An interesting enough looking watch
Wow! Now it's 6:04 PM
A great way to hide the headphone cable [photos courtesy: www.shophex.com]
The new iPod Nano being worn as a wristwatch
Typically when it comes to entertainment news I give it a passing glance and move on to generally more important things. Over the past two days I have heard way more about Charlie Sheen than I would ever imagine I could. I can read your mind right now; "Why the he talking about a story that really has no bearing on anything whatsoever?". Well today I learned of a detail of the Charlie Sheen saga that hit me to the core of my being.
The Patek Phillipe 5970 valued at approximately $150,000
There is a whole lot happening in this photo [snatched from TMZ...obviously]
In their further attempt to bring in a strong base of American sports fans Tissot has announced today that the French born basketball star Tony Parker will be joining Tissot as an ambassador.
Over the past few months I have been a horrible, horrible, blogger. I really haven't done much with it, and I do feel pretty bad about that. There are several excuses but I'm sure the reason can be summed up with the word; malaise. I honestly wanted to write, and have been keeping up with the industry news, but I guess the muse just never struck me. I've also avoided activity in the forums, though I did visit for information. The passion was still there, just not the will...I guess. I know, I know...call the waaaahmbulance, Craig. I am hoping all that is about to change.
My class bench, with my "school" set of tools...I may have a problem.
The Swatch Group announced today via press release that their co-founder and and Chairman; Nicolas G. Hayek unexpectedly passed away due to heart failure while at work today, June 28th in Biel, Switzerland.
Well, hello there! After what was admittedly a much longer than expected hiatus I am very pleased to announce the [triumphant?] return of The Escapement Watch Blog to these here inter-webs!! The only real change that has occurred is that my home base is now in Seattle, Washington [for those not keeping track, I was previously in Boston, Massachusetts]. I am starting to discover that Seattle is quite the watch community, so in those regards I am extremely pleased with our decision to move to the left coast.
As you may have noticed it's been a little bit of time since I last posted anything on The Escapement's blog and Twitter account. After several months of investigation and debate my wife and I decided to move across the US to Seattle Washington. The confirmation of the move came about a month ago so, as you can probably imagine, I have been spending most of my time getting my affairs in order and packing up our home. We are doing this the old fashion way, we are loading up our home and dog in a U-Haul truck and driving across the country. The idea is at once romantic and dreadful to me at the same time.
In the meantime I wanted to suggest a few fellow watch blogs that I find to be great reads, and are run by down to earth people that offer several different perspectives on individual watches and the industry.
This year at Basel Tissot will show off its latest version from their "Touch" collection. Coming off the popularity of their T-Touch Trekking watch, they have once again expanded the line with the "Sailing Touch" which has newly added functions directed towards those of you who find yourself having a kinship with the sea.
Specs:| Movement | Quartz |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, weather (relative pressure), regatta (countdown), speed (chronograph with tachymeter), compass, 2 alarms, tide calculator, 2 time-zones, perpetual calendar and back-lighting |
| Case | 316L stainless steel Scratch-resistant, anti-reflective tactile sapphire crystal Red, silvered or navy blue bezel with or without setting of 19 Top Wesselton VS/SI diamonds (0.8 to 0.85 ct) Water-resistant to 100 m |
| Dial | Black, silvered, navy blue or white lacquered |
| Bracelet/Strap | Black or white rubber, or rubber with 316L stainless steel, safety folding clasp |
Growing younger by the year, Jovial has decided to extend the festivities of its 80th anniversary with a commemorative piece, the Limited Edition 80 years. The apotheosis of what has been a very emotional year for the brand, this piece embodies to perfection the sense of revival which has characterised the anniversary collection: a supremely innovative high-tech case of delicious chocolate-brown colour, contemporary materials and a skilfully orchestrated interplay of structures and volumes with the most meticulous finishing to create a perfect balance.
A little treasure of sophistication, the Wenger LED Nomad is subtle and discreet despite its numerous digital and analogue functions. There are four pushpieces: one to display the central LED digital compass bearing and the arrow which appears under the Wenger cross logo, a second for the day of the week, a third for the date and month, and a fourth for the digital time in hours, minutes and seconds. Little doubt that today’s nomad will be attracted by this “1 pushpiece – 1 function” principle. The avant-garde design of this redoubtable multi-functional tool gives it plenty of punch.
Breitling has unveiled their newest limited edition version of the Avenger line. The Avenger Seawolf Chrono Blacksteel will have a limited run of 2,000 pieces worldwide. One of its more impressive features is the ability to operate the chronograph at a depth of 1,000 meters [3,300 feet]. Unlike other Avenger models in Breitling's line up this utilizes Breitling's own "SuperQuartz" movement rather than a mechanical.
A quintessential Ball Watch timepiece, the new Engineer Hydrocarbon has undergone numerous developments, like the unidirectional rotating bezel with an H3 micro gas light inserted into a container at 12 o’clock. Its graduation from 0 to 14, as well as the numbers 15, 30 and 45, are coated with a very powerful luminescent paint producing blue reflections. Another innovation is the patented triple folding clasp that the brand has machined from a single block of steel, with the folding elements under the buckle cap equally divided so that the bracelet can be extended by 22mm and the watch worn over sports equipment. American navy pilot Brian Binnie took this extraordinary timepiece with him into space, an expedition that Ball Watch has celebrated by equipping the Spacemaster dial with tubes of blue luminescent gas, in the style of a spaceship’s instrument panel.
