Girard-Perregaux Minute Repeater Tourbillon With Gold Bridges
The Girard-Perregaux Minute Repeater Tourbillon with Gold Bridges includes an extraordinary new version of the brand’s typical tourbillon and a chiming function – which is the star of the show here. The mechanical beauty of the watch’s skeletonized dial is dominated by three elements: the smaller bridge supporting the tourbillon, the larger bridge extending across the dial between 3 and 9 o’clock, and the repeater hammers at 12 o’clock. The shape of the hammers, which rest on jewels acting as ball bearings to reduce friction, was inspired by the first golden bridges registered in 1884.
Celebrity Ambassadors: Good Marketing Or Terrible Waste?
A few weeks ago, I had the very enjoyable experience of attending a day hosted by Audemars Piguet and the Watch Enthusiasts of New York (WENY) filled with watches, watchmaking, and lively conversation. In the evening, we were treated to something that for me was quite unusual but that in the world of luxury goods marketing is commonplace: an interaction with one of the brand’s ambassadors, in this case Sir Nick Faldo. Read on to learn what is it that leads watch brands to engage celebrities.
Artistic Mechanical Entomology By Paul Swan Topen, Gaby Wormann, And Christopher Conte At MB&F’s M.A.D. Gallery
On a recent visit to MB&F’s very interesting M.A.D. Gallery in Geneva, I found myself fascinated by the sight of some unusual critters. Even though they are not animated and don’t breathe, they seemed like nothing less than real creatures. Meet the insectile sculptures made by Paul Swan Topen, Gaby Wormann, and Christopher Conte. And, don’t worry, there’s no need to be scared of them. They’re not alive. But I’d leave the covers on . . . just in case.
The Bovet Amadeo Fleurier Braveheart: Two Brave Hearts Are Better Than One
By any definition of the word, the film ‘Braveheart’ is epic. There are a few other things in the world that are so awesome they deserve to be seen, no matter what your interests or passions are like the Great Wall of China and the Grand Canyon. Another awesome thing that deserves to be seen, something that coincidentally shares its name with that 1995 Mel Gibson flick, is the Bovet Amadeo Fleurier Braveheart. This incredible timepiece packs a wallop of engineering excellence and some pretty intense architecture.
Richard Mille RM 27-02 For Rafael Nadal: The Quintessential Sports Tourbillon
The quintessential sports tourbillon, the Richard Mille RM 027 RN, officially debuted at the 2010 French Open on the wrist of that year’s champion, Rafael Nadal. It was specifically created to stand up to the punishment of the tennis court. Now Richard Mille introduces the RM 27-02, which is even more high-tech, mechanically resistant, and expensive than the first edition. Read on to find out why.
Armin Strom And The Gumball 3000 Rally
Armin Strom has announced that it is the official watch partner of the transcontinental, pop-culture Gumball 3000 rally and has created three watches for its new Gumball 3000 collection: the Manual Gumball 3000, the Double Barrel Gumball 3000, and the Tourbillon Gumball 3000.
The Harry Winston Opus Series: A Complete Overview From Opus 1 Through Opus 13
Following the Swatch Group’s takeover of Harry Winston, a continuation of the Opus series with an Opus 14 seemed in doubt to me, though at Baselworld 2015 Dr. Nayla Hayek, chair of the Swatch Group’s board of directors and CEO of Harry Winston, quietly let it be known that a Harry Winston Opus 14 is forthcoming. What better reason to take a look back at the history-making timepieces of the Opus series.
You Are There: San Francisco Collector Master Class With Audemars Piguet
Audemars Piguet in collaboration with WENY (Watch Enthusiasts of New York) hosted an event in San Francisco that had it all: a watchmaking master class, in-depth talks with the brand’s historian while perusing a few vintage beauties, checking out some of the current collection, a whiskey tasting, and time spent with one of the brand’s ambassadors: the iconic golfer Nick Faldo.
Laurent Dordet, CEO La Montre Hermès, Talks Watches, Authenticity, And Iconic Leather Handbags
When I entered the office of Laurent Dordet, the new CEO of La Montre Hermès, I was singularly impressed by the down-to-earth attitude of a man who has worked within Hermès structure for two decades – his most recent position had been in leather, Hermès’ stock-in-trade. Dordet seems genuinely happy to be active in this new field, which he had taken over just weeks before Baselworld 2015 started. My impression was that he was also perhaps a tad surprised by what he’s found there.
Bulgari Daniel Roth Carillon Tourbillon: Passion Begins Early
The Bulgari Carillon Tourbillon has three gongs playing a three-note tune. While the dial-side gongs and the tourbillon are the headliners to this show, the real superstar is the repeater movement that you see when you flip over the watch and get a view from the back. With some careful observation one could even understand the entire system simply using one’s own two eyes. Have a look!