Hublot Creates a Big Bang at Baselworld worth 5 Million Dollars

Wherever Hublot goes they make a BIG BANG and Baselworld 2012 is no exception.
The current Hublot buzz is due to a 5 Million Dollar Big Bang Hublot Creation (SOLD to the Hour Glass Singapore).
 So let me start by describing the Five Million Dollar Masterpiece (and masterpiece it must be)
A Five Million Dollar Timepiece demands plenty of diamond - and diamonds it has - no less than 1282 diamonds totaling 140 carats. 
 And these diamonds are no ordinary compilation of carbon.  These diamonds were collected from all over the world, matched for color and clarity eliminating any imperfections.  6 Emerald cut diamonds adorn the bracelet.  Each weighing over 3 carats - exceptional in clarity - VVS and color - G. Unlike many diamond encrusted timepieces where it seemed the diamonds an after-thought to increase the worth of the timepiece, the diamond cutters at  Hublot first created the design of the watch and then went searching for the perfect diamonds.

Each diamond was hand selected, sized, if required, and set into the dial, bezel, case and bracelet with painstaking precision required by Hublot's desire to create an "invisible setting".  Although the setting is there, it cannot be seen and thus the entire watch seems as if it is crafted from diamonds. This task demanded 17 people working exclusively for 14 months.  One of whom was a Master- Cutter from New York who worked on the largest diamond.

If you missed viewing the watch in Basel world and cannot make it to Singapore where it will be on display at Hublot boutique in Marina Bay Sands and then at Hublot's section at The Hour Glass boutiques, you can view the watch in this wonderful video by Hublot.

RSW Unveils The Classic, The Regulator and The Rugged

RSW, a Rama Watch SA Swiss brand,  situated on the shores of Lake Biel in the medieval town of Le Neuveville, manufacture watches with a twist remaining unique in a burgeoning horological market.

Basel World 2012 marks RSW's  introduction  of three new watch collections.  Each collection attracts a different taste.  The Classic.  The Regulator.  The Rugged.

Le Neuveville Collection - The Classic


This Collection pays tribute to RSW's home town's 700th anniversary by naming an entire collection after its name -  "Le Neuveville".  Le Neuveville was founded in 1312 by the bishop of Basle - Gerard de Vuippens.

The Le Neuveville Collection is a classic analog display sporting a vintage design. This formal dress watch is a handsome steel or steel coated with yellow PVD timepiece equipped with a signature RSW patented fold out crank crown.  Beneath the case a highly efficient automatic ETA 2824-2 movement ensures maximum timekeeping precision.  A quartz model powered by an ETA 955.112 movement  is also available - distinguishable from the mechanical model by a traditional crown. 
The dial is available in white, black and gray sun ray pattern.

RSW High King Collection - The Regulator

The Regulator Complication must have the hours indicated on a different sub dial. On this model the Roman Numeral Hours are indicated on a sub dial located at the 12 'o'clock position, while the long minutes are indicated by a single central hand. The seconds hand sub dial is located a the 6 'o'clock position.
A discrete date aperture resides at the 3 'o'clock position.

 The bezel is an enigmatic display of steel work adding a futuristic charm to the timepiece. The watch is powered by an excellent automatic RSW 1912 ETA based Dubois Dépraz 14070.

Look for the watch in different case and dial combinations.

Urban Contemporary Collection: Diving Camo Tool Limited Edition - The Rugged

So here is the watch that caught my attention in the first place.  It breathes ruggedness and adventure.  Actually I am quite drawn to it.  The angular lines resemble a rocky outcrop on the African Savannah, and RSW is taken the theme further by adding a camo dial motif. Aside from its tough appearance this watch is one hell of a diver. Take it down 980 feet and the automatic ETA 2824-2 movement will keep ticking . Depending on your wanderings and the adventurers you seek - whether by land or sea - you have a choice of Woodland Green or Oceanic Blue surrounded by a case of solid steel or PVD coated steel. Only 49 pieces are available in each combination.  And to ease your journey, the Diving Camo Tool Timepiece is accompanied by a very handy Camo-style Swiss army knife as well as a rubber and NATO strap.

Gevril Group is the US Agent of RSW Watches.

Can Investing in a Luxury Watch be Compared to Investing in a Luxury Car? Please Comment!

