Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Papillon Automate
Out of the house of Van Cleef & Arpels is another stunning work of art that one can forget also tells the time. The dial is full of soft shades of blues, greens and mauves, and is reminiscent of a scene from Monet's garden. Resting on top of the dial set with round and pear-cut diamonds, blue and mauve sapphires, champlevé and paillonné enamel, and a mother-of-pearl, plique-à-jour, is a blue enameled butterfly. Not a static butterfly by any means, this butterfly beats it wings during each hour, more frequently so when worn. Since Van Cleef & Arpels know how the owner of the watch will love the movement of the butterfly, the wings can also be activated on command by pushing the button on the side of the case, and they will then beat five times consecutively.
The diamond set white gold case measures 38 mm and the crown is set with an additional diamond. The watch has a blue alligator strap and a diamond set white gold pin buckle.
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.
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.
Loewe Releases their Fall Winter 2017/2018 Campaign
With the Fall Winter fashion shows in full swing, Loewe has released the corresponding new print campaign featuring supermodel Gisele Bundchen. The campaign, shot by legendary photographer Steven Meisel, shows Gisele in a wide brimmed hat with a sliced loaf of bread with their swirling logo on the slices. Also featured in the released images are Gisele wearing a check dress in front of hanging silk ribbons, plus another of their Puzzle handbag with a cloud print.
Loewe ready-to-wear show will take place in Paris on March 3.
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.
Pre-Baselworld - GRAHAM Releases the new Geo.Graham Orrery Tourbillon
In 2013 Graham released the Geo.Graham Orrery Tourbillon to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the invention of the Orrery. George Graham, upon who's inventions Graham Watchmakers is based, was the original inventor of the Orrery, the first mechanical solar system model, created in 1713. The invention was presented to Charles Boyle, the 4th Earl of Orrery, and from which all such tellurians and planetariums take their name.
In 2017 Graham is releasing a limited edition of the watch with a blue lacquered dial, and the addition of some very interesting elements to represent the planets of the solar system -Moon, Earth, Mars. This special piece includes genuine fragments of the Moon and Mars, and the Earth is made of Kingman Turquoise. The fragments come from meteorites that have fallen to earth.
The watch comes with 100 year calendar on the crystal and two additional graduations of 100 years – 300 years in total. Small corrections are indicated on the back crystal and are easily made.
The hand-engraved pink gold (18K) Tourbillon bridge with 2 Phoenix heads was inspired by George Graham and includes a cabochon close set diamond.
Set in a pink gold case, this limited edition is just 8 pieces.
MB&F / Pre-Baselworld: launch of the LM2 Titanium
As Baselworld 2017 moves closer each day, one of the brands I am most exited to see is MB&F. In anticipation of the show, the Legacy Machine N°2 Titanium (LM2 Ti) has just been released.
With a striking green dial, you will find it hard to tear your eyes away from it. The PE-CVD-treated dial catches the light from alternating angles, and comes alive with constantly changing iridescent sheens and hues of green and blue.
You may also notice a few slight changes while you are staring at it. A highly polished slightly slimmer bezel which reduces the case size, and rounder profiles on the balance wheel bridges.
Legacy Machine N°2 Ti is a limited edition of just 18 pieces.
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).
New in Vintage from Graham Watches
Graham Watches celebrated the 15th Anniversary of their Chronofighter with their Vintage line in 2016, and has now added the Chronofighter Vintage GMT to the successful collection. The first piece to be released has a gorgeous sunbrushed green dial with a matching green calf leather strap.
The Vintage collection was released with a smaller case size, 44mm, than the original Chronofighter, and has an elegant stop/start steel trigger on the left side of the case. This is so you can use your thumb to activate the chronograph, eliminating the need to take your eyes off the action while timing an important event.
The GMT function is perfect for anyone who finds themselves in more than one time zone.
Further colors will be relesed in the upcoming months.
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.
Ressence Releases the Type 1 Squared for SIHH 2017
I was first introduced to the unusual Ressence by Elizabeth Doerr who whisked me over to their booth at Baselworld, to show me the incredible new timepiece debut. I stared at it, trying to fully understand how it worked, but after a quick explanation, it made complete sense. The brand, founded by Benoit Mintiens, has since been developing more interesting and unique pieces which still hold fascination for watch collectors. The newest addition, a dress watch, slimmer and smaller than the other pieces, is housed in a 41mm polished steel cushion shaped case, another first for the brand.
Hours, seconds and the day are displayed on rotating discs on the dial, with the minutes are displayed along the outside edge, so the watch is constantly in motion. Another thing you might notice is that there is no crown. How do you wind the watch or change the time you might ask? Turn the watch over and there is an ingenious system that includes a retractable lever on the case back.
The watch comes in four different dial colors, blue, ruthenium, silver and champagne, and with easily changeable straps, so there are color options for both men and women.
Cartier to Launch the Panthere' Joueuse de Cartier at SIHH 2017
Cartier will be launching its beautful high jewelry watch the Panthere' Joueuse de Cartier at the show next week. It's signature panther, which has been an icon for the brand since the early 1900's, takes up most of the dial, and is set with diamonds and gemstones. The first thing you may notice is that this timepiece doesn't have any hands. The time is represented in hours by the ball, and the minutes are shown by the panther's paw. Set into a 40mm white gold case with a diamond set dial, there is also the option for a diamond set dial and a diamond bracelet.
MB&F to Debut the HM7 at SIHH 2017
MB&F has announced they will release a new horological machine next week for SIHH in Geneva. In anticpation of this, here is a sneak peek of the movement and an insight on what is to come.
HYT Releases the Skull Pocket Watch for SIHH 2017
HYT isn't your 'normal' watch brand, they fall into the category of a niche brand that thinks out of the box. For those who aren't familiar with the way the watch works, there is a capillary that contains two liquids, one of which has color. This liquid moves along the capillary to indicate the time. Not an easy feat to produce (they have developed 7 patents for it), but HYT has succeeded.
Now HYT unveils its first ever pocket watch, the Skull Pocket to add its Skull Collection. Set in a new case, the first ever Skull and mechanical light source combination, exclusive finishes, and just 8 pieces available: the Skull Pocket marks a turning point in the development of HYT's fluid-based watchmaking technology.
Golden Globes 2017 Best Dressed
The sun shone on the celebrity arrivals at this years Golden Globes Awards Show. Several trends were on display including plunging necklines, soft pinks, metallics and embroidery. For me some looks stood out more than others. Here are my favorites from this years red carpet arrivals.
Olivia Culpo in Zuhair Murad Couture - Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Carrie Underwood in Iris Serban - Photo by Frazer Harrison-Getty Images
Sofia Vergara in Zuhair Murad - Photo by Neilson BarnardNBCUniversalNBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
Chrissy Teigen in Marchesa - Photo by Venturelli-WireImage
Emma Stone in Valentino - Photo by Steve Granitz-WireImage
Kristen Bell in Jenny Packham - Photo courtesty of Getty Images
Lily Collins in Zuhair Murad Couture - Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Elsa Pataky in Zuhair Murad - Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Priyanka Chopra in Ralph Lauren - Photo by Jordan Strauss-Invision-AP
Giuliana Rancic in Rani Zakhem - Photo by Steve Granitz-Wire Image
Zoe Saldana in Gucci - Photo by Steve Granitz-Wire Image