PLANTING TIME IN YOUR FLOWER GARDEN

Yesterdays $25 million dollar timepiece from Chopard inspired us to look into the relationship between flowers and time a little more thoroughly.

The sun was mankind’s first clock, but reading it has not always been restricted to sundials and shadows. For centuries humanity has also been divining time, if inexactly, by the opening and closing of flowers. The idea of a “flower clock” was first codified by Carolus Linnaeus, the Swiss botanist, in 1751. (See? Even the botanists in Switzerland are obsessed with time.)

Linnaeus observed that certain individual species of flowers open and close their petals at specific points in the day: catmint between 6 and 7A.M., hawkweed between 7 and 8A.M., marigolds at 9A.M. and so on. He found the opening and closing of these flowers to be so regular that he conceived the creation of a circular garden that would be arranged like a clock face, with 12 segments of flowers grouped by the time they open and close. (Catmint occupying the space between 6A.M. and 7A.M., etc…)

In this way, you could see what time it was just by looking at your garden and seeing which group of flowers was drinking in the sun. This method of telling time, in good weather conditions, was accurate to within a half hour.

Though Linnaeus was the first to set down his botanical discoveries via the scientific method, the idea of a flower clock garden pre-dates him considerably. In fact, Andrew Marvell described a floral clock in his poem “The Garden” in 1678.

“How well the skilful gardener drew
Of flow'rs and herbs this dial new;
Where from above the milder sun
Does through a fragrant zodiac run;
And, as it works, th' industrious bee
Computes its time as well as we.
How could such sweet and wholesome hours
Be reckoned but with herbs and flow'rs!”

Source articles: http://www.newscientist.com/backpage.ns?id=mg19526112.700
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A5170024

CHOPARD’S $25 MILLION DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

The title of the most expensive watch in the world has once again changed hands. Chopard has taken jewelry watches to the next level with its 201-carat watch featuring 874 (yes, you read that right) diamonds of every imaginable color, shape and size clustered around a yellow face that evokes petals enfolding the ovule of a flower.

This absolutely exquisite timepiece mirrors a flower in function as well as form as the Chopard horologists have equipped this piece with a mechanism that allows the diamonds that enclose the face to flip open like petals unfolding to embrace the day.

Source articles: http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/chopard201watch.html

JAMES BOND INSPIRED WATCH

An interesting new James Bond-inspired model from Veldini Q is slated for production. Various incarnations of this wristwatch feature everything from screwdrivers to knives to diamond-tipped glass cutters. Other options include bottle openers and magnifying glasses. While the prototype designs are somewhat basic, the spy-gadget-appeal will doubtless call out to the kid in many if us and is sure to add a healthy dose of ‘fun factor’.



Source article: http://gizmodo.com/393169/the-veldini-q-wristwatch-was-inspired-by-james-bond-and-it-has-the-spy-gadgets-to-prove-it

SWISS LUXURY WATCH INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO GROW

The Swiss luxury watch industry continues its explosive growth, defying the slowing global economic climate. April Swiss watch exports grew 22.4% to 1.4 billion francs.

Source article: http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=615218

LESS FUNCTION, MORE FASHION

As the ubiquity of cellphones continues to grow, wristwatches are becoming less about function and more about luxury, style and fashion. The luxury watchmaking industry has embraced this change with open arms, as their paradigm has always been informed by the idea that a watch is not something that you use to check the time--it is a work of art.

However, there are those who see a re-surgence in function on the horizon. Daniel Ashbrook, a computer scientist at Georgia Tech, is convinced of it. His idea, though it is years from implementation, is create a wristwatch peripheral, much like a bluetooth earpiece, that will allow watch, cellphone and computer to all interact seamlessly so that you can check more than the time on your wrist: you could also see the weather, a stock market report or glance at your wrist to check your caller ID.

Source article: http://www.ajc.com/living/content/living/stories/2008/05/16/watch_0518.html

ULYSSE NARDIN INNOVATES AT BASELWORLD

Ulysse Nardin has become a proponent of integrating silicium into its exquisite watch manufacture. Silicium is a versatile element that is used in everything from semiconductors and microchips to glasses and ceramics.

The Ulysse Nardin Sonata Silicium uses silicum both for the aesthetic appeal and to help protect precision components in the Sonata's movements.



Source article: http://www.ulysse-nardin.com

VACHERON CONSTANTIN CELEBRATES BARBIER-MUELLER EXHIBITION

In 2007, Vacheron Constantin and the Barbier-Mueller Museum undertook a joint project to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Barbier-Mueller Museum in Geneva and the launch of the Métiers d’Art Les Masques collection by Vacheron Constantin. The brand is now again supporting the museum for its one-off Parisian exhibition entitled “Art of Africa and Oceania, highlights of the Babier-Mueller collection”. Hosted by the Jacquemart-André Museum in Paris from March 19th to August 24th 2008, the exhibition was inaugurated on March 18th. To mark the occasion, Vacheron Constantin invited numerous guests who enjoyed the opportunity to discover these works drawn from the worlds’ largest private collection of primitive art and imbued with striking beauty, power and mystery.

