The new Engineer Master II Diver Worldtime from Ball Watch Company is now available at authorized retailers. The watch houses a movement that incorporates a world time module developed by Ball and manufactured in its workshops. The module is added to the ETA caliber 2836 to create the first Day/Date Worldtime movement.

Three central hands display local time, while a 24 hour disk rotating counterclockwise simultaneously indicates the time in 24 different time zones. Fifty-five self-powered micro gas lights assure up to 25 years of easy night viewing. The case measures 45mm in diameter and is water resistant t0 300 meters or 1000 feet. The watch is available with black or white dial and a stitched rubber strap or a stainless steel bracelet.

Learn more at www.ballwatch.com.

Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver teamed up with players from Manchester United in New York City recently for the Hublot Million Dollar Challenge. The event, staged between the Flatiron and Empire State buildings, drew over 1500 people and raised funds for United for UNICEF, the English club’s charity.

Manchester United stars including Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, and Edwin Van de Sar were on hand, as was team manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The stars tried their best to score a million dollar shot by hitting a small target with the ball. Goalie Edwin van de Sar came the closest, missing by a mere 3 inches. Regardless of the final score, Mr. Biver decided to write a check for $110,008 to United for UNICEF, which has raised more than 4 million dollars. “It’s one hundred thousand from Hublot, ten thousand from me and 8 dollars because it’s a lucky number”, he said to the roar of the crowd.

Sir Alex Ferguson who was mobbed with love by New York lovers of soccer said: “I love the Hublot challenges; they are a great way to connect soccer and charity. I also love Jean Claude Biver’s passion and the way he has helped Hublot become not only a great watchmaker but also one of the few luxury brands to understand the worldwide passion for soccer”.

The relationship between Manchester United and Hublot started in 2008 when Hublot designed the Manchester United Big Bang. They have worked together throughout the world to raise awareness of the Manchester United Foundation, which aims to educate, motivate and inspire young people to build a better life for themselves and their communities. Through their foundation, the Manchester United has created United for UNICEF, the longest partnership of its kind. In a little over 10 years, United for UNICEF has raised over £2 million pounds and has helped change the lives of over 2.2 million children.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson

Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver shoots at the target.

Jean-Claude Biver, David Gill, John Shiels, Paul Scholes, Edwin Van de Sar, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, Sir Alex Ferguson, and UNICEF kids and representatives

Long-time independent film industry supporter and haute horlogerie manufacture Parmigiani Fleurier hosted the Los Angeles premiere of Sony Pictures Classics newest film Get Low starring Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Bill Murray and Lucas Black. The premiere and after-party took place July 27 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, well known as the venue of the Academy Awards ceremony.

Get Low is inspired by the true story of Felix “Bush” Breazeale, who attracted national attention and the largest crowd to assemble up to that date when he threw himself a living funeral party in 1938 in Roane County, Tennessee. An 8-year labor of love for producer Dean Zanuck (Road to Perdition), Get Low is directed by Aaron Schneider who makes his feature debut after winning the Academy Award for his short, Two Soldiers, and written by Chris Provenzano (Mad Men) and C. Gaby Mitchell (Blood Diamond). Behind the camera stars include Emmy Award-winning cinematographer David Boyd, A.S.C. (Deadwood), Academy Award-nominated production designer Geoffrey Kirkland (The Right Stuff, Children of Men) and twice Oscar-nominated Costume Designer Julie Weiss (Frida, Twelve Monkeys).

“Parmigiani has long admired the work Sony Pictures Classics because their films consistently achieve the highest levels of artistry and creativity – two qualities that also define the Parmigiani Fleurier brand.” said Michelle Veyna, President of Parmigiani USA.

More information about the film is available at www.sonyclassics.com/getlow.

Parmigiani’s Michelle Veyna (L), Robert Duvall and Luciana Pedraza arrive at the premiere.

Michelle Veyna with cinematographer Madison Fisk (center) and Sissy Spacek

Michelle with Lucas Black

Lili Fini Zanuck, Richard D. Zanuck and Michelle

Hamilton and actor Harrison Ford have collaborated to create the Hamilton Khaki Team Earth. Team Earth is a non-profit organization of individuals and companies working together to address global environmental challenges. Hamilton and Ford are members, and portion of Khaki Team Earth sales benefit the organization. Each watch has “Team Earth” and Harrison Ford’s signature engraved on the caseback. The MSRP is $850.

You may click the images to view larger versions.

Bell & Ross is launching a new collection with two lines: Vintage Original and Vintage Heritage. The collection is an homage to 1940s aviator watches. Legibility is excellent, and the watches have the trademark Bell & Ross look. The collection includes a time and date model (BR 123) and a chronograph (BR 126). Both watches have 41mm round stainless-steel cases.

The BR 123 time and date model puts the small seconds and date at 6. The BR 126 chronograph has central seconds, a 60 second counter at 3 and a 30 minute totalizer at 9. The round date opening is at 4:30. Both watches have domed anti-reflective crystals, 100 meter water resistance, and luminescent hands, numbers and indexes. BR 123 is powered by an ETA 2895, while the chronograph uses an ETA 2894.

The Original and Heritage lines are differentiated by aesthetic treatments. The Original line is available with black or beige dials and uses natural stainless steel color cases and white hands, while the Heritage line has black dials and matte-black PVD cases with beige hands and numbers. The Heritage line’s straps are imprinted with the Bell & Ross “ampersand in a circle” logo.

Vintage Original BR 123 with black dial. In this image, the strap shows age. The strap that accompanies the watch looks new.

Vintage Original chronograph, also shown on an aged strap.

