Archive for November, 2009

Omega President Stephen Urquhart: The WatchTime Interview

With its marketing blitz for the 40th anniversary Moon Watch, the opening of its own boutique on New York’s fashionable Fifth Avenue, and the long-term renewal of its official Olympic timing deal, 2009 has been a big year for Swiss-watch powerhouse Omega. WatchTime recently conducted an exclusive interview with the brand’s president, Stephen Urquhart, in the New York boutique, shortly after the Olympics announcement, to discuss that and a variety of other topics of interest to watch aficionados.

Hublot Limited Edition Supports Medical Research

Hublot has teamed with the oldest automobile club in the world – the Automobile Club de France (ACF) – to create a limited edition timepiece to benefit the Fondation ICM (Institute for Cerebral and Medullary Disorders). This is the first partnership with a major brand for the ACF, which was founded in 1895. One of the founding members of the Fondation ICM is Jean Todt – a name well known to auto racing enthusiasts. Mr. Todt is the president of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) – the governing body for Formula 1. The FIA is headquartered at the Automobile Club de France.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Yearbook Three Available December 1

The third edition of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Yearbook features the manufacture’s brightest stars of 2009. The Yearbook includes articles by leading authors and casts its spotlight on nature, music, filmmaking, and of course on watchmaking. The edition celebrates the 80th anniversary of Calibre 101, still the smallest mechanical movement ever made. It probes the Hybris Mechanica 55 trilogy, uniting 55 complications within three wristwatches. It takes you inside the Hybris Mechanica à Grande Sonnerie, with 1300 parts capable of playing the entire Big Ben chime.

Jaquet Droz Launches New Website

On November 25, Jaquet Droz launched its new digital world. Navigation links launch visitors on travels around, over and into a sepia-toned Tim Burtonesque microcosm. Visitors can travel to La Chaux-de-Fonds, Geneva, London and Paris, retracing Jaquet Droz’s steps. Underground lie the roots of the manufacture, including aesthetic traditions and history. Once airborne, the traveler heads to Saturn’s rings for the latest news. The Moon is home to the catalog, and the Sun shines on the nearest points of sale.

Antiquorum’s December 9 NYC Auction Features Patek 3974, Rolex Comex

On December 9 at its New York City headquarters, Antiquorum will auction over 400 timepieces, and the star of the show will be a platinum Patek Philippe ref. 3974 minute repeater perpetual calendar with 2 additional dials. This watch was produced in 1999 and this is only the fourth time in 10 years this reference will be offered at auction. An extract from the Patek Philippe archives is included.

SIHH Preview: GP’s Updated Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges

In 1860, Constant Girard-Perregaux was conducting research in the field of the Tourbillon escapement. The timepiece he created received a first-class prize from the Neuchatel Observatory. Its Tourbillon movement featured three parallel bridges. At SIHH 2010, Girard-Perregaux will unveil a limited edition of 50 Tourbillons with openworked versions of the gold bridges used in the original piece recognized by the Neuchatel Observatory.

Baselworld Preview: Glashütte Original Pocket Watch No. 1

At Baselworld 2010, Glashütte Original will present their rose gold Pocket Watch No. 1 with quarter hour repetition in a limited edition of 25 pieces. A historical watch by Julius Assmann, a famous pioneer of the Glashütte watchmaking industry, served as the model. The repeater first strikes the previous hours, and then in a higher tone, the number of quarter hours that have elapsed since the last full hour.

What Are These Guys Up To?

TechnoMarine made a big splash a decade ago. A new team is hoping to do it again.

The image of (left to right) Christian Viros, Vincent Perriard, and Steven Cohen, nearly up to their necks in water, is designed to make us wonder what these three bobbing Pep Boys are up to. The image is apt because that’s exactly the question lots of people in the watch world are asking.

Chronoswiss Opens Boutique in NYC’s SoHo

Chronoswiss has opened its first USA boutique at 339 West Broadway in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood. The boutique is open to the public now, and the grand opening celebration will be on Wednesday, December 2nd from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. Chronoswiss teams up with jewelry designer and goldsmith Kristen Farrell to operate this premier location.

Christie’s Geneva Auction Achieves Over SFr. 19 Million

Christie’s November 16 Geneva auction set nine world record prices for Patek and Rolex references on the way to achieving the highest total for any watch auction in 2009: SFr. 19,032,388, or just under $19 million. This was nearly twice the pre-sale low estimate. The results reflected sales of 97% by value and 94% by lot. 900 bidders from 5 continents participated in the sale live, online and on the telephone.