Admit it! Anything vintage is just so adorable whether you are talking about bags, clothes, shoes or wristwatches. As online gamers and social networking addicts would say, vintage watches FTW! Of course, those who like buying vintage watches from esteemed watchmakers probably do not say FTW or use it in their social networking communications but hey, vintage watches are that cool. Continued…
Long Live Vintage Watches!
May 18, 2012
By Sigrid in Wristwatches
By Sigrid in Wristwatches, chronograph, tourbillon
The inside of a watch is called engineered art by many watch enthusiasts and more like art, some are deemed more valuable than others. According to Men’s Journal Benjamin Clymer, the Valjoux 72 for example reigns over pre 1969 watches. The said movement was used for the Rolex Pre-Daytona and the Heuer Carrera. Continued…
Guide To Buying Vintage Watches Part 1
May 1, 2012
By Sigrid in Wristwatches
Thinking of investing some money on your first real timepiece? Going timeless, pardon the pun on this one, is your best bet because a vintage watch is worth much more than high end wristwatches than today.
In the year 1904, Cartier made the very first men’s wristwatch for a man named Albert Santos-Dumont –a pilot. Santos-Dumont wanted a timepiece that allows him to read the time without having to reach into his pocket for his pocket watch. Continued…
Hermes at 175
April 30, 2012
By Sigrid in Hermes
Hermes celebrates 175 years in business this year and to commemorate this, it’s CEO Luc Perramond said the company is taking a big step in terms of watchmaking.
The famous brand has been producing luxury watches for 100 years. It was in 1912 when Hermes made a watch for Jacqueline Hermes, Emile’s Hermes daughter. It was basically a nice looking watch with a leather holder –the leather coming from Hermes’ workshops. The said watch is also a historic one because it is the brand’s first wristwatch.
There are many interesting products made by the brand but one of the most interesting is the belt watch made in the 1930s. There are a number of things that the brand is very proud of and as Perramond said in an interview, Hermes will keep looking back to its very rich heritage to incorporate this rich past into the designs they launch for this era.
Hermes was established in the year 1837. It is a high fashion brand that produces luxury good, perfumes and accessories. The Hermes family came from Germany but settled in France in the year 1828. Thierry Hermes started the business as a harness workshop in Paris –the shop dedicated to serving Europe’s nobles. When Charles-Emile Hermes took over the business, he started retail sales and also introduced saddles into the market. Later on of course as the nobility kept ordering items from the Hermes group, they also got personalized orders. In 1918 for example, the Prince of Wales ordered the first leather garment complete with zipper. The jacket was for golfing purposes. It was only in 1922 when leather handbags were introduced under the Hermes brand after Emile Hermes’ wife complaint of not finding a bag in any of the stores that are to her liking. To satisfy her, he started making handbags. Two years later, the brand established its luxury stores in the United States and the rest of course is history.
Breguet celebrates wristwatch’s 200th year
April 26, 2012
By Sigrid in Breguet
The popular watch brand Breguet celebrated the 200th anniversary of the wristwatch this Tuesday at its Fifth Avenue branch. It was attended by Grammy Awardee Joshua Bell, the musical director of the New York Philharmonic as well as a number of people who appreciate quality watches.
For over 200 years, Breguet has been devoted not only to making high quality watches but also to culture and the arts. In an interview at the cocktail reception, the New York Philharmonic’s music director said that much like the Philharmonic, the watch brand has been synonymous to “excellent timing and precision”.
In the early 1800s, Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples and sister of the great Napoleon Bonaparte asked Abraham-Louis Breguet to make a timepiece that can be wound around the wrist. During that time, timepieces were usually pocket watches and Breguet being commissioned by the Queen would later on be the stuff of legends –watch legends that is. The timepiece was brought to the Queen of Naples in the year 1892 and would later on be called watch No. 2639.
Deemed as a watch that’s fit for a queen, the exhibit for the historical timepiece was launched in Geneva and later on, Breguet went on a world tour to show to the world the beauty of the very first wristwatch.
The French watch manufacturer headquartered in Vallee de Joux, Switzerland has been around since 1775, years before the Queen of Naples asked the owner himself to make a watch for her. Today, Breguet is now a part of the Swatch Group. It is one of the oldest surviving watchmakers in the world and a pioneer in a number of watchmaking-related technologies. According to history books, the first address of the brand was at 51 Quai de l’Horloge located at Ile de la Cite in Paris, France.
Radical Heart
April 12, 2012
By Sigrid in Tag Heuer
Yes the name is a mouthful but TAG Heuer’s latest watch is designed to radicalize the very heart of a watch –specifically their new watch the Radical Heart. According to TAG Heuer, a good mechanical watch is powered by a spiral torsion hairspring and a balance wheel. The technology devised in 1675 by Christiaan Huygens is still what is used today but what makes the Radical Heart interesting is that this technology was used yet almost beyond recognition.
