Baselworld 2013…

Drawing on its extensive in-house watchmaking expertise, Hublot today unveiled “La Ferrari”, a boasting among many features a world record power reserve for a hand-wound vertical tourbillon wristwatch — 50-day power reserve, thanks to a whopping 11 barrels!!!  It is also the watch with the most watchmaking components created to date by Hublot, with 637. The watch is wound with a drill-like device that plugs into the top of the watch.  It’s a crazy watch, totally over the top.
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Baselworld 2013…

One year on from the launch of the “Tribute to the Antikythera Mechanism” at the Archaeological Museum of Athens, Hublot presents the “Antikythera SunMoon” watch, featuring highly precise Sun and Moon indications.  This will be produced in a limited edition of 20 pieces, featuring a simplified and miniaturised version of the original mechanism, in honour of this masterpiece of antiquity.  Hublot views the recreation of the Antikythera Mechanism as an important contribution to the history of time and this is basically a tribute piece in furtherance of that.  This is a very complex mechanism and I’m not going to get into the particulars right now (I’ll post some background info below).

In short, the movement contains 295 components and 7 complications (compared to 495 components and 14 functions for the Hublot calibre exhibited at the Museum of Athens).  All of the indications are found on the dial side.

The Antikythera SunMoon includes both a solar and a lunar calendar, as well as an indication showing the sidereal position of the Sun and the Moon. This means that, as well as being able to read the time (hours and minutes), the wearer of this watch can ascertain, for a given day and with extreme accuracy, the phase of the Moon, or more specifically its shape in the sky, the name of the constellation behind the Moon and the time required for the Moon to pass through a constellation. For the same day, the watch shows the constellation located behind the Sun and indicates the time required for the Sun to pass through a constellation. The piece is completed by a flying tourbillon (without ball bearing) which rotates once every minute toindicate the seconds, with the hours and minutes shown by traditional hands at the centre of the movement on the dial side.

Antikythera Mechanism Background

The Antikythera mechanism is one of the most mysterious objects in the history of civilisation. Discovered in Greek waters in 1901, it is considered the first “astronomical calculator” in the history of humanity, and dates back to the 2nd century BC(sometime between 150 and 100 BC.).

On the 5th April 2012, all of the original remains of the ship, the treasure and the Antikythera Mechanism were brought together in a single exhibition at the prestigious National Archaeological Museum of Athens, and unveiled in the presence of the Greek Minister for Culture. It was a significant event for the international archaeological and scientific communities. Among the objects being exhibited was the “Tribute to the Antikythera Mechanism” watch, a complex horological movement developed by Hublot as a tribute to the first “astronomical calculator” in the history of humanity, and probably dating back to the 2nd century BC. It was the first time that a watchmaking manufacture had had its work exhibited in a museum.

Hublot only produced four movements, each an exact miniature replica of the original mechanism: The first is on display at the Musée des Arts et Métiers (Museum of Arts and Crafts) in Paris, the second at the National Museum of Athens and the third is held by Hublot in recognition of the craftsmanship and ingenuity of its own engineers and watchmakers.  The fourth will be sold at a unique auction in 2014.

Breitling for Bentley celebrates ten years in partnership with three new chronographs equipped with in-house calibers.  The Bentley B06 is distinguished by its exclusive “30-second chronograph” system; the Bentley B04 GMT and Bentley B05 Unitime models have dual timezone and worldtime mechanisms, respectively.  If you want to see a close-up of any of them, drop a comment below and I’ll provide more high-res images.

Breitling for Bentley B04 GMT, B05 Unitime, B06 Chronograph

(pictured left to right)

all 49mm case (steel or red gold offered)

Baselworld 2013…

Swizz Beatz on hand, Hublot announced today at Baselworld that it has teamed up with Monster, the world leader in high-performance personal audio, to release a range of noise cancelling headphones known as Inspiration™ Hublot.   The lightweight, rock-solid black and carbon fiber Inspiration™ Hublot over-ear headphones will be available this summer at Hublot boutiques and fine retailers worldwide.  It looks like matching watches will be available.  This is not the first time Hublot has extended its brand into other consumer products.  They have done bicycles, skis and other random consumer goods.  I’m generally not a fan of watch brands trying to extend their brands into non-watch products, but this one seems at least halfway sensible.

