Although I very much appreciate the message and the fact that social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are finally part of Baselworld’s media strategy, I found the headline laughable:  “BASELWORLD goes Web 2.0″.   Call me a sneerer, but to be trumpeting “we’ve gone Web 2.0″ in 2011 is kinda like showing up to the starting line of a race after everyone else has already run.  It was, after all, leading Tech Blogger Michael Arrington who declared “Web 2.0″ DEAD…in 2008 (see also TC:  The Death of “Web 2.0″), and he’s  certainly not the only one to entertain the notion.  Then again, Fred Wilson (AVC/USV) certainly wasn’t calling Web 2.0 dead in 2008, and the Web 2.0 Summit is still going strong, so exactly what Web 2.0 “was”, “is”, or “will be” is clearly open for debate.  But my point is this:  “Going Web 2.0″ is not a news headline in 2011.  Unless, I guess, you are the watch industry’s largest trade show.   Here’s the press release:

Media Release | January 27, 2011

BASELWORLD goes Web 2.0

BASELWORLD the Watch and Jewellery Show is adopting new communication channels: the most important trade show for the luxury goods industry is now to be found on the social media platforms. A move designed to give a considerable boost to exchanges of information and opinion with those who have an interest in BASELWORLD.

Online communication is being made even more attractive for visitors, exhibitors and journalists at BASELWORLD. Apart from the website www.baselworld.com, the World Watch and Jewellery Show is now also represented in the Facebook and Twitter communities. With these profiles, BASELWORLD is giving its guests from all over the world the opportunity to engage in direct and uncomplicated communication with the show. And a platform is being created for exchanges of opinion between those with an interest in BASELWORLD.

Users will comment on and discuss innovations of BASELWORLD and its exhibitors, pool their experience and ask questions about the show. The latest information on the setting up of the show will be included in the profile contents, together with all the news on the world’s most important event for the watch and jewellery industry. It will be possible to convey more information on BASELWORLD, 365 days a year, even after the show itself has come to a close.

Current picture and video material is similarly available in the profiles, together with links for further information and entertainment.

BASELWORLD can now be found on:

Facebook:    www.facebook.com/baselworld
Twitter:          www.twitter.com/baselworld
Youtube:       www.youtube.com/baselworldtv
Vimeo:          www.vimeo.com/channels/baselworld
Flickr:            www.flickr.com/photos/baselworld-show

BASELWORLD 2011 – The World Watch and Jewellery Show

Photos of BASELWORLD are available for downloading free of charge at: www.baselworld.com/photos and now also on www.flickr.com/photos/baselworld-show

Although the PAM 372 (Luminor 1950), PAM 382 (“Brozno”), and PAM 386 (Luminor Composite case) seem to be getting most of the attention this year, there is much more to like in the 2011 Panerai lineup. For example, let’s take a closer look at this new Panerai Radiomir 8 Days Cermic – aka PAM 384.  Part of Panerai’s “Historic” Collection (the brand has 3 broad categories for its watch – Historic, Contemporary, and Special Editions), this is actually a limited edition of 500 pieces, with a hefty price of $14,700 each.  My appreciation for this watch lies in its stealthy looking 45mm black ceramic case, its robust movement (the manual wind Panerai P.2002 provides an impressive 8 days power reserve), and a classic Panerai sandwich dial with date, small seconds, and linear power reserve meter.  Also worth appreciating is the removable wire loop strap attachments for fast and easy strap changes (feature that is patented by Panerai).  Lastly, as you can see below, the P.2002 movement is visible through the smoked sapphire crystal back.

Panerai Radiomir 8 Days Ceramic (PAM 384)

Comes on a leather strap with large-size black-coated titanium buckle.

Carbon Skeleton…

Cartier has really stepped up its watch game over the past few years (SIHH 2009, SIHH 2010), and this year’s collection keeps with the trend (SIHH 2011).  I really like this new 2011 piece — the Santos Dumont “Carbon Skeleton”, featuring a skeletonized, black DLC-coated titanium case.  No word yet on production numbers or price.

Cartier Santos Dumont Black Titanium (Ref W2020052)

39mm x 47mm DLC-coated titanium case, titanium crown set with faceted black synthetic gemstone, hours and minutes with skeletonized bridges in the form of Roman numerals, comes on alligator strap with DLC-coated white gold deployant buckle

movement is the manual-wind Cartier Caliber 9612 MC (~72 hours power reserve)

Man, It’s Cool…

A new spectacular looking chronograph from up and coming brand Linde Werdelin (founded:  2006) who brought us cool creations such as the SpidoLite SA (watch my video review), the Oktopus Moonphase and the Oktopus Tattoo.  Will be a limited edition run of 100 numbered pieces, also noted as an “A” series thus seeming to hint at subsequent SpidoSpeed variations.  The Linde Werdelin will carry a price of ~$15,000.

“I wanted the SpidoSpeed to be a complete 3-Dimensional experience no matter the angle you look at it from”, says Morten Linde.  “Whether this is the ten-layered dial, the skeletonised case, the see-through case-back or the strap. I wanted this model to be one holistic 3-Dimensional experience for the owner.”  Check it…

Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed

Specs

Case: 44mm (wide) x 46mm (tall) x 15mm (thick) steel case, Movement: Concepto 2251 chronograph with LW designed oscillator, Water Resistance: 100m,  Strap: SpidoSpeed textile strap with steel ardillon buckle

actual dial parts:

An absolutely splendid dress watch, this new Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Moon 39 is.  Unfortunately I don’t have any more pictures at this time, but I will update this post when they come through.

