May 21, 2013 | Baselworld, Hands-On, Zenith
As a tribute to Zenith’s aviation history, this year at Baselworld they launched four Pilot watches. Three of the watches comes in a 48 mm case, one in a 40 mm case, which is pictured. Considering that 48 mm is gigantic on most people’w wrist, the Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 40 mm is the most wearable of the new Pilot watches.
May 20, 2013 | Baselworld, Hands-On, Hublot
At Baselworld, Hublot unveiled a watch with a massive power reserve of 50-days, a world record for a hand-wound tourbillon wristwatch. The MP-05 LaFerrari Ferrari is a special series created as a homage to Ferrari’s new LaFerrari supercar. In fact, it was developed “in technical and design terms - entirely in parallel with the car, alongside the Ferrari teams.” They even share a number of common elements.
The MP-05 utilizes 637 components, 108 of which are jewels. And to achieve the record breaking power-reserve, the watch utilizes 11 series-coupled power barrels. All 11 barrels, which are arranged like a spinal column and interconnected so they do not discharge in turn but support each other, are visible in the center of the dial.
May 15, 2013 | $1,000 or less, Hands-On, Tissot
To highlight the recently launched Tissot T-Race Nicky Hayden Limited Edition 2013 watch, Tissot invited us to the brand new Austin, Texas Circuit of the Americas race track to watch the first annual MotoGP US Grand Prix motorcycle race. During our stay, we met with Tissot brand ambassador — 2006 MotoGP World Champion and Ducati team rider — Nicky Hayden. We asked Hayden about his input into the new version of his watch and he said, “I had some input into the strap for the 2012 model, specifically I asked for the Ducati racing stripe to be included on the strap, which is a design element carried forward to the 2013 model.” Please hit “Read More” to learn more about the Nicky Hayden T-Race watch and to see some shots from the 2013 Austin MotoGP race which took place April 21, 2013.
May 12, 2013 | Baselworld, Hands-On, TAG Heuer
Last month at Baselworld, TAG Heuer introduced the Monaco HEUER Calibre 12 Chronograph Automobile Club de Monaco Black Edition. According to Calibre 11, it is based on an older 1970s Black Monaco (pictured below), which is said to be one of the rarest Heuer watches primarily because is not 100% clear if it ever officially existed.
May 10, 2013 | Baselworld, Blancpain, Hands-On
Blancpain’s big introduction at Baselworld this year was the new vintage inspired Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe. It is presented in a 43 mm x 13.4 mm case and comes in your choice of brushed satin steel for $10,500 or ceramized titanium for $12,000. Functions include hours, minutes, seconds and date. The dial comes in meteor grey or black. The unidirectional ceramic dive bezel is marked from 0-60, with a luminous dot at 60. Round hour markers are applied and feature luminescent paint. The hour, minute and second hands are treated with lume as well. The Bathyscaphe comes on either a specially develop