The question is, will Hublot athlete ambassadors who are know for wearing Beats by Dre make the switch?  (Beats by Dre products were manufactured under exclusive license by Monster Cable since 2009, but Beats by Dre now manufactures all of its own products and it has always been a separate company).

ABOUT MONSTER

Monster was founded over 30 years ago by Head Monster Noel Lee, who was recently honored with the prestigious Plus X Award®: Lifetime Achievement Award, as a company dedicated to creating products that enhance the sound quality of music. The company engineered the sound of the acclaimed Beats by Dr. Dre® headphones, and has become the world’s leading manufacturer of high-performance, sonically superior headphones, all of which feature the company’s Pure Monster Sound™. Monster is also the world’s leading manufacturer of advanced connectivity solutions for high-performance home entertainment, audio, home cinema, computer and gaming as well as a leading innovator in the field of mobile accessories and professional audio. The company also provides high-performance AC power line conditioning and protection products for audio/video systems, as well as energy-saving power products. Monster continues to lead in innovation with over 300 U.S. and international patents and dozens pending, offering more than 4,000 products in over 134 countries worldwide.

Baselworld 2013…

Titanium Case Ceramic Bezel

Unveiled today by Hublot, these are nicely refined versions of the Big Bang, now featuring all the best of features rolled out by Hublot over recent years — including the in-house UNICO chronograph caliber, first introduced in 2010.  I’ll walk through the design subtleties (yes those round chrono pushers are a first), below.
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Baselworld 2013…

This is one of Hublot’s “specialty” pieces for 2013.  With Hublot now in the driver’s seat as sponsor of the Tour Auto race, Audemars Piguet fans must step aside for this year’s Tour Auto watch has the “H” on it.  I am glad Hublot used the Classic Fusion, it fits with the nature of the Tour Auto race (as compared to a King Power or Big Bang).  The racing stripes look great, and the carryover to the finely perforated strap is an excellent touch.  Good job Hublot.

Click through for more looks at the Tour Auto 2013 Sponsor Watch

 Baselworld 2013…

As part of Tudor’s partnership as official timing partner for Ducati, the latest addition to the Fastrider collection is the Black Shield.  The Black Shield has a stealthy-looking injected matte black ceramic case, with nice red appliques and lettering on the dial.  This is Tudor’s first “all ceramic” watch — it is monobloc injection ceramic construction; this includes the bezel (i.e. it is part of the case, not a separately created piece).

Powered by the Tudor calibre 7753 (based on an ETA 7753), the in-house automatic movement offers full chronograph functionality as well as a rapid date corrector.  It comes on a rubber or leather strap.  The crown and chrono pushers are in PVD finished steel.  Notice also the red chapter ring which sits just inside the bezel.

A tan-accented model is also available.

Baselworld 2013…

TechnoMarine’s new Steel Evolution Carbon is a nice fusion of carbon, steel and silicone (strap).  The 45mm steel case is covered with carbon fiber and has a raw, masculine look to it.  It’s a certifiably cool piece, and for under $1,000 bucks ($950).  Though with this comes what I would call a couple of “tradeoffs”, namely a quartz movement (Ronda) and also carbon “look-alike” insert in the strap.    Haute horlogerie, no, but I do like TechnoMarine and find its product offering to be youthful, hip, & edgy rolled into one — there’s a place in my wallet for watches such as this.

Shop it now if you want>>>

Baselworld 2013…

Another nice new — and simple — piece from Arnold & Son.  The case is 40mm rose gold; the dial has a wavy guilloché pattern overlaid by translucent deep blue lacquer.

And as with every new A&S model comes a new caliber — the HMS1 Royal Blue houses the hand-wound A&S1001 calibre with two barrels and 80 hrs power reserve, nicely finished including hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and blued screws.

Is it just me or have “skull” watches carved out a permanent design niche in watchmaking?  Many a brand has done one — Bell & Ross comes to mind, as does Richard Mille very recently.  This one-of-a-kind piece from Finnish independent Sarpanava, however, takes it to the next level.  In a twist on his moon face, this Woodoo piece will give you chills up the spine.  Or maybe without the lead-in photos of Stepan Sarpaneva, it’s not so scary.

Check them out at http://www.sarpanevawatches.com/en/home.php