Jewelry – Swiss Watch Makers

Can this watch defeat Superman?

Nicolas Scatena — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 15:31:12 +0000

Introducing URWERK UR-105 CT Kryptonite

No, this watch cannot kill superman but it is indeed named after the radioactive compound that is known as Superman’s only weakness. URWEK seem to always have a theme for their timepieces, this time being Kryptonite. The latest addition to the URWERK UR-105 CT collection is this glow in the dark timepiece nicknamed “Kryptonite.”

This new version of the watch only has a couple changes, being the color variation. The fascinating feature about the CT collection is the protective cover hinged on to offer a partial view of the time display.

In the dark, the hour markers and minute track emit an intense green light while the seconds indicator and the power reserve emit a blue glow. What makes this watch so amazing is the contrast between these glowing colors and the black matte of the case.

This timepiece is up for CHF 65,000 or USD 65,324. I am sure many superman comic lovers will have their eye caught on this precious timepiece.

Urban Jürgensen Ref. 1140L RG Brown

Nicolas Scatena — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 21:38:49 +0000

When it comes to attractive watches that are simple yet elegant, Urban Jürgensen produces the best timepieces in that category. Furthermore, the Reference 1140L RG Brown released at Baselworld and is a very limited edition.

The dial features a chocolate brown hue with contrasting blue hands that create a nice tone. The one thing that catches my eye most is the beauty of the Arabic numerals made of solid rose gold and appear as they are floating. The proportions of this watch are so perfect that makes it an epic watch.

This Urban Jürgensen is the latest addition to the Reference 1140 series that has featured dials in a variety of colors over the past few years.

Jumping inside the watch, is the hand decorated in-house P4 caliber with Swiss Lever Escapement, a twin barrel, and a 72-hour power reserve. The timepiece measures at 40 mm and is matched with a brown alligator leather strap and with a solid rose gold folding buckle and clasp. The price for this beauty is marked at 29,900 Swiss francs or around 30,000 USD.

Harry Winston Opus 11

Nicolas Scatena — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 20:48:07 +0000

Today I am writing about the Harry Winston Opus 11! It definitely has one of the most unique watch displays that I’ve seen so far.

The Opus 11 is limited edition with only 111 in the world.

The case, available in white gold, surrounds a sapphire-crystal dome.

The watch reminds me of a phoropter, the instrument used by an eye physician to check your vision.

The main circle (above) is where the hour is displayed with the peculiar, yet amazing arrangement.

The number in the middle of the hour circle gets reassembled every hour, then remains still for the next 60 minutes.

There are 24 placards, that move and rotate to display the number in the center.

The top right circle (above) displays the minutes on a jumping disk for the tens place and a running disk for the individual units. An indicator points at the current time.

The bottom right circle (above) shows the beat of a big titanium balance-wheel.

The Opus 11 includes:

24 conical pinions

155 jewels

566 components

The power reserve lasts for 48 hours until the crown on the top left corner has to be wound again.

The Opus 11 looks wonderful paired with a black leather strap.

Here is a video on YouTube of the Opus 11 that I stumbled upon:

The way the numbers rotate and assemble is completely ingenious!

History in the Making

Nicolas Scatena — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 17:54:27 +0000

Today I’ll be going over the history of Vacheron Constantin.

Vacheron Constantin is one of the oldest watch manufacturers being founded in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron.

Today Vecheron Constanting is part of the Richmont Group.

Vacheron Constantin has a small employee scale compared to that of Rolex, it only employs about 400 people world wide.

Vacheron Constantin made their first complication in 1770, 9 years after the first engine turned dial was invented by this marvelous company.

The name Vacheron Constantin came to be in around 1819 when then owner Jaques-Barthèlemy realized he needed help running the growing company. François Constantin became his assosiate and tats how Vacheron & Constantin came to have its name.

The watchmaking company has a motto and it states “Do better if possible and that is always possible”.

In 2003 Vacheron Constantin introduced a new sports line called Overseas, and a collection called Egérie, the first to include watches for women.

In 2004 Vacheron Constantin opened its new headquarters and manufacture in Plab-les-Ouates, Geneva.

The Richmont Group named Juan Carlos Torres as the CEO of the company in October 2005. Vacheron Constantin is considered to be company that was able to create one of the most complicated wristwatches in the world entitled Tour de I’lle. It was created in 2005 to mark the anniversary of 250 years of Vacheron Constantin. The watch includes 834 parts and 16 horological complications. It was only available through the Vacheron Constantin shop in Geneva, Switzerland and sold for more than $1 million.

