to change over the years with the introduction of the Internet. Today, with social media so large, marketing has taken on a whole new look: Facebook. While luxury watch brands will always have their loyal followers, one of the only way to find new patrons is reaching them through Facebook.  Raymond Weil has recently taken on this challenge, creating a luxury watch world with social media to find a new generation of fans.

Raymond Weil is using Facebook’s 9th Birthday to start a new and innovative marketing plan in order to connect to more people. While billboards, magazines and even television may have reached the right consumers before; it is all about the Internet today. Younger generations spend a lot of their time on Facebook and it is practically free advertisement for Raymond Weil – working similarly to word of mouth.

On February 4th, 2013, Facebook turned nine years old and Raymond Weil sent all their corporate viewers to their new Facebook page in order to create a fan base. They offered their patrons a Happy Birthday message, telling them how Facebook has a similar story to Raymond Weil in how they developed. Their page also offers bonuses, such as locations to buy their watches and the innovative watch finder. The watch finder allows you to input attributes you are looking for in a watch and gives you the best matches.

 

Facebook gives Raymond Weil a user-friendly page that allows the brand to connect to today’s new social behaviors. It is a huge move forward for them. Not only will the page help find a larger audience, but the comments people leave will be used as feedback to help Raymond Weil give customers precisely what they want.

Raymond Weil was founded in 1976 and has always been an innovative company. To continue forward as one of the only family-run luxury watch brands, they knew it was time to make a huge, innovative move. Their Facebook page offers you a way to connect to them that has not existed before. Enjoy it: http://www.facebook.com/raymondweil.

 

Written by Stacy McCullough

Valentine’s Day is approaching us once again, and as most suitors may know, in this age of creativity, a simple box of chocolates just will not do it anymore. Many internet blogs are already full to bursting with fun, quirky ideas designed to thrill the lady in your life. However, unless you are still on a college budget, a heart-shaped pizza with “I Luv You” spelled out in M&Ms is not cute. It is time to step up your game. Luckily, jewelry is always in vogue. Something rich and elegant from a luxury watch brand is sure to thrill her, and ensure your name is dropped lovingly every time the piece is asked about.

 

If you are wondering at the sheer volume of merchandise being shelved out specifically for the lover’s holiday, look no further. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Cartier has unveiled the new Les Heures Fabuleuses collection at the annual and prestigious Geneva Salon International Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) 2013. The three-part ladies watch collection each has an animal theme: the Panthère Divine, the Tortue Secret, and the Peacock Motif. Here is a quick run-through of each model, to ensure it fits the personality of the lady in mind.

The Panthère Divine, or the Divine Panther, is a classy and fierce quartz movement watch covered in loose diamonds. The black dial face is an elegant and lithe panther, a favorite mascot of Cartier. Symbolizing luxury and grace, the 18K white gold panther is decorated with black enamel spots to accentuate the expertly cut precious stones. The watch dial comes in black brass with barleycorn guilloché motif, while the rotating hands are rhodium-plated steel. Completing the look is the black calfskin strap, hooked to a double adjustable folding buckle, which is also 18K white gold. This intense diamond piece is perfect for the strong female in your life; tell her she deserves divinity and strength on her wrist with the Divine Panther.

Next up in the trio is Cartier’s Tortue Secret, or Secret Turtle. This elegant piece is named for its closed dial in the form of a turtle shell that easily converts the watch into a bracelet. The Turtle itself is decorated lavishly with diamonds and precious stones. When the shell is slid open, it reveals the watch’s silvered flinqué dial. The watchcase is made in rhodium-plated white gold, with brushed calfskin strap. The turtle’s mysterious eyes are set with a pair of emeralds, accentuating the diamond hour marker. Like the Panther, the Tortue Secret is a quartz movement with similar double adjustable folding buckle in 18K rhodium-plated white gold. This watch is ideal for the elusive and unique personality.

The Les Heures Fabuleuses collection is brought to a close by the stunning Peacock Motif watch. Much like the Tortue Secret, the Peacock boasts a double function as a brooch. The bird itself is 18K white gold with the body and feathers meticulously placed with brilliant diamonds, and two sapphire eyes gleaming proudly at the wearer. In addition to this fine luxury, the watch’s silver dial is engraved with enameled flowers. Unlike the models before, the Peacock comes with a white leather strap to better highlight the flower in natural ruby crystal resting beside the peacock. The leafs adorning the ruby flowers are engraved in nephrite jade, and there is additional mother-of-pearl marquetry circling the sword-shaped watch hands, done in rhodium-plated steel. This fine quartz movement must be worn proudly as either watch or brooch to a woman of elegant nature. Be sure to chose wisely!

