Congratulations are in order…

As I’ve said before, starting a new watch brand is no easy undertaking.  I think this is particularly true for a luxury brand, where competition is intense and the requirements for capital and talent are enormous.  Thus my congratulations to Ateliers deMonaco for turning “1″ year-old this month.

Early readers of this blog know that I have been following the brand since its inception.  In fact, I was the first — and for awhile, the only blogger to write about Ateliers deMonaco.   Witness:  May 28, 2009 — Made In Monaco: A New, Independent Luxury Watchmaker Arrives — in my inaugural article about the brand, I said this:

“Now this is a brand with great promise.  Not “Swiss Made” but “Made in Monaco”!

One year later, I retain my appreciation and enthusiasm for Ateliers deMonaco.   I wish everyone at deMonaco all the best and many more Happy Birthday’s!

By the way, if you want to see just the kind of company this brand now keeps, have a look at the pics from its first anniversray party (hint:  H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was there to receive a very special Ateliers deMonaco watch).

I first brought Ateliers deMonaco to your attention in May (Made In Monaco: A New, Independent Luxury Watchmaker Arrives) as “a brand with great promise.”  The brand’s first release, the Carré d’Or, was manufactured with a patented tourbillon, a Jochen Benziger-engraved gold rotor, silicum escape wheel, and a sculpted sapphire tourbillon bridge.  And this was just a partial list of the many wonderful features of the first watch from the new brand.

Now, Ateliers de Monaco has announced Grand Tourbillon XP Carré d’Or in White Gold.  The press photos released by the company are impressive.  The white gold case and matching titanium-tinted dial of the Grand Tourbillon XP Carré d’Or make for a wonderful visual combination (much moreso than the original Carré d’Or, in my view) .  And if you look closely (see photo below) – courtesy of the see-through sapphire bridge – you can see a harmonious visual combination of the tourbillon, the blue silicum escape wheel, and the back of the engraved solid gold rotor and the  blue screws .

Only 18 pieces will be made, so it is an exclusive timepiece for sure, and the price will likely be well into the 5-digit range.  If this is not exclusive enough for your tastes (and checkbook), you can always bid on the one-of-a-kind watch that the brand has donated to the upcoming “Only Watch” event!  I look forward to more from Ateliers deMonaco.

Ateliers deMonaco Makes a Grand Entrance

Now this is a brand with great promise.  Not “Swiss Made” but “Made in Monaco”!  Let me just tick off a few of the fantastic elements of the brand’s new Carré d’Or watch:  A patented tourbillon.  Masterfully sculpted sapphire (yes, sapphire) tourbillon bridge.  A hand Jochen Benzinger engraved, bi-colored 18K solid gold rotor.  Silicum escape wheel and lever. 33 part case with titanium core.  Impressed yet?  Believe me there’s more!

I’ve been aware of this brand for several weeks now, meaning to write about it but always delaying, and I am actually quite surprised to have seen next to nothing about this new and exciting brand from any of the other blogs or watch sites that I visit.  Where’s the love?  Anyway, here’s a look at the watch:

Stay tuned for more. Or browse for yourelf at http://ateliers-demonaco.com