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IWC Pilot’s watch Saint Exupery is an honorary celebration of aviation icon Antoine de Saint-Exupéry marking his first inspirational flight a century ago. IWC’s declaration making 2012 the year of Pilot’s Watches is well in keeping with this sixth special edition timepiece.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, aviator and author, became enthralled with aviation at the ripe age of 12 at an airfield known as the aerodrome of Ambérieu. A little white lie boarded him passage onto a W2 plane with two rounds around the field which ultimately ignited Saint-Exupery lifetime passion for aviation. IWC’s inspired Saint Exupery watch celebrates and rekindles his passion with its classic design and styling.

Saint Exupery takes flight in a stunning finely contoured 18-carat red gold case, impressive polished silky-matte finishes and a tobacco colored sun-reflective pattern dial, classically stated chronograph sub-dials along with a distinguished brown colored calfskin strap with definitive cream-colored quilted stitching which identifies this chronograph as a typical “Saint Ex”. The sapphire crystal has anti-reflective coating on both sides and is carefully sealed against drops in air pressure. The caseback exhibits a fine etching of the last plane Saint-Exupéry flew, the Lightning P-38, which lead to his demise on July 31, 1994.

Technical Attributes and Features of the Saint Exupery:

o Sixth tribute watch to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Pilot’s Watch Chronograph, with mechanical chronograph movement
o Case is 43 mm 18-carat red gold (15.5 mm thickness), tobacco-colored dial, brown calfskin strap with cream-colored quilted stitching
o Crystal is a convex sapphire with antireflective coating on both sides, water-resistant up to 6 bars
o Date display contained in second chronograph sub-dial located at 6 o’clock
o Stopwatch function with hours, minutes and seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock
o Hour and minute counters combined in a totalizer located at 12 o’clock
o Flyback function
o Screw-in crown
o Glass secured against displacement by drop in air pressure
o Limited edition of 500 watches in 18-carat red gold
o Movement: IWCs’ signature Calibre 89361, with frequency of 28,000 A/h 4 Hz, and 38 jewels
o Impressive Power reserve of 68 hours with automatic winding

IWC and Antoine de Saint- Exupéry heirs have been collaborating on watch designs commemorating his remarkable achievement since 2006. Saint- Exupéry was well known for his published work “The Little Prince,” the best known French story in the world. IWC Saint Exupery watch encompasses and celebrates the 100th year of his first flight with its very design and classic appeal. Each of the well structured elements, finishes and touches committed to Saint Exupery watch design exhibits IWC’s meticulous craftsmanship which enhances its overall appeal.

While this is IWCs sixth special edition timepiece honoring Saint-Exupery it is also a limited edition of 500 watches meant to entice aviation connoisseurs desiring a watch that embodies a century of aviation splendor. It is a phenomenal watch meant for phenomenal connoisseurs.

From:Luxury Watches That Impress Review Blog

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Last friday night, we invited you, our dear friends and readers, to join us up at the Park Avenue Armory to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.  The setting was inside the spectacular exhibition combining fine watchmaking with both traditional and digital art from some of the world’s most creative thinkers (which we previewed in video here).

Over 150 HODINKEE readers came to view the exhibition over the three hour event, we have to say, we couldn’t be more pleased with how things turned out.  The chance for you, real watch lovers, to be in the same room as over 100 haute horology timepieces from one of the top manufactures in the world (including Gerald Genta’s personal Royal Oak, and Guy Laliberte’s unique grand complication that went into space) was really something special.  Also, to be able to talk to senior executives at Audemars Piguet, including Olivier Audemars (who can been seen in several pictures below), head of design Octavio Garcia, and North American CEO Francois-Henry Bennahmias made for an incredible, personal look into a great brand and the people that make it so special.

We want to thank each HODINKEE reader who made it to our special event on Friday and send a sincere thank you to everyone at Audemars Piguet for allowing us to celebrate such an important milestone in your history together. 

Above we have prepared a short video recap of the night, and below, several photographs (see if you can find yourself!).

See you very soon.

- Ben & the HODINKEE team

From:HODINKEE

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On Jan. 26, Raymond Weil continued their support of the music industry by holding a celebrity dinner in London in preparation for the upcoming, Raymond Weil-sponsored 2012 BRIT Awards.