Source article: http://www.vacheron-constantin.com

BAUME & MERCIER IN VOGUE

Baume & Mercier appeared in April’s Vogue. Always a stellar brand, Baume & Mercier continues to keep itself in the public eye and drive the luxury timepiece industry forward with its innovative design, exquisite craftsmanship and excellent marketing.





Take a look at some of our Baume & Mercier Super Sale items:

Hampton City Automatic MOAO8342 (70% off MSRP)

Hampton Spirit MOAO8450 (69% off MSRP)

Hampton City Chronograph MOAO8344 (68% off MSRP)

Capeland S MOAO8324 (66% off MSRP)

Source article: http://www.baume-and-mercier.com

WOODEN TREASURES

Rose gold, yellow gold, platinum, stainless steel… wood? Better yet, bone?

Vjatka, Russia: In the early 1900’s, a small family of watchmakers became fascinated with the art of organic watchmaking and produced 500 wood, bone and ivory pocket watches over three generations. Approximately 250 of these horological creations still survive today, and are prized around the world. Most recently, a piece sold at a 2005 auction for $25,000 (a significant increase from its original price of 120 rubles). The original wooden model, first displayed in 1837, is said to have been purchased by Alexander II.





Source article: http://watchismo.blogspot.com

GENEVA AUCTIONS SHOW DEMAND

Demand among watch collectors is as strong as ever, as evinced by last weekend’s auctions in Geneva, home to some of the finest horological dynasties in the world. (Including Baume et Mercier, Chopard, Omega and Raymond Weil, among others).

A 1949 Patek Philippe model became the most expensive steel watch in the history of watch-making when it sold for over four million dollars to a private Swiss museum.

Several watches more than doubled low-end estimates of their worth. Some almost tripled estimations.

Overall the weekend auctions saw just over 500 pieces sold for a total of more than $35 million.

Source article: http://www.reuters.com/article/artsNews/idUSL0989854920080514

AUCTION BREAKS RECORD

Last week, a Patek Philippe tourbillion broke records previously set by Vacheron Constantin when it sold for $1.49 million last Thursday, becoming the most expensive post-1970 timepiece ever auctioned. The watch was purchased anonymously.



Source articles:

http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSHKG18929820080410
http://antiquesandthearts.com/Antiques/AuctionWatch/2008-04-15__11-54-23.html

ANTI-MALARIA WRISTWATCH

Watches are more than just style these days. With atomic clocks and cell-phone wristwatches pushing the boundaries of timepiece technology, other innovators have more humanitarian interests at heart.

Gervan Lubbe, an inventor in South Africa, has produced a wristwatch that helps prevent malaria by providing a diagnosis so quick that it can detect the presence of malaria-causing parasites before its wearer even feels sick.

Lubbe maintains that his detection system can identify the disease early enough to reduce the malaria death-rate to virtually zero among those wearing the watch. Upon detection, the wristwatch displays a digital picture of a mosquito and tells its wearer to take three pills that kills off the disease within 48 hours.

The cost-effectives of the plan could be a problem, but the inventor maintains that the cost of the watch is far cheaper than the cost of treating malaria victims.

Source article: http://sciencespeculation.blogspot.com/

Ebel watches

ebel watches

The Faces of the Corum Bubble Watch!

If you’ve
been shopping around for a Corum Bubble watch, you are most likely
overwhelmed by the varying sizes and styles the line includes. Here,
we’ll help you break down the Corum Bubble line so you can figure out
which size and color best suits your needs and style.

Although the
Corum Bubble line includes all the colors of the rainbow (and more!) –
one thing remains the same throughout – it’s innovate styling. Its
signature design is the unique domed sapphire crystal which offers
anti-glare protection and magnifies the dial. The
leather-stitched-to-rubber bracelet is also a phenomenal achievement in
design.

Corum Bubble watches generally come in the following sizes:

Mini
Midsize
XL

They include some of the following styles:

Quartz
Automatic
Chronograph
Stainless steel case
18K white gold case
18K yellow gold case
18K rose gold case
Pave diamond case
Diamond bezel
Diamond arabic numerals
Mother of pearl dial
Leather-stitched-to-rubber strap
Rubber strap
Mesh strap
Diving capability
GMT 2-time zone

To choose a Corum Bubble watch, you need to narrow down your options to size, style and function.

