Romain Gauthier Insight Micro-Rotor – Baselworld 2017
With Baselworld launching tomorrow, more new watches are being released, and now we have the Insight Micro-Roto from Romain Gauthier. For this timepiece, the hour, minute and small second indications are powered by a beautifully hand-finished, in-house calibre built from the ground up and boasting bidirectional micro-rotor made from 22k solid white gold, which is visible not only from the back of the dial, but also from the front.
The name Insight refers to the highly visible movement within the case, allowing the wearer to gain an insight to the beautiful movement, finishing, and the rotor.
Two versions of the case watch have been released, one in red gold and one in platinum. Each are available with a choice of three with oven-fired dials, white enamel, black enamel and blue enamel.
Each dial/case version is issued in a limited edition of 10 pieces.
Pre-Basel Angelus Releases the U22
The Angelus U22, much like the U21, is based on last years release of the U20 Ultra Skeleton Tourbillon. This version has carbon fiber and titanium case, giving it a very contemporary and sporty look, and the materials also contribute to reducing the weight even further, to a mere 54 g.
Since the movement for the U20/U21/U22 was designed from the beginning to be minimalist and skeletonized, it is devoid of any superfluous materials. The openness of the dial, with no bezel, allows the wearing to enjoy the three dimensional movement from every angle.
A flying tourbillon sits at 6 o'clock, and takes advantage of all the codes of haute horlogerie.
Available in a limited edition of 18 pieces.
Pre-Basel - Angelus Releases the U21
In 2016 Angelus released three highly technical watches that joined the U10 Tourbillon Lumiere in the relaunch of the brand. The U20 was released featuring a stunning truly minimalist movement that seemed to float between the crystals. Very much a cutting edge work of art.
For 2017, two new versions of the U20 have been released. The U21 features a carbon fiber main plate, and is set into a 42mm carbon fiber and red gold case. There is no bezel on this watch, in order to allow the wearer to gaze at the movement from the side of the case, as well as above. This is by no means an easy feat to accomplish.
On the dial, the skeletonized bridges are solid gold and the flying tourbillon sits proudly at 6 o'clock.
Finished to the highest standard of haute horlogerie, the Angelus U22 is available in a limited edition of 18 pieces.
Pre-Basel - Arnold & Son HM Falcon
Arnold & Son has just released a the HM Falcon Unique Piece as part of their Métiers d’Art collection. The hand painted falcon is set on a mother-of-pearl dial and the artist uses delicate nuances of colors and tones, using tiny brushstrokes and texturing gradually to build-up the entire image, which results in a stunning finished design, full of depth.
Human love of falcons goes back many centuries. In ancient Egypt, the falcon was deified as Horus, the god of the sky and kingship. In other civilizations and cultures, the falcon symbolizes vision, agility and victory. Falconry can also be traced back to early China, where records indicate they were being used by humans to hunt. They were also used as royal gifts in the Heian dynasty in China, dating back to 2205 BC.
The unique piece comes with an ultra-thin A&S1001 manufacture movement with over 90 hours of power reserve; and is housed in an 18-karat rose gold case, with a brown alligator strap. The case can also be adorned with a diamond set bezel if desired.
Green with Envy - The Kerbedanz Tree of Life
Not many people are familiar with a small but exceptionally talented watch brand called Kerbedanz. They create small batch high end watches, which are filled with references to cultural and ethnic values that are represented in the finishing on the components of the mechanical movements, as well as on the surfaces and reliefs of the dials.
The Tree of Life - a worldwide symbol of immortality - is no exception and depicts an ancient, flowering tree planted in a mossy undergrowth.The 18K yellow gold case and lugs are literally covered with emeralds, 540 in total. The stunning dial features enamel in the background which reflects a myriad of green, and a yellow gold tree with diamond accents which was designed, manufactured and hand decorated by Kerbedanz.
Only 41 pieces will be made, and each one is set on a green alligator strap.
Let's see what they have in store for us at Baselworld 2017.
Pre Basel 2017 - Harry Winston Avenue Classic Cherry Blossom
You just can't help getting excited about what's new from Harry Winston, and I already see that a little something has caught my eye. With spring looming in just a few weeks, Harry Winston has released the Avenue Classic Cherry Blossom.
Set in an 18K white gold case, the soft blue-green dial is crafted from mother-of-pearl with a delicate cherry blossom design set with 29 brilliant-cut pink sapphires and 39 brilliant-cut diamonds on white gold branches. An additional 39 brilliant-cut diamonds adorn the case. The movement is quartz, which does nothing to detract from the beauty of the design, and the whole effect is completed with a green-blue alligator leather strap.
