Hublot Bode Bang Watch - 2010 New Watch

Hublot's partnership with the American skier Bode Miller is being sealed today with the launch of the "Bode Bang" in New York, in the presence of the legendary champion of the skiing world.

The bad boy of skiing, and world champion in all disciplines in 2008, now has a Big Bang named after him! The partnership between the watchmaking brand and Bode Miller came about when the skier visited the manufacture's workshops for a photo shoot for the Kjus catalogue. Fascinated by the know-how and meticulousness of the watchmakers, he set out to craft his own watch. His meeting with Jean-Claude Biver, the CEO of Hublot, led to an immediate mutual understanding. Both passionate, direct men with an expressive and unconventional manner of speech, they quickly found a host of shared values. The talented, feisty and determined skier, and the inventive, exceptionally energetic boss both demonstrate great generosity through their involvement in supporting humanitarian causes. The creation of the Bode Bang presented today is the fruit of this bond: together, they decided to divert some of the watch's royalties to the Turtle Ridge Foundation, founded by Bode Miller and his family in 2005 to share his success with those less fortunate in life, an ambition equally dear to Jean-Claude Biver and Bode Miller.

“BODE BANG” technical specifications

Case :“Big Bang” diameter 44.5 mm in sandblasted black ceramic

Bezel: Sandblasted black ceramic with 6 H-shaped steel black PVD screws, sunken, polished and blocked

Crystal :Sapphire with anti-reflection treatment and Bode Miller’s signature at 9 o’clock

Bezel lug :Black composite resin

Lateral inserts :Black composite resin

Back :Sandblasted black ceramic with sapphire crystal

Crown :Steel black PVD, with natural black rubber insert

Push-pieces :Steel black PVD, rectangular, with natural black rubber insert

Water-resistance :100 m or 10 ATM

Dial :White with black nickel applique indices and numerals

Hands :Faceted matt black

Movement :HUB4100 Mechanical chronograph with automatic winding

Calendar :Trapezoid aperture at 4.30, white background, shiny black numeral

Power Reserve :42 hours

Strap :Adjustable black rubber with clasp in steel black PVD

Clasp :Steel black PVD

Limited Edition 250 numbered pieces 01/250 – 250/250

Omega De Ville 4-Counters Co-Axial Chronograph watch - new model

Omega has some proposals for gifts which will last well beyond this Valentine’s Day. And the next. And the one after that. And the one after that.

The De Ville 4-Counters Co-Axial Chronograph with its four sub-dials dramatically spread across the face of the watch. In a staggered row, from left to right, they feature the small seconds, a seven-day counter, the 12-hour counter and the 30-minute counter. Just above the centre of the watch is a window which shows the day of the week. Like the Ladies’ De Ville Co-Axial Chronograph, this COSC-certified chronometer is at once sporty and elegant.

Make this Valentine’s Day one to remember with an OMEGA De Ville Co-Axial Chronograph. It will still be expressing your feelings next Valentine’s Day (we can’t say the same about the flowers and the chocolate).

It has a exclusive Omega calibre 3890,self-winding chronograph movement,33 jewels,28,800 vib/h,power reserve to 52 hours,the case is crafted from stainless steel,measuring 41.00 mm in diameter.Water resistant up to: 100 m (330 ft).Domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides.Brushed screw-in caseback stamped with God Chronos medallion.

The grey dial with black subdials,applied brushed 18Ct gold, date window, subdial top numerals (60 – 7 – 12 – 3) and index (no Super-LumiNova),chrono 12-hour & 7-day recording to view upside down,transferred red “REC” in the 3 chrono subdials,transferred “Co-Axial Chronometer” in 9H subdial,brushed faceted 18Ct gold hour-minute hands,white Super-LumiNova,brushed 18Ct gold chronograph subdial and skeletonised small-seconds hands,brushed rhodium-plated central chronograph hand; red tip.

Brushed-polished 9-row stainless steel bracelet (Omega patented screw-and-pin system) with safety butterfly clasp incrusted with polished 18Ct red gold.

