By Mark Bernardo on June 28, 2009

A Rose Gold by Any Other Name…

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An oft-discussed topic among watch aficionados – and one that arises for us reporters each year during Basel and Geneva – is what differentiates rose gold from pink gold from red gold. I’ve been looking into how the brands use these terms, and this year, as in the past, the answers I come away with are: Everything. Or nothing. Clear?

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By Norma Buchanan on June 21, 2009

Just Say the Word: Pronouncing Tough Watch Terms

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Parlay voo fransay? If not, you may be having a helluva time pronouncing many common watch terms. That’s because French isn’t just the language of lovemaking, it’s also the language of watchmaking. Here’s a pronunciation guide for some hard-to-say watch terms (two of them, “tachymeter” and “telemeter” aren’t French, but they’re so often mispronounced they may as well be).

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By Joe Thompson on June 14, 2009

Downturn Batters Watch Industry

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The evidence is mounting that the long and bitter global recession is taking a severe toll on the Swiss watch industry. With demand for watches down nearly everywhere, Swiss watch firms are cutting production and jobs. So far this year, Swiss watch firms have laid off more than 1,000 people, according to Swiss press reports.

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By Mike Disher on June 07, 2009

Carl F. Bucherer’s In-House Outrunner Caliber Goes to Work

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In July, 2007, Carl F. Bucherer acquired its long-time movement collaborator Techniques Horlogères Appliquées SA and renamed it Carl F. Bucherer Technologies SA. The team got to work straightaway, and at BASELWORLD 2008, they announced their first in-house movement, the CFB A1000. Not content to create a standard, cookie-cutter movement, CFB instead introduced something truly innovative: an automatic movement with a peripheral winding rotor. Fast forward to 2009, and the movement, with some added complications, finds a home in the new Patravi EvoTec DayDate.

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By Mark Bernardo on June 01, 2009

Ulysse Nardin’s Smartphone: Where Tech Meets Mech

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As exciting as it is to experience all the new watches at the Baselworld watch fair, there is always the risk of “watch overload” setting in, which is why the occasional, rare foray into Accessories Land is often a welcome diversion. Usually, these items are limited to devices such as winders and clocks, but I found this year’s most intriguing accessory gleaming under a spotlight behind one of the porthole-shaped vitrines of Ulysse Nardin’s nautical-themed booth: namely, the company’s new Chairman Smartphone.

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Tutima Grand Classic: Tougher Than Steel

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For more than 70 years, Tutima has been producing professional chronographs. Their timepieces have earned the trust of NATO pilots. For 2009, Tutima introduces the the Grand Classic sports watch and chronograph. These watches are produced using special hardened steel. Unlike conventional hardening processes, Tutima uses a unique method which takes several days to complete and that allows the hardening process to penetrate deep into the core of the metal. This allows the metal to achieve its maximum strength and renders it virtually corrosion-proof and highly scratch resistant.

Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Chronograph

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The first automatic winding chronograph in the Jules Audemars collection wears 1920s inspiration on the outside, but it is thoroughly up to date on the inside. The numerals on the dial and the pear hands give the watch a strong, classic look. Under the dial ticks the new caliber 3124/3841, based on a new generation of Audemars Piguet manufacture movements. The 41mm case is available in 18k white or pink gold.

TW Steel Launches Value-Priced Icon Line

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A big watch need not have a big price. TW Steel has announced the launch of their new entry-level “Icon” line. The collection features white-dial models TW620 (45mm) and TW621 (50mm), and black dial versions TW622 (45mm) and TW623 (50mm). Each watch displays hours, minutes and seconds via centrally-mounted hands, along with the date at 3. Prices start at €149 or $240. All models are powered by large caliber movements.

La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle Earn World Heritage Site Status

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Swiss watchmaking centers La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle have been named UNESCO World Heritage sites. The neighboring towns, with populations of about 37,000 and 10,000 respectively, are located in the canton of Neuchâtel. Many leading watch brands have headquarters or manufacturing facilities in the area, including TAG Heuer, Breitling, Girard-Perregaux, Ulysse Nardin, Corum, Ebel, Patek Philippe, Cartier, and Jaquet Droz. La Chaux-de-Fonds is also home to the Musée International d’Horlogerie, curated by well-known watchmaker Ludwig Oechslin, creator of Ulysse Nardin’s Trilogy series and GMT Perpetual, among others.

Jaeger-LeCoultre: Master Grande Ultra Thin in Black

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Jaeger-LeCoultre is launching a new Master Grande Ultra Thin with a black dial. It is being delivered to retailers as this is written. The 40mm Master Grande Ultra Thin is powered by Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 896 with small seconds, which belongs to the 899 generation of new movements. Made up of 242 parts, it measures only 3.98 mm thick, and it incorporates the features of the brand’s new automatic calibers: the variable-inertia balance ensuring the constancy of the rate and enhanced sturdiness; ceramic ball-bearing mechanisms requiring no lubrication or maintenance; and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour.

Franc Vila’s Unique Piece for Only Watch

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Franc Vila unveils his unique piece for the Only Watch auction: the first fully black watch in the “Cobra” collection. Cobra timepieces are created for aficionados of extreme sports. Built to withstand dives to 300 meters, the Cobra line was conceived for intense water activities. The automatic movement provides chronograph and big date functions.

Parmigiani Celebrates New Film “It Might Get Loud”

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On June 24 Parmigiani Fleurier hosted an after party following the Los Angeles premiere of Sony Pictures Classics’ rock and roll film documentary “It Might Get Loud,” featuring guitar legends Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White. Parmigiani was involved with past Sony Pictures Classics films including “Rachel Getting Married” and “Jane Austen Book Club.” Most recently, Parmigiani presented Sony Pictures Classics co-presidents Tom Bernard and Michael Barker with timepieces in recognition of their ongoing partnership at a celebration Parmigiani hosted in honor of Sony’s five Academy Award nominations.

25 Arrested in Harry Winston Paris Robbery

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The Associated Press is reporting that French police arrested 25 suspects in connection with last year’s multi-million dollar robbery at Harry Winston jewelers in Paris. Police recovered some of the stolen watches, rings and necklaces, as well as shoulder weapons and $345,000 in cash. The robbers, some dressed as women and wearing wigs, had grabbed $118 million worth of loot a few weeks before Christmas at the store on a fashionable street off the Champs-Elysees. The robbery lasted only a few minutes.

Inside Basel/Geneva 2009 Debuts in San Francisco

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Inside Basel/Geneva 2009 got off to a great start in San Francisco Tuesday night June 23. A sell-out crowd of almost 150 watch collectors and enthusiasts from as far away as Illinois, Oregon and Washington gathered at the upscale City Club for an evening of shared passion and enjoyment. Guests began arriving ahead of the 6 p.m. start time for an opportunity to see the latest creations from San Francisco sponsors Lange, IWC, Vacheron Constantin, Piaget, Carl F. Bucherer and Mont Blanc. Guests were also able to meet Antiquorum’s Charles Tearle and to view watches that will be offered in upcoming auctions. Several attendees brought pieces from their personal collections to share.

Seiko Sportura Kinetic Direct Drive

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For 2009 Seiko has re-engineered the Sportura collection. Familiar elements like black dials, anti-reflective sapphire crystals and red and orange accents remain, but the designs have been refined. The collection includes 9 new creations using quartz and Kinetic calibers. The Kinetic Direct Drive model shown here is the leading model in the line.