Already the winner of a prestigious prize, the r5.5 collection has been enlarged with a new automatic model, a natural development of the collaboration between Rado and the British designer Jasper Morrison based on their shared passion for high-tech ceramics. With the characteristic square shape of its dial, the r5.5 is an immediate eye-catcher. The collection’s name comes from the radius of the dial, whose matte black colour offers striking contrasts with the white luminescent hands and hourmarkers. Not forgetting the perfect synthesis between the ceramic case and the bracelet with its different-sized links that makes the watch fit so snugly round the wrist.
Almost 400 years after the appearance of the regulator in the field of chronometry, Louis Erard pays tribute to this veritable symbol of precision. For the occasion, it has introduced an exclusive complication thanks to a new module developed in partnership with Soprod. A world-first and exclusive to the brand! Offering both ancestral craftsmanship and modernity, Louis Erard has pulled off a master stroke in a spirit of haute horlogerie at affordable prices.
A blend of pink gold and chocolate tones, this limited edition of 100 Eos watches from Christian Jacques has been designed with refinement in mind. The combination of an automatic chronograph movement, noble materials – pink gold case and crocodile strap – and highly worked finishing creates a timepiece that is as classic as it is elegant in the purest Swiss tradition.
Defying time with grace and elegance, the Worldmaster Original 1888 honours the past by paying tribute to the present. Or maybe it is the contrary. Both sober and refined, its delicately cambered case opens onto a sunray guilloché dial that enhances the sophistication of the piece, while the hand-applied hourmakers and Arabic numerals are ennobled with nickel or pink gold. Both vintage and contemporary, the Worldmaster Original 1888 encapsulates the powerful innovations introduced by the watchmaker from Lengnau for 122 years.
Revue Thommen, one of Switzerland’s oldest watch companies, has reproduced its mythical Square model, launched in 1953 to celebrate the company’s centenary. While it appears more contemporary with its pink gold-plated Arabic numerals, transparent back and finely guilloched small seconds, the 2010 model nevertheless remains faithful to the brand’s identifying features: a manufactory-made manual-wound movement, refined lines and unostentatious elegance. Not forgetting those precious materials –18K pink gold for the case and the alligator strap – that add the final touch of perfection to this historically-inspired timepiece.
With its stylish tonneau case, sober dial and the most elegant of steel bracelets, the Master T has an array of useful functions – chronograph, date and moon phase – that will thrill lovers of sport-chic looking for a watch which is both contemporary and classic.
Designed for young men aged 12 to 16, the Junior Collection was created by Frédérique Constant to provide fathers who love beautiful Swiss watches with the opportunity to commemorate an important stage in their son’s life. Housing an automatic movement, the Junior has a back specially designed for the engraving of a personal message, which can be submitted on-line.
With its FC-700 calibre – a Frédérique Constant creation from A to Z – the Maxime Manufacture Lady is as technical as it is elegant. A combination of horological mastery and aesthetic refinement, it will surpass the expectations of the modern woman wishing to return to real values.
Gérald Clerc, representing the brand’s fourth generation, is the creative force behind the Hydroscaph, a timepiece that embodies a new type of construction by incorporating the most advanced technologies. Comprising more than 75 components, the patented 18K red gold and black titanium case is equipped with a helium escape-valve guaranteeing water-resistance to a depth of 1,000 metres. Manufactured in Switzerland. Three-year international guarantee.
The Clerc brand has created a precedent and opened a new era by combining futuristic aesthetics and case construction in an haute joaillerie timepiece. Individually numbered and manufactured in Switzerland, this vibrant tribute to beauty and femininity is an exquisite example of high contemporary watchmaking art.
In 1872, Badollet pocket-watches took the first three places of the Concours de l’Observatoire. The brand is now proud to present this magnificent model equipped with a minute repeater and flying tourbillon and housed in a case designed to recall the style of the fob-watch. This little horological masterpiece is adorned with an opaline skeleton dial set with 72 diamonds and 12 sapphires, through which the hammers, gongs and flying tourbillon can be admired on the bridge side.
Taking personalisation to its very limits thanks to a remarkable choice of materials for the dial and case, the Crystalball Chrongraph encapsulates the mastery of the watchmakers of Badollet. The most stunning example is the manufactory-made column-wheel mono-pushpiece chronograph movement combined with a regulator tourbillon and a 120-hour power reserve.
True to its origins, Cuervo y Sobrinos has reinterpreted a model it brought out in the 1940’s. At that time, the movement made by the brand was patented. Nostalgic for this period when Havana was at the height of its splendour, the brand has devoted two years of research to develop a new in-house movement that is an improvement on the original. Introducing the indication of the week in the form of numbers – hence the word “semanal” (weekly) – and indicating the days, date and month in a circle all the way round the dial are dramatic proof of how valuable all that patient work was!