In 2007 Vacheron Constantin introduced the Metiers d’Art ‘Les Masques’ collection of timepieces featuring miniature reproductions of primitive art masks. The company selected twelve masks from a private museum collection and reproduced the masks on a small scale. The miniaturized masks are featured in the dial center of every watch from the ‘Les Masques’ collection.

See More of the Metiers d’Art ‘Les Masques More of Metier d’Art collection

Vacheron Consantin sells about 20,000 timepieces a year today.

Now This Is A Complication

Nicolas Scatena — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 21:40:05 +0000

Frank Muller Aeternitas Mega 4

With 36 complications the Franck Muller Aeternitas Mega 4 is one of the most complex timepieces ever. This stunning timepiece has 25 complications visible. This timepiece has a monstrous 1,483 components with 99 Jewels. Arguably the most complicated wrist watch ever made this timepiece fetches a price of 2.7 million USD

Calibre FM 3480 QPSE

Frank Muller

“Mechanic Tourbillon, Carillon Westminster on 4 hammers and 4 gongs, Chronograph with fly-back mechanism and only one push-piece, Perpetual Calendar Secular, Equation of time, Two additional time zones, Automatic self-winding mechanism for the movement and the Westminster carillon.”

This movement measures 34.4 mm x 41.4 mm x 13.65 mm

Which might seem large but taking count of sheer amount of components and complications is actually small.

This amazing Movement also has a power reserve of 3 days/strike 24 hours.

18,000 VPH

You can see this timepiece in 3 different models below!

Heres a bit more on what Frank Muller has to say about this outstanding timepiece

AETERNITAS MEGA 4

“The Aeternitas Mega – the most complicated wrist-watch – is the pinnacle of success in the art of watch-making in terms of complexity and complications. A grandiose work of art culminating in the design of the most complex wrist-watch ever made in the world thanks to the multifaceted skills of our watch-makers and constructors. Each of the 1,483 components was designed to give the watch an elegant design in the pure traditions of the old “cadraturiers” of the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland. This watch inspires countless emotions and make it simply unique in the eyes of lovers in the art of fine mechanics and luxury watch making.

From the very beginning, the Mega was incorporated into the Aeternitas project and is, indeed, the culmination of this project. The Aeternitas Mega 4 is the only “Grand Sonnerie” time-keeper in which the Tourbillon is visible on the dial side, which limits the space available for the “Grand Sonnerie” mechanism and thus makes the design even more complicated.

The glass sapphire case back enables the harmoniously chiselled and decorated pieces that overlap to be admired in a stunning combination as a dazzling ballet. This masterpiece was entirely designed and manufactured by the Franck Muller group and once again demonstrates their vast array of skills and ability in the Art of Haute Horlogerie.”

As you can see they have a lot to say about their timepiece and who wouldn’t this timepiece is truly a milestone in Frank Mullers great history.

This magnificent timepiece is made in 3 different styles

All with a Case Dimensions of 42.00 mm x 61.00 mm x 19.15mm
A Hand Sewn Alligator Strap
3 ATM Water Resistance which is about 30 meters.
Display: Hours, Minutes, 24 hours, Chronograph, Fly-back, Minutes counter,
hour counter retrograde, two time zones, Movement power reserve
Display of the chime: Grande or petite chime
Chime or silence
Chime power reserve
Perpetual calendar display: Date retrograde, Day, Month, Year, Leap year (cycle of 4 years), no
leap year (cycle of 100 years), leap year (cycle of 400 years), Equation
of time

Cintrée Curvex 8888 18 carat white gold

Dial: Sun-stamped lacquered white dial with black Arabic numerals

Cintrée Curvex 8888 18 carat white gold

Full set baguettes red rubies

Dial: Sun-stamped lacquered white dial with black Arabic numerals

Cintrée Curvex 8888 18 carat white gold with black PVD treatment

Dial: Sun-stamped lacquered black dial with red Arabic numerals

Batman/Bruce Wayne’s Time Piece

Nicolas Scatena — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 15:05:05 +0000

What Watch Would Batman/Bruce Wayne Wear?!

Fiction Billionaire Bruce Wayne is actually one of the most famous billionaires in reality. But what time piece would this billionaire playboy/dark knight wear?

