Press Release: A. Lange & Söhne, 200 years of Ferdinand Adolph Lange

The 1815 “200th Anniversary F. A. Lange”

With a limited 200-watch edition of the 1815 in platinum with a black dial, A. Lange & Söhne salutes the founder of Saxon precision watchmaking who was born 200 years ago. The new 1815 “200th Anniversary F. A. Lange” in a limited edition of 200 watches stands out with purity and perfection. It is a horological monument created by A. Lange & Söhne to commemorate the anniversary of an eminent and charismatic founding father.

Each detail of the timeless design and artisanal immaculacy of the L051.1 manufacture calibre pays tribute to the great Saxon watchmaking pioneer. Apart from the threequarter plate made of untreated German silver, key hallmarks include the hand-engraved balance cock, the classic screw balance, the whiplash spring, the gold chatons that secure the bearing jewels, and the thermally blued screws. The serial number engravings on the case from 001/200 to 200/200 identify each watch as a proud exemplar of the anniversary edition.

The 40-millimetre platinum case and the black solid-silver dial emphasise the sleek elegance of this timepiece. With its three levels and the subsidiary seconds at six o’clock, the face is reminiscent of the legendary pocket watches crafted by Ferdinand Adolph Lange.

His objective, he wrote in 1843 to the Saxon government when he was 28, was “to imbue the watch itself with the great and important flawlessness and simplicity that originate from my considerations and diligence”. In the letter, he expounded on his plan to produce pocket watches in Saxony. This vision began to materialise two years later in his newly established manufactory. The former mining town of Glashütte had become a hub of fine watchmaking.

But before Lange laid the foundation for the global fame of A. Lange & Söhne with trailblazing chronographs and pocket watches with jumping seconds, remontoirs and quarter repeaters, he initially focused on the simple pocket watch. With continual design improvements, he achieved a superb degree of precision and reliability that buoyed his fledgling business. One good example is the three-quarter plate which evolved over

several stages until its final form was developed in 1864. It was responsible for the stability of Lange’s movements and defined the style of Saxon watchmaking.

The latest-generation A. Lange & Söhne wristwatches are also endowed with this prominent component, an inimitable style and design element that can be admired through the sapphire-crystal caseback. 

Movement:  Lange manufacture calibre L051.1; manually wound, crafted to the most exacting Lange quality standards, decorated and assembled by hand; precision-adjusted in five positions; plates and bridges made of untreated German silver; balance cock engraved by hand

Movement parts: 188

Jewels: 23

Screwed gold chatons: 5

Escapement: Lever escapement

Oscillator: Shock-resistant screw balance; Nivarox® balance spring* with a frequency 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour, precision beat adjustment system with lateral setscrew and whiplash spring

Power reserve: 55 hours when fully wound

Functions: Time indicated in hours, minutes and subsidiary seconds with stop seconds

Operating elements: Crown for winding the watch and setting the time

Case dimensions: Diameter: 40.0 millimetres; height: 8.8 millimetres

Movement dimensions: Diameter: 30.6 millimetres; height: 4.6 millimetres

Crystal and back: Sapphire crystal (Mohs hardness 9)

Case: Platinum

Dial: Solid silver, black

Hands: Rhodiumed gold

Strap: Hand-stitched alligator leather strap, black

Buckle: Platinum prong buckle

Limited edition: 200 watches, engraved 001/200…200/200

Press Release: Omega presents #ImagineOMEGA

#ImagineOMEGA is a photo series that captures the essence and personalities of some of our favourite watches in bell jars. The bell jar is the object allowing us to enhance the watch, as if it was protected such as a treasure in a natural history museum or in the so-called cabinets of wonder in years gone by. The richness and the personality of our watches in terms of history and design allowed us to re-create the universe of the product under the bell jar.

#ImagineOMEGA is, in a way, a journey through time and space, traveling from the Moon to the darkest oceanic abyss, from a frozen forest between Christmas and the New Year's Eve to the model of a sailing boat exposed in the living room of a house in the Hamptons.

“Simple perfection frozen in time”

Seamaster Aqua Terra Master Co-Axial

 “The brightest Constellation”

Constellation 27mm Luxury Dial

 “Adventures on the high seas”

Seamaster Aqua Terra 150M Master Co-Axial

 “Beckoning our sense of adventure”

Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional

 “A flutter of activity”

De Ville Prestige Butterfly

“Deep sea diving in our imagination”

Seamaster Planet Ocean

“Natural beauty blooming”

De Ville Ladymatic Flower

“Telling time by candlelight”

De Ville Tresor Master Co-Axial 

Press Release: Geneva Fair 2015: De Bethune Proudly Presents the DB25T Zodiac...

SINGAPORE, 27 JANUARY 2015 - Innovation has always been the touchstone of the masterpieces that have punctuated the history of horology. The grand masters used technologies, tools and means of their era in order to surpass their own knowledge and push their achievements to ever-greater heights of excellence. It is this spirit of innovation that continues to drive David Zanetta and Denis Flageollet. Their artistic approach and their vision of contemporary watchmaking are grounded on the solid foundations of technical knowledge, well-mastered expertise and a culture nurtured by several centuries of history enriched with all kinds of beauty.

