Following Adagio and Soprano, Christophe Claret presents his latest musical masterpiece, Allegro. A master watchmaker with 25 years of experience, Christophe Claret has combined the finest horological complications in Allegro: a minute repeater with cathedral gongs, GMT, big date, small seconds and a day/night indicator. These features are all found in a completely redesigned movement featuring a unique regulator that was designed and manufactured in-house. The 45 mm round case harmoniously blends either 5N red gold or 5N white gold with grade 5 titanium treated with anthracite PVD. An opening in the sapphire dial reveals the striking mechanism. The transparent dial allows the wearer to marvel at the movement’s architecture, featuring Charles X style skeletonized, stepped bridges. With this new timepiece, the conductor of this musical horological orchestra from Le Locle proves he is at the zenith of his art.
Posts filed under Other Brands
Video: Baselworld 2015 Jaquet Droz Lady 8 Flower.
This year at Baselworld 2015, just like every other year, the brand wowed everyone with several watches featuring automatons. As you all know, Jaquet Droz's history was marked by his creation of automatons in the 18th century. In 1774, he successfully completed three humanoid automatons —The Writer, The Draughtsman and The Musician— that were presented in La Chaux-de-Fonds and a year later in France to Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the MB&F Melchior L'Epée 1839 Table Clock. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Last year at Baselworld 2014, MB&F surprised everyone with its Starfleet Machine table clock in partnership with legendary clock maker L'Epée 1839 as we featured it here. This year at Baselworld 2015, in order to commemorate their 10th anniversary, Max Büsser and friends —MB&F— presented a new super cool table clock that looks like a robot out of a sci-fi scene named Melchior. Additionally, the Geneva-based Horological lab will present a number of Anniversary Pieces during the year, under the theme: ”A creative adult is a child who survived”.
Melchior, created with L’Epée 1839 is an impressive kinetic robot which may remind you of your childhood dreams, but also happens to be an impeccably finished, 480-component mechanical table clock with five barrels and a steel and brass armour. Fitted with articulated arms —the right one packing a rocket launcher and the left a Gatling gun that serves as the clock key winder—, jumping hours, sweeping minutes, double retrograde seconds and a 40-day power reserve this clock is a true tribute to refined, classic clock and watchmaking.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Jaquet Droz Lady 8 Flower. Live Pictures, Video and Pricing.
This year at Baselworld 2015, just like every other year, the brand wowed everyone with several watches featuring automatons. As you all know, Jaquet Droz's history was marked by his creation of automatons in the 18th century. In 1774, he successfully completed three humanoid automatons —The Writer, The Draughtsman and The Musician— that were presented in La Chaux-de-Fonds and a year later in France to Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. This year, we were surprised with three amazing timepieces —fitted with automatons— from Jaquet Droz and here's one of them, we are talking about the new Jaquet Droz Lady 8 Flower.
This remarkable timepiece featuring Jaquet Droz's iconic figure-eight shaped case, is available in 18K white gold —8 pieces— or 18K red gold —28 pieces. The 18K white gold reference we have here, comes with a snow-set diamond dial totaling 0.65 carats, an 18K white gold butterfly applique with 54 blue sapphires totaling 0.87 carats and a surprising automaton underneath the domed glass on the top part of the figure-eight with a flower that opens and closes on demand.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Linde Werdelin SpidoLite Gold and SpidoLite Titanium. Live Pictures and Pricing.
This year at Baselworld 2015, Linde Werdelin didn't go as far as it did last year when it released the Oktopus MoonLite with a very special alloy called ALW, instead, this year Linde Werdelin decided to continue to capitalize on skeletonization of their movements and dials to enhance the look of their SpidoLite collection. This year, two new watches were unveiled, the SpidoLite Gold and the SpidoLite Titanium. Both watches in a limited edition of 75 pieces each, show remarkable skeletonization and ultra cool design. While the look of these two new watches is remarkable, one thing that we do need to point out —and we've said this before—, is that the sapphire crystals still don't come to with anti-reflective coating to improve readability and eliminate that unwanted glare that doesn't allow one to fully appreciate the skeletonized dials. Linde Werdelin, one more time, please add the AR coating to the crystals and either you soften the sharp edges of the crown guards or increase the crown size a bit so it's easier to pull out and operate.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Deadbeat. Live Pictures and Pricing.
