Luxury watch brands just can’t seem to get enough of the iPhone these days!  While I have not been overly impressed by the watch brand iPhone apps introduced thus far, Jaeger-LeCoultre appears to have made a valiant effort at a more broadly useful iPhone app for watch fans.  Even so, I remain unconvinced of the ultimate value of brand-specific iPhone apps.

Here is a closer look at the new JLC app:

The new Jaeger-LeCoultre iPhone app provides the ability to browse 60+ JLC models, an extensive glossary, and interestingly, 6 horology “teaching modules” which walk the user through various watchmaking techniques – from assembling a chronograph mechanism to decorating and jeweling a movement.  Although I would guess that these teaching models require not quite the skill as the real thing!  Of course you can also locate your nearest JLC Authorized Dealer (a pointless feature, in my view).  Here are some live screen shots of the app:

Yes, watch fans, if wearing an OMEGA watch is not good enough for you, you can now smell like an OMEGA watch!  Now there’s a thought, but, well…not exactly!  It seems that OMEGA (a brand that is perhaps most well known for its Seamasters and its co-axial chronometer movements) has decided to try its hand in extending its brand to the fragrance category.  In fact, to create its recently introduced “OMEGA Aqua Terra” fragrance for men, OMEGA tapped a very famous “perfumer” – Mr. Alberto Morillas.  Never heard of him?  Me neither, but apparently he is credited with scents such as Bvlgari BLV, Giorgio Armani Sensi, Yves Saint Lauren M7, and the very popular Calvin Klein cK One (among several others) – obviously a man whose reputation precedes him!

Behold:  OMEGA Aqua Terra for me (Swiss Made!) (introduced Aug’09)

Like most watchmakers seem to do when moving across product categories – and often to my chagrin and great disappointment (a la Tag Heuer’s Meridiist mobile phone) – OMEGA could not refrain from trying to bring elements of the watch world into the design of the fragrance bottle …

OMEGA sea horse symbol (an adaptation of the brand’s famous seahorse logo found on the case backs of the Seamaster and Speedmaster watches) embossed on the bottle cap, and texturing which imitates the handles of watchmakers tools (Ok, this is kinda sorta neat I guess)

OMEGA symbol embossed on the spritzer top (after all, who doesn’t like the Omega symbol (except Rolex, that is!!!))

The bottle has “windows with metric and English scales through which it is possible to see the perfume within. This feature is a nod in the direction of the highly technical watch industry, of which the brand has been a part for more than 160 years.” (Um…No….taking this concept a bit too far here!)

According to Omega:

More than 100 of the most exclusive raw materials were blended to create Omega Aqua Terra and the result is a long-lasting fragrance with energetic, sophisticated, sensuous aspects.

though I much prefer Alberto Morillas’ description of the scent:

The new Omega Aqua Terra for men belongs to the woody aromatic family.  On the top, the fragrance opens on a blend of citrus (bergamot, grapefruit, tangerine) and herbs (clary, sage). They bring a fresh and natural sensation to this perfume.   After a few minutes, the heart of the creation reveals a spicy freshness and an elegant floral note thanks to the aromatic herbs, jasmine, red pepper and violet leaves. Finally, the drydown unveils its mysterious facets: a trail of sensual and luxurious woods, refined oak moss, patchouli, vetiver and musk, that rounds the perfume out harmoniously.

To top it all off, each bottle of Omega Aqua Terra is delivered in a reusable micro-fibre pouch, which can also be used to polish….an OMEGA watch, of course!  This one in particular would be a good option:

OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra Co-Axial GMT Chronograph

My sources indicate that OMEGA Aqua Terra is not available in the U.S. (perhaps why it has flown under radar thus far) but it is otherwise available exclusively in OMEGA boutiques for 50 EUR for a 50ml bottle / 75 EUR for 100ml bottle.

So, are you a Co-Axial Man? Then get yours today!