Watch snobs have been saying for years that this technology continues to challenge the creativity of every watch maker and manufacturer. Although the materials are different –some use silicon-based parts-the system made by Christiaan Huygens remains.
While the system is quite good, TAG Heuer says that it has its limitations i.e. in terms of sensitivity to gravity, accuracy among others. The solution? Develop a better mousetrap by devising a somewhat different system based on Huygen’s work. In the case of TAG Heuer, it will remove the balance wheel and the torsion hairspring. In an interview of a TAG Heuer representative, the company aims to reinvent the system of mechanical watch regulation. This is technical stuff and other watchmakers are listening in. Why is no one laughing? The brand has already completed the Mikrogirder that replaces the use of the hairspring with magnets. The pendulum remains a concept though, sources say.
TAG Heuer’s new concept is a rather fast chronograph. It beats at 7, 200, 000 beats per hour –isn’t that amazing? This is a major reinvention in terms of mechanical watches and TAG Heuer deserves a standing ovation for this one because this is the company’s boldest concept to date. Of course, we’d all have to wait for the finished product.
Recognized for its sports watches, the Swiss brand is part of the Louis Vuitton company.
Tag Heuer
April 5, 2012
By Sigrid in Tag Heuer
The Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer may seem like one of those modern watchmakers because ot its concentration on making sports watches. The brand however has been around since the 19th century –relatively young still compared to other watchmakers in the industry.
Founded by Edouard Heuer in 1860 Switzerland, the Tag Heuer brand only patented its very first chronograph 22 years later. By 1887 however, Edouard Heuer patented the oscillating pinion.
It was in 1911 when the watchmaker received the Time of Trip patent –the very first dashboard chronograph made for aircraft as well as automobiles. A few years later, the brand introduced its very own wrist chronograph and later on the micrograph –the first stopwatch. It was followed by the semikrograph.
By the 1940s, after years of watchmaking and mastering the craft, the brand, started manufacturing chronographs for the German air force. After the war, Heuer started making watches for Abercrombie & Fitch –these signature watches made for the American retailer were called the Auto-Graph and the Seafarer.
According to history, Seafarer watches by Tag Heuer had special dials characterized by yellow, green, and bluish patterns showing whether it is high tide or low tide. What makes this watch interesting is that it can even track the moon’s phases. Later on, the brand started making a version of this watch under its own name. Heuer called it the Mareographe. The Auto-Graph on the other hand was made for rally drivers and navigators to help them determine whether their automobile was moving at a desired pace or not. It measured these in miles. These amazing innovations made Tag Heuer quite popular in the sports industry hence it sticks to making sports wristwatches to date.
Current models incude lines such as Aquaracer Formula One, Grand Carrera among others. It has maintained its image of being a luxury brand though.
By Sigrid in Bulova
Looking for men’s watches? There are a number of affordable watches out there that offer both elegance and accuracy. One should remember that even if the best watches in the world are expensive, there are still watches made from high quality materials but are sold at reasonable prices.
Bulova Men’s Precisionist
The Bulova Men’s Precisionist watch is a good choice if you want a decent-looking timepiece you can wear on a daily basis. This watch can be worn with a suit or plain clothes making it a versatile choice for men on a budget. Although the price tag is not that cheap, at less than $300, this is a good buy.
This watch is part of Bulova’s Precisionist Langford collection. It has an embossed leather strap complete with an adjustable buckle closure, a stainless steel case, and a swirl-patterned charcoal dial. It also features silver-tone hands as well as hour markers. What makes this timepiece special is that it is water resistant to up to 30 meters. Continued…
Things To Keep In Mind When Buying A Men’s Watch
March 26, 2012
By Sigrid in Patek Philippe, Wristwatches
Shopping for men’s watches? Since these pieces can be pricey, making sure that you pick a good watch is of importance. Although accuracy is one of the major concerns when buying a watch, most of us can’t help but look at the most popular brands.
Buying a Rolex because it is the ultimate status symbol when it comes to watches is understandable but one should know that spending thousands of dollars on a Rolex is just far too much. Let’s put it this way, a Rolex is more like an overrated watch. If you have the money to spend for a Rolex, you can always get a Patek Philippe for example. Continued…
Storm of London, A Different Kind of Watch
March 17, 2012
By Sigrid in Uncategorized
If you are fond of avant-garde watches because you love wearing stuff that are out-of-the-ordinary, you should take a look at Storm of London watches. Now these watches are not posh but they are definitely different.
Storm, a UK based company was created to fill the need for innovative and trendy watches. Although a relatively unknown brand, Storm now has a distinct status in the market.
Storm is about pushing the boundaries when it comes to design and technology and it is making this very clear through the watches it offers.
Storm of London Squarex
This blue Squarex from Storm of London has a silicone strap and a very modern cutout display complete with rotating discs making timekeeping more fun.
This watch is sold at less than $200 in some stores. It is available in black, orange, and blue. Continued…