Online retail fuelling rapid rise in sales of fake goods, says OECD

Counterfeits worth $590bn a year made up 3.3% of global trade in 2016, report finds

2019 Voutilainen Vingt-8 combines respect for longevity with classical watchmaking tradition

    The elegant and strong mechanism of the Voutilainen Vingt-8 wristwatch is housed in a stylish and robust case. The in-house movement of the Vingt-8 was designed, built, fabricated, finished and assembled in its entirety in Kari Voutilainen’s workshops. The movement has a very large balance wheel manufactured in-house, allowing perfect regulation of the … Read more

Panerai Submersible Luna Rossa meets the needs of the most demanding of sailing fans

  Officine Panerai x Luna Rossa create Panerai Submersible Luna Rossa. The impressive credentials in the field of sailing brought Officine Panerai a new partnership with Luna Rossa. Panerai is the official sponsor of Luna Rossa, the challenger of record of the 36th Edition of the America’s Cup. Luxury Italian watch manufacturer, Panerai is creating … Read more

Greubel Forsey Balancier Contemporain catches the eye with three-dimensional aspects, extensively revealing the heart of the mechanism

    In creating the Balancier Contemporain, a white gold 33-piece limited edition, Greubel Forsey, the Swiss watchmaking company specializing in complicated, high-end timepieces imagined providing a particularly compact showcase for its exclusive balance-wheel system. Creating such a moderately-sized new movement and dial imposed the challenge of maintaining well-balanced forms and pleasing proportions, along with … Read more

Is Time Running Out for Wrist Watches?

 

MB&F watch 2018
photo: MB&F

Technology is moving fast, and it’s taking over old traditions in multiple markets. Take the old wrist watch,for example. It’s simplicity yet complex design has a sort of timelessness and luxury to it, even as the smart watch takes over in the digital age. The so-called redundancy of the wrist watch has been cast aside by those who appreciate old and valuable traditions. Is time running out for wrist watches? We think not, especially if you enjoy to invest in a little luxury.

The pocket watch could be considered the birth of personal timekeeping. Then with progression in technology came the famous and much-loved famous and much-loved wrist watch. With design progressing over time over time, wrist watches began to integrate features such as dates, stopwatches and even water resistancy. Although these advancements could tempt away watch owners for more high-end luxury pieces, the craftsmanship always proveiled. Admittedly, these new tools only incrementally challenge the wrist watch compared to the disruption of smart technology, It is a testament of people’s loyalty to traditional design.

Hublot BigBangUnico King Gold Pavé now available in 42 mm
Hublot BigBangUnico King Gold Pavé in 42 mm; photo: Hublot

In a timely fashion

When considering a stunning watch composition, one may picture sand blasted, high grade metal watch hands, chamfered edges and a harmony of precious gemstones. However, it can be argued that modern smart watches are the epitome of great design, the appreciation moves from the mechanical components of a seamless line of metal passing over numbers representing the current time, to an adaptive and complex computer chip offering endless possibilities. One is stunningly simplistic and the other is complicated, but both carry the art of human creativity and intelligence. So, drastic movements in the watch industry may appear to be diminishing the significance of a wrist watch, but if anything, developing functions of a watch only reaffirms desires to have one  within its appropriateness of modern life.

The purpose of a watch is quite simple, offering information intuitively. However, as contemporary lifestyles have evolved, a day in the complex life of a modern individual requires a slightly less simplistic approach to time management. Drastic increases of smartphone use provide opportunities, not only can you find the time and date straight from the lock screen, smartphones manage your time for you, offering alerts for calendars, timers and notifications for everything you have throughout the day. Often you can negate to time check to see when you are meeting for brunch with your closest friends because your phone will tell you what time your appointment is, what time to leave and where to go.

Chopard L.U.C XPS watch for impeccable elegance and technical sophistication
Chopard L.U.C XPS; photo: Chopard

Tradition always wins on value

Both traditional and smart wrist watches offer timely assistance and are kind to the eye. with their convenient placements. and are kind to the eye. However, are their abilities overshadowed by the advancements of smartphones? Also located conveniently in the pocket, a handbag or already in hand, with adults spending an average of 24 hours a week on the internet.

Especially with modern watches carrying features such as notifications, phone calling and GPS. Does the performance between the smartphone and wrist watch highlight a contrast, and spotlight the limitations of a ‘real’ watch. Time could be running out for wrist watches, as businesses try to incorporate often useless features which are no match for your smart devices.

It would be close minded to exclude the benefits of a wrist watch and it’s design prowess. Simply because people enjoy the functional benefits of a smart watch, just like the functional benefits of sportswear, does not mean one would wear running trainers and thermal vests everyday. Suits are still a favourite choice amongst many and nothing completes smart casual like an exquisitely designed wrist watch.