Vintage Heritage models

Officine Panerai dives into the digital age with a new iPhone app. The app is available at no cost in iTunes (link below). Now Paneristi everywhere can share the Panerai experience anytime, anywhere. The app offers users exclusive information about new collections, upcoming events, and official boutique locations. A game lets you test your Paneristi knowledge, and you can download wallpapers and high-res images. Panerai customers can also locate and contact product service experts throughout the world.

You can click here to preview and download the app.

U.S. astronauts Lt. General Thomas Stafford and Vance Brand, and Russian cosmonauts General Alexsei Leonov and Valery Kubasov, joined Omega in New York City in a two-day celebration of the 35th anniversary of the historic Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission, during which the astronauts and cosmonauts wore the Omega Speedmaster Professional.

The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project flew in July, 1975 and marked a high-point for detente. It was the last Apollo mission and the first joint U.S.-Soviet mission. Engineering teams from both sides developed the docking module to link the two spacecraft, and it was there that Apollo commander Stafford (below right) and Soyuz-19 commander Leonov met and shook hands. The event was broadcast live on global television and it was captured 16mm film. The frame below became an iconic image symbolizing the dawn of a new age of superpower cooperation in space.

In New York City, Lt. General Stafford, Mr. Brand and Mr. Kubasov made a special appearance at the Omega Flagship Boutique on Fifth Avenue in New York City where they signed and donated 10 limited edition Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo-Soyuz “35th Anniversary” chronograph boxes to commemorate the mission’s historic anniversary. They also participated in a forum discussion, moderated by space expert Miles O’Brien, sharing their memories of their mission and the landmark “handshake in space.”

Later in the evening, Lt. General Stafford, Mr. Brand and Mr. Kubsaov joined Omega for a festive VIP dinner at the famed Russian restaurant Firebird on 46th St.

On Friday, July 16th, the astronauts and cosmonauts visited the Omega Tourbillon Boutique on Wall St. for a celebratory luncheon with Russian dignitaries and special guests, including Hon. Andrey K. Yushmanov, Consul General of the Russian Federation in NYC, Vladimir Kikilo, U.N. Bureau Chief, ITAR-TASS, and Metropolitan Opera singer Monica Yunus.

Lt. General Stafford, Mr. Brand and Mr. Kubasov then made a special appearance at the New York Stock Exchange, where they rang the day’s Closing Bell to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission.

The Omega Speedmaster Professional Apollo-Soyuz “35th Anniversary” chronograph will be released in a limited edition of 1,975 watches to commemorate the year the mission flew. The watch features a meteorite dial and engraved case back.

Frédérique Constant will be the Official Timekeeper and exclusive sponsor of The Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, taking place from September 10th through October 16th, 2010. The first edition of this legendary classic car event took place in 1907. The idea for the race came from a challenge published in the Paris newspaper Le Matin on January 31st 1907.

The challenge read: “What needs to be proved today is that as long as a man has a car, he can do anything and go anywhere. Is there anyone who will undertake the challenge to travel from Peking to Paris by automobile?”

The route for the 2010 edition of ‘The Ultimate Driving Adventure’ runs from the Great Wall in China, through Mongolia, then briefly into Russia before turning south west into Kazakstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and via Turkey, Greece and Italy into France to finish on the famous Place Vendôme in Paris. The trail follows the historic Silk Route and the participating drivers will have days off in fabled cities such as Almaty and Samarkand.

During this demanding road rally, at least 230 drivers and navigators in 165 classic and vintage cars dating from the 1920s to the 1960s will cover over 9,000 miles in approximately five weeks time.

Under the premise of its slogan ‘Live your Passion’ Frédérique Constant encourages people around the world to follow their passion. Being part of The Great Peking to Paris Expedition reflects this devotion. All participating cars will bear the Frédérique Constant logo, and the winning driver and navigator will be awarded with an exclusive Frédérique Constant timepiece in Paris.

You can follow the race on the Frédérique Constant blog, and via the brand’s Facebook Fan page.

Lucien Piccard Inc. and affiliated companies LP Watch Group and Charles Winston Luxury Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Florida on July 14. Documents filed with the court show that together, the three companies have about $25 million in liabilities and $22.5 million in assets. Chapter 11 gives companies facing creditor pressure time to reorganize their business.

Lucien Piccard was founded in Switzerland in 1923. In recent years, the Hollywood, Florida-based LP Watch Group launched new brands LP Italy, LP Swiss, and DuFonte by Lucien Piccard. The LP Italy “Stratosphere” watch (shown below) won the JCK 2005 award for most innovative new design. Reports indicate that the brand spent heavily on advertising and marketing during 2007-2009. In 2007, LP Watch Group became a sponsor of the American Le Mans auto racing series. The Group also sponsored the Executive Women’s Golf Association.

The 14th International Chronometry Congress of the Swiss Chronometry Society meets September 28-29 at the Salle Stravinsk in Montreux, Switzerland. This year’s theme is “Time and Sport: Technological and Human Challenges”. During the Congress, about twenty lectures will be presented to over 500 watchmakers, technicians, engineers and professionals.

Selected presentations will summarize the latest technological innovations regarding chronometry. Others will allow participants to enter an athlete’s mind by questioning his relationship with time. The Congress is proud to welcome important athletes including Erica Reymond Hess (Alpine Skiing), Stefan Volery (Swimming), Magali Di Marco Messmer (Triathlon), René Arnoux (Formula 1 racing).

In parallel with the Congress, and in light of the success of the exhibit that took place during the 2009 Journée d’Etude, the Swiss Chronometry Society will organize a new exhibit about sport watches, which will be open only to those attending the Congress.

Click here to download the official program in PDF format with complete information about the Congress in French and English.

Additional information is available in French at the official Swiss Chronometry Society website.