A masterpiece of watchmaking precision, a Deadbeat Seconds timepiece is a very rare complication that takes some of the most skilled horologists to make. Long forgotten and mostly used by brands like Arnold & Son, the Deadbeat —Dead Seconds a.k.a. Seconde Morte— has now been rediscovered by Jaquet Droz and released at Baselworld 2015 in the new Grande Seconde Deadbeat. For those of you wondering what a Deadbeat seconds mechanical timepiece is, it is very simple. A Deadbeat timepiece is one in which the seconds hand advances by jumping second by second —ticking as in a quartz powered watch—, rather than by sweeping around the dial. The new Jaquet Droz Grande Seconde Deadbeat ref. J008033200 is fitted with an elegant 18K red gold case measuring 43 mm in diameter and a rolled edge alligator black strap with matching pin buckle.
Baselworld 2015: Bremont Jaguar E-Type MKI and MKII. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Continuing with their partnership, Jaguar and Bremont are solidifying their long-term partnership by releasing two new E-Type Bremont Jaguar watches, we are talking about the MKI and the MKII. While the MKI is a non-chrono, the MKII is a beautifully executed 30-minute chronograph. While we have never been the biggest fans of the brand, we can tell you that we absolutely love these two new watches and these pieces could easily turn us in the opposite direction. In working to capture the E-Type’s essence in a wrist watch, Jaguar’s Director of Design Ian Callum and the creative team at Bremont homed-in on another of Jaguar's signature features —the dashboard. While E-Types were typically fitted with Smiths instruments on their dashboard, Bremont captured the look of the speedometer and tachometer on these iconic vehicles, just remarkably. These watches are both dedicated to the road-going Jaguar E-Type which at its 1961 launch was not only the fastest production car in the world but, according to Enzo Ferrari, the most beautiful.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the New Angelus U10 Tourbillon Lumière. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Two weeks ago we brought you the news regarding the rebirth of the Angelus manufacture, which has now been revived by Manufacture La Joux-Perret. The latter, spent four years developing the next generation of visionary timepieces and here's the first one of them. May we now present you this hands-on review with some of the first live pictures on any other watch website of the new Angelus U10 Tourbillon Lumière. Boasting a radically deconstructed movement, the U10 Tourbillon Lumière features hours, minutes, dead beat seconds and a one-minute flying tourbillon, plus a 90-hour linear power reserve indicator on the case profile. The clean, modernist displays pay tribute to Angelus’ acclaimed travel clocks as well as taking cues from iconic industrial designs and designers of the 1960s and ‘70s. Powering the U10 Tourbillon Lumière is an innovative, finely finished, in-house calibre complete with oversized one-minute flying tourbillon, which is offset from the movement. Visible from five sides in its own sapphire crystal showcase, the circular ballet of the tourbillon is on full display. The generously-proportioned —62.75 mm x 38 mm x 15 mm— case, which took over two years to develop, features no fewer than seven sapphire crystals. All the crystals are bevelled, polished and subtly protrude from the case, creating expressive tridimensionality.
News: Legendary Angelus S.A. Manufacture is Back. Dormant for 30 Years and Rising High Like a Phoenix.
After lying dormant for more than 30 years, Angelus has now been revived by Manufacture La Joux-Perret, which has spent four years developing the next generation of visionary timepieces. The Angelus’ manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds is just a stone’s throw from where the Stolz brothers established their original manufacture. Dating back nearly 125 years, Angelus has been one of the most influential horological manufactures of the last century. Connoisseurs of high-end watchmaking have universally hailed Angelus' pioneering, in-house developed movements and timepieces, which continue to be coveted by collectors all over the world. Angelus was founded in 1891 by the brothers Albert and Gustav Stolz with the establishment of the Angelus watchmaking manufacture in Le Locle, Switzerland. Over the past century, Angelus forged a fine reputation for creating exceptional chronograph and multi-complication wristwatches, multi-display travel clocks with long power reserves, and alarm watches.
Pre-Baselworld 2015: Introducing the Frederique Constant and Alpina Swiss Horological Smartwatches. Finally Someone Had to Do It Right.
