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. 

Imperiali Genève Emperador - The Most Prestigious Cigar Cabinet Ever Made

Inspired by watchmaking, but all about the enjoyment of your cigar. That's the premise of Imperiali Genève's Emperador, the million dollar cigar chest. On the outside, it is impressive, and measuring 27" wide, almost 18" wide, and just under 12" high, you aren't going to miss it. The exterior is black lacquer with gold details, and a tourbillon with a black guilloche dial sits atop the chest. 

To open the chest you will need your personal security code. Each of the letters of the word IMPERIALI surrounding the tourbillon also feature numbers, and you press these to enter your secret code. Inside are a multitude of additional features, 24 gold wrapped cigars, each in an individual glass sleeve, a self-regulating humidity system, along with a laser-guided guillotine cigar-cutter, a table lighter and an electronic ashtray, all displayed on a tray that takes up the lower portion of the chest. 

More than two years of work went into the development of the chest, and is a collaboration of about 100 craftsmen. 

Annual production will be limited to 12 units.

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.

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!

Favorite Watches of 2016 - Arnold & Son

I absolutely loved this Arnold & Son UTTE Skeleton, even more so when I learned from Arnold & Son head of innovation that the movement was redesigned from scratch, it wasn’t just the movement from the previously releases UTTE. That piece was never intended to have the dial removed, and would not have held up to the high standards of Arnold & Son design, so the entire movement was rethought out. The result, a stunning piece of machinery that also happened to be the thinnest skeleton tourbillon on the market when it was released.