Bremont is a British company producing beautifully engineered chronometers in Henley on Thames, England. Bremont watches similar to Bell & Ross are inspired by aircraft instruments and the art of flying. Bremont watches are manufactured to a very high specification and every watch has a chronometer certification. The Bremont ALT1-Z Zulu line was designed with aviators and world travelers in mind. Z stands for 'Zulu Time' and allows the wearer to display local time together with the official world time standard - Universal Time Coordinated—UTC—, Greenwich Mean Time—GMT—, or even Zulu time—Z. UTC—replaced GMT in 1972— is now used as the standard clock of choice for international reference time in communications, military, aviation, maritime and other activities that cross time zones. This is one of the primary reasons why the Bremont ALT1-Z has become the watch of choice for the professionals involved in these activities, including many Military Squadrons.
Rare Bird: Tissot Navigator Day-Date. A Touch of Orange.
This beautiful Tissot Navigator from the mid-70s is a rare specimen. While we often find Navigators with a date feature, we typically hardly come across Day-Date pieces. This watch was originally purchased by a watchlifestyler back in Buenos Aires, Argentina —notice the day in Spanish language—and is still running strong for a watch of this age.
The Navigator features a Lemania caliber 1341 automatic chrono module featuring two independent chrono hands, one keeping track of the seconds and the other one of the minutes. The chronograph hour register is positioned at six o'clock, while the running seconds register is at nine o'clock. The dial is an enamel dial in chocolate brown. If you pay close attention to the pictures you can still see the texture from the brush utilized to create this beautiful piece.
The cal. 1341 is a simplified version of the caliber 1340 which was first introduced in 1972. The main difference between the two, is that the caliber 1341 has 17 jewels instead of 22 jewels, and has no facility for adding a 24 hr function. The 1340/1 calibers are often linked with the Omega calibers 1040/1. In 1930 Tissot and Omega formed a working group called Société Suisse pour l’Industrie Horlogère (SSIH) and ASUAG where forced to merge, creating what today is known as the Swatch Group.
Insider: The Iconic Rolex GMT Master Nipple Dial 'Rootbeer' ref. 16753
Also known as the 'eye of the tiger', 'tigerauge' or 'occhio di tigre' because of the resemblance of its dial to the semi-precious stone with the same name, the GMT Master ref. 16753 with brown dial is an iconic vintage Rolex reference. Typically, more vintage looking when fitted with a jubilee bracelet instead of an oyster bracelet. The example included here, is in the 6.1 million serial range circa 1979 with a quick-set feature and a pristine clean matte dial.
This beautiful specimen very popular among Italian vintage watch collectors is not as rare and hard to find as one would think. Now, finding one with a naturally faded bezel insert and with no flaking to little flaking on the dial is hard to come across. Most nipple dials from the 70s start to show some flaking and discoloration due to unstable elements in the paint used back then to create the dials.
Experience: Color Combos with Audemars Piguet
In case you were wondering how well checkered shirts go with Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore watches. Some of our favorite combos.
Macros: IWC Ingenieur Mission Earth. Beautiful and Sporty.
The Ingenieur was originally launched in 1944 and since then, it has experienced several changes and major redesigns throughout its life. Perhaps the most noticeable change, was the one presented in 1976. Trying to emulate the concept of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and the Patek Philippe Nautilus, IWC hired Gerald Genta to give a facelift to the iconic Ingenieur. The new Ingenieur was included in IWC's SL 'Steel Line' Collection— further proof that the newly designed collection was intended to evoke the huge success of the Royal Oak as a luxury sports watch made of stainless steel and not precious metal. The Ingenieur logo with the thunderbolt passing across the word 'Ingenieur' resembles the thunderbolt commonly utilized to alert of the passing of an electric current. In the case of the watch it symbolizes the anti-magnetic properties of the inner soft iron casing protecting the movement.
IWC Ingenieur circa 1977. Photo: Frizzelweb
The Ingenieur Mission Earth launched in 2008 was designed to master extreme situations of any kind with a rugged and reliable IWC in-house movement fitted with an integrated shock absorber. The watch is protected against magnetic fields of up to 80,000 amperes per meter. The watch has a massive 46mm case and a power reserve of up to 44 hours. Watch is also available with a stainless steel bracelet.
Meet Up: High Tea at The Peninsula Chicago
A group of collectors met up for high tea at The Peninsula in Chicago. Tea, pastries and watches are always a good combination. Talking about watches over tea is one of the biggest pleasures in the watch collecting world.
This afternoon these collectors brought with them a handful of watches to review and play with, while enjoying the good life. On the table Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Panerai and IWC.
The Peninsula is the perfect setting for watch lifestylers. Quiet, good lighting, great atmosphere and excellent food.
For more info on this hotel click here.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Equation Du Temps ref. 26603. Pure Perfection.
During a private meeting with Audemars Piguet we were able to experience several timepieces including the Royal Oak Equation of Time —Equation Du Temps— which in our opinion is probably one of the most amazing complications by Audemars Piguet. The Equation of Time watch exudes class, character and charm. This watch comes with custom sunrise and sunset times and perpetual calendar with astronomic moon. It is available in stainless steel or rose gold with a crocodile strap either in black or brown respectively.