Auction - Hublot & Depeche Mode - In Aid Of Teenage Cancer Trust

Depeche Mode and Hublot launch the auction of the most exclusive collector’s pieces in the history of Rock and Roll with all proceeds donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Bidding begins February 8th and terminates February 24th Twelve unique timepieces bearing the album artwork of Depeche Mode’s legendary studio albums will be sold via an online auction with all proceeds from the sale going to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

On February 17th Depeche Mode will open the 10th season of concerts organised by the charity Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) at the Royal Albert Hall in London with The Horrors announced as their special guests.

On this occasion, and in support of this cause, Depeche Mode and Hublot have joined forces to produce twelve exclusive boxed sets. In side these exquisitely designed presentation boxes, fans of Depeche Mode will find a treasure chest of exclusive materials chosen by the band.

Each box contains:

- A deluxe vinyl version of the album

- A USB Key containing a digital edition of the album and documentary about the making of the album

- An original album artwork print and a framed gold CD.

- In addition each box will boast a photograph signed by all members of the group who contributed to the album including Vince Clarke and Alan Wilder.

Together, Geneva based auction house Patrizzi & Co and Liveauctioneers.com have graciously donated both their time and energy to this noble cause, in providing the most secure state of the art, online auction system coupled with an unparalleled global auction service and expertise.

All proceeds from this unique auction, which closes on February 24th will be donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust on February 26th at the penultimate concert of Depeche Mode’s ‘Sounds of The Universe Tour’ in Dusseldorf.

For more information about the Teenage Cancer Trust, visit the website http://www.depechemode.com/.

Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 4: Ups State Of World's Most Complex Watch

Another year and another "world's most complicated watch." Also the 4th in the coveted Franck Muller Aeternitas watch series of high complex watches that are either amazing looking or ludicrous looking - depending on how you see it. The financially troubled brand is putting the finishing touches on this limited series (of no specific disclosed amount) watch (even though the first of them was already finished and presented to an American watch collector recently at a dinner). Inside are a whopping 36 complications! I am not going to list them all here, but you can consult with the image in the gallery below for a spec sheet of the various functions that it has. 25 of the 36 complications are visible on the dial. Franck Muller is surprisingly brief on the details. We don't know materials or size of the watch yet. I would imagine that it is on the larger side though. The movement has 1,483 parts to it! Wow, talk about complex and fragile. The watch took 5 years to design.

Some functions include, but are not limited to, a monopusher split-second chronograph (no idea how that is done with one button), a 1000 year calendar, very accurate equation of time (between solar and clock time), complex sonnerie chiming functions, multiple timezones, moon phase indicator, and of course, more. The obvious competitor to the Aeternitas Mega 4 watch is the recently released Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie watch. While the Hybris Mechanica only has 25 complications, it is arguably more pleasing to the eyes. Plus, for a bit less price you get three watches and a fancy safe.

The Franck Muller Aeternitas 4 watch is the high horology equivalent of a fancy Texas Instruments graphing calculator. Sure it does a lot and it gets us mechanical nerds excited, but it isn't going to get you any action from the ladies (but sharing with them the price tag of $2.7 million might).

Chinese New Year holiday, stop writing blog for half a month, i will return to work on February 22.

Happy Chinese New Year !

Omega Constellation Baguette Watch

Funny how so recently I was discussing my perception that the new style Omega Constellation watches are the brand's flagship models for women, and now I get to discuss the Constellation line's flagship model. This uber-luxury timepiece not only proves my theory about Omega's high hopes for the Constellation watches, but is also probably one of the most (if not the most) luxurious jewelry pieces from Omega that has ever been made.

Omega muses that because each diamond in the watch is hand selected and cut for the piece, if a diamond would require replacement, the process would take as long as making an entire new watch as a stone would need to be selected to make a new watch. This is the Omega Constellation Baguette watch for ladies, and I am not sure if there is going to be more than one of them (only one has been made so far). The watch is in 18k white gold and has 459 very large Wesselton diamonds all over it - from the dial to the case, and all over the bracelet. The stones have what is called an "invisible mount," which makes their settings not visible. This makes them look all put together very neatly and closely. The watch contains all baguette and trapeze cut diamonds. There is also a small mother-of-pearl disc behind the star shape on the dial.

Inside the watch is an Omega Caliber 8421 automatic Co-Axial escapement mechanical movement. A lovely piece in a sick, ultra excess sort of way, the watch has over 30 carats of diamonds on it. Price? Well if you have to ask don't even bother taking out your wallet.