Originally introduced at Basel World 2009, it was officially announced on October 6th that the ’20,000 FEET’ by CX Swiss Military Watch has indeed gone into a limited production run of 1000 pieces.   The watch certainly has created some buzz online due to its outrageous ability to withstand…Well just about everything.

The ’20,000 FEET’ is a follow up to CX’s 2005 world record breaking offering of the ’12,000 FEET’.  What possible reason would CX have for besting  a piece of their own design?  You guessed it — in 2008, a competitor’s watch beat the depth record that was originally held by the ’12,000 FEET’.  Though to create a piece that was a “record breaker” was only part of their plan; they wanted to the watch to be functional, legible and once again contain a mechanical chronograph movement (COSC certified Valjoux 7750).  The technical team had to develop a tank that was capable of simulating the conditions that would equal the pressure of an 800 bar (8,000 meter) dive.  One particular area that caused a problem was finding a proper way to affix the 10mm thick (that is not a typo) sapphire crystal to the titanium case.  Prototypes for the ’20,000 FEET’ started to appear in late 2008, and the rigorous testing soon followed.

When viewing the watch head on, it honestly doesn’t look too remarkable.  It kind of comes across as just another sports diver with a chronograph movement, lume in the right places and legibility literally written all over its dial.  It’s when the watch is viewed from the side that it really makes its statement.  Clocking in at a whopping 28.5mm thick this beast will most certainly have a presence on the wrist.  Don’t let the fact that its 46mm monster case is made from titanium fool you — the watch weighs in at a hefty 265 grams (for a point of reference a Breitling Super Avenger chronograph weighs just under 154 grams…and that’s a pretty substantial watch). I, for one, cannot wait to see a variety of photos of this thing on a wearer’s wrist.

I know what you’re thinking — it’s a gimmick, something designed to garner CX some attention and though part of me agrees with that presumption it’s obvious that CX wants this to be a functional diver.  The overall design of the watch says take me under water, deeeeeep under water.  Features include a helium valve, extra large crown, screw down pushers and large tactile bezel so all operations can be done with diver’s gloves on, and even with the pushers in the unscrewed position the watch is still rated at 300 meters.

So, did it break the record it was designed to?  Absolutely it did; on January 5th 2009 Guinness World Records certified that the ’20,000 FEET’ was in fact the deepest diving watch that still functioned at 6,000 meters. Apparently not content with holding the dive record they started to perform other tests, just to see how tough the watch actually is.  Rather than describe what exactly was done, I think its probably better that you view it yourself:

Kinda gives the term “beater” a whole new meaning, doesn’t it?

CX Swiss Military Watch has dedicated a website strictly for the ’20,000 FEET’ and its simple enough to remember; www.20000feet.com.  There you can find more video of the watch being put through it paces , along with more information on its development, and other technical spec goodies.  If you would like to be 1 of 1000 lucky owners of the ’20,000 FEET’, be prepared to shell out about $4,500 USD (2,998 EUR) plus VAT.

Sure, pocket watches are a bit “old school” – but this is still kinda cool. For the first time since 1992, Vacheron Constantin has presented a new pocket watch.  Case, dial and hands are in platinum. The watch is limited to 50 pieces.  Reference No. 82028/000P-9490.  Manual wind caliber 4400.  Delivered with an alligator leather cord, or you can special order it on a platinum chain (definitely the way to go) – both variations are pictured.  At 43mm diameter, it actually seems a bit small for a pocket watch, but this is the way of the gentleman, you see.

The Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Contemporaine Pocket Watch

Understated.  Sophisticated.  Dandy!

Would look good with a Brioni 3-piece made-to-measure, wouldn’t it?

Concord, in partnership with the French born NBA player Ronny Turiaf, has announced the production of a limited edition piece in their popular C1 line, named the “C1 Heart2Heart”. Update: Here is a short video from Concord of the launch party  – in addition to the watch, you will see Ronny Turiaf and fellow NBA stars, Tony Parker, and Concord President Alex Grinberg (among others):

Proceeds from the watch sales will benefit Turiaf’s “Heart to Heart Foundation” which he established in 2008 after his successful open heart surgery and subsequent return to the NBA.  The foundation’s goal is to provide treatment and electrocardiogram [ECG] testing for underprivileged patients suffering from heart disease, with a particular focus on children.  Turiaf was only 22 years old at the time of his open heart surgery, and returned to play in the NBA after only 6 months of recovery.  He is currently playing for the NBA’s Golden State Warrior’s and is a member of the French national team.

