Altanus will be releasing this quartz chronograph with slide rule bezel at Baseworld next week. I was really surprised when I saw the price on this one. It looks like a great entry-level watch.A sporty model guaranteed to make an impact has now been added to Altanus’ emblematic Elite collection. The generously-sized case features a very contemporary bezel and pushpieces, offering a perfect setting for the animated dial. An extremely dynamic ensemble that is given impressive depth by the slide rule on the flange.

Technical Specifications

Movement
ISA quartz, 8171/202 calibre

Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph and slide rule (km and miles)

Case
Satin-finished steel, 46 mm
Toothed steel pushpieces, bezel and crown or with rings matching the dial
Sapphire crystal
Screw-down back
Water-resistant to 100 m

Dial
White, black or blue
Luminescent hands and hourmarkers
Counters matching the slide rule on the flange

Bracelet/Strap
Satin-finished steel with polished interior links and double safety buckle

Retail $500

Source: Altanus

Complimenting the newer Ulysse Nardin men’s collection of Classico watches, they have released a lady’s version. This one has a diamond and jewel created exotic bird. It is supposed to be emotional, but I am not sure it is more than just a bit gaudy. In addition to the jewels the dial is made from a complex to make enamel. The 35mm wide case is in 18k white gold. While the design of the dial is a bit blase for me, I can’t deny the jewelry-like effort involved in producing it. what I do like is the shape of the lugs and the crown with a ring of sapphires around it. The blue of the sapphires and the enamel melds nicely with blue alligator use for the strap (starting to get more popular these days).

Inside this ladies watch is an automatic movement with a decorated 22k gold rotor. It is visible though the caseback sapphire crystal, and is likely more impressive to see than the watch dial itself. All of the parts are in the right place and I am sure that with the next version Ulysse Nardin will supply the Classico Lady watch with more impressive dial imagery.

Source : Luxist

Now that the Rusted Steel T-Oxy II has become a collector’s item, its 2,012 pieces all sold and production of this limited series ended, Romain Jerome has decided to launch a new timepiece that is even more unconventional. The Titanic-DNA T-Oxy IV Ultimate Rust, with its stabilized rusted bezel, represents the last possible stage of oxidisation before the steel decomposes. Adepts of the T-Oxy concept will not fail to see this particular model as the most gripping interpretation of all. Edition limited to 500 watches.

TECHNICAL DATAS

Movement     Self-winding, exclusive C22RJ51 Concepto calibre by Jacquet
Functions     Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Case     Matt (18K) 5N pink gold, 46 mm
Bezel in oxidised stabilised steel, T-Oxy IV Ultimate Rust concept
Double-sided anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Engraved medallion on back
Water-resistant to 50 m
Dial     Black, using vaporisation of coal from the holds of the Titanic
Small seconds and date at 9 o’clock
Bracelet/Strap     Rubber or full-skin Hornback crocodile leather, with 18K pink gold folding clasp

Source: SwissTime

I have not confirmed the details on this new Chanel timepiece, the J12 Retrograde Mysterieuse. But apparently Giulio Papi (of AP Reaud & Papi) headed the team that created this unique watch to celebrate the anniversary of Chanel’s iconic J12 collection. The resulting limited edition timepiece is surely the most desirable J12 watch ever.

And most complicated. The case is made of ceramic (a signature of the J12 collection), but the open-worked dial, tourbillon and retractable vertical crown are the standout features of this watch.

Source : baseworld

As a limited edition of just 36 pieces (18 of each version) Swiss Alpina will release this new Extreme Tourbillon Regulator Manufacture watch. What exactly is extreme about it? No idea. Perhaps use of the term “extreme” is extreme. Though I do know this watch stems from a long line of “extreme” Alpina watches. Unique in the world of tourbillon movements are regulator watches, which this timepiece is. This is all part of Alpina’s own caliber AL-980 automatic tourbillon movement. It has got a silicium lever and escapement wheel in the movement – if that doesn’t mean anything to you, don’t worry. Though those are good talking points for a luxury watch. The watch will come in two versions. Each has a 48mm wide case.

One comes with a brushed titanium case and a pink gold bezel, and the other with a black ceramic bezel and a pink gold case. On the dial you get the large minute style hour markers and skeletonized ‘bubble baton’ hands in brushed steel for an intended sporty look. The simple style is one of those looks that appears best while being worn. In such a limited edition, pieces like this exist in a large sense to promote Alpina’s more reasonably priced timepieces.

In a deliberate departure from the traditional principles of horological design, the L.U.C Engine One Tourbillon houses an exceptional movement designed and made from A to Z at the Chopard Manufacture, machined like an engine block and mounted on silent blocks. To celebrate the brand’s 150th anniversary, this mechanical titanium thoroughbred has been produced in a limited series of 150.

Technical Specifications

Movement
Hand-wound, manufactory-made L.U.C 1TRM tourbillon calibre, COSC-certified, 29 jewels, 28,800 vib/h, mounted on silent blocks and held by 3 lever-arms inserted into the case middle, 60-hour power reserve

Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds and power reserve indicator

Case
Brushed/polished titanium, 44.4 x 35.4 mm
Anti-reflective sapphire crystal front and back
Screwed open back
Water-resistant to 50 m

Dial
Arabic numerals engraved under the crystal then dyed in black
Tourbillon cage and small seconds at 6 o’clock
Power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock

Bracelet/Strap
Hand-sewn black alligator with godroons, titanium buckle

Retail $50,000-150,000

Source: Chopard

My favorite Swarovski watch is back for 2010 and even sportier. I discussed the Octea watches here last year and was pleasantly impressed with the design. It was an interesting combo between women’s sport watches, and popular glass crystal maker. I commented that if they made a men’s version, I would probably wear it. As such, I think almost any woman interested in a sporty (and relatively affordable) watch would dig one of these. The case is in steel, 39mm wide, and has a series of crystals placed in it. Who’d a thought you’d ever see a rotating diver’s bezel with Swarovski crystals in it?

