I. Victorinox Chronopro

The Victorinox Chronopro is Victorinox's premiere mechanical chronograph. It comes is a 42 mm stainless steel case, with an open caseback that affords a view of the Valjoux 7750 movement. Screw down pushers and crown ensure 100 meter water resistance. The price is excellent for a Swiss chronograph of this quality. Read more about the Victorinox Chronopro here.

Retail $1,650, Victorinox

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Lum-Tec is a watch brand based in the United States that specializes in luminous watch dials and hands. Every Lum-Tec watch features their exclusive MDV Technology™ (Maximum Darkness Visibility). This is a special 8-layer application of ultra bright glowing superluminova photoluminescent material. The process consists of a chemical base layer, six luminous layers and a final clear layer on the top. The result, are some of the brightest watch dials and hands in the industry.  Lum-Tec MDV technology is not limited to Lum-Tec timepieces, though, they can even reapply their signature lume to older watches whose luminous paint has worn out over time.

On top of being easy to read in all lighting conditions, Lum-Tec watches are also sporty and extremely rugged.  The Combat B collection includes NATO straps (all Combat B models come with both black and green NATO straps), the movements are heavily protected against shocks (even the mechanical models), they are waterproof to 100 meters (or 330 feet) and they have thick sapphire crystal with a doulbe-sided anti-glare coating.

The Combat B series comes in 43 mm x 12 mm stainless steel cases, with or without black PVD treatment (the three shown are stainless steel models). The lug width is a nice and wide at 22 mm, and even if you do not want a NATO strap, you can easily switch to a 22 mm rubber, leather or textile strap. The caseback is solid and the crown is screw-in, which both helps to ensure 330 foot water-resistance.

All Lum-Tec Combat B 43 watches are the same size, however, a number of different movements is used to power the different functions of each timepiece within the collection.  The B11 is powered by a Rhonda Swiss quartz movement and has a 24 hour real carbon fiber dial. The B12 model is powered by a Japanese mechanical movement by Seiko, with a 46 power reserve, and features black dial with regular 12-hour markings. The B15 is powered by a Rhonda Swiss quartz chronograph movement, and has a real carbon fiber dial, chronograph subdials and standard hour makers. The use of carbon fiber was a great choice, as it is has  sporty high-quality look. The mechanical model uses a fairly small Seiko mechanical movement, which allows the use of extra shock protection, making this mechanical unusually resistant to shocks.

Overall, the Lum-Tec Combat B models are a very good value for your money. You get two straps, a great case design, your choice of either quartz or mechanical movement, a nice variety of dial choices and, of course, all timepieces come with the superb MDV Swiss grade C3 Superluminova technology for excellent nigh time visibility.

Retail $565-$795

Source: Lum-Tec

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Casio introduced numerous new Classic G-Shock watches at Baselworld 2010, and this watch is definitely among my favorites (this new G-Shock is really nice too). The new Aviation Concept watch (pictured) is part of the Classic line of G-Shock watches, and although the name includes the word "Concept", it is not actually a concept, you can already buy one here. Unlike most Casio G-Shock "Classics", which are made of resin, this watch features a steel case and bracelet. It is a more premium G-Shock than is usually sold in the US market, and this is definitely a good thing. The only downside, is a higher price.

You definitely get what you pay for, though. It is very rugged, like any other G-Shock, except this one is not your average G-Shock. It is powered by a extremely shock and stress resistant "Tough" movement that has been designed and tested to withstand the high G-forces associated with air racing (it can actually withstand more than 12Gs). Most of us will never be exposed to anywhere near that many G-forces, especially for a long period of time. But if you are, and you are wearing this, it will still be ticking.

That brings me to the next cool feature, a feature that actually reached many of the G-Shocks this year - analog hands. Some of the new models have both digital and analog displays. This one, however, has a more premium, analog only display. This means you actually do see a hand ticking (it is quartz so it ticks, instead of sweeping smoothly like a mechanical, still that is better than a digital readout in my opinion). Many older G-Shocks feature a digital only display, and I think the addition of actual analog readouts, with ticking hands, is a nice improvement.

The movement is a solar-powered Japanese quartz. So light enters through the dial and powers a rechargeable battery. Solar powered quartz is great because it is better for the environment and you never need to replace the battery. It can actually last up to 5 months without light (if fully charged).

On top of telling the time in 12 or 24 hour format, with very high atomic precision (which I'll discuss below) it also features a chronograph with 1/100th of a second accuracy, separate day and date functions, a beeping alarm.

As I mentioned above, this watch features ultra precise multi-band atomic timekeeping. This allows the watch to pick up the radio signal from any of the world's atomic clocks. The six atomic clocks throughout the world (USA, United Kingdom, Germany, China and Japan has two). You basically need to let your watch sync with the nearest atomic clock, which sends constantly sends out a radio signal. The watch will automatically try to sync (6 times) everyday, and you can also sync it manually. For example, if you are traveling and would like to set the time once you arrive at your destination in a new timezone, you then just need to set it to the correct city and activate the manual atomic sync function. If you have a clear view and are facing the correct way (towards the nearest atomic tower), and you are within about 2000 miles or less of the nearest atomic clock, then it should set your time to the second. In the rare instance that it doesn't work, you can try again from another location or just manually set the time the old fashioned way. Learn more about atomic timekeeping here.