The pre-BRIT Awards dinner was held at the Mosaica restaurant at The Factory in Wood Green (northern London) and was attended by 80 celebrities, among them past BRIT Awards winners, prominent British music talent and Raymond Weil Director Pierre Bernheim. The dinner was hosted by music producer, singer and songwriter Labrinth, know for his collaborations with English rapper Tinie Tempah (also in attendance) and his upcoming album “Electronic Earth”. Many of the celebrities in attendance are nominated for the upcoming 2012 BRIT Awards: Ed Sheeran (best British male solo artist and others), Emeli Sandé (best British breakthrough act) and Rizzle Kicks (best British single). Pierre Bernheim, grandson of Raymond Weil, said of the dinner, “We were delighted to team up with Labrinth, one of the most exciting musicians in the UK, to host the first Raymond Weil Pre-BRIT Awards Dinner this year.” Other music celebrities in attendence at the dinner included Plan B, Wretch 32, Alexandra Burke, Chipmunk and Misha B.

Raymond Weil Director Pierre Bernheim and Labrinth at the pre-BRIT Awards celebrity dinner.

Although Raymond Weil is in its fifth year of sponsoring the BRIT Awards, this was their first pre-awards dinner. The BRIT Awards, comparable to the American Grammy Awards, are the annual pop music awards of the British Phonographic Industry, a non-profit trade association comprised of hundreds of recording companies. The awards ceremony will be held on Feb. 21 and will celebrate the achievements of British and international musicians in 2011. As the Official Watch and Timing partner of the BRIT Awards, Raymond Weil Genève traditionally releases a special edition watch to commemorate each year of its support. This year, Raymond Weil released the 2012 Raymond Weil BRIT Awards Timepiece earlier this January, featuring an automatic chronograph movement, stainless steel case and Union Jack detail.

Music industry celebrity guests Alexandra Burke and Plan B with host Labrinth.

Raymond Weil has a long-standing history of supporting the music industry. Raymond Weil recently entered into a partnership with VH1′s Save the Music Foundation to support education for the arts. Of their own 2011 music industry experience, Bernheim says, “We have had an exceptional year, having supported the likes of Emeli Sandé, Wretch 32, Labrinth, Tinie Tepah and Olly Murs to name just a few and have developed some key support platforms for talent to show their worth to the entire world.”

Raymond Weil Genève is an independent Swiss watchmaker founded by Raymond Weil in 1976 and run by two successive generations of Weil’s family. Family owned and operated, Raymond Weil produces unique timepieces known for their style and craftsmanship. The 2012 Brit Awards will be held at 8pm on Feb. 21 and will be broadcast live on ITV1.

From:Luxury Watches That Impress Review Blog

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Luxury Bedat Watches

Bedat celebrated its 2011 collection. on December 9th, 2011 at Starhill Gallery in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The celebration at Starhill Gallery is an annual event at Asia’s biggest luxury watch and jewelry fair, with royalty, social leaders, celebrities and members of the press all present. The event included a project called the ‘Women of Caliber 2011,’ a pictorial project in celebration of women and of Bedat’s philosophy and identity as a Swiss luxury watchmaker that creates watches specially for women.

Bedat at the same time also announced the launch of its very first App for the iPhone to enhance the lifestyle of users.

The Bedat watch company was founded on October 8 1996 in Switzerland by Christian and his mother Simone Bedat. They presented their first collection of watches in 1997. In 2000 the Gucci Group acquired 85% of Bedat and incorporated the company within Gucci Group Watches. The founders departed in 2006 at which time the Gucci Group owned 100% of the company. In 2007, the company celebrated its 10 year anniversary by launching a Bedat and Company Confidential Concierge service. In 2009, the Bedat Company was acquired by Luxury Concepts, a company established in 2005 by a team of watch enthusiast who focus on introducing and managing highly specialized watch and jewelry brands to East Asia.

Bedat names its watches by numbers rather than names for a number of reasons:

• To differentiate the company from other watch companies.
• Calling the watches by numbers also represents a unique phenomenon within the watch business and gives the watch lines a definite form of cohesion.
• The numbers are easier to remember than names.
• Numbers are universal.
• The numbers are also easily pronounceable in any language.

The collection numbers include listed below:

• No 1
• No 2
• No 3
• No 7
• No 8

The company has offices in Switzerland, Malaysia, Japan and Hong Kong.

