June 4, 2013 | Baselworld, Christophe Claret, Hands-On
This is a hands-on look at manufacture Christophe Claret’s new Kantharos mono-pusher chronograph with striking mechanism and constant force escapement. The automatic-winding chronograph’s cathedral gong audibly chimes with each change of function: start, stop and reset. A constant force escapement, visible at 6 o’clock on the dial, ensures the energy delivered to the escapement remains constant from beginning to end of the power reserve.
June 3, 2013 | Armin Strom, Baselworld, Hands-On
At Baselworld, Biel-based manufacture Armin Strom launched a new collection of micro rotor equipped automatic timepieces. Uniquely, the in-house movement has a dial side micro rotor with an opening in the dial that proudly displays it in the lower right quadrant of the dial. The dial ring is off center and features printed hour and minute markers. A small seconds sub-dial is located at 9 o’clock. The hour, minute and second hands are mirror polished. The hour and minute hands are luminescent. An “Armin Strom” logo plate is screwed onto the dial, vertically, at 3 o’clock.
May 31, 2013 | Baselworld, Hands-On, Omega
Launched at Baselworld in April, the Omega Speedmaster ‘57 Co-Axial Chronograph collection pays homage to the original Speedmaster which came out in 1957. Presented in a 41.5 mm diameter case, the Speedmaster ‘57 has straight lugs as a nod to the first Speedmaster. Additionally, the dial and movement side are both protected by retro box shaped sapphire crystals.
May 30, 2013 | Baselworld, Hands-On, Victorinox
For 2013, Victorinox has produced a complicated version of their best selling timepiece, the Chrono Classic. According to Alexander Bennouna, the CEO of the Victorinox Timepiece Division, the Chrono Classic 1/100th Perpetual Calendar is the result of a collaboration between movement manufacture Soprod and Victorinox. They worked closely together to produce a very cool technical piece.
May 29, 2013 | Baselworld, Breguet, Hands-On
One of the most notable introductions from Breguet at Baselworld this year was the Classique Tourbillon Extra-Thin Automatic 5377. Available in a 42 mm diameter 18K rose gold or platinum case that measures a mere 7 mm thick, the 5377 Extra-Thin is currently the world’s thinnest tourbillon.
The dial is in 18K gold and is silvered as well as engine turned in four different patterns. The tourbillon, which rotates once every minute and displays small seconds, sits off-center at 5 o’clock. Positioned asymmetrically, the frosted chapter ring has Roman numeral hour markers, with minute dots on the outermost part of the ring. The hour and minute hands are open tipped Bregeut style in polished stainless steel which has been blued. A power reserve indicator, which indicates from 0-90 hours via a straight blued hand, is located in between 8 and 9 ‘clock. Each piece is individually numbered and signed Breguet.
May 28, 2013 | Baselworld, Interviews, Victorinox
What is your background, how long have you been with Victorinox?
Since 2004, so almost 10 years, and 20 years in the watch industry. Prior to that I had brief experience in the jewelry business.
What is the focus for Victorinox in 2013 and beyond?
Our focus is to become a companion for life. Now, let me elaborate so it is not just a marketing statement. A ‘companion for life’ is like when you have a Swiss Army knife in your pocket, maybe you will not need it now, but maybe you will need it later in the day, maybe you will need it next week, maybe you will need it in a months time. But you are sure that the moment you need it, it won’t let you down.
It will deliver what you need because it is made with the highest level of quality and functionality.
And our inspiration, and it is a challenge, is to replicate these values in the timepiece business. Our mission is to pursue quality with no compromise. This is why we have reviewed our design, our engineering and our manufacturing process.
Today I am quite proud to say that in terms of quality in our price segment, we are unmatched.
May 28, 2013 | Arnold & Son, Baselworld, Hands-On
With the help of their new parent company, La Joux Perret, watchmaker Arnold & Son released a slew of awesome new timepieces equipped with manufacture movements this year at Baselworld. We already covered the Time Pyramid HERE, and will cover another one of their watches soon, but today we will discuss the UTTE. The Ultra-Thin Tourbillon Escapement has the world’s smallest tourbillon movement. Well, to be precise, it is tied with the Breguet Classique Grandes Complications 5377BR Ultra Thin (which we will cover later this week) for the world’s smallest tourbillon movement. At 2.97 mm it is the same thickness as the Breguet, however, the Breguet timepiece is housed in a case that is only 7 mm thick compared to the 8.34 mm thickness of the Arnold & Son.
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