Sunday 29 April 2012

Manu Propria - Two little "Ryûkin" Goldfish


Manu Propria Urushi Timepiece

Two little "Ryûkin" Goldfish
1.4435NcU staybrite case, polishedm 39.00 mm diameter, historical self-winding movement caliber AS 1701 "Skymaster" execution 41 jewels, red gold plated.The dial "roiro" black urushi with two Ryûkin goldfish in "hiramaki" low relief, "shû" red urushi and gold dust, the eyes small gray pearls. Hand made unique pieces

Courtesy of Manu Propria

Learn more about Angular Momentum and read the publication "One Hundred Views"

http://en.calameo.com/read/00135027149dbf4ad259a?sid=8e2ecd1e4285d3d827dad49596d1d0a5

Labels: ,

Bookmark and Share

Friday 27 April 2012

Nivrel's New Deep Ocean GMT

This just in from Nivrel -

Courtesy of Nivrel

After the huge success of the Deep Ocean and the Deep Ocean Black in 2011, the new Deep Ocean GMT slots perfectly into our small dive watch collection. The additional function of a second time zone is realized by using a modified ETA 2836-2 movement.




Courtesy of Nivrel


NIVREL Deep Ocean GMT
Reference: N 146.001





Courtesy of Nivrel


Movement: ETA 2836, modified

Jewels: 25

Escapement: Swiss lever escapement

Oscillation system: 28.800 semi-oscillations per hour

Power Reserve: appr. 40 hours when fully wound

Movement dimensions: Diameter: 25,6 mm, Height: 5,05 mm

Functions: Hours, minutes, sweep second, date, 2nd time zone through
hand indication, 3rd time zone (24-hour bezel)

Operating elements: Crown to wind up the movement and to adjust time, 2nd time
zone, and date

Case: Stainless steel 316L, black aluminum inlay with silver-colored
numerals, screwed crown with protection, water-resistant to
50 bar

Case dimensions: Diameter: 43 mm, Height: 13 mm

Glass and case back: Sapphire Crystal; stainless steel case back

Dial: Black dial with luminous numerals (Superluminova® C3)

Hands: Silver-colored, luminous hands (Superluminova® C3), red
hand for 2nd time zone

Strap: Stainless steel strap with flip-lock deployment buckle and
strap extension; additional silicone strap with NIVREL signature
buckle and case integration

Extras: Strap tool, NIVREL signature travel pouch

Price (incl. 19% VAT): 899,- EUR

Labels: , ,

Bookmark and Share

Thursday 26 April 2012

A few minutes with David Cypers





James Henderson - What was your first watch?  Was it a gift?  Is there a story behind it?

David Cypers - My first watch was a citizen chrono watch, it was a
gift for my 7th birthday.



JH - When you were a boy - what did you want to be when you "grew up"?

DC - I could imagine myself as a military officer,
but my parents would not allow me.



JH - What were you doing before you joined Anonimo?

DC - Since the end of my studies (1997) I had been active in the diamond industry in Antwerp (Belgium).  I worked as an independent sales agent for a DeBeers Sightholder company, distributing diamonds and diamond jewelry across Europe.



JH - Where did you go to school - what did you study exactly?

DC - I studied Business Engineering (it is a five year university degree), which culminated in a Masters in Marketing, at Limburg University Centre in Belgium.
 During my studies I participated in a European inter-university exchange program (Erasmus), and hence I did part of my studies at University College Galway, in Ireland.



JH - Being from Belgium - had you ever imagined that you would be running an Italian watch company?

DC - When I was 18 I really knew I wanted to run an international business working with Italian design product.  However, I did not know in what field it would be.



JH - What first brought you to Anonimo?  

DC - In 2007 I was looking for a watch for myself.
I liked Panerai watches a lot at that time (Italian design).  I saw the Anonimo booth, and really liked what I saw, especially the Militare Crono, and Istarted to talk to the people at the booth.

Instead of ordering 1 watch for myself I decided to buy an entire collection, to become the distributor 
of the brand in Benelux.  I was already distributing diamond jewelry, a parallel industry, in that market space.  However, as a man, I have more affinity with watches than jewelry.
So over the years my involvement with the company grew.



JH - Who else out there is making watches that interest you?

DC - Mainly Audemar Piguet.  I also appreciate Gerald Genta: almost all of the designs he made.



JH - What is it that makes Anonimo special?

