The Corum Admiral 42 Gets a Dark Twist
Corum unveils a mysterious, edgy and first-ever addition to their highly sought-after Admiral 42 collection, limited to 100 pieces.
It is no surprise that the popularity of black-on-black watches has been steadily rising over the past years. Being incredibly chic and versatile, entirely black timepieces pair well with both formal and casual dressing, at the same time allowing the wearer to indulge the best of both classical and contemporary design can offer. “Corum has always been concerned to develop and evolve its different collections together. In the past, we have already made a black titanium Golden Bridge and this year we will present a ruthenium coin watch. That's why we wanted to bring modernity to the Admiral collection with this full black edition,” explains the brand’s design team.
Born in the 1960s, the very first Admiral’s Cup model was an unusual yachting watch with a water-resistant square case. However, the Admiral collection that we are now familiar with, is actually an evolution of the Admiral’s Cup model redesigned in 1983, with its instantly recognizable 12-sided case and nautical pennants on the dial. Over the years, this collection dedicated to the world famous regatta has not only become an integral pillar of Corum, but also one of the most iconic nautical-inspired timepieces on the market.
In the year 2010, the Admiral collection celebrated its 50th anniversary, and at the same time, welcomed the launch of the Admiral Legend collection. Keeping in mind the iconic design codes of the original Admiral’s Cup model released in 1980s, the Admiral Legend collection proposed a family of elegant timepieces with a more modern and refined silhouette. The resulting Admiral Legend 42, with a slimmer case diameter, has gone on to become one of Corum’s bestselling models over the recent years.
One of the most identifiable characteristics of an Admiral timepiece is the use of 12 nautical pennants as hour markers. These flags in fact conform to the International Code of Signals for indicating numbers using colored flags, so each hour is represented by its corresponding pennant.
The latest Admiral 42 Full Black the complete opposite of its colorful predecessors, and a first-ever within the Admiral family of watches. It features the iconic dodecagonal case in black PVD-treated stainless steel, paired with a blackened brass dial. The nautical pennants, minute markers now presented in greyscale tones to balance the austerity of the all-black design, while markers for the minute and small seconds are made visible using a tone-on-tone effect.
According to Corum’s product development department, “The main objective is to go against the classic codes of watchmaking by proposing a trendy watch instead of a traditional case in steel or gold. In addition, Corum wanted to break the codes of its Admiral collection representing classic navigation. The nautical flags are not in color and we did not use the traditional blue and teak wood. This version is inspired by modern boats with their carbon hull.”
The Dauphine-style hour and minute hands are also skeletonized, given black PVD treatment, then filled with white superluminova to ensure excellent legibility. Vulcanized black rubber straps with a black PVD-treated buckle complete the edgy look. Devoid of colors, this dark knight of a watch is mysterious, sporty yet intriguingly handsome at the same time.
The Admiral 42 Full Black is powered by the automatic CO 395 movement, which provides 42 hours power reserve. It offers a water resistance of 50 meters. Produced in a limited edition of 100 pieces.
Manufacture Royale Releases The ADN
Manufacture Royale marks a new era with the introduction of the ADN - DNA in French. Combining their iconic design with a new more contemporary aesthetic, the Manufacture Royale ADN collection emerges in stunning evolution. At the center of it all is Manufacture Royale’s ninth calibre—the MR09—designed, built, and assembled in their workshops located in Vallorbe, Switzerland. Featuring a flying tourbillon, the resolutely modern skeleton movement displays two independent time zones, each set right to the minute. Impressive as it is ingenious, the local time is indicated by a jumping-aperture disc that reveals the time as it jumps from one hour to the next. This occurs atop 12-hour dial while a sweeping sword-shaped hand tracks the minutes on the same plane. The home time, or second timezone, remains legible and accurate with its own gear train indicating hours and minutes in a traditional display. The ultimate traveling companion, this aesthetic and technical masterpiece is produced in 28-piece limited editions, comprising traditional or high-tech materials.
The Manufacture Royale ADN watch is currently available in three variations: stainless steel, stainless steel DLC and forged carbon, and rose gold and forged carbon.
The Manufacture Royale ADN watch is offered on a flexible rubber or an alligator strap with a stainless steel or stainless steel-DLC folding buckle, ensuring both comfort and security.