From:Luxury Watches That Impress Review Blog

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Omega has announced the newest version in their series of James Bond branded watches. This Seamaster celebrates the 50th anniversary of of the 007 films. Based on the “Bond” style Seamaster 300 M platform, these anniversary editions feature either 41 or 36.25 mm stainless steel cases and ceramic bezels which have had the 50 minute marker dressed up in red.

The dial features a less-than-subtle 007 design repeated across its surface and a date window at three o’clock. This COSC certified model is powered by the Omega 2507 automatic Co-Axial movement with a special rotor featuring a design that looks like a bullet. As this is a Seamaster, the predictable 300m water resistance and a manual (crown operated) helium escape valve are still present.

With the next Bond film, Skyfall, slated for a 2012 release it is of little surprise that Omega would produce another Bond watch. It is however, a little surprising that Omega chose the 300m Seamaster design as the current Bond (Daniel Craig) has been outfitted with a Planet Ocean in the last two films.

Luckily, if you want to commemorate 50 years of James Bond with a limited edition Omega, you shouldn’t have too much trouble tracking one of these down. Omega will produce 11,007 of the 41 mm version and 3,007 of the 36.25mm version which is definitely a large run for a limited edition. Ultimately, I am only a casual James Bond viewer and not likely the target group for such a watch made for collectors and Bond franchise fanatics. With Skyfall hitting theaters this year, what watch do you think Bond will be wearing? We expect to see Bond sporting a new 8500 based Planet Ocean but let us know your guess in the comments.

From:WatchReport.com

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Chanel's new Première Flying Tourbillon Watch

Twenty-five years is no drop in the bucket; it is longer than many friendships, marriages and business ventures could even hope to last. Twenty-five years is a big deal for the watchmakers at high fashion empire Chanel, since it has been just that long since their first watch, the Première, was created. In celebration, Chanel– with help from team members from another renowned watch company– has created a stunning new addition to their watch collection with the Première Flying Tourbillon Watch.

Chanel has always been a big name in women’s fashion, so it is appropriate that such an important creation for the brand would be a women’s watch. The  Première Flying Tourbillon marries Chanel’s signature elegance with tech-nerd technology by bringing the flying tourbillon on board. The very special mechanism is showcased with a certain discreet flair just beneath a diamond-encrusted camellia motif, a loving reference to Coco Chanel’s love of the flower. The flower’s petals indicate the seconds.

The watch’s shape is feminine and geometric, an aspect that calls back, perhaps intentionally, to the watch it share its name with. The  Première was heavily inspired by Chanel’s fragrance line, specifically the unique octagonal design of the Chanel No. 5 bottle stoppers.

A tourbillon is an addition to the mechanics of a watch escapement that functions to reduce the effects of gravity on a watch when it is placed in certain positions. Tourbillons do this by placing the escapement and balance wheel in a rotating cage. Flying tourbillons are more complex mechanisms but only supported on one side instead of from the top and bottom, as other tourbillons are.

Chanel has used tourbillons in their watches in the past, including the very first on a J12 model in 2005. The Première Flying Tourbillon is the result of a team effort with Swiss master-watchmakers, engineers and manufacturers Renaud & Papi (APRP SA), who are part of the research and development team at luxury watch brand Audemars Piguet.

Chanel’s Première Flying Tourbillon watch will be released in a limited edition run of only 20 pieces. Each individual watch will be handcrafted, a labor of love that is estimated to take 23 hours of setting and 100 hours of assembly to complete. A timeless, high quality piece like this one is sure to turn into a precious heirloom.

From:Luxury Watches That Impress Review Blog

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Written by: Lisa Pearson

Parisian luxury watchmaker Breguet was established in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet. The Breguet company is one of the eldest watch making institutions who are still in business and also pioneered numerous advances in the production of watches. The most notable technology invented by Breguet is the tourbillon which is an addition to the mechanics of a watch escapement.

Historically, Breguet garnered attention and praise by royalty such as Queen Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI; although countless distinguished individuals donned a Breguet timepiece in their time. Louis XVI was known to commission the watchmaker to create several timepieces. According to historical legend, a secret admirer of Marie Antoinette commissioned Breguet to make a timepiece with every possible watch function available at the time to be created for her.