Finally, what everyone was expecting in the watch industry. The new Frederique Constant and Alpina Horological Smartwatches are 'wearable' smartwatches that you won't be ashamed of wearing and you will want to wear. There's no need to forfeit Swiss craftsmanship and a good decent looking timepiece, no more. Frederique Constant and Alpina are really setting the tune for what the future of Smartwatches should be like by launching two new timepieces that you really would care about wearing, instead of strapping the ridiculously looking Apple Watch. The two companies lead by Peter Stas are building the bridge between Silicon Valley and the Swiss Watch Industry by launching two Swiss Made timepieces powered by MotionX. These new watches are capable of bi-directional communication with iPhone and Android apps and are referred to as Horological Smartwatches.
Insider: Breva Genève Génie 03 Speedmeter. A Timepiece with an Anemometer and a Micro-Rotor.
Breva Genève is now very well known for creating timepieces that include some sort of mechanical function that revolves around the earth's elements. While their first watch included an actual mechanical barometer with a weather forecasting station on the wrist, their second timepiece included a mechanical altimeter. This time, Breva Genève presents a watch that includes an anemometer that pops up right on top of the watch dial. Named the Génie 03 Speedmeter —Speedometer as it is also referred to on their website—, this new mechanical timepiece is far from conventional, but not necessarily the most functional or even applicable to every day life events. While prior to the appearance of this timepiece, watches could only calculate speed by using a tachymetric scale, Breva Gèneve tries to make a statement with a timepiece that claims to provide an accurate speed reading in what they refer to as 'real-time'. Now, not sure how real time works when driving or flying in an enclosed vehicle or when the measurement is influenced by wind speed around you but we'll talk about that as we continue with our hands-on review.
Insider: Linde Werdelin Oktopus Double Date Carbon Green. One of the Most Unique Carbon Cases.
Today, we bring you these live pictures under natural light of the Linde Werdelin Oktopus Double Date Carbon Green, a sporty and refreshing take on the Oktopus dive watch. Featuring champagne gold detailing, it revitalizes the Linde Werdelin collection of revolutionary diving timepieces for an active lifestyle. A numbered limited series of just 88 pieces has been individually crafted using 3DTP —Three-Dimensional Thin Ply—, the first ever carbon technology conceived for Swiss watchmaking, engineered to sculpt the iconic and angular Oktopus case by layering thin layers of carbon into a mold to give the finished product it's ultra-unique appearance with those horizontal lines, just like the rings inside a tree trunk. While the finish is somewhat similar to that of the new Panerai Luminor Submersible 1950 CarboTech reviewed here, the layering on this particular case is just very unique and quite different.
News: Pre-Baselworld 2015 Linde Werdelin Presents the Oktopus Double Date Carbon Green. A Limited Edition of 88 Pieces.
Today, Linde Werdelin presents to you the Oktopus Double Date Carbon Green, a sporty and refreshing take on the Oktopus dive watch. Featuring champagne gold detailing, it revitalizes the Linde Werdelin collection of revolutionary diving timepieces for an active lifestyle. A numbered limited series of just 88 pieces has been individually crafted using 3DTP™ —Three-Dimensional Thin Ply—, the first ever carbon technology conceived for Swiss watchmaking, engineered to sculpt the iconic and angular Oktopus case by layering thin layers of carbon into a mold to give the finished product it's ultra-unique appearance with those horizontal lines, just like the rings inside a tree trunk.
Insider: F.P. Journe Chronomètre Souverain Boutique Edition. The Watch that Made Us Break a Promise.
They say that one of the principles of good journalism is to be objective and neutral about what or who you write about. Considering the circumstances between the brand F.P. Journe and our publication, we will do our best to keep this post as objective and neutral as possible. Sometimes, no matter how nice you are to people and how hard you work, you still run into arrogant executives in the watch industry that disrespect you or that think that because they work for a very special brand, you as a watch publication are obliged to take their attitude and still write about their watches.
Back in 2013 during the SIAR, we promised the F.P. Journe brand that we would never write about them as long as we owned this website. Today, we are breaking this promise just to pamper a very close and dear friend of ours that recently acquired the only F.P. Journe Chronomètre Souverain Boutique Edition ref. CS that has made it to the American continent. Not only our friend wanted for us to do a special review of this special timepiece that he now owns, but we also felt that this watch is well worth talking about.
Insider: Linde Werdelin SpidoLite II Titanium Red. Stunning Craftsmanship with Great Design.
Even though most of you are very familiar with Linde Werdelin, we will share some background information about this amazing manufacture for those watchlifestylers that are still not quite familiar with it.