The DB25T Zodiac features references to the imposing tower clocks that are still enthroned in certain European cities and have been an infinite source of inspiration for horologists wishing to convey their beauty and their grandeur through the ages. Table clocks or grandfather clocks, pocket watches and now wristwatches: the very essence of this horological culture graces the dial of the DB25T, notably in the aesthetic work on materials, the engraving and the light effects, but also and above all through consistently demonstrated miniaturisation technology.

The round case of the DB25 and its elegantly open-worked lugs frame a polished and blued titanium sky adorned with hand-engravings on solid gold and representing the 12 zodiac signs. These symbols, which are an integral part of the aesthetic and artistic world of horology, lend a sense of infinity to the depth of the De Bethune star-studded sky. The radiance instilled by the silver-toned guilloché decoration radiating from the dial centre contributes to the multiple shimmering light effects on the finely grained rings, and on the open-worked polished yellow gold hands.

The technical nature and the high frequency of the DB2109 mechanism driving the jumping seconds display makes a striking contrast with the almost poetic delicacy with which this large blue hand finely points to every second. De Bethune wished to revive the traditions of the golden age of horology by infusing this movement with the soul and the majesty of the great historical regulator clocks. “Jumping seconds” was a natural choice to impart a noble cadence to the passing of time. The components are pared down to essentials and feature simplicity where required and complexity where necessary.

Press Release: Parmigiani Fleurier Launches New Limited Editions of Bugatti Timepieces...

Celebrating 10 Eminent Years with the Luxury Car Manufacturer.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the partnership with prestigious car manufacturer Bugatti, Parmigiani Fleurier has unveiled three new limited editions at the recent Geneva Fair. The brand has decided to take the iconic Bugatti 370 model, and its transverse tubular movement, as its basis. This watch, which marked the creation of the partnership in 2004, demonstrates the brand's cutting-edge creative spirit and the quest for technical excellence that underlies it.

The Bugatti Mythe, the Bugatti Victoire and the Bugatti Révélation are the new versions of this anniversary’s limited editions. Each of these three pieces sheds a different light on an aspect of the partnership or a particular facet of the automotive world that influenced its creation.

The Bugatti Mythe

The Bugatti Mythe is where industry meets the craftsmanship inherent in the automotive world; the Bugatti Révélation embodies the search to find a link between the Car and the Watch that has guided the entire partnership; lastly, the Bugatti Victoire conveys the notions of speed and power that have defined Bugatti cars since the company was founded.

 

BUGATTI RÉVÉLATION

The quest that has underpinned the entire partnership, to make a car reborn as a watch, is celebrated in the aesthetics of the Bugatti Révélation. Its design is based on the grille of the Bugatti Veyron with its honeycomb structure comprised of tightly-packed diamonds. This motif is reproduced in three places on the timepiece: on the dial, above the movement, and on the strap – with each appearance having a different meaning.

BUGATTI VICTOIRE

There is meaning in every aspect of the Bugatti Victoire motif. It is formed of concentric Vs that seem to whisper Velocity and Victory – words that could have been used to describe the prestige of the Bugatti workshop since its very beginnings. It also evokes the skid marks left on the track by a racing car in pursuit of victory. Lastly, due to its concentric structure, the motif draws the eye towards the heart of the piece, the movement or "engine block" responsible for the watch's success.

The side sections are also stone-set and offer a striking contrast to the engraving which is neither polished nor rhodium-plated and almost resembles black gold. The satin finishing which emphasises the raw material provides an even more striking contrast with the decorative work of the motif.

Pre-Basel Preview of Hamilton Watches....

Last week various watch enthusiasts and members of the media were invited for a dinner to view Hamilton’s latest watch collection. I chanced upon a couple interesting pieces that night and would like to take some time to share them with you.

Omega Seamaster 300 Master Co-Axial launch.....

Recently Omega launched the Seamaster 300 Master Co-Axial at their flagship store at The Shoppes, Marina Bay Sands.  The original Seamaster 300 was first launched in 1957. Aesthetics aside, this new issue comes with the revolutionary Master Co-Axial movement. Kudos to Omega for bringing back this classic timepiece! Enjoy the pics.....

The Omega boutique at MBS

Maria Kong (Omega)

David Ponzo (President, The Swatch Group South East Asia)

Besides a sumptuous spread of canapes,  male guests were also treated with a classic shave from a barber while the ladies enjoyed a simple make-over.  

 There is a watch repair station inside the boutique.

Fiona Lim (Omega)

Thank you for reading. This is my last post for the year and I would like to wish my readers a Happy New Year! More exciting reports for your viewing pleasure next year. 

The Sinn U1-D Launch Party....