The Peli 1400 is a crushproof, waterproof and dustproof case that comes with a Lifetime Guarantee
The Peli 1400 is a crushproof, waterproof and dustproof case that comes with a Lifetime Guarantee; photo: thecasefarm.co.uk

Watch out for watches – they’re here to stay

Watch lovers have always lived with the sweet freedom of choice, switching watches from your collection with the help of drawers, displays and crush proof and water proof watch cases from the likes of the Case Farm. This routine marries perfectly even with smart watches. The traditional wrist watch has always been challenged, but has never been more appealing in our over-complicated world that we live in.

PELI 10X WATCH CASE - INDESTRUCTIBLE PELI WATCH CASE
PELI 10X WATCH CASE – INDESTRUCTIBLE PELI WATCH CASE; photo: thecasefarm.co.uk

Skeleton X Carbonium is the perfect showcase of Ulysee Nardin’s new X-ray vision of watchmaking

 

An X-Ray vision of next generation Haute Horlogerie debuted at SIHH 2019/ Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Genève. Nothing can hide, inside becomes outside, the boundaries blur, as the invisible processes of time are marvelously revealed to the naked eye.

Skeleton X by Ulysee Nardin - SIHH 2019 watches-
Skeleton X by Ulysee Nardin – SIHH 2019 ; photo: ulysse-nardin.com

This openworked wonder by Ulysee Nardin takes Skeletonization to the X-level. Bold and powerful, it is an X-ray interpretation of the future of watchmaking design, where we see everything, including the very architecture and functioning of time. If you’ve got it, flaunt it. The Skeleton X leaves nothing to the imagination.

Ulysee Nardin Skeleton X case, reshaped and very small, a mere 42mm, is perfectly on-trend: more angular, more masculine, less round. Its shape-within-shape-within-shape geometry – an X formed by four of the indexes is framed in a rectangle, in turn inside a circle – delights the eye. Inside and clearly visible beats one of the star innovations of the watch’s antecedent, the
Freak Vision: a super-light balance wheel in silicium, extra-wide, with nickel flyweights and stabilizing micro-blades. The new Manufacture movement, the UN-371 caliber, is based on the UN-171 movement, but completely redesigned. The 96-hour power reserve can be read through the back by means of windows, like those in the barrel. The Skeleton X eXists in four different satin-finish versions: satin-finish titanium blue, satin-finish titanium black, satin-finish rose gold or matte-finish Carbonium GOLD.

Skeleton X watch by Ulysee Nardin - SIHH 2019 watches-details
Skeleton X watch by Ulysee Nardin – SIHH 2019 ; photo: ulysse-nardin.com

This Skeletonized watch par excellence is priced very competitively with a start price version at 17’500 USD.

Painstakingly cut and exposed, elaborately finished, hand-polished to a shimmering gleam, Skeleton X watch bespeaks the artisan’s touch, and watchmaker’s experience and savoir-faire.

Skeleton X by Ulysee Nardin - SIHH 2019 watches-carbonium
Skeleton X Carbonium watch by Ulysee Nardin – SIHH 2019 ; photo: ulysse-nardin.com

Ulysee Nardin Skeleton X Carbonium GOLD: from the world of aeronautic fuselage to Haute Horlogerie.

The most spectacular iteration of the Skeleton X collection is undoubtedly the Carbonium Gold version.The aeronautic- grade Carbonium is a new, super-light and sustainable material used in the production of the latest-generation airplanes’ fuselage and wings. In short, the most vital and essential components in today’s modern airplanes.

The production of Carbonium has 40% less environmental impact than other carbon composites as it uses offcuts from aeronautical pieces.

With complex process requiring high pressures and temperatures, Carbonium is a high-performance material that brings out the core beauty of the organic pattern created by the 7µm diameter carbon fibers. Carbonium Gold is a “fusion” of carbon and gold, giving to the Skeleton X watch case shimmery and flowing black and gold waves.

The use of a material like Carbonium  GOLD comes as a clear reminder that we dare make a difference. Ulysse Nardin is the first to use this neXt-generation material in a watch. Its resistance-to-lightness ratio is unparalleled, and its stunning marbling effect never repeats, making each watch case absolutely unique.

Skeleton X by Ulysee Nardin - SIHH 2019 watches
Skeleton X watch by Ulysee Nardin – SIHH 2019 ; photo: ulysse-nardin.com
Executive Skeleton X
Executive Skeleton X watch by Ulysee Nardin – SIHH 2019 ; photo: ulysse-nardin.com
Executive Skeleton X watches SIHH 2019
Executive Skeleton X watch by Ulysee Nardin – SIHH 2019 ; photo: ulysse-nardin.com
Skeleton X by Ulysee Nardin - SIHH 2019 watches-warranty
Executive Skeleton X watch by Ulysee Nardin – SIHH 2019 ; photo: ulysse-nardin.com