Unfortunately, the piece was finished 34 years after Marie Antoinette passed on thus the piece was never presented to her.  The piece did go on to become Breguet’s magnum opus, the Marie Antoinette; however, Breguet was not partial to Marie Antoinette. The Queen of Naples Caroline Murat was also a “preferred customer” of Breguet.

Marie Antoinette and the famed Grande Complication pocket watch she never got to see

Breguet was acquired by the Swatch Group in 1976 and their timepieces are now made in Vallée de Joux, Switzerland as a result. The acquisition did not change Breguet’s trailblazing yet classic timepieces. They continued to create classic watches with both modern and vintage looks along with their innovative watch making technology.

Notably, in January 2012 Breguet is honoring the Queen of Naples with an exposition convened in Geneva’s Cité du Temps as well as the 200^th anniversary of their first wristwatch. The exhibit will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the creation of the first wristwatch in horological history along with the 10^th anniversary of their Reine de Naples ladies’ watch collection which is in honor of Caroline Murat, the Queen of Naples.

The Breguet Reine de Naples watch

The Reine de Naples watch collection is an assortment of fashionale women’s watches that emulate the design of the first watch made for a queen, namely the Queen of Naples. The timepiece can be considered wearable art with its oval shape, subtle yet enchanting details, and various dials and accents. One can truly envision these pieces being worn by royalty and can appreciate all of the workmanship that went into creating each part of the watch.

The Breguet exhibition which will be running January 16^th-February 12^th, 2012, is said to coincide with the SIHH, the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie, which is an exclusive fine watch event held in Geneva, Switzerland.

From:Luxury Watches That Impress Review Blog

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Written by: Mike Demertzis

Panerai is hosting a tribute to Galileo with the unveiling of new collections which are celebrating the famed astronomers scientific contributions and his impact on modern timepieces.

On November 2nd 2011, luxury watch manufacturer Officine Panerai hosted “Time and Space: A look back at the Clockwork Universe” at the famed Explorers Club in Manhattan, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Galileo discovering the four largest moons of Jupiter. Rafael Alvarez, president of Panerai’s North American Operations co hosted the event which included explorers, astronauts and some of the world’s leading astronomers. On display were three of the most unique timepieces Panerai has created, the L’ Astronomo, Lo Scienziato and a planetarium clock entitled Jupiterium. Panerai was offered 2 million euros for the Jupiterium but decided to donate the clock to the Museum of Science which has recently been reopened as Museo Galileo after two years of extensive remodeling. Panerai representatives intimated that the decision to not sell the clock was due to its creation being a showmanship of their watchmaking talent. All of these magnificent timepieces will also be on display at The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva which opens on January 16th 2012.

Officine Panerai's 'Jupiterium'

News for the brand continues with the creation of the 3000P, which features a new hand wound movement in a sleek 5.3mm case. It has a three day power reserve, 21 jewels with over 20 thousand alterations per hour. The construction is solid with a large brush finished bridge that covers the mechanical parts of the watch. This calibre was created in direct response to the Asian markets incline toward compact movements.

Earlier in the year Mr. Panerai launched an exhibition “Time and Space: A tribute to Galileo Galilei” that is currently traveling throughout Italy honoring the astronomers great achievements. The exhibit features more than 100 vintage Panerai timepieces in addition to tools and instruments used during the evolution of mechanical watch manufacturing. This comprehensive exhibit will be appreciated by Panerai fans and horology aficionados, since it includes a rare collection of timepieces that were created in the 1930s by Panerai, when he was the official supplier for the Italian Navy. In an opening ceremony Angelo Bonati, CEO of Panerai Italy said ‘This successful exhibition is also celebrating Officine Panerai’s honored past and the brands bold step into the future.’ He also announced plans to open 20 new boutiques in the region within the next few years.

From:Luxury Watches That Impress Review Blog

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Written by: Mike Demertzis
After 35 years and worldwide expansion with his luxury watch line Raymond Weil is taking his passion for music to a different level by creating a charity and partnership that will support the VH1 Save The Music Foundation.

Although applauded by many, it was not a big surprise when earlier this year Raymond Weil announced he was launching a charity that would directly support the ‘VH1 Save The Music Foundation.’ VH1 with it’s continued quest to restore music enrichment programs that allow children to pursue an education augmented by the benefits of musical instruction, along with Raymond Weil’s internationally renowned support of the arts and presence in music, makes this the perfect partnership. The Director of Global Marketing and grandson of Raymond Weil, Elie Bernheim, said “Music has always been at the heart of my family, and we are proud to support an organization that selflessly devotes its resources to ensure that music education continues.”