The answer is a Jaeger Le-Coultre

More Specifically the Jaeger Le-Coultre Reverso Grande Taille

Yup this billionaire crime fighter wears this classy timepiece.

You can see Bruce Wayne wear this timepiece in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins

But lets go a bit further in time and you can see the Batman wearing this timepiece in Batman Forever by

Here’s the link to the scene. Batman Wears Jaeger Le-Coultre Reverso Grande Taille

The Jaeger Le-Coultre Reverso Grande Taille is very affordable compared to many other timepieces I’ve written about it is actually under the 10k range in most occasions. It has a Jaeger Le-Coultre caliber 822that has 134 parts 21 jewels with a power reserve of 45 hours.

This timepiece has a 3 bar about 90 meters of water proof

Measuring 42.2 mm long and 26 mm wide

width is 9.3 mm.

So for any Batman fan this is the watch to get!

The Celestial

Nicolas Scatena — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 15:54:00 +0000

Today will be the first Saturday blog I’ve ever done, to start off I would like to recommend WatchFacts.com

Watch Facts is the carfax of the watch industry they certify that a timepiece you have bought has not been stolen and of course if its all original.

Ok so lets start this off my beloved watch lovers.

Today I will be speaking about another timepiece I dream to have.

It is a Patek Philippe Grand complication

Quick fact Patek Philippe made the first wrist watch in 1868

The grand complication was the celestial particularly ref 6102

A dream upon the stars, yes indeed this timepiece is.

This timepiece is a start gazer to say it can be looked at just like the beautiful night sky.

Patek Philippe uses their 240 mechanical movement on this timepiece.

Illustrating the hours and minutes of solar time

a beautiful sky chart with the phases as well as the orbit of the moon.

It gives you the time of the meridian passage of Sirius and moon.

And a hand for your date.

Composed of 315 components 45 jewels

with a diameter of 44 mm

It has power reserve of 38-48 hours and produces 21,600 vph

Of course the name Patek Philippe is respecting in the watch industry but they always seem to take simplicity and complication one step closer.

This timepiece is truly something that shines but without all the aesthetics other watchmakers use

Patek Philippe instead uses a beautiful dial with outstanding functions to capture the attention of anyone just how the full moon catches your eye in the night sky.

Truly exceptional.

I truly admire Patek Philippes work and especially this timepiece.

I truly do believe they try to simplify the complicated and make it into something magnificent.

They use a shiny navy alligator strap with square scales that goes perfectly with the color scheme of the timepiece.

I’m short on time today since it is my birthday so I’ll had to make this one short.

Remember I will gladly accept any of my dream watches as a gift.

Cartier Vice President had an Accident!

Nicolas Scatena — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 17:53:56 +0000

It’s mid week and I thought I should write about a ladies watch for a change.

I don’t believe I’ve ever reviewed a ladies watch on this blog up to date.

I’ve choosen to write about the Cartier Crash

Why? Well because I found it strange that I haven’t written about a ladies watch yet so I decided to write about a watch I found strange.

With a price tag of about $70,000 that could have been spent on the car that instead hit the watch.

This watch comes in a 18K pink gold or white gold case set with brilliant-cut diamonds, beaded crown set with a brilliant-cut diamond, silvered opaline dial , blued-steel sword-shaped hands, 18K pink gold bracelet or white gold and if that isn’t enough there’s one with diamonds, wrist size: 170 mm, mechanical Manufacture movement with manual winding, caliber 8970 MC, Case dimensions: 38.5 mm x 23.1 mm. Thickness: 8.8mm.

Cartier themselves don’t have much to say about the latest crash timepiece, I mean who could this watch is.. well strange. But anyhow this is what they said.

Cartier:”Created in 1967 in the heart of Swinging London, the Crash watch captures the incredible energy of the city at that time. With its asymmetrical dial, it revolutionized the esthetic codes of watchmaking history. Consistently released in a very limited series, this legendary piece carries the prestige of its rare nature.”

Ok so ladies and gentlemen the history for this timepiece is even weirder. The story goes that a Vice president from the Cartier offices in London, was involved in a fatal car crash. A fire ensued and the occupant along with his watch was caught up in the flames, furthering along the fatality and “melting” the watch on his wrist, a Cartier Bagnoire Alongee, which is shaped like an elongated oval. The watch being melted and mangled took on the shape of a surrealistic watch from a Dali painting. The powers that be at Cartier, found this “watch design” actually inspiring, and decided to introduce is as a new design, and as a tribute to their fallen colleague. Thus the “Crash” watch was born.( in Great Britain the slang for a car accident is “crash”)

A few decades after its creation the Cartier Crash became a limited edition timepiece the latest crash model only has 267 limited watches. Odd number of course.