SIZE

The Corum Bubble watch isn’t
about labels, it’s about style. So we’re going to try and refrain from
classifying the watches in terms of Men’s and Women’s. Since all the
watch sizes incorporate both masculine and feminine hues, they are
easily interchangeable. For example, in the XL line, even though the
case measures in at 45mm wide (larger than most standard men’s
watches), it still includes a large array of feminine colors including
pink, turquoise, aqua, plum, lilac and many others. In addition, many
are complimented with diamond dials. So you may wonder if a woman can
pull off a jumbo watch, that even some men wouldn't wear. Or if a man
can get away with a diamond-studded watch with a pink strap? It’s all a
matter of taste. In today’s metrosexual society, men don’t shy away
from soft feminine hues. And lets face it - diamonds are no longer just
a girls best friend. Women are also opting for extra-large watch pieces
that get noticed. With that said, let’s take a look at the measurements
of the watches (all measurements are approximate).

MINI
Case width: 26mm (29 mm with crown).
Case length 30.7 with lugs.
Case thickness: 14mm (7.5 w/o domed glass).
Bracelet width: 13mm.
Bracelet length: fits a wrist size of 5-7 inches.

MIDSIZE
Case Width 35.5 mm (40 mm with crown)
Case Length 41.8 mm with lugs
Case Thickness 18 mm (11 mm without domed glass)
Bracelet Width 19 mm

XL
Case Width 45 mm (50 mm with crown)
Case Length 53.5 mm with lugs
Case Thickness 21 mm thick (13 mm without domed glass)
Bracelet Width 23.5 mm
Bracelet Length Fits a wrist size of approx. 7-8 in.

To get a
picture of the general range in watch sizes, take this into account
(all measurements are approximate and are measured by the width of
the case):

Women’s Mini: 23mm-25mm.
Women’s Regular: 26mm-29mm
Midsize: 34mm-36mm.
Men’s: 37mm-39mm
Men’s sport: 40mm-42mm.
Mens XL: 45mm

Please note
that these are very general guidelines. Sizing depends on style and
manufacturer. Some tend to make very petite watches, while others make
larger models.

By the above
standards, you’ll notice that the Corum Bubble runs quite large. Still,
the Bubble is very appropriate for today’s trend of big watches.

There’s just
one more size element. In keeping with the “bigger is better” trend,
Corum realized that many of their customers with smaller wrists would
still want to wear the larger dials, so they designed a smaller size
strap to accommodate them. Here is a guideline of the watch strap sizes:

Small straps should fit a wrist size of 6-6.75 inches.
Regular straps should fit a wrist size of 6.5-7.25 inches.
XL small straps should fit a wrist size of approx. 6-7 inches.
XL regular straps should fit a wrist size of approx. 7-8 in.

STYLE

Style, like
size, is a matter of personal taste. If you are looking to glitz up
your watch, you might want to opt for a diamond bezel. As far as color
– you can choose a more subtle pastel hue, or opt for the florescent,
brighter style. Dials come in white, black, or in a color matching the
strap. Some are available in mother of pearl. If you are looking for
the classic Corum look – opt for the leather-stitched-to-rubber
bracelet. It offers the look of real leather with the durability and
comfort of rubber. Otherwise if you want something less sporty, opt for
the mesh strap. And finally, a real sport-enthusiast might prefer the
all rubber style.

Some of the
many colors of the Corum Bubble straps and/or dials include white,
cream, vanilla, aqua, turquoise, light blue, royal blue, lavender,
light pink, hot pink, red, bright yellow, mustard yellow, orange, mint
green, black and brown.

FUNCTION

If you are
looking for a reliable watch that you don’t want to have to wear in
order for it to run, you should go for a quartz model. Otherwise, if
you prefer a watch with a mechanical build, you should look for an
automatic style. If you like the timing capabilities of a chronograph,
with its 1/10th second, 30 minute, and 60 second registers – you should
opt for those models. If you are just looking to tell time, go for a
classic non-chronograph model. Lastly – the diver’s watch offers a
water resistance to 200 meters (150 more than the classic model) while
the GMT 2-time zone reflects the world time on a 24-hour scale and
allows you to monitor 2-time zones on your wrist.

We should
also make mention of the special edition Bubble collection that Corum
designed with unique dials. They include the Royal Flush, Baron Samedi,
Skeleton, Bats, Privateer, Casino, and Jolly Roger. Some of the diver's
watches are also available with outlandish styles - including shark
and tiger dials.

All in all, don't let the Corum Bubble define you. Switch things up and define it for yourself.

Here is a comprehensive view of
some of the many options available in the Corum Bubble, in this case,
with a black model. It's available in mini, midsize, and XL, with and
without a chronograph, with and without diamonds, on
leather-stitched-to-rubber, rubber and mesh straps, and some with diver
functionality. There are possibly even more options, but these are the
ones we’ve carried!

Urwerk Turbine

Eterna Vaughan Big Date

IWC - Portugaise Calendrier Perpétuel Calibre 50611