Raymond Weil and Bernheim family members

Raymond Weil will be in Los Angeles September 22nd 2011, to support the VH1 ‘Save The Music Foundation’ by launching a sales promotion with a portion of the proceeds going to the organization. VH1 will co-host the event with a cocktail reception and has invited Grammy Award Winner Colbie Caillat to perform some of her hit songs. Raymond Weil also launched a new app on the company ‘Facebook’ page that allows the user to contribute by pressing the “Donate Now” tab. He pledged to personally add $ 1 for every donation that is made this way until the initial goal of 30k is reached.

Nabucco Inverso Chronograph

It is easy to see the musical influence that is responsible for Raymond Weil timepieces. His newest creation in 2011 the “Nabucco Inverso” that pays homage to Giuseppe Verdi’s famous opera, is an elegant chronograph that impresses with design and sophistication. It is a 46mm chronograph that houses an automatic winding, 46 hour power reserve, in a sanded titanium and steel polished case. It sports 27 rubies and is water resistant to 20 atmospheres. Although designing this chronograph with other notable attributes the ingenious replacement of the 12 with a Roman numeral counterpart conveys a grandeur rarely seen in any timepiece.

Since creating his own ‘brand’ in 1976 Raymond Weil has been on a steady march around the world, which he attributes to keeping the company a family affair. A feat that stands unique in a market of competitors mostly owned by corporations.

From:Luxury Watches That Impress Review Blog

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Written by: Holly Troupe

Hublot's King Power Dwyane Wade Watch

Dwyane Wade, the seven time NBA all-star guard for the Miami Heat, joined Hublot for the grand opening of the new Hublot Bal Harbour Boutique. The occasion also marked the U. S. Debut of the new limited edition King Power Dwyane Wade watch, of which only 500 are to be issued. The gala event, which took place at Club 50 in Miami’s Viceroy Hotel, also boasted the attendance of numerous Hublot fancying celebrities including Gabrielle Union and DJ Khaled.

Hublot’s partnership with basketball star Dwyane Wade has opened up the brand’s appeal to a new market, since prior to Wade’s ambassadorship, Hublot’s major sporting association was yachting. “I’m excited to launch my new King Power Dwyane Wade Hublot watch,” said Wade. “Fashion is important to me and I have truly enjoyed collaborating on the design of my watch. The elements reflect my personal style and love of basketball.”

The boutique is a marvel of modernism and classic style, its construction a luxurious tribute to the brand’s “Art of Fusion” philosophy. Exemplifying this elegant aesthetic is the lounge area that has been incorporated into the boutique lobby, thereby providing guests with a relaxing atmosphere in which to view the timepieces. “The space truly reflects the brand’s DNA through its design and combination of innovation and tradition,” said Hublot Managing Director Ricardo Guadalupe. “But working with Dwyane Wade on the limited edition watch and the boutique’s opening is the crème de la crème. The partnership truly embodies Hublot’s vision of fusion.”

Basketball star and Hublot Ambassador, Dwyane Wade

The King Power Dwyane Wade watch features a 48mm black micro-blasted ceramic case with Wade’s number “3” on the watch face. The watch strap incorporates red and black netting, a subtle tribute to the game Wade nobly represents both in color (the watch has elements of black, white and red, the colors of the Miami Heat jersey) and form. While the design is a nod to the sport of basketball, it in no way permeates the aesthetic, which makes it ideal for a multitude of fashionable applications. Says Wade, “The people in Miami, they need to see this watch”

A portion of the sales of the watch are to be donated to Wade’s charity, Wade’s World Foundation, an organization that aids community initiatives in the promotion of education, athletics, healthy lifestyles and social skills to at-risk youth. According to Beatrice De Quervain, Hublot USA Director, “Dwyane is such a wonderful personality and such a great star. He has the same values and objectives in life that we have as a brand; that is not only about the success but that if you have a lot of success it is important to give back.”

From:Luxury Watches That Impress Review BlogLuxury Watches That Impress Review Blog – Men’s And Women’s Luxury Watch Review

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