Armin Strom for Only Watch
Armin Strom has just release it's unique piece for Only Watch, the Manual Hunt Slonem Edition. The dial side features a screen onto which an expressive painting of American artist Hunt Slonem’s contemporary art has been transferred.
The watch is housed in a 43.4 mm titanium case, featuring the manually wound AMW11 caliber manufactured in-house, with off-center time display and seconds subdial. Its openwork spring barrel benefits from a 5 day power-reserve.
A composition of pastel hues and powerful lines continues the artist’s famous “bunny paintings” series. Together with the watch, the successful future bidder will be acquiring a hand-signed original which takes up the colors and motifs of the timepiece in a 46 cm x 31 cm format. For his work entitled “Rex”, the artist has used metal pigments in oil paint as the base for his characteristic linear styling.
The Only Watch auction brings prestigious names in watchmaking togther and provides the opportunity to put their expertise to a good cause once every two years. Proceeds raised from the auction benefits Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research. In 2017 there are some 49 brands participating, although not all of them have donated wristwatches. The auction for the watches will be held on November 11, 2017, and prior to that, Christie's Auction House will take the pieces on a tour.
MONACO, 27-30 September 2017
BANGKOK, 2-3 October 2017
SINGAPORE, 5-6 October 2017
DUBAI, 9-11 October 2017
HONG KONG, 23-24 October 2017
TAIPEI, 26-27 October 2017
NEW YORK, 29-30 October 2017
LOS ANGELES, 1-2 November 2017
GENEVA, 9-11 November
For more details, please visit: http://www.onlywatch.com/
A Mammoth Launch - The HYT Skull Vida
Hot off the presses today is the launch of HYT's Skull Vida, a limited edition of just 5 pieces. The 'limited edition' in this case could also be referred to as 5 unique pieces, as the material reflects its own unique properties, and is a very unusual material to watchmaking.
The skull shaped sculpted dial is crafted from Siberian mammoth ivory thousands of years old. In fact, most of the mammoths that are being uncovered in the region are 15,000-30,000 years old and have been remarkably well preserved, having been frozen in place until now. Before any work can be done on the ivory, it has to go through a stabilization process so that it can adjust to the atmosphere. Specially trained artisans worked with the ivory, which given its age, had to be very carefully handled.
"Our first Skull collections fell within the tradition of Memento Mori, reflecting in particular the Mexican culture of Dia de los Muertos, where death is celebrated in the same way as life, in a celebratory communion of the passing of time," recalls Grégory Dourde, CEO of HYT. "However, we felt that we could go even further still by literally combining life and the unique flow of time with our fluid technology and a dial made from an authentic material, a true living sculpture. The Skull Vida was born from this all-encompassing, holistic vision."
The Skull Vida comes in a 51 mm black DLC titanium case which highlights the creaminess of the ivory. It is powered by HYT's exclusive mechanical hand-wound movement which provides a 65-hour power reserve. The seconds are displayed in its left eye, the power reserve in its right. As usual, the entire artwork is surrounded by an HYT capillary specially folded into the skull shape, in which the separation point of two immiscible liquids indicates the hours. The strap, is a beige floral-embroidered fabric with a black DLC titanium deployant buckle.
The Nixie Machine II Debuts at M.A.D.Gallery
If you have ever dreamed of time traveling, the Nixie Machine II by Berlin-based artist Frank Buchwald might be just the way to get there! The clock, created in collaboration with passionate engineer Dalibor Farny, certainly gives you a Victorian-era/Steampunk vibe, and Buchwald’s inspiration definitely reflects this element in his work. “Pencil, glue and cardboard...railway stations, steam engines...childhood memories. Creativity and enthusiasm form the golden thread that has weaved through my life. They’re my fuel.” he explains.
At the heart of the clock, and indeed the display of time, are Nixie tubes which were introduced in the 1950s. Nixie tubes – also known as cold cathode displays – became a popular way of presenting numerals using glow discharge. Each glass tube is filled with a low-pressure neon-based gas and includes a wire-mesh anode and layered cathodes shaped like numerals; a separate cathode is needed for every numeral 0 to 9. A distinctive orange glow discharge surrounds each cathode when power is applied. Assembled in multi-digit arrays by connecting electronic circuitry to several tubes, Nixie tubes were often used for computers, clocks, and frequency counters, though these were eventually supplanted by more practicable, less costly – though arguably less charming – displays such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
Each and every detail has been manually handcrafted, from the design, construction, and detailed finishes of the clock to the six Nixie tubes produced by Dalibor Farny. Farny put in numerous years of research and experimentation to build a modern Nixie tube and handcrafts them in a studio that looks like a cross between a laboratory and workshop located inside an old castle near Topolna in the Czech Republic.
The heart of the clock in itself is completely innovative and modern, despite its overall vintage feel and keeps time automatically via its powerful, Wi-Fi-enabled electronics dock. therefore, it is completely automatic. All settings and special features – including scroll effects, day/night modes, digit light dimming, time zone settings and more – can be intuitively programmed online. The clock can also operate offline, regulated by a knob on the back.
12 unique pieces are available exclusively from the M.A.D.Galleries in Geneva, Dubai, and Taipei.
Ideas for Mothers Day - Roberto Coin Pois Moi
Running out of time to select something that is just perfect for your Mom? How about Roberto Coin's Pois Moi Collection? The iconic collection may have just what you are looking for.
With your choice of white, pink and yellow gold in bracelets, rings, pendants, and earrings with diamond pavé, choices abound.
I love the squareness of the pieces, with their soft corners and retro "television shape" design, influenced by the '50s, however the final product is all modern.
Founded in 1977 in Italy’s Vicenza, Roberto Coin is a marvelous mix of centuries-old Italian craftsmanship and modern design techniques. The brand was originally created to make jewelry for other Italian brands, but was launched in 1996 as a world-renowned luxury brand of Italian designer jewelry.
Take a look at some of the options to choose from and see what inspires you.
White gold bangle with diamonds 4-Row Bangle Pave white diamond detail; 7.75 total diamond carat weight
White gold bangle with diamonds 7-Row Bangle Pave white diamond detail; 14.05 total diamond carat weight.
White gold ring with diamonds 2-Row Ring Pave white diamond panel. 2.03 total diamond carat weight.
White gold ring with diamonds 0.63ct Diamonds
Four row white gold bangle with black and white diamonds 4-Row Bangle Pave black diamond panel, dotted with round-cut white diamonds. 12.25 total diamond carat weight.
Two row white gold bangle with black and white diamonds 2-Row Bangle Pave black diamond panel, dotted with round-cut white diamonds. 5.49 total diamond carat weight.
White gold bangle with white diamonds One-Row Pave Diamond Bangle Pave white diamond top; 1.35 total diamond carat weight.
White gold ring with black and white diamonds 2-Row Ring Pave black diamond panel, dotted with round-cut white diamonds. 2.03 total diamond carat weight.
Rose gold bangles with white diamonds.
Four-Row Bangle Diamonds: - Weight (total): 7.73 CT, - Clarity: VS, - Color: G, - Cut: round brilliant
Single-Row Diamond Bangle Single row of pave white diamonds halfway around. 1.29 total diamond carat weight.
Two-Row Diamond Bangle Pave white diamond detail; GHSI; 0.28 total carat weight.
Yellow gold bangles with white diamonds.
Four-Row Bangle- Weight (total): 7.73 CT, - Clarity: VS, - Color: G, - Cut: round brilliant
Seven-Row Bangle
Four-Row Bangle
Show your love with Christophe Claret's Marguerite
Christophe Claret offers a spectacular gift of love with Marguerite. As part of their first collection of watches especially created for women, Margot, the new Marguerite model is clothed in over 600 diamonds. The red gold case measures a perfect 42.5mm, and the bezel and lugs are set with over 380 diamonds of varying sizes alone.
The daisy at the center of the dial has overlapping petals and is accented by another 220 diamonds. Two fluttering butterflies, highlighted with orange Super-LumiNova appear to float around the daisy indicating the time. The butterflies are slightly different in color, the 'female' version is darker and indicates the hours, while the 'male' version is lighter and points to the minutes. At the heart of the flower is a glistening ruby all hovering over a white mother-of-pearl dial.
The magic doesn't stop there. Hidden beneath the numbers on the dial is a message that reveals itself when the pusher at 2 o'clock is pressed. The numbers disappear to reveal the phrase: “Il m’aime passionnément” (He loves me passionately). For even more personalization, the message can be customized to be whatever is desired, within the given number of characters allowed.
The caseback isn't left out either and provides an opportunity to admire the movement’s oscillating weight sculpted like a daisy and set with eight rubies. The daisy shape also allows the owner to indulge in a game of 'He loves me, he loves me not', by holding the watch in a horizontal position, and with one or two shakes, the weight will move for a few seconds and then stop to reveal whether the answer is yes or no!
Available in red, blue and green, in a white or red gold case, each color is a limited edition of 30 pieces.
Graff Princess Butterfly Secret Watch
The master craftsmen at Graff have managed to transform the soft beauty and elegance of a butterfly into a delicate and intricately jeweled ladies watch. On the outside, the sculptured butterfly silhouette is made up of diamonds and gemstones, all invisibly set, and reminiscent of the natural butterfly’s wings.
Hidden under the wings is the 'secret', the watch. To reveal the time the wearer simply presses on one of the diamonds in the body of the butterfly, and the wings slide open revealing the watch inside.
Crafted out of white gold, the case is set with 66 baguette diamonds and sapphires. There are four different variations; Full diamond, ruby, sapphire and diamonds with sapphire detail. The invisible setting, created in the 1930's, requires small grooves to be cut in the underside of each diamond or gemstone allowing them to slide onto a grid hidden beneath the stones. Not only that, but the color of the stones needs to be color-matched and sized precisely, so that they preserve the overall beauty and delicate curvature of the butterfly wings.
Looks like Graff has managed to capture nature beautifully.
Jacob & Co. The "Mystery of Muzo" Cuffs
Bring on the stunning emeralds! After almost two years of work, Jacob & Co.'s, "Mystery of Muzo" matching cuffs are complete. Featuring two envy worthy emeralds from the Muzo mines in Colombia, you know this is a mark of exceptional quality of the stones. One stone weighs in at 74.33 carats, the other at 70.57 carats, and the pear shape cut is the perfect complement to the art-deco inspired design of the cuff.
Not to be content with just emeralds, the 18K white gold bracelets are decorated with 118.13 carats of round, brilliant cut diamonds wrapped around the edges and snaked around the upper half, as well as black spinel cut into geometric shapes and wrapped about the body of the cuff.
Bold, exotic, and a piece unique, these cuffs will give any woman an air of mystery and seduction. Who will be that lucky woman?
Announcing the MB&F Legacy Machine N°1 (LM1) Final Edition
After six years of the Legacy Machine N°1, MB&F have launched the last in the series. To honor this legacy (pun intended), this is the first time the watch has been available in a stainless steel case, a very rare occurrence from MB&F. The dial of the 18 piece limited edition is in a rich dark chocolate brown, and includes the new balance bridge that was featured in the LM101 and LM Perpetual.
The 44mm case comes with the usual high domed sapphire crystal which floats over the movement and bridges. The three-dimensional horological movement was developed exclusively for MB&F by Chronode, with bridge design and finishing specified by Kari Voutilainen. Power reserve is 45 hours.
Legacy Machine No.1 is available in 18k red gold, 18k white gold, a limited edition of 33 pieces in platinum, a limited edition of 13 pieces for the M.A.D.Gallery Dubai in titanium and the final edition in stainless steel. The LM1 was also the base for two Performance Art editions with artists Xia Hang and Alain Silberstein.
After a total of approx. 435 Legacy Machine N°1's it's bittersweet, but these will be the last new pieces in the series.
I'm holding my breath for what comes next!
Arnold & Son Opens its First Flagship Boutique
Luxury watchmaker Arnold & Son has opened it's first flagship boutique, as part of the Citizen Flagship Store, in the newly launched GINZA SIX, Tokyo’s premier luxury shopping destination.
The boutique will feature a large collection of timepieces, including some that are quite limited and hard to find. Also included in the Citizen Watch Group are Frédérique Constant and Bulova, who will also have displays within the stores wide open luxury spaces. The layout of the store was designed purposefully to allow guests to view, touch and experience a full range of timepieces firsthand. The staff are multilingual and extremely knowledgeable, and will be able to assist customers from all over the world.
The new store is located at: GINZA SIX 1F, 6-10-1, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061.
Pretty in Pink from Sutra
33 ctw pink opal, 2.5 ctw spinel, 2 ctw diamond, 18K rose gold
Pink is everywhere this spring and jewelry is no exception. Houston-based jeweler Sutra Jewels has paired pink opal and pink spinel along with diamonds and 18K pink gold, to bring us the The Angel Skin and Pink Spinel Collection from their Sutra Signature collection.
The new Sutra Signature line offers a refined element of glamour into a women’s daily style choice that transitions her from black denim to black tie. Each piece encompasses design elements of graceful rhythm and lightweight flexibility, all inspired by concepts of feminine movement.
Designer Arpita Navlakha, brings together ageless design, construction and mood , creating a hybrid of cutting edge trend and timelessness which is the essence of Sutra.
7 ctw pink opal
1 ctw spinel
1 ctw diamond
18k rose gold
17.5 ctw pink opal
3.5 ctw spinel
7 ctw diamonds + rose cuts
18K white gold
Artist Jeff Koons Collaborates with Louis Vuitton
French fashion house has announced a collaboration with Jeff Koons which will launch on 28 April 2017.
The 51-piece collection of handbags and scarves are based on Koons' Gazing Ball paintings, a series of hand-painted reproductions of works by the old masters. Koons' paintings included a blue glass gazing ball 'floating' on a painted aluminum shelf attached to the front of each painting, so that the viewer could be brought into the painting itself.
The collections featured artworks include the Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Van Gogh's Wheat Field with Cypresses and Peter Paul Rubens' Tiger Hunt. Each bag has the original artists name in bold letters on the front. As usual, Louis Vuitton's monogram logo is included, but an additional logo is made up of Jeff Koons initials, plus a hanging tag of his highly recognizable inflatable rabbit sculpture.
"Pushing its know-how to new limits, Louis Vuitton has employed the most advanced techniques and craftsmanship to faithfully reproduce the artworks on the canvas of the bags," said the French fashion house.
"By re-presenting these celebrated pieces on Louis Vuitton bags, Koons once again invites viewers to consider these works anew, opening the museum to the world and encouraging us to experience the old masters in novel ways."
Now you can have your art and take it with you wherever you go!
Rihanna Collaborates with Chopard
Launching next month at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival is a new collection of jewelry from Chopard in collaboration with signer Rihanna, aptly called "Rihanna Loves Chopard."
A minimal, geometric collection of delicate necklaces, rings, earrings and a bangle is made from ethical 18-carat Fairmined-certified rose gold accented with ceramic blocks in jungle green, while the Haute Joaillerie collection includes chandelier earrings and two ear clips, which feature precious gemstones and diamonds, inspired by the singers roots in Barbados.
Pieces are available now for pre-order at https://www.chopard.com/us/rihanna-loves-chopard#anchor1
Rihanna Loves Chopard Chandelier Earrings - Featuring cascading sapphires, paraïba tourmalines, tsavorites, rubellites and wonderful colored gemstones and diamonds of all shapes and sizes combine to create the most captivating of earrings, an ode to the beauty of nature and asymmetry. A high jewelry creation co-designed with Rihanna for Rihanna ♥ Chopard
RIHANNA LOVES CHOPARD SAUTOIR 18K ETHICALLY-CERTIFIED "FAIRMINED" ROSE GOLD, DIAMONDS AND GREEN CERAMIC - Inspired by her effortless confidence infused with strength, the limited edition RIHANNA ♥ CHOPARD Joaillerie Collection is defined by minimalist geometry and sharp, clean lines. A synergy of urban modernism and pure design gives Chopard’s classic Ice Cube shape a powerful sense of self. This sautoir is crafted from ethical 18kt ‘Fairmined’ rose gold and diamonds. Its linear rectangular motifs link frosty rose gold cubes with solid ceramic blocks in a color personally selected by Rihanna – Jungle Green.
New from Arnold & Son - the DBG Skeleton
Arnold & Son takes great pride in making sure that their movements are as exceptional as their exterior suggests, even if you cannot see them. In this piece, the DBG, which is an acronym for Double Balance GMT, the movement is now unveiled, so the wearer cannot enjoy its beauty, depth and fine finishing.
The GMT function is perfect for travelers, and for those who just love to know the time in another zone of the world.
Based on the original DBG that launched in 2012, the movement of the DBG Skeleton needed to be somewhat redesigned to allow for the dial to be removed and maintain its complete symmetry.
At this time, the watch is only available in a red gold case.
Turquoise Treats at Louboutin
A visit to Louboutin is always filled with delight and full shopping bags, and this visit is no different! Ready for spring and a change in the weather are some fabulous iridescent spikey peep toe pumps in cream and turquoise. Just what the doctor ordered to send those winter blues packing!