DC - First and foremost, the indisputable Italian passion for design.
The equilibrium in aesthetics is deeply embedded in the Italian culture.
Even if Italians make a machine, something entirely functional, they make it look nice!

Secondly, the history of watch making (especially diving watches) Anonimo is built upon, for example:
            1936:      The first Panerai watch: today Dino Zei, the ceo of Panerai from 1972-1997, is part of 
                           our team. 
            1939:      Enrico Ambucchi starts a small case factory in Florence: today his workshop since     
                           1959 is our workshop, and his son,  Antonio Ambucchi, is our technical director.

And the third element is the Florentine artisanal way of making objects.
Truly brilliant craftsmanship.



JH - Had you always wanted to have/run your own watch company? 

DC - I always wanted to run my own company.
When I was 18, I was elected president of the High School student Association.  When I was 21 I was elected president of University student Association.  By the age of 17, I really knew I was going to run my own company.

My Passion for watches came later, stemming from working in the luxury industry, I appreciate a nice product to work with (a small design object carefully and passionately handcrafted), the product closest to me is a watch.






JH - You worked fairly closely with Federico Massacesi and Dino Zei? What are they like to work with?

DC - Federico Massacesi is inventive and intelligent, with a passion for design and engineering.

Dino Zei is very, very rigorous, a real colonel-engineer!  But at the same time surprisingly warmhearted, maybe his aging has increased this quality.



JH - What are some of the biggest challenges you are facing right now?

DC -
Growth in Asian markets.
Quality of product still has to improve.
Challenging marketing expenditures needed.



JH - What is the strongest market for Anonimo right now?

DC - It is Asia.



JH - I know that it might be hard to choose, but what is your favorite Anonimo of all time?
  
DC - In all honesty, it would be my "first love": The Militare Crono.

 JH - What do you see as the next big market for Anonimo and Firenze Orologi?


DC - China.  All Swiss firms are doing 30-40% of their turnover there.
We are still not present in that market.


JH - What do you like to do in your down time?

DC - I like to read novels, watch movies and see plays at the theatre.  Spend time with relatives.


  

JH - And as you are from Belgium, it must be asked - favorite Belgian cyclist - Merckx or Freddy Maertens?

DC - To be honest I like more today's sports people from our country,
for example Tom Boonen in cycling, or Kim Clijsters in Tennis.



JH - If you weren't doing this, what would you be doing?

DC - My father was an artist, painter and musician.
I hope to be able to follow his footsteps one day, into the fine arts.




JH - What advice do you have for future watch entrepreneurs? 

DC - Before anything else, try to get a very thorough understanding of what luxury is about.



Labels: , , , ,

Bookmark and Share

Wednesday 25 April 2012

GIRARD-PERREGAUX Partners for KOBE BRYANT Charity Efforts


On Sunday, April 22nd Girard-Perregaux partnered with the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, where Kobe and Vanessa hosted an intimate fundraising event at the home of one of the foundation’s board members in Los Angeles to support the organization, which is dedicated to improving the lives of youth and families in need.
Courtesy of Girard-Perregaux
Over 60 guests including Cindy Crawford, Rande Gerber, Jo Champa, Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers and more attended and participated in a live auction with Andrea Fiuczynski from Christie’s. All proceeds will benefit the foundation. All six board members attended, including Kobe and Vanessa Bryant, Karyn Silver, Carol Cheng-Meyer, Aileen Getty and Patrick Soon-Shiong. 

Included in the auction was a custom Girard-Perregaux WW.TC Shadow timepiece, identical to the one worn by Bryant that evening. His timepiece is engraved with his initials and jersey number.

Labels: , ,

Bookmark and Share

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Ben Challenger joins the GRAHAM community


Courtesy of Graham


Ben Challenger is a new friend of GRAHAM. High jump Olympic athlete with a career spanning
over 20 years.

Born in 1978 in Loughborough, England, Ben has competed at international High Jump events
from the tender age of 15, with gold at the U23 European Championships and bronze and silver at the 
Commonwealth games.

Son of Romeo Challenger, the drummer of Showaddywaddy, Ben has always led an eclectic
lifestyle, being a great fan of motor racing - being an avid super bike rider himself. With his
funky afro and beautiful Japanese tattoos, Ben has always been a lively and charismatic
character, and is proud to be involved with the GRAHAM brand.

Ben is currently in training for the 2012 London Olympics, where he will be wearing his
GRAHAM watch when he goes for GOLD.