Hublot Gold King Power Tourbillon GMT Watch

Hublot strikes hard with a less-than-innovative, but still satisfying large Big Bang watch with a host of luxury features. First is the new type of gold alloy used for most of the case called "King Gold." It is basically what looks to be rose gold with less rose in it. Think of it as a hint of white gold as it has 5% platinum in it. Interesting that Hublot is not the only brand this year to make up a new gold. A. Lange & Sohne have released their Honey Gold alloy as well.

The Hublot Gold King Power Tourbillon GMT is also the first watch to have a tourbillon as well as a second timezone and retrograde date indicator. Does this really feel innovative? Again, no - but you do have "technical" bragging rights. The case is large at 48mm wide in King Gold, titanium, ceramic, composite resin, and rubber. The dial has a nice look in theory, but a lot of it likely gets lost as the tones as similar. Meaning the watch is not super easy to read. Still, it looks pretty sharp, and that is what Hublot watches of this caliber are going for. In The dial is a mix of a real dial with hour indicators on it and the exposed movement. You have a view of the tourbillon as well as some of the major gears that power the watch. Price will of course be expensive by this is part of a limited edition of just 28 pieces. Hublot collectors are getting giddy as I speak. More details closer to release at Baselworld 2010 in March. It might sound as though I am speaking both negatively and positively at the same time out the watch - this is true. I am irritated that Hublot does not need to try hard anymore to have nice watches, but am happy that they have such a winning formula.

Omega Central Tourbillon Co-Axial Platinum Limited Edition Watch

In a time when ultra expensive watches aren't doing as well as well-designed moderately priced ones, it is funny to see Omega release a clearly expensive limited edition tourbillon watch in platinum. But with only 18 pieces their motive isn't likely profit here, but street cred. There is a growing tendency among mainstream level luxury watch brands to assert themselves technologically. Meaning, prove that they have what it takes to build very complex modern watches, with the hopes that this conceptual perception will seep its way into consumer's minds who wish to purchase everything from a Speedmaster to a Seamaster. Yes of course it is true that the movements in those watches came way before this the new Omega manually wound Calibre 2636 in this Central Tourbillon Co-Axial Platinum watch, but we are talking "perception" not necessarily reality.

The whole techno point of this new Omega tourbillon watch is to have a centrally mounted tourbillon. As you can see it is placed in the middle of the watch dial. This hasn't been done before in just such a manner, but there are other watches that could claim to have centrally mounted tourbillons - such as the new Thomas Prescher Mysterious Automatic Double Axis Tourbillon watch (square case though). What Omega can claim is that everything here is centrally mounted (sort of). Because there is no place for the hands to be mounted in the middle of the watch, they are actually printed on sapphire discs that move around the dial. This gives it a "mysterious" look meaning you can't easily see how the hands are attached to anything.

Each tourbillon carriage is hand made meaning it is a bit different from the last. A master watch maker dedicates 100s of hours to making each one. You can see the seconds hand placed over the 60 second tourbillon as it doubles as a seconds counter. In Omega fashion, this tourbillon is certified as a Chronometer (for accuracy) making it a bit unique among tourbillon watches. Aside from the tourbillon you have a nice open dial showing you the movement. The platinum case is De Ville style (from that current watch line) and is matched to an Alligator strap. The watch isn't the most attractive novelty I have seen lately, but is probably pretty impressive in person. Surely Omega will find 18 collectors who "gotta have it." Not sure about price, but it won't be affordable.

Richard Mille RM011 Black Chronopassion

The Richard Mille RM011 Black Chronopassion Limited to 30 examples

Titanium case

DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) felipe massa chronogrpah flyback caliber RM 011-S

Skeletonized automatic winding movement with adjustable rotor geometry offering hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph, 60-minute countdown timer, 12-hour totalizer, oversize date, month.

Dimensions : Length 50 mm x 40 mm (widest point) x 16.15 mm (thickest area).

Flyback chronograph

By using the pusher between 4 and 5 o’clock, the running chronograph can be reset without first having to stop the mechanism. This was originally developed for pilots, in order not to lose time (and therefore accuracy) from stopping, resetting and starting the chronograph whilst traversing a navigational point.

Annular calendar

Automatic adjustment for months of 30 or 31 days