Water-resistance is 200 meters. It comes with an integrated metal bracelet with a folding clasp. It is currently available here. Overall, I think this is a great new version of the popular Classic line of G-Shock watches, with some nice new features and design elements that easily justify a higher than average price tag.

Ref GW3000BD-1A

Retail $360

Source: Casio

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The Rolex Submariner is one of the most recognized luxury watches in the world. It originally went into production in 1953, and was first presented to the public in 1954 at the Basel watch fair.

For this photo review, I got my hands on one of my friends recent acquisitions, a pre-owned 2007 Black Bezel Submariner. This watch is probably the most copied timepiece on the market, with many replica manufacturers copying the design. Even with all the knockoffs, this classic timepiece still commands top dollar on the pre-owned market. Due in part because of its fame, high demand, and of course, the name on the dial. Another less known factor, is that Rolex generally raises its price every year. You can generally find a pre-owned stainless steel Submariner in good condition for $3,500-$4,500 with the date (a little less without a date function). A new Submariner, with a ceramic bezel, starts at about $7,000. So as you can see, just going a few years back, will literally save you thousands. And in the case of the watch that I have photographed here, the buyer actually got it less than the selling price range above. (I'll tell you the actual price he paid below.)

Submariners, and really any Rolex, are a favorite of celebrities. If that is good or bad thing, I do not know, but you can see some celebrities wearing Rolex watches here. And if you search the web, you can find more celebrities wearing a Rolex, than probably any other brand.

Quality is another factor in the legendary status of the Submariner.

First, Rolex uses 904L stainless steel instead of 316L steel. Most watch brands uses 316L surgical grade stainless steel when producing a steel case or watch. The use of 904L actually adds a significant amount to the price, and most companies cannot justify the additional cost for higher grade of steel. Rolex, however, is not most watch companies, and accordingly they use the best steel available, even if the more affordable 316L stainless steel is good enough. The main advantage of 904L over 316L is its resistance to corrosion. Rolex uses 904L steel primarily for marketing purposes, to differentiate their product, but it does technically offer additional corrosion resistance. 904L is has copper added, which greatly improves resistance to strong reducing acids, as well as chloride. 904L is non-magnetic in all conditions and has excellent weldability and formability. The austenitic structure also gives this grade excellent toughness, even down to cryogenic temperatures. 904L does have a very substantial amount of nickel and molybdenum, and this is what really adds to its cost.

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(This article was previously published but has now been upgraded with a more advanced photo gallery technology that works with any web browser as well as most mobile devices, such as the iPad.)

New Zealand based boutique watchmaker, Magrette, recently released a new limited edition dive watch, the Moana Pacific Diver. It is capable of an impressive water resistance of 500 meters (1,650 feet) deep. For keeping track of dive time, it features a 120-click unidirectional rotating bezel. The case is stainless steel and comes in a comfortable 44 mm diameter, and features a polished top, bezel and crown, and brushed sides. It is powered by a reliable Miyota 8215 automatic mechanical movement, with 21 jewels.

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Overview of Roger Dubuis Manufacture Visit

On June 21st and 22nd, along with the marketing and press representatives from Roger Dubuis USA and the editors from two luxury magazines, I attended a very special press trip to the Roger Dubuis watchmaking factory in Geneva, Switzerland.

Roger Dubuis was founded in 1995, and is a true manufacture (meaning they produce some or all of their own movement calibers in-house.) Their watch designs are contemporary, however, their movements are actually more traditional, with classical complications, such as chronographs, torubillons and minute repeaters, made in-house, by hand. This is what makes Roger Dubuis a truly exceptional brand.

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Roger Dubuis is well known for their complicated timepieces, specifically their tourbillons. They also make minute repeaters, chronographs and divers. Personally, I have always liked their flagship Skeletonized Excalibur Tourbillon (which will be featured on Monday), but at $250,000, it is unaccessible to most consumers. Luckily, they do actually make some more affordable timepieces too. In fact, as of 2010, they have lowered their entry level price point for men's watches. The men's Easy Diver collection now starts at just under $13K. This still may sound high, even though they took about $5,000 off the previous model's price. But it is all relative, and for an exclusive, limited production, in-house made movement, this price is about right.

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This HD video was shot in March during the 2010 Baselworld show. Baselworld is the largest watch and jewelry show in the world. A total of 6 Halls and "the Palace" take up 525,000 square feet of exhibition space, and feature hundreds and hundreds of the world's best watch and jewelry brands. The brands setup extravagant booths, some three stories tall (in Hall 1), to show off their newest novelties. Over 100,000 visitors attend the show each year, including retailers and international press. (Baselworld 2011 is March 24th-March 31st)

Watch video on Vimeo player.

Brussels based video producer, Bastien Roger, shot this video using a Canon 7D video DLSR, and created all shots handheld. All of the footage was taken inside the main watch halls (Hall 1, Hall 1.1 and the Palace).

If you are interested in having a film created at your next watch or luxury event, please email info@professionalwatches.com

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