Fitted with the caliber 2120 /2808 manufacture this beauty has a power reserve of up to 40 hours and 425 parts. Sunrise and sunset times can be changed upon customer's request as well as decoration to the oscillating weight on the watch. This watch features a perpetual calendar with day, date, month and leap year, astronomical moon phases and sunrise/sunset times. The watch dial comes with the legendary 'grande tappisserie' and anodized blue hands for all the functions with the exception of the hour and minute hands.
Sticker Price for this beauty $68,700.00
The following Audemars Piguet video shows the functioning of this complication.
Experience: Replacing the Plexi on a ref. 1675. Five Minute Pit Stop.
All it takes is a reputable Rolex watchmaker like M. Chamosa in Dallas, TX. The proper Rolex tools, a correct original new old stock Tropic 116 and five minutes of a collector's time.
Experience: Making of an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Case
One of the most fascinating industry videos by Audemars Piguet. As you will see in the video it takes talent, passion, precision and extreme quality control to create the iconic Royal Oak case. Making a Royal Oak case is a subtle dance between accuracy of modern machinery and the expertise of meticulous hands and sharp eyes.
Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25721ST.OO.1000ST.01. The Very First One a.k.a 'The Beast' and the Most Beautiful in our Opinion.
In my opinion the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ref. 25721ST.00.1000ST.01 is the most beautiful sports watch ever made by Audemars Piguet. This timepiece is sporty yet very elegant and classy at the same time. A watch that goes great with a suit or with jeans and a t-shirt. My love for this particular watch dates back to the late 90's when after owning several Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks Jumbos ref. 5402 —three Stainless Steel Jumbos to be precise and several Two-Tones—, I spotted in person what would become one of my true grails and a watch that was an unattainable back then —at least for where I was in my career at 26 years of age. I still remember that very first encounter as if it was today. Back in 1998 during a high level meeting with the CEO of Grupo Televisa —the largest media conglomerate in Latin America— I noticed him wearing what I thought was the nicest AP I had ever seen. I had never seen one in person until then. My 'dream watch' —at the time— was born during that encounter. It was the first Royal Oak Offshore launched back in 1993. That Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore with the blue/grayish unmistakable dial that is now a discontinued model.
Getting Ready: Baselworld 2013
The new facility at BaselWorld.
Finished and ready for use: the new hall complex for BASELWORLD has been completed. The overall contractor has finished the new hall complex on time, and according to plan, and handed it over to MCH Basel Exhibition. On March 4, 2013, a start will be made on assembling the stands for BASELWORLD, which opens its doors on April 25, 2013.
The new building project for MCH Messe Basel was first presented to the public just under seven years ago. After some 22 months' construction work – divided up over three building phases between June 2010 and February 2013 – HRS Real Estate AG, the general contractor responsible for building the complex, handed the new hall over to MCH Basel Exhibition on February 8, 2013, on schedule and according to plan. With an overall investment of CHF 430 million, the successfully completed project is the biggest investment ever to have been made in Switzerland's exhibition industry.
The hall complex which is 220 metres long, 90 metres wide and 32 metres high provides a total of 38,000 square metres of exhibition space on the ground floor and the two upper storeys that span the Exhibition Square. Exhibition Centre Basel is now able to offer 141,000 square metres of show ground, with no less than 74,000 square metres of this being provided by Hall 1 that runs along Riehenring.
The new building developed by architects Herzog & de Meuron combines functionality and aesthetics in the ideal manner. The compact exhibition site makes for flexible management and offers visitors a high level of comfort and convenience. At the same time, the new building constitutes an impressive architectural visiting card. The built-over section of the Exhibition Square with its striking atrium – the so-called City Lounge – will become a new and attractive centre for the exhibition ground.
BASELWORLD at a glance:
- 104,000 visitors from 100 countries
- 1,815 exhibitors from 45 countries
- 3,300 journalists from 70 countries
- 160,000 m2 exhibition area
Watch Collecting Lifestyle will be covering live from BaselWorld from April 25 through May 1, 2013. Stay tuned!
News: Tudor to Relaunch in the U.S. Summer 2013.
Kudos to Rolex for this announcement.
Rolex has confirmed that Tudor will be relaunching in the United States at the end of the Summer of this year 2013. A new company named Tudor Watch USA LLC, has been set up in New York City.
An executive at Rolex USA mentioned that the authorized dealers that will be carrying the watches have already been chosen, however, they are not providing any details as to who this will be. There will be a major national and regional advertising campaign, and the Tudor launch will be announced at a press conference at the Baselworld fair this coming April. Watch Collecting Lifestyle will be reporting live from Baselworld.
Finally, consumers won't need to continue to buy Tudor watches from Mexico, Canada or overseas authorized dealers.
Audemars Piguet: New Ceramic Offshore Diver ref. 15707CE
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver ref. 15707CE.00.A002CA.01
Back in January, Audemars Piguet presented their new pieces for 2013 at the SIHH. This time the new pieces included the new Royal Oak Offshore Diver in ceramic. This time the iconic and 'hot watch' Offshore Diver makes its appearance in a black ceramic case, titanium glareproofed sapphire crystal caseback—allowing view of the caliber 3120— black ceramic bezel and crowns and titanium links.
The dial in the traditional black “Méga Tapisserie” pattern with white gold applied hour-markers and hands with luminescent coating, black rotating inner bezel ring with diving scale and zone from 12 to 3 o’clock in orange.
The watch comes fitted with the same black rubber strap that comes on the stainless steel and forged carbon models but with a titanium pin buckle.
Once again, Audemars Piguet continues to be at the forefront of watch design and use of avant-garde materials in the industry.