For 2010 the watch gets an orange redo. Mostly the same from last year, but now primed for even more action. I like how they kept the swan logo at the 12 o’clock indicator – but now it is in orange. It it wasn’t for all the faceted stones, I would say the watch more or less is a men’s design – but that is very trendy for women these days. Movement is a Swiss quartz, and it comes with a rubber strap or a metal bracelet. Both of these have inset faceted hematite stones that really give it a cool look. There is another swan logo placed in the crown as a cabochon. Really a cool women’s watch collection from Swarovski. Plus, the Octea Sport watches are all about $800 – $900 in price.

LINDE WERDELIN, the leading sports watches and attachable instruments manufacturer, is proud to present a new addition to the Oktopus family, the Oktopus Moonphase complication. Powered by a Frédéric Piguet movement (caliber 1150) and with a moonphase complication built by Danish-born Svend Andersen, this is a unique combination of design and craftsmanship, which depicts the moon phases with photorealistic luminous discs and gives a countdown to the next half or full moon.With a titanium case and a rose gold bezel and details on the dial, the new Oktopus Moonphase has been designed in a classic yet innovative way to show seven phases of the moon from new to half and full. The moon phases are entirely made out of Super LumiNova enhancing the effect and placed along 4 and 8 o’clock to maximize dial legibility.

Based on a Frédéric Piguet automatic movement, the complication is built on the date function to also provide a countdown to the next full moon, read on the moonphase dial. “This allows us to simplify a complicated function like the moonphase and make it easier for the user”, says Morten Linde creative director and co-founder of LW. While encompassing the same case dimensions as the rest of the Oktopus models, the Moonphase bears a sapphire crystal case back, which reveals the skillfully crafted Frédéric Piguet movement and the rotor bearing the AG and LW logos. It has been tested to withstand the pressure of 888 meters and the integrated helium escape valve at 9 o’clock ensures the watch endures the pressure during resurface time.

“Linde Werdelin’s launch of its first complication is an important step for us. We are very pleased to continue our collaboration with Svend Andersen and also start using a Frédéric Piguet movement for our watches” says Jorn Werdelin managing director and co-founder of LW.

On the decision to have the moonphase complication on a divers’ watch, Morten says, “moonlight creates the perfect conditions for after-hours sports activities and particularly diving. More and more people these days enjoy sports under the full moon. This is one of the reasons why we wanted to produce a moonphase complication for our diver’s watch. One can plan their next diving trip by checking when the next full moon is going to be, then clip the Reef for a safe dive.”

Limited to 29 pieces, connoting to the days before the next full moon, the Oktopus Moonphase will be available for deliveries in the fall 2010 on LindeWerdelin.com or from any LW authorized retailer.

Technical Specifications

Limited to 29 pieces

Size
46mm (w) by 49mm (l) by 14mm (h)

Movement
Automatic mechanical Frederic Piguet movement caliber 1150,
Linde Werdelin & Andersen Genève personalized oscillator
72 hour power reserve / 28 jewels / 28,800 bpm
Moonphase complication by Svend Andersen with luminous photorealistic moon phases and moonphase countdown, manually adjustable by second crown position

Case
Titanium grade 5, microbille finish
3.00mm screw on case-back with sapphire crystal
Rose gold unidirectional turning bezel with 10 minute markings & Super LumiNova
marker at 12 o’clock
3.8mm anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Screw in crown with LW logo
Helium escape valve at 9 o’clock

Dial
Black matt dial
Arabic numerals rose gold plated applied indexes with Super LumiNova

Hands
Rose gold plated, diamond cut rhodium plated with applied Super LumiNova

Water Resistance
888 m/2913 ft

Strap
Black alligator strap with titanium ardillon buckle

Retail $21,700

Source: Linde Werdelin

Last summer, the flight company easyJet, launched its first-ever easyJet Traveller Readers’ Awards, asking their passengers, to vote online for their favourite products, places and services across the network.Voters were absolutely free to enter their favorite brand, as there were no brands suggestions. 110’000 users took part to this award and the Swiss family firm Raymond Weil received the Award of the Best Watch Brand.

Raymond Weil is absolutely delighted to receive this Award from the easyJet passengers. It  is a significant recognition for the independant and family owned company and for all the partners and staff who largely contribute to the Brand’s international success.

This Award is the response to the strategy adopted in recent years, and which has brought Raymond Weil to become one of the leading brands in the watchmaking industry. Key factors in the firm’s success include the constant renewal of its product range, with the introduction of new, increasingly sophisticated mechanical timepieces (such as don giovanni così grande jumping hour); strengthening collections at the lower end of the price-range (like noemia, a feminine collection); a wider-reaching communications strategy; and the launch of the RW Club (the first club to be set up by a luxury watchmaking brand).

Source: Worldtempus

Oris will be launching this cool new military inspired and tested watch at Baselworld 2010. Not sure why it is so big, but it does look pretty rugged. And it is made of titanium, so at least it is fairly light.

The Col Moschin Italian Special Forces tested a vital tool on their challenging training missions: the Col Moschin Limited Edition from Oris. These elite troops wore this new instrument, with its ProDiver base, on their parachute jumps from 9,000 metres and their dives to 40 metres. And when tested on marches and missions in hostile territory, it successfully met every challenge. Anti-magnetic properties guarantee precision in the air, while water-resistance is ensured down to 1,000 metres. The patented “Rotation Safety System” provides an additional element of security under water, while the titanium case with its tungsten ring provides total resistance in all circumstances.