Unique Piece from Angelus Watches
In 2015 Angelus was revived and released it's first watch. Not wanting to copy anything that was produced in the early days of the brand, they took inspiration from their multi dial alarm clocks and made a watch that just couldn't have been made when the brand originally existed - the Angelus U10 Tourbillon Lumiere. The spectacular piece had two massive openings one for the retro 70's-square-tv-style dial, and the other to highlight the massive floating tourbillon.
Now in 2017, a special unique piece has been released with an unexpected addition, paying tribute to the old tradition of Mexican Calaveras, used mainly to celebrate . The colorful skull has been added to the dial side, while Día de los Muertos.
Priced at $118,500, this is the first unique piece from the Angelus U10 art collection.
Show A Little Timely Love for Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day will soon be here and the gift dilemma is in full swing. Here are a few beautiful options for the gift of time for her.
Harry Winston Premier Precious Love - Limited Edition of 14 Pieces
If you want to show how much you love your partner everyday, this is a stunning piece to make that happen. The dial is exquisite with ten heart-shaped rubies and 47 brilliant-cut diamonds set over a white mother of pearl latticework frame, over a pink mother of pearl background. The minute and hour hands are set into the center of a flower made of overlapping hearts, and below is another heart, outlined with six of the ten heart-shaped rubies.
The white gold case measures 36mm and is also set with 57 brilliant-cut diamonds, and is topped off with an pink satin or an alligator leather strap with white gold buckle, and adorned with 17 brilliant-cut diamonds.
Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Astorite - Limited Edition of 28 Pieces
If your valentine prefers a more minimalist dial, then this may be the one. The 35mm 18kt red gold case is set with 232 diamonds, and the dial is taken from a pale pink rare gem called Astorite. The minute and hour hands are set into a white mother of pearl sub dial at 12 o'clock.
The watch is available on a hand-made grey satin strap with an 18kt red gold buckle.
de Grisogono New Retro
If rubies are the winner, then this is the watch for you. Simply stunning in color from top to bottom, the pink gold case is set with 70 baguette cut rubies, and the dial has an additional 60. Continuing the glorious color combination, the ruby galuchat strap also has a pink gold folding clasp set with another 112 rubies. The crown set at 12 o'clock adds to the symmetry of the design.
Audemars Piguet Diamond Outrage
This white gold watch comes with outrageous spikes covered in either white diamonds or blue sapphires, equaling about 65 carats worth of stones. To tell the time you open one of the spikes to reveal the dial. It might contain a quartz movement, but at this point, who cares! It's edgier than most watches out there, but all I can say is, it works for me!
Urwerk's UR-106 Flower Power Limited Edition of 11 Pieces
Continuing the theme of something a little different, lets take a look at the Urwerk UR-106 Flower Power. There is no doubting that this is an Urwerk, however the recognizable shape has been transformed into a dazzling diamond encrusted watch instead of the snake skin pattern we usually see. The single block steel case is set with 239 Top Wesselton quality diamonds, plus the dial's central flower in white gold set with 30 brilliant-cut diamonds (0.184 ct), and a further 3 small flowers in white gold set with 6 brilliant-cut diamonds (0.522 ct).
WT'MB&'F?
Holy Horological Machines Batman!! I was expecting something amazing when MB&F teased us with the movement for their HM7, but this one just blew me away.
Looking like a cross between a spaceship and a submersible, the design was actually inspired by jellyfish. Eric Giroud is the designer of the striking piece, and along with a team of 49 people, the first water resistant Horological Machine was conceived.
Not to be content with just the shape of the watch, with a unidirectional rotating bezel that seems to orbit around the edge of a see through spaceship, the watch also contains a central flying tourbillon and a vertical movement between its domed sapphire top and bottom. Super lume comes courtesy of Black Badger creator James Thompson.
The MB&F HM7 Aquapod comes in two variations, 33 pieces in titanium, and 66 in red gold, both are delivered on rubber straps.
Another one for the shopping list!
Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos 568 at SIHH 2017
I've been looking for a table clock for quite some time and haven't been able to find anything that quite suits my style...until now. Jaeger LeCoultre has again partnered with Australian designer, Marc Newson, to create the Atmos 568. It is a beautiful, minimalist clock that reminds me of the skeleton clocks that my parents had, but reinterpreted for the modern world.
The clock stands at just under 10" high, and is housed in a Baccarat crystal case, so you can gaze at the movement that appears to float inside the case.
I love the new feet that give the clock better stability. The previous version sat on a pedestal that gave me the sense that it looked more like an award than a clock.
Blue details highlight the dial, and you will also notive that the clock features the month and a moonphase. The Atmos 568 has been added to the regular collection.