Linde Werdelin was founded eleven years ago in 2002 by two fine Danish gentlemen. The name comes from its founders Morten Linde and Jorn Werdelin. Since its conception, Linde Werdelin has focused on creating some of the most unique and fascinating timepieces with very avant-garde Danish design and fully Swiss made.
Linde Werdelin also produces digital instruments for skiing —the Rock— and diving —the Reef— that can be clipped to the top of their mechanical watches. Their watches are designed to carry the Reef or the Rock and they are made in very limited quantities making them super exclusive.
News: Presenting the Jaquet Droz Bird Repeater Openwork. The Manufacture Does it Again with a Half a Million USD Timepiece.
In 2012, The Bird Repeater featured two blue tits and their young birds close to the heart of the company’s founder Pierre Jaquet-Droz. This remarkable model reaffirmed the virtuoso expertise of Jaquet Droz, passed down from the 18th century and realized here in miniature. The following year, The Charming Bird watch marked the brand’s 275th anniversary with a new interpretation of the bird in an ultra-modern decorative setting and this time singing.
Now, the story continues with a previously unseen version of The Bird Repeater in a more streamlined, contemporary-looking model that has nonetheless retained intact the animated features that made it a success: a duo of blue tit birds feeding their fledglings, the spreading wings, the tumbling waterfall and the hatching egg.
Photo Gallery: Carl F. Bucherer Manero Tourbillon Limited Edition. Only 188 Pieces of Pure Beauty.
The Carl F. Bucherer Manero Tourbillon ref. 00.10918.03.33.01 is definitely one of the most beautiful and well balanced point of entry level tourbillons in the market. While this watch is not fitted with a fully in-house calibre, its 35 jewel manual wound movement with tourbillon —calibre CFB T1001— is exceptionally finished and equipped with a nice 70-hour power reserve indicator, 24-hour indicator and peripheral date indicator. Fitted with a nicely finished 18K rose gold case and with a black sunburst or silvery white dial, this limited edition timepiece delivers in terms of design, craftsmanship and looks.
Insider: Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Green. A Watch With a Forged Carbon Outer Case at its Finest.
Earlier this year at Baselworld 2014, Linde Werdelin released three novelties —we have already reviewed the SpidoSpeed RoseGold Black here and the Oktopus MoonLite here. This time we are presenting you our in-depth review of the third novelty presented by Linde Werdelin. We are talking about the SpidoSpeed Green that showcases skeletonization not only throughout the outer case as with previous iterations in the Spido family, but also into the dial and movement.
The new Linde Werdelin SpidoSpeed Green is fitted with a stylish black forged carbon outer case measuring 44 mm x 46 mm x 15mm that is complimented by other smaller details making this timepiece truly unique. Frankly, after perusing this watch, we can say that the quality of the forged carbon outer case is almost at the level of forged carbon cases from Audemars Piguet which is known as the pioneer and master of forged carbon application in the watch industry.
News: Presenting the New Maîtres du Temps Chapter Two Classique. Celebrating its 5th Anniversary.
On the occasion of the 5th Anniversary of the launch of the Chapter Two Original, Maîtres du Temps - Atelier d’Horlogerie is proud to present the new Chapter Two Classique in red gold and white gold. This new model underlines even stronger the architectural aspect of the collection through its Art Deco inspired dial on which the bold indices majestically indicate the hours. The Chapter Two collection features an instantaneous triple calendar displayed in large format thanks to the innovative high precision cylinders that in fact makes it the most legible mechanical calendar wristwatch in the world. Its outstanding movement is imbedded in a shaped case that expresses the strength and character of this collection.
Insider: JEANRICHARD Terrascope Aluminum. A Fun Timepiece in the Three Primary Colors.
The JEANRICHARD Terrascope ref. 60500-10-702-FK4A released earlier this year during Baselworld 2014, is as colorful as any luxurious timepiece gets. This is not a bumble bee, nor a volcano —perhaps some of the most colorful timepieces out there—, this is a beautifully finished timepiece that might be perceived as too loud and bright by a few, but for others quite fun and unique looking. The new JEANRICHARD Terrascope Aluminum features an ultra colorful aluminum case —not as light as many would imagine weighing 108 grams— in blue, red and green measuring 44 mm in diameter with the unmistakeable vertical satin brushed finish of the JEANRICHARD collections. Literally, a perfect interpretation of the three primary colors, all rounded up by a beautiful white dial with blued applied markers with orange luminescent material and a blue rubber strap.