Patek Phillipe Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref. 5002

Upon commenting on a fellow blogger's post about the HYT HI hydro mechanical , I -  questioning the longevity and depreciation of a watch containing fluid as part of the mechanism.

My Comment:

What about the longevity of the timepiece? Does the liquid make the watch more vulnerable to environmental changes? How volatile is the liquid in the tube?
I love this watch, but I have been wondering this for a long time, especially if someone is going to save up to buy this watch.  Does the liquid actually increase its worth on purchase, but depreciate  more rapidly as time goes by?

  
Reply to my  Comment:  
Buying a new watch as an investment is like buying a new car as an investment: retarded.



 I have a friend who paid for the weddings of his children with money received from selling three of his watches.  Watches he  purchased thirty years ago. The three watches in question were Rolexes - known for their excellent resale value - and superb movement with proven longevity.  He sold them in a flash for for a quite a bit of cash.
Excellent resale values also apply to watch manufacturers like Piaget, Harry Winston,  Patek Phillipe - who actually pushes the concept of longevity with its clever advertising slogan -"You never actually own a Patek Philippe; you merely take care of it for the next generation."- Vacheron Constantin and the new players like Richard Mille, Parmigiani Fleurier,  Greubel Forsey and a host of others.
The scenario may have been quite different if, thirty years ago,  he had invested in a luxury car  and then tried to sell it in the same condition he had bought it. The car would have cost him a fortune in up keep.  In addition the market for a vintage luxury car is much smaller than a watch.

 When one purchases a watch from say $2,000 upwards - and watches nowadays happily gallop into the million dollar range - does one purchase the watch like one would a fancy car - just for the ride - or does one purchase the watch as an investment, as one would purchase a Rembrandt or Picasso painting?
Is the investment of a car the same type of an investment as a watch? or Is the purchase  of specifically the HYT H1 hydro mechanical timepiece like the purchase of a sports car? Do some watch companies like Tag Heuer, Breitling, Corum and Omega evoke the automotive desire to purchase a watch,  whereas others like Patek Phillipe push the "painting" perspective?

Of course I am not referring to the timepieces which are purchased predominantly to keep time - that idea faded when quartz erupted on stage and I am not referring to the Honda's and Mazdas or Kias for that matter which are purchased or leased to ferry family members or haul home groceries from Walmart.  I am talking luxury cars and luxury watches, which are purchased without necessity, for  investments, gifts (emotional investment) or purely hedonistic motives.

Please feel free to comment - I eagerly await response to the Question...

CAN INVESTING IN A LUXURY WATCH BE COMPARED TO INVESTING IN A LUXURY CAR? 

Presenting the Heaviest Watch on Earth by Artya

Okay watch enthusiasts,  I have my doubts about this being a wristwatch and you won't find it on the wrist of Rafael Nadel during a tennis match - it might effect his swing just a bit, but I have to give Yvan Arpa and Christian Pauchon at ArtyA credit for crafting one of the most original "wristwatches" out there. 
So I bet you must want to know the weight of this hefty horological masterpiece: 12 KILOS and a dial of concrete. 

ArtyA always manages to surprise and delight the watch community with new outrageous designs and new materials. When last did you see a watch dial crafted with concrete?   And always a favorite - the toad skin band.

ArtyA explains this watch as a symbol of time. Time is so fleeting - weigh it down a bit. 

ArtyA has done it again - and tomorrow as you enter Basel World Palace Booth P03 - check out all the wonderful watch designs that await you and all the new concrete dial designs.

BaselWorld Doors Open March 8th, 2012 and HYT H1 Hydro Mechanical Watch is on Display

 

Ok! Whose a running to BaselWorld Hall Palace Booth P05 A?  Run through the palace entrance. Race past the huge CASIO exhibits (lots of G-shocks on display - I assume).  Take note of the Urwerk and MB & F on your left ( a definite stop on your way out).  Hurry past the large P03 hall - yes the Haldimann un-watch is keeping its un-time as well as numerous ArtyA creations! Zoom past the Ikepod Hour Glasses and De Bethune on your right! Come to a screaming halt outside your destination at Booth P05 A- the HYT H1 Hydro Mechanical Watch on Display. Bend over! Place your hands on your knees and take a deep breath.  You have arrived to view the most talked about watch on the web - The HYT H1 Hydro Mechanical Watch... and once you have taken a good look at the Watch - please do me a favor and tell me all about it.