'Meeting and working with the GRAHAM team feels like being invited into a big family, excellent
team spirit, extremely high quality watches and common interests - I look forward to the years
to come.'


Labels: , , ,

Bookmark and Share

Dmitry Medvedev and his SLYDE watch by HD3



Courtesy of HD3
 Mr. Medvedev and his SLYDE by HD3.

Labels: , ,

Bookmark and Share

Maurice Lacroix's FRENCH JOB



THE FRENCH JOB: Bloggers wanted for job of their lifetime
703 feet freediving world record attempt on the Côte d’Azur

Zurich, April 2012 - Under the title of “The French Job”, Maurice Lacroix is looking for a team to follow diver Sébastien Murat’s freediving world record attempt of more than 703 feet beneath the sealevel over two weeks in June. The team will comprise four bloggers, who will cover the activities on the ground in English, German, Russian and Chinese, a video-blogger, a Wordpress expert, a personal assistant and a pool boy, and their job will be to report on Séb’s mission internationally. In addition to the thrill of Séb “The Sub” ’s world record attempt, the team will enjoy French savoir-vivrein a luxury villa in Juan-Les-Pins on the French Côte d’Azur. Men and women of at least 20 years of age, holding a valid passport and suitably qualified for the position sought may apply to become team members online via Facebook. Applicants who receive the most votes from their fans will have the best chance to be one of the lucky participants.Further information and applications on www.facebook.com/mauricelacroixwatches and www.the-french-job.com

703 Feet Beneath the Waves – A Modern Tale of Adventure.
For Sébastien Murat, one of the best free divers in the world, from Neuchâtel in Switzerland, limits have never been an issue. He has dramatically changed free deep-sea diving, adopting the empty-lungs technique that marine mammals use for diving. In June 2012, Séb has his sights on a world record diving depth of 703 feet; deeper than anyone has gone before and requiring more than eight minutes without oxygen. In order to achieve this unbelievable target, he studied the diving procedures developed by wales, dolphins and seals. His discovery: all these marine mammals dive to great depths with their lungs empty and in so doing avoid the danger of dangerously distending their lungs with diminishing pressure. With years of training, Séb applied this technique and in this way adapted perfectly to the conditions deep under the sea. Séb is studying physiology at the University of Adelaide, in Australia and at the same time, as a professional SCUBA diving instructor, passes on his knowledge to interested students.

Labels: , ,

Bookmark and Share

Linde Werdelin 3 Timer with Gold Accents


Courtesy of Linde Werdelin


3 Timer with Gold Accents

3 Timer is an elegant piece that shows three different time zones with a bi-directional 24-hour bezel and the additional GMT hand on a mesmerising sun ray guilloché textured dial.
3 Timer is available in Steel Green, Steel Black, and Steel Silver, and The White Watch.
Two special editions have been introduced: 3 Timer with Gold Accents* added to the crown and dial available in 48 pieces and 3 TimerMicrobillé* in a matte case finish in 25 pieces.
The White Watch features softer and more delicate design details, white screws and bezel markings, complete with a slimmer white pointed calf strap. It is an ideal timepiece for slender wrists, and to complement the owners' stylish wardrobes. Only 51 pieces are available worldwide.

Labels:

Bookmark and Share

Monday 23 April 2012

Hanhart's Primus Desert Pilot



Movement:
HAN3809 modified automatic chronograph movement (bicompax), based on the Valjoux 7750 calibre; 28,800 vibrations per hour, 4 Hz; 28 jewels; rotor with a skeletonised Hanhart logo; power reserve of min. 42 hours
Functions:
Small seconds at 9 o’clock, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, date display at 6 o’clock
Case:
Stainless steel; anodised aluminium red button; fluted bezel with inlaid red marking; convex, internally anti-reflective sapphire glass; screwed-down, internally anti-reflective sapphire glass case back; screw-in crown; flexible lugs; diameter 44 mm, height 15 mm; water-resistance to 10 bar/100 m
Dial:
Sand; with Super-LumiNova®-coated, luminous Arabic numerals, index marks and hands
Strap:
Textile; folding clasp with inlaid red marking (anodised aluminium) made from stainless steel


Reference number:
740.250-372


Labels: , ,

Bookmark and Share

 
 
All of the information on this site - Chronometers.org is protected by copyright. All image and text are the property of Chronometers.org and the companies who have provided them.