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Last Friday (August 13, 2010) Parmigiani Fleurier launched the car inspired Bugatti Super Sport timepiece. A super watch made in conjunction with the world's fastest production car, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport. The car is an amazing feat in engineering as is this new Bugatti timepiece from Parmigiani. I really liked the original watch Parmigiani created for Bugatti, however, this version has been fully redesigned. The new watch is arguably better looking, and maintains an unmistakable look, much like a Bugatti super car. The design is more restrained, the case is sleeker and it is much more wearable. The excellent design perfectly blends subtle Bugatti Veyron elements, without being quite as loud as the previous model, and that is definitely a good thing.

In 2004, Parmigiani revolutionised the world of watchmaking by placing the entire movement of its Bugatti Type 370 watch on a transverse axis, just like a car engine block. A pillar assembly connected the calibre's five plates and the train wheels cut in the shape of a car wheel.

In 2010, Parmigiani flips all the mechanical components of the new calibre Bugatti PF 372 onto a vertical axis, retaining the lateral time display so appreciated car drivers.

In a world premiere, Parmigiani has successfully developed a 90° time setting system - the dial is positioned perpendicular to the display axis (hours/minutes) - by integrating a system of double pinions with bevel gearing. Like the complete movement, this unique and complex mechanical system, which allows the time to be displayed on the side, has been entirely designed and created in the workshops of the Fleurier manufacture (VMF).

Another key feature of the new Bugatti: its dynamometric crown. Perfectly integrated just above the profile, this is one of the essential technical components in terms of the harmony of the model's aerodynamic lines. To retract the winding stem from its housing and make it accessible for setting, a slight pressure is sufficient.

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Time is monochrome on the UR-202 White Shark, with its case, dial and hour satellites all in an original shimmering silver/white hue emitted by titanium, steel and ARCAP. The White Shark, is a timepiece unadorned with no makeup, its only ornament is its technicality. The White Shark, eschews colourful display to concentrate focus on l'art mécanique. 

The black numbers of the hours on the satellites stand out clearly against the light background; however one number of the 12 hour digits is the bright red exception to the rule that identifies the individual piece number in this limited edition of 12. The White Shark, a limited edition of 12 pieces, is available exclusively from Chronopassion (Paris), The Hour Glass (Singapore) and URWERK (Geneva).

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Max Büsser says:

MB&F Horological Machine No4 is here! For the last three years I could not talk about this amazing piece of machinery, and it is truly a great day that I can finally share with all!

After the 311 part Engine which was unveiled in March during Basel, here is probably the most complex case in the history of horology to protect and magnify it.

Titanium and Sapphire - 150 hours of machining and polishing just for the central Sapphire case (that is close to four weeks of machining for one piece !), over 60 hours of machining and finishing for the titanium case back, etc, etc... In our twenty years of horology, this is the greatest challenge Serge Kriknoff and I have been up to.

So what is the Thunderbolt ? A tribute to Aviation... Why ? Because from the age of 8 to 12-13 I spent every free minute crafting model airplanes... They were everywhere in my room. Hanging from the ceilings, accumulating on the shelves, in the cupboards. I would spend hours assembling, modifying, painting anything which had two wings. HM4 is a very personal interpretation of what would happen if you crossed a piece of ultra high end horology with the world of aeronautics.

View all other MB&F timepieces.

Retail $158,000

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The Grönefeld One Hertz is the second complicated mechanical timepiece created by Swiss trained, Netherland based watchmaking brothers, Bart and Tim Grönefeld. The movement for this new timepiece, was created completely in-house. The dial indicates hours and minutes on a sub-dial at 2 o'clock. Power reserve is indicated at 12 o'clock. But what really makes this timepiece standout, is the deadbeat seconds, which is indicated by the large off-centre sub-dial. Independent deadbeat seconds, rotate the dial (independent means the seconds are displayed in the sub-dial) by ticking forward, much like on a traditional quartz movement. Except that this is, of course, a mechanical movement, which really makes it complicated to produce. In fact, this is the world's first and only mechanical timepiece with independent deadbeat seconds.

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The PR Director for Rebellion just sent me this photo of a special limited edition watch they have created for their drivers to wear during races.

Race proven "Predator Chronograph 24 Hours". A limited edition of 24 pieces worn by the Rebellion Racing drivers during the Le Mans 24 Hours will be sold after the race. Features include. dial and bezel in black carbon fibre, 24 hour counter in red and special extendable racing clasp that can be adjusted to wear over racing suit. (Photo of one of their race cars.)

Source: Rebellion

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Caprice Tiger in White Gold.

A woman, like the tiger, possesses a mysterious poetry of strength, power and sensuality, emitting a presence that is both commanding and curious. Ulysse Nardin feeds her fantasies with the Caprice Tiger: a jewel of a timepiece worthy of a fierce fight.

The Caprice Tiger in 18-karat white gold transfixes those who cross its path. With eyes made of emeralds and a form glistening with diamonds, the tiger, although dreamlike, appears alive, as if it's moving stealthily through the grasses. It is a creature of wonder, as enchanting and mystifying as the woman whose wrist it adorns. A piece of jewelry that stands confidently in its own splendor, the Caprice Tiger illustrates the convergence of high horology and breathtaking aesthetic.

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Laurent Favre, has re-launched a brand that, according to documents in the Neuchâtel State Archives, dates back to the early 1700s (beginning with his ancestor Abraham Favre). It is unclear when the name A. Favre & fils actually came into use, but the last Abraham Favre was known to have signed the brand name on timepieces he created. As a heritage to his forbears, Laurent Favre, a 10th generation watchmaker, has learned the art of fine watchmaking through his studies and experience working at a major Swiss watch brand.

He has made it to the point were he has the know-how required to create his own line of timepieces. The first timepiece introduced, under the resurrected A. Favre & fils name, is the Phoenix 10.1: Quantième à Grand Affichage Rotatif.

This new timepiece is both aesthetically and technically appealing. Aesthetically, the movement is intricately finished using numerous techniques including: chamfering, drawing, circular graining, sinks entirely by hand, and a "Rayons de la Gloire" (Rays of Glory) machine finish on bridges (also called sun ray). Technically, the hand wound movement runs at a high rate of 28,800 vph (this rate is unusually high for a manual wind movement). Parallel twin barrels offer up to 84 hours of power reserve (40 hours is common among single barrel mechanical movements). And the most important technical aspect, is a patented big date, which is displayed on the right third of the dial. The Quantième à Grand Affichage Rotatif was designed to optimize the number of parts, therefore increasing reliability, by reducing the number of moving parts to, only two.

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Pro tennis player, Rafael Nadal, just won his fifth French Open in six years, and he did so in dominant fashion. The 24-year old has also regained the world No. 1 ranking, supplanting Roger Federer. This win, is also a win for watchmaker Richard Mille. As you can see from the photo, Nadal is wearing a black wristwatch. He actually wears this timepiece during his matches. It is unobtrusive and does not interfere with his game, clearly, as he has just won his first major since he signed on as a Richard Mille ambassador. The watch he wears during all of his tournaments is not your average sports watch either, it costs over half of a million dollars. And was custom built with input from Nadal. It is extremely light, and has shock absorbers, which prevent damage to the delicate tourbillon movement. Read the NYTimes.com article about Rafael Nadal's win.

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