If you haven’t seen the 2011 Jaeger-LeCoultre lineup, now is a good time to check it out.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Moon 39

39 mm pink gold case on brown alligator strap (Ref Q136-2520), beige dial with moonphase and date, mechanical automatic JLC Caliber 925

Steel case on black strap (Ref Q136 8520) also available (not pictured)

Look Book…

Following-up my initial reveal on the new Panerai PAM 372 — here some beautiful images of the PAM 372 courtesy of Panerai.  This watch is hands-down the Paneristi favorite of 2011, and while unfortunately it is too big for my wrist (47mm), I am a fan of the PAM 372, too.  Remember — it has a plexiglas top (rather than a sapphire crystal) and Panerai’s new P.3000 movement in it.   Keep in mind that Panerai’s current plan for production is 3,000 units over the next 2 years, and the PAM 372 price is approximately $10,000.  Watch is expected to start hitting wrists around October so if you are interested you should contact your AD’s and get your pre-order’s in.

Panerai Luminor PAM 372

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Did you expect Tiger Woods?  Nah….Go Bubba!

I posted the new Richard Mille RM038 ultralight “golf” watch here on Monday, followed by some “who would get to wear it” musing on Twitter.  Well, it turns out that Bubba Watson is the man.  With a 32nd place finish on the 2010 PGA Tour, “Bubba who?” would be a fair question for you to ask.  Indeed, if you are not a big golf fan you have likely never heard of Bubba Watson!  Phil Mickleson, Lee Westwood, Jim Furyk, or yes perhaps even Tiger Woods might have come to your mind.  But peel back the onion a bit and the rationale for such an alliance becomes a bit more clear. One of the few “lefty’s” on the tour, Bubba Watson is known for his crushingly long drives, thus providing Richard Mille with the a high technical/physical standard for which to design the watch to. 

Ultimately, my view on the new RM038/Bubba Watson partnership is that, like Mille’s groundbreaking partnership with Rafael Nadal which shocked the world of tennis, his partnership with Bubba Watson will have a similar impact on the professional golf world.  Still, I do hope that Bubba Watston is “here to stay” otherwise this whole thing could fizzle fast.  Even so, it is a really cool partnership and I like how Mille tends to align himself with seemingly normal, humble guys who don’t have huge egos despite being better than 99.9% of everyone else who plays the sport they do.  So yes, I like the choice and props to Bubba Watson who will be rocking this watch out on the golf course, hopefully soon.

The case of the RM038 is made of an extremely rugged and light magnesium alloy classified as AZ91, composed of magnesium combined with aluminum and zinc plus additional trace metals. The resulting magnesium alloy is more than the sum of the parts, providing a light yet extremely strong material with a dendritic internal crystalline structure making it suitable for extreme applications in the aerospace, telecommunication and automotive industries.

After a long and delicate machining phase, the case is given an electro-plasma treatment named Titalyt II®, covering the surface with a layer of white, crystalline ceramic oxide containing a high ratio of resistant composites.

Photo:  WatchProSite

More than one brand has announced a “dual time” watch at this SIHH this year.   I showed you the JLC Grande Reverso Duo just moments ago, and here now is the Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Dual Time.  Available in 3 different color schemes (all of which you can see HERE), pictured here is my favorite, Ref. 26380OR.  The functions you see on the dial are hours/minutes, date (sub-dial at 2 o’clock), second timezone with day/night display, and a power reserve indication on the left side of the dial.

The one comment I do have on this watch regards the power reserve indicator.  In general I find power-reserve indicators to be an odd function for automatic watches.  Manual-wind watches, sure, no problem.  In fact when I highlight the specs for a particular watch here on the blog, you may have noticed that I only note the power reserve if it is a manual wind movement.  My reason for this is that I figure — at least if you are wearing it — that power reserve is of no consequence on an automatic watch because it is constantly being wound!  If you have a thought on this please leave a comment below.

Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Dual Time

41mm pink-gold case (9.25mm thick), black dial with applied pink gold hour markers, and black alligator strap with AP folding clasp.  The movement is an automatic AP Caliber 2329/2846

Going through the 2011 Jaeger-LeCoultre collection now.  Lot of very nice production pieces and the high complications are excellent as well — stay tuned for my updates on these.  For now here’s a quick look at a new piece, the Grande Reverso Duo.  Pink gold (Ref. Q3742421 -pictured) and steel (Q3748421) models will be produced.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso Duo

48.5mm x 30mm pink gold case (10.2.mm thick), Mechanical manual wind Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 986 (48-hour power reserve)

Absolutely Amazing…

Looking at the 2011 A. Lange & Söhne collection, I find little not to like.  Of course Lange’s watches tend to appeal to watch aficionados with more traditional tastes, and of this is fully by design.  A strong sense of tradition across all aspects of the Lange manufacture is quite evident — and it is what makes A. Lange, A. Lange, at least for me.  Like many of A. Lange’s watches, this new Saxonia Dual Time watch seems flawless in every way.  Clean, uncluttered dial with meticulously placed markings and lettering, a modest case size (40mm), and of course impeccable finishing.  The watch is perfectly traditional in every way.

Likewise the functionality of the watch is elegantly simple and intuitive – the hour hand (made of solid-gold) that indicates local time can be incremented or decremented in one-hour steps.  This is done simply by pushing one of the two push pieces located at 8 and 10 o’clock in the left-hand case flank. When the upper push piece is pressed once, the hour hand advances by one hour. When the lower one is actuated, the hour hand jumps anti-clockwise, again in one-hour steps.

A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Dual Time (Ref 385.026)

40mm white gold case (a pink gold model is also available)

note the use of color on the 24hr subdial to indicate AM vs. PM

How about you?  Are you a fan of this watch?  A fan of A. Lange in general?  Feel free to leave a comment!