Cartier is known for making beautiful artistic timepieces and indeed this is an artistic timepiece but I still find it strange.

So Cartier took their destroyed Bagnoire Alongee and simply launched it as something new and called it artistic. But it has seem to have caught on and sold well since it’s launch in 1967 once it was turned into a limited edition in 1991 it truly caught on with Cartier collectors.

JLC Counters Gravity Affects, SIHH Jaeger-LeCoultre

Nicolas Scatena — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 17:59:58 +0000

SIHH is one of my favorite watch events. My last few post have been about watches released at the SIHH This next post will be about.. yes.. another.. watch released at the SIHH. Don’t worry guys I’ll review watches that come in to us later. But come on SIHH releases some of the most magnificent watches one can lay their eyes on.

But today I’ll be covering 2 Jaeger-LeCoultre. We’ll start with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre à Sphérotourbillon

The Spherotourbillon is part of the Duometre line, a line in which all watches use the Dual Wing concept this concept to put simply uses two power sources one for your time keeping and the other for your regulation and complication needs. This watch will be sold in very limited quantities, 75 in platinum and an unknown amount of rose gold but it’ll be limited as well as stated by Jaeger-LeCoultre CEO.

Ok so lets explain why there is a Dual Wing concept.

In a watch when you use its features a certain amount of power is used to support them, this can affect your normal features.

Let me show another world example imagine you’re on your computer it has say 8 GB and you have your platform and start up programs that use up say 3 GB (That’s a lot for just a platform and startup programs I know) then you open a video editing program that uses 4.5 GB you’ll notice that your operation on your basic platform might slow down, this is essentially the same for watches.

To resolve this they gave the complication and regulation its own power source so it won’t affect the normal time keeping of the timepiece.

Seeing the image above of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre à Sphérotourbillon. You can see there are two mainspring sections one labeled Hours/Minutes the other labeled Regulator. Separating the power source assures high accuracy . But just to take it a step further in accuracy they used a dual-axis, dual cage tourbillon on a 20° incline. The fact that it uses two axis means the tourbillon can counteract gravity in a large magnitude of positions. To make this watch even more exact they’ve added a flyback seconds button at 2 o’clock which resets your seconds without stopping the watch.

The Watch has a 382 movement which consist of 460 parts with a 50 hour power reserve.

Jaeger-LeCoultre says the following about their timepiece

“An authentic revolution in the field of Grande Complication models, the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon, stemming from almost 180 years of history and invention unique to Jaeger-LeCoultre, is equipped withan unprecedented multi-axis tourbillon. In addition to the axis of its carriage, the Sphérotourbillon has a second axis inclined at 20° and thereby freeing it from the effects of gravity in all positions. The revolutionary `Dual-Wing` concept featured in Calibre 382 once again paves the way for an original function and makes this exceptional model the first tourbillon watch that is precisely adjustable thanks to the small seconds flyback system.”

The watch is beautiful and unique.
On the dial you will find two power reserve indicators.
A Date feature around the hour and minute indicator
A second indicator as well as a dual time feature.
Of course your able to see the beautiful tourbillon on the face of the watch.
Look below to see the The Rose Gold Model and White Gold Model as well as a special model that seems to have a night sky dial which I loved.

Thinnest Mechanical Watch by Piaget

Nicolas Scatena — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 14:48:48 +0000

Piaguet have revealed the thinnest mechanical movement today at the SIHH 2014

How thin you ask? 3.65 mm thin! How thin is that? Well grab 2 Quarters and stack them you have about 3.65 mm. That is outrageously thin.

The Altiplano 38 mm 900P now holds the title of thinnest mechanical watch taking it away from Jaeger-LeCoultre that made a watch 4.05 mm thin

The Altiplano 38 mm 900P features 145 parts. What makes this timepiece really interesting is that the case and movement are one, the movement can’t be removed from the casing the case-back itself is the baseplate. The Watch will cost you about 30k USD, 18k white gold case and a black alligator strap. The watch has a power reserve of 48 hours.

I do love the visibility of the movement in this timepiece.

The fact that it’s also only 38 mm is outstanding for its thinnest and in my opinion its a perfect wrist size. The white gold casing goes perfectly with the dial as well as the black alligator strap.