Since I first learned about Clerc a few years ago I’ve been a fan of the brand.  I’ve reviewed a couple of the Geneva-based brand’s watches over the years (Hydroscaph Titanium 1000m and one soon to be published), and I’ve always been impressed with their quality and strong identity code.  Last week I finally had a chance to meet the man behind the brand, the fourth generation family man carrying on the Clerc legacy, Mr. Gerald Clerc.  Team Clerc was most generous to sit down with me and discuss their 2013 pieces.  Being a small brand, Clerc does not release a lot of new models, maybe one per year.
Click through for more photos and video

Views from Baselworld 2013…

For my Hublot friend in Canada, especially for you, enjoy.

As an aside, the “quick change” push-button strap system Hublot has developed is beyond compare.  Really impressive.

Baselworld 2013…

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the first diving piece, Blancpain this year presents the new Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaph.  Created in 1953, the Fifty Fathoms by Blancpain has become among the most famous diver’s watches.  The vintage-inspired Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe presented in a 2013 includes men’s and women’s versions.  This is a very distinct and great looking watch, with some excellent strap pairings, and a ceramic bezel with graduated scale in Liquidmetal® (a high-tech metal that first popped up in the Omega SMPO in 2009, but has also been used in Breguet and now Blancpain — all Swatch Group brands).
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First Look…Baselworld 2013 preview…

Here’s your first look at a great looking new piece from Omega, the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean GMT.  A perfect addition to the Planet Ocean lineup.  As you can see from the bezel and dial it is a GMT watch, though the as noted by Omega this piece will carry the GoodPlanet name, an ocean conservation group that Omega has worked with since 2011.   The watch has a 43.5mm steel case, 600 m water resistance, made with the Omega co-axial caliber 8605 with Silicon balance spring, and available on bracelet and rubber strap.
Click through for more looks and details on the new SMPO GMT

Baselworld 2013 preview…

Gerald Clerc of his namesake brand Clerc Geneve is set to introduce a new model in his Hydroscaphe collection, the H1 Chronometer.  The watch has a very nice color set, with brushed steel case, deep blue matte dial and fluorescent yellow accents.  What I like even more are the 3-dimensional, faceted hour-markers on the dial (see closeup below).  The watch will utilize Clerc’s exclusive case design and construction (81+ parts) and thus retain the core DNA of prior Hyrdoscaphe models.   Gerald does not introduce a lot of new models, but when he does he makes them count – the Hydroscaphe H1 will retail for $5,900 on rubber (I love their finely-lined rubber strap) and $6,300 on alligator strap, which I think is compelling for such a distinctive and well made watch.  I will be meeting with Gerald next month at Baselworld and will be sure to share a hands-on look as soon as I have it.

 CLERC Hydroscaphe H1 Chronometer

43.80 mm steel case (48mm including lateral protectors), water resistant to 500m, 4.0 mm glare-proofed sapphire crystal, automatic mechanical, COSC-certified with Côtes de Genève motif and blue screws (exhibition caseback), on vulcanized rubber or louisiana alligator strap with folding clasp

Dial: hours, mins, seconds, 3D superluminova applique markers. Tri-Date window at 3 o’clock

http://www.clercwatches.com

Any Perpetuelle readers who will be at Baselworld are cordially invited to set an appointment to meet!

The Vulcain watch manufacturer was founded in 1858 and is the inventor of the alarm complication for wristwatches.  This innovation made the Vulcain watches popular with, among others, American presidents starting with Harry S. Truman, and thus the brand also has a reputation as “The Watch for Presidents”.   This year Vulcain is re-issuing a Nautical Cricket watch from 1970; this model looks largely faithful to the 1970 model — right down to the hesalite crystal and the famous Cricket caliber.  We’ll take a closer look below, including a little bonus for you collectors out there — I’ve located one of the originals for sale (details below). Read the rest of this entry »

Panerai’s introduction of the bronze PAM 382 in 2011 sparked a wave of new interest in bronze-cased watches.  Panerai itself even decided to roll out Act II in 2013, introducing the bronze PAM 507 at SIHH earlier this year.  For those of you who want your own a patina-ready piece, but don’t like Panerai or simply prefer something different or more affordable, here are a few interesting choices to consider, in order of lowest to highest price.
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Baselworld 2013 preview…

Maurice Lacroix will be introducing this very nice Pontos S Diver in 2013.  It is one of two new models to join the brand’s Pontos collection along with some design tweaks to existing Chronograph and Day/Date models.  The watch  has a vintage touch while also being respectably spec’d for a dive watch at 600m.
Click through for a closer look at this new Dive Watch

In early January I discussed in some detail the new Linde Werdelin Oktopus II watches.  As a reminder, these pieces have the first complication entirely conceived, developed and produced in-house by Linde Werdelin — a nice milestone for the young brand.  Here now I am simply sharing some actual photos of the watch, courtesy of Linde Werdelin.  You can revisit my original article on the Linde Werdelin Oktopus II Moon here. Or check it out on LW’s website, here.

The Oktopus II Moon currently comes in 2 versions, Rose Gold Titanium in 12 pieces and Titanium Black DLC in 47 pieces, each available worldwide from March 2013.
Click through for some pics of the LW Okto II Moon

Recently I had a chance to spend some time with the LIMES Endurance Leviathan.   Below is my review and several photos from my hands-on experience with the watch.

In short, I found the LIMES Endurance Leviathan to be an excellent — and reasonably priced — wrist companion.  What I like most about the Leviathan is its “no nonsense” design — it is a very functional watch with excellent day and night-time visibility.   The brand is based in Germany, and no doubt this watch has great German sensibility in its DNA.  The Endurance Leviathan would make a great diving companion (300m), or for someone like me (not a diver, but an avid outdoorsman), a great daily wearer.  Thus I recommend the LIMES Leviathan for anyone who is looking for a hefty, dive-style watch in the $1,500 – $2,000 price range.  You can purchase this watch direct from LIMES in Germany, here is the website>>>

Hope you enjoy the review, and if you have any thoughts feel free to drop a comment below.
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