Having closely followed Ateliers deMonaco since its inception (May 2009: “Made in Monaco” seems so long ago, doesn’t it?!), I am pleased to give you this look at the fledgling brand’s latest creation — the Ateliers deMonaco Perpetual Calendar EZ.  As Ateliers deMonaco so perfectly puts it:  “If you are lucky enough to be the proud owner of a watch with a Perpetual Calendar complication, you also know that if you need to change any of the settings of your watch for whatever reason, this is a difficult and long process, and sometimes can even only be done in a watch ateliers.”  Yes, Yes and Yes.  I’ll tell you more after a first look at the watch:

Ateliers deMonaco Perpetual Calendar EZ

limited edition of 88 pieces – 43mm Titanium, Rose- or White-gold (pictured) case, finely decorated front and back

Indeed, setting a perpetual calendar is all too often an absurd undertaking — so Ateliers deMonaco is to be applauded for its innovative — and patent-worthy — simplification of the perpetual calendar function such that it can be done with a simple push and turn of the crown.  I absolutely love Atelier deMonaco’s ambition in going after this challenge.  Though my knowledge of Perpetual Calendars is not vast, I do believe that deMonaco has succeeded wonderfully in its mission to make easiest-to-adjust perpetual calender ever made.  As for overall readability, I do find the Roman numerals overlayed on the fan/sunburst pattern/texture a bit busy, and I wonder if the minute hand could be a bit longer — but to be fair I think I would have to see the watch in person to further assert my critique on these items.

Done with one (crown, that is)!

With one simple push on the crown you can change the function setting between time/date/ day/ week/month/year, and then a simple turn of the crown finishes the job.  Here’s a close up of the perpetual calendar functions (titanium case):

a view of the finely decorated movement:

Overall, I think that at a recommended price of 26,800 EUR, or about $37,000 USD, the Atelier deMonaco Perpetual Calendar EZ seems to be priced right and thus worthy of being added to the lineup of many a discerning watch collector.

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).

Many of you are eagerly awaiting the upcoming Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2010 in Geneva, better known as SIHH 2010, and of course your dedicated team here at Perpetuelle will be bringing you all the action on our SIHH 2010 forum so be sure to check in early and often!  But did you know that there is another equally exciting luxury watch event ocurring at the same time this year?  It is called the Geneva Time Exhibition.  Unlike the SIHH which is comprised mostly of well established, well known brands under the Richemont group umbrella, the Geneva Time Exhibition was created for independent watch brands.  In fact, there will be 38 watch brands at this year’s inaugural event!

I am quite excited for this event and the exposure that it will offer the many independent watchmakers who will be there.  In my experience, many of these smaller, independent brands lack the human and financial capital to “get the word out” about their brands.  This is a real challenge facing any independent watch brand because as we know marketing is key to the success of any watch brand, and so I really am excited that the organizers of the event, Florence Noël, Paola Orlando and Dominique Franchino of Time Exhibitions Sàrl, were able to bring it all together with such a large group of indepdenent brands.  Hopefully the visitors (be they retailers, distributors, individual watch enthusiasts or others) will now do their part and turn up as well to see what the event has to offer them!

Although I have received communications from some of the brands who will be at the Geneva Time Exhibition, I have not heard from many, and I have not seen much mention of this event on any of the many other watch blogs either.  Makes me wonder if they missed a crucial and low-cost opportunity to get the word out about their show!  This is understandable given that it is the first year for the event, but hopefully in future years they will be able to continue to broadent their outreach to the online watch blogs and communities such as Perpetuelle.com and others.  That said, Team Perpetuelle will do our best to share with you the many new watches unveileved at the inaugural Geneva Time Exhibition.

Some of the brands at this show you may have heard of – perhaps because I have written about them on here on this blog  (Linde Werdelin & Ateliers de Monaco just to name 2) or perhaps elseshwere.  But my guess is that most the brands you may be new to you, and my view on this is that it is always a fun prospect to learn about new and exciting brands so receive these brands with arms and eyes wide open!  Here is a snapshot of all the brands that will be on display and that you may be seeing and learning more about here on this blog in the weeks to come:

You can read and see more about the Geneva Time Exhibition here on their website.

]]> http://blog.perpetuelle.com/sihh/geneva-time-exhibition-2010-independent-watchmaker-showcase/feed/ 2 http://blog.perpetuelle.com/only-watch/ateliers-demonaco-grand-tourbillon-xp-carre-dor-in-white-gold/ http://blog.perpetuelle.com/only-watch/ateliers-demonaco-grand-tourbillon-xp-carre-dor-in-white-gold/#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:25:47 +0000 Kyle Stults http://blog.perpetuelle.com/?p=909 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.

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