 

Written by Amani Liggett

At the 23rd Salon of Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, 16 world famous watch brands appeared to unveil their creations of 2013, and there was not one that disappointed the 12,500 privileged guests who showed up to be impressed.  A. Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, Baume & Mercier, Cartier, Greubel Forsey, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Montblanc, Officine Panerai, Parmigiani Fleurier, Piaget, Ralph Lauren, Richard Mille, Roger Dubuis, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels all were present.  The highest of the highlights are found here:

A. Lange & Söhne – The Grand Complication
After 7 years of development, A. Lange & Söhne produced what has become known as the most difficult watch in history: the minute repeater.  With only 6 to be produced, this most difficult watch shone out as one of the most rare.

 

Piaget – the Emperador Coussin Automatic Minute Repeater 
Leaders in creating ultra-thin movements for the past 50 years, 2013 found Piaget with a double-record setting beauty.  With a 4.8mm calibre and 9.4mm case, this watch displays the combined genius of both Piaget houses and maintains the status of master craftsmen for these artists.

 

Roger Dubois – The Excalibur Quatuor
Caught with the difficult decision of which strange and wonderful new material to whittle a watch from, Roger Dubuis selected silicon as the perfect element.  The Excalibur Quatuor has a case made entirely from silicon, forsaking the more traditionally used steel and titanium for a greater strength and uniqueness.

Van Cleef & Arpels – The Extraordinary Dials collection
Perhaps never before has the muse of Van Cleef & Arpels inspired such magnificent and colorful creations as this year’s collection.  Five different models feature a different butterfly in stone marquetry, gold sculpture and enamel on mother-of-pearl dials.  Truly exquisite.

Vacheron Constantin – Malte Lady, MÉTIERS D’ART FLORILÈGE, PATRIMONY CONTEMPORAINE LADY
The innovators of this brand have reaffirmed its legendary status with three new lines, each featuring timepieces of a different craft: guilloche, engraving, hot enamel, inlaid with precious stones.  A refreshing blast of brilliance in a style for everyone.

Cartier – Sartier Rotonde Panthere Granulation
Although musing that their version of “Etruscan granulation” can never measure up to the long lost tradtions, Cartier still managed to carry away the show with this detailed and catching piece.  A piercing panther face made entirely from tiny gold granules peers out at you from the watchface and hearkens to ancient times and techniques in a elegantly modern way.

 

Indeed with all the wonders revealed in 2013, it is no surprise that Salon of Haute Horlogerie has already begun to count down the days until watch lovers can gather again and marvel at the next most amazing timepieces in the world!

Contributor: Lindsey Cook

Written by Stephanie Hsieh

In this year’s Salon Internationale de Haute Horlogerie, Gerard Butler stopped by IWC Schaffhausen’s booth to help the relaunch of their celebrated Ingenieur collection.

 

It’s no wonder that the Ingenieur collection should be the one to catch his eye. Unveiled in 1955, the original Ingenieur was one of the first high-precision watches to be wound by nothing more than the movements of its wearer’s arm—and nothing more. This was made possible by an innovative bidirectional automatic movement, the brainchild of famous technical director Albert Pellaton. In the 1970’s this amazing movement was paired with a rugged, sporty, technical casing: one of stainless steel, matched with a bezel marked by five distinctive bores. And with this combination a classic timepiece was born.

 

That classic timepiece lives on in 2013, with the relaunched Ingenieur redesigned to celebrate the precise, reliable engineering of Formula One racecars, as well as IWS Schaffhausen’s new partnership with the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One team. This partnership can be seen in the high-tech materials that have found their way into the latest Ingenieurs. Materials such as carbon, ceramic, and titanium—common to both high-performance racing cars and high-performances watches—ensure that the 2013 Ingenieur timepieces are both powerhouses of the watch-making world as well as fitting homages to the engineers of Formula One racecars. The entire collection has also been overhauled and updated with a host of new features. However, despite these modern innovations, the classic stainless-steel case and five-bored bezel remain, marks of the Ingenieur line’s proud heritage and IWC Schaffhausen’s hand in the making of this amazing new series.

 

Though the relaunched Ingenieur collection features many choice designs, one in particular deserves mention as an illustration of the culmination of the collection. This is the Ingenieur Chronograph Silberpfeil. Just as Albert Pellaton’s revolutionary new movement dominated the watchmakers of the 1950’s, so too did the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrow dominate motorsports all around the world in that same era.

In 2013, IWC Schaffhausen has brought these two powerhouses of technology together in a single tribute to the engineers of the past. The most striking feature of the watch is the circular-grained dial, the cloud-like pattern of overlapping circles echoing the circular-grained dashboard of the legendary Mercedes-Benz W25. This superb timepiece comes in two variations, distinguished by the brown or silver dial, and each variation has a limited run of just 1000 watches.

 

Steeped in history, performance engineering, and rugged aesthetics, the Ingenieur Chronograph Silberpfeil is truly an outstanding part of the collection and exemplary of what the relaunched Ingenieurs are all about.  Even so, the watch is just one of the nine superb timepieces that IWS Schaffhausen has released, and more—Ingenieur or otherwise—are sure to come.