An “army” of Sinn fans marched towards Dempsey hill (Brewerkz Microbrewery & Restaurant) to celebrate the launch of the Sinn U1-D (Special Ops Edition). This special edition is created to commemorate the 35^th anniversary of The Hour Glass. The watch which is limited to 350 pieces features a matt grey dial with charcoal indices and comes with a tan calf leather strap and a camo Zulu strap. You can see pic the watch close-up in my other post here.... Sinn U1-D

Enjoy the party pics I took during the event.......

Venue: Brewerkz Microbrewery & Restaurant

Press Release: OMEGA and the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology announce new watch certificate...

At a press conference at Geneva's Cité du Temps on Tuesday, Swiss watch brand OMEGA and the director of the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) announced their collaboration on a new watch certification process that the brand will begin using in 2015 to test each of its Master Co-Axial watches.

Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek was joined by Dr Christian Bock, the Director of METAS, Stephen Urquhart, President of OMEGA and OMEGA Vice Presidents Raynald Aeschlimann and Andreas Hobmeier.

After welcoming media and guests, Stephen Urquhart recalled some of the technological milestones in OMEGA's long history, including its launch in 2013 of a mechanical movement resistant to magnetic fields greater than 15,000 gauss. He explained that the increasing number of magnets in our daily lives can affect the performance of watches and showed a short film explaining how OMEGA had overcome one of watchmaking's greatest challenges.

The anti-magnetic movements were introduced on a large-scale in OMEGA's Master Co-Axial watches earlier this year.

Nick Hayek then pointed out that Swatch Group has long been a leader in its promotion of the Swiss watch industry and the "Swiss made" label and he expressed his satisfaction with the innovations that have made it so robust. He added that Swatch Group is committed to retaining its leadership position in the Swiss watch industry and said that the partnership with METAS was the logical next step.

Mr. Hayek suggested that in recent years it has become obvious that the COSC chronometer certification, long the industry norm, needs to be strengthened.

In the middle of 2015, the first OMEGA watches will be produced with the Master Co-Axial Officially Certified designation. A significant difference between the new certification and its predecessors is that it will test the finished watch instead of its movement.

Dr Christian Bock, the Director of METAS, was introduced and explained the role that his organization plays in the Swiss federal government.  The Institute, he said, is the centre of competence for the Swiss government for all matters involving measurement and measuring procedures. 

The METAS Director said that the new certification process would give OMEGA and other Swiss watchmakers the opportunity to demonstrate the quality and timekeeping performance of their watches to a greater extent than has previously been possible.  He added that it was important to point out that METAS is completely independent – with no bias or prejudice – and only agreed to work on projects when it was convinced that its neutrality was not compromised. The agreement with OMEGA has no suggestion of exclusivity and other clients would have access to the same certification.  

Raynald Aeschlimann, OMEGA's Vice President and Head of International Sales, said that the certification of the watches by an independent institution that is part of the Swiss Federal Government made as bold a statement about OMEGA as its monobrand boutiques and the transparent casebacks that reveal the movements inside. "All of these define our brand. The boutiques place our watches close to the consumers where they can explore them in detail. The casebacks allow the examination of the movements that are such an important part of our story. And this new, completely independent 'Swiss Made' certification confirms the quality of each watch that earns it. It's an important milestone for both our brand and the industry."

Andreas Hobmeier, OMEGA Vice President of Production and Procurement, spoke in detail about the tests each Master Co-Axial watch will have to pass in order to earn the "Officially Certified" distinction. The watches will be tested for their precision during and after exposure to magnetic fields greater than 15,000 gauss – they will have to perform within a tolerance of 0 and +5 seconds per day, for autonomy (functioning without winding, measured in hours) and water resistance.

Owners of watches that are Master Co-Axial Officially Certified will be able to access online or via a smartphone the results and performance parameters of the tests passed by their watches.

In response to a question following the presentations, Mr. Hayek said that the current level of innovation certified with the Master Co-Axial calibres is presently unbeatable and added that the new standard would motivate other brands to move ahead to meet the new criteria. "This," he said, "would benefit the entire industry – not only in Switzerland but in China and Japan and in other countries with a history of innovative watchmaking. More importantly, it would also benefit the consumers and that has to be a good thing."  

Pam 599 Revolution 10th Anniversary 50 Piece Limited Edition.....

Revolution, one of the world's most widely read watch magazine celebrates it's 10th anniversary this year with the launch of the Pam 599. The black DLC Luminor case (44mm) with lovely patina luminova and in-house P.5000 movement is limited to only 50 pieces. The solid case back is engraved with the words "10 ANNIVERSARIO REVOLUTION". Check out the pics!!!

 The special event was held at the Panerai boutique at ION Orchard.

The event saw an overwhelming turn-out from Paneristi and watch aficionados alike. 

A welcome speech by Revolution founder Wei Koh (right) and Jean Sebatian from Panerai Hong Kong 

 Drum roll................the Pam 599

The Pam 599 limited to 50 pieces. Order now before it's gone!!!

Wrist shots are a must with fellow Ristis !!

An awesome Pam 399 from a respected Risti

A group pic of the Revolution team.

To my Revo brothers & sisters, congrats and Happy 10th Anniversary!!!!