I know you have probably heard tons about this watch - Ariel Adams at  a blog to read - describes this watch better than anyone on the net.  Read his article for a full synopsis. 

And if Videos are your preferred source of information - I have provided that for you too.  

Richard Mille's Constant Quest for the Ultimate Watchmaking Material

RM 050 Tourbillon Split Seconds Competition Chronograph Felipe Massa

Richard Mille is a company at the forefront of discovery and innovation in their relentlessness quest for the best watch making material.   Richard Mille scrutinizes every component and questions whether there is a better material in terms of lightweight, longevity, resiliency, shock absorbency,efficiency and of course dramatic effect.

Let us not forget the stunning Richard Mille RM 56 Felipe Massa Sapphire Watch unveiled at SIHH 2012 sporting a transparent and scratch resistant case carved from three blocks of Sapphire crystal or the super lightweight RM027 worn on the hand of Rafael Nadel weighing in at just 18 grams. (in this watch titanium and lithium alloy is used)

The Sapphire Watch - Limited Edition - 5 pieces

The new Richard Mille’s RM 050 Tourbillon Split Seconds Competition Chronograph Felipe Massa, Richard Mille has stepped over the boundary of cutting edge technology and entered a realm bordering on science fiction by incorporating carbon nanotube injected composite into the watch case. The introduction of this material results in a watch which is extraordinarily light weight.  The movement itself only weights 9.5 grams.  And light it must be since this is the watch to be worn around the wrist of Felipe Massa during Formula 1 races. Limited Edition - 10 pieces.

So what exactly are nanotubes?

Structure of nanotube

They are single walled Carbon cylindrical nanostructure resulting in highly unusual thermal conductivity , electrical and mechanical properties.  Nanotubes contribute to the field of nanotechnology, optics, electronics, material science, technology and now Horology.

The carbon atoms are arranged at exact intervals within its structure deeming it the toughest and stiffest material in terms of its tensile strength and elasticity. In layman's terms this means the material is 63 times stronger than steel.    Nanotube technology has been used in the construction of tennis rackets to increase lightweightedness, thus it is quite understandable that Richard Mille - so closely associated with the sports- and one of its greatest players - Rafael Nadel - utilize the same cutting edge material in its watches.

Rafael Nadel Wearing RM 027

• Carbon Nanotubes is a relatively recent discovery made only in the 1990's.  It is a fullerene structure (a molecule comprised exclusively of carbon in the form of a hollow sphere, ellipsoid or tube) and also includes Buckyballs. Although buckyballs sound more like the name of some Western bandit, they are the term used for Spherical fullerenes.  Delving more deeply into the aspects of nanotubes result in a vast knowledge of Quantum Chemistry, which I confess I know very little about.  However, I do know we are about to hear much more about this ground breaking material and its contribution to the world of Horology.  

Frederique Constant and The Double Heart Beat Black Beauty

The Double Heart Beat Black Beauty is an exquisite addition to the Double Heart Beat Collection.  Frederique Constant passionate depiction of two hearts joined and beating is now surrounded by shimmering mother of pearl surrounded by a ring of diamonds.  Unveiled in 1994 when mechanical watches for women were a rarity, Frederique Constant wanted to show the world that its Double Heart Beat Watch was mechanical.   Thus they craft an aperture above the balance wheel which rotates clockwise and counter clockwise upon its axes in a large ruby jewel. The rotation is controlled by the hairspring, which  coils and uncoils unabated.  This is the heart of a mechanical watch framed in the Double Heart Beat by an open heart aperture...  and this heart actually feels for others.  $50 of every Double Heart Beat timepiece sold will be donated to the International Heart Foundation.

• So far Frederique Constant has donated two checks totaling $125,000 to International Heart Foundation. A charity organization dedicated to diagnose and treat  children with congenital heart disease  in developing countries. 
•  
• 2009, Frederique Constant supported Paint a Smile - which brought happiness to kids in Beijing Children's Cardiology Department by painting the ward.

• In 2010, Frederique Constant gave the American Heart Association a $50,000 check.

... and who says a watch with a heart cannot feel compassion.