Peeking out from underneath a 3.3mm sapphire crystal of the C1 Heart2Heart chronograph watch will be blood red accents highlighting the rotating seconds disc, the central seconds hand, and the saddle stitching on the rubber coated alligator strap which is attached directly to the bulky case rather than using a traditional lug system.  In homage to man behind the foundation the number “21” [which is Turiaf’s jersey number] was singled out on the date wheel and will also be in this same red color.  The case-back will house a sapphire crystal to view the ETA Valgranges based COSC movement with its black rotor with vertically applied Côtes de Genève. The Heart to Heart Foundation’s logo and Ronny Turiaf’s signature will also adorn the underside of the boldly designed case.

Concord has stated that the limited production run will yield only 25 Heart2Heart pieces.

*** JUNE 2010 UPDATE ***

CLICK HERE TO SEE MY NEW REVIEW OF THE OMEGA  SEAMASTER PLANET OCEAN LIQUIDMETAL***

You see it here first, watch fans!  The word is out on OMEGA’s foray into ceramic components with new technology it calls “Liquidmetal” – the Seamster Planet Ocean Limited Edition “Liquidmetal” cermic bezel is here!   This is undoubtedly a big deal for OMEGA and I expect this to be very, very popular amongst its fan base and well-received by watch enthusiasts in general.  In other words, the new Seamaster Planet Ocean “Liquidmetal” is going to be one highly sought after watch!   Powered by OMEGA’s co-axial Caliber 2500 and limited to 1948 pieces (the year that the Seamaster was first introduced by OMEGA).

Here is OMEGA’s description of “Liquidmetal”:

The Liquidmetal® alloy is an amorphous metal – a metallic material with a disordered, non-crystalline atomic structure. Its fusion temperature is half that of conventional titanium alloys but when it is cooled, its hardness is three times as great as that of stainless steel. Its amorphous structure allows it to bond seamlessly with the ceramic bezel.

The Liquidmetal® is a bulk metallic glass alloy consisting of five elements: zirconium, titanium, copper, nickel and beryllium. A bulk metallic glass can, by virtue of its low critical cooling rate, be formed into a structure with a thickness of more than a tenth of a millimetre. Zirconium is an important constituent part both of the Liquidmetal® alloy and of the ceramic material which is made of zirconium dioxide (Zr02).

The final, perfectly smooth bezel is particularly resistant to scratching and corrosion because of the hardness of the two components.

10/4 update: Here is some more information on how the union of ceramics and Liquidmetal is achieved:

First, ceramic rings are formed. The numbers and the fine lines of the minute scaling are then engraved into these ceramic bezel rings and polished. The alloy is heated and pressed into the cavities in the ceramic material after which any excess Liquidmetal® is removed. The Liquidmetal® can be manipulated at a lower temperature than metals normally used in watchmaking so the heating process does not damage the ceramic material.

The Liquidmetal® numbers and scales are then satin brushed. Because the ceramic is a harder material than the alloy, the satin brushing of the fine details can be done without affecting the ceramic bezel. The numbers and scaling then appear in bold, vivid contrast to the glossy ceramic background.

***

Check out Perpetuelle.com’s new pre-owned marketplace:

First In Watches reviews an all-black, Swiss-made mechanical watch with excellent luminosity

BALL Watch Co. is known for making sturdy, dependable and highly luminous watches, and the BALL Night Train is no exception. I enjoyed reviewing the Night Train (Reference NM1092C-L1B-BK), which happens to be part of BALL’s Fireman collection.  It is the first I have spent any time with a BALL Watch, and for a watch of this type I can say that overall I am impressed.  The video review pretty much covers everything, with the exception of a few parting thoughts, and several photos, which I share below.

One point I want to reiterate from the video is the excellent luminosity of this watch.  I was a bit disappointed that I was not able to more clearly capture this for you.  I’m not sure why, but it was very difficult to get a good shot on video or on my digital camera – perhaps it was the radioactive tritrium gas playing tricks on my equipment   But I can assure you – it is impressive and I would put my money on a BALL watch any day.  BALL is the “real deal” when it comes to serious lume – no gimmicks needed.

While the BALL Night Train does not suit my personal tastes, it is a nice Swiss-made timepiece that has a lot to offer, and at a reasonable price (~$1,900).  This is more or less an entry level watch for the mechanical automatic Swiss watch category, so if you are looking to start your collection, this would be a good place to start.  Or, if you are looking for watch that you can read in the dark – for hours days months years on end without ever fading and without needing a light source to “charge up” – this watch would be an excellent choice.  Finally, thanks again to Grenon’s of Newport for providing the watch – don’t hesitate to give Ray a call if you are interested in this watch – tell him I sent you and he will take good care of you.

In closing, here are a few pictures of the BALL Night Train DLC:

(note: serial #’s blurred out)

It is time to give this watch some love!

I am pleased to bring you this a sharp looking unique piece from Audemars Piguet – the “Royal Oak Abruzzo Tourbillon and Chronograph”.  Actually, this Audemars Piguet watch was announced earlier this year but was just recently auctioned in Singapore for S$305,000.  That’s about $215,000 US!!!  Wow – that is more than double what AP’s Equation of Time went for at the recent ONLY Watch 2009 auction! So why the lack of love (ie publicity) for this watch?  Well, First In Watches is here to fix that – and to make sure that you know the full story behind the good cause that this watch was made for!

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Abruzzo Tourbillon and Chronograph

Auctioned at:  $215,000

I think this happens to be a phenomenal looking Audemars Piguet – one of its finest looking Royal Oaks – and I much prefer it to many of their other many limited edition Royal Oaks which are sometimes a bit garish (a la RO Las Vegas editions).

So what is this unique piece all about?  Well, its actually in support of a very good cause – the ‘Abruzzo nel Cuore’ (Abruzzo in the Heart) Foundation, which was established by Formula 1 driver and Abruzzo native Jarno Trulli to support the devasatation caused this past April by an 6.3 magnitude earthquake that destroyed 90% of buildings, including 99 churches in L’Aquila, which served as historical sites for the Roman Catholic Church, and left more then 65,000 homeless and injured with a total death toll of 307 people, making it the deadliest to hit Italy since 1980.

A Scene of Devastation from the Earthquake

Pledging its support and commitment, Audemars Piguet Manufacture created the unique “Royal Oak Abruzzo Tourbillon and Chronograph” timepiece in sandblasted titanium especially for this charitable occasion.

 To date, Abruzzo in the Heart has raised more than €285,000 through the auctioning of Formula One keepsakes generously donated by fellow drivers (with thanks to Jenson Button, Mark Webber, David Coulthard and Sébastien Buemi) and donations contributed through the Abruzzo in the heart website.

Commenting on this special watch, Oliviero Bottinelli, Managing Director of Audemars Piguet Asia stated:

We are glad to be given an opportunity to work with Jarno Trulli on this meaningful event. Many lives have been lost but it is the aftermath of such tragedy that we have to so carefully tread. Audemars Piguet is happy to support the “Abruzzo nel Cuore” project. For this occasion, ONE Royal Oak Tourbillon Chronograph in sandblasted titanium has been crafted by the Manufacturer.  We thank all contributors in the realm of Formula One racing with their generosity. Thank you Jarno, your people must be proud of you. You have and will make a difference.

First In Watches salutes Audemars Piguet, Jarno Trulli, the Abruzzo foundation, and all its generous donors who support this good cause, and all our condolences to those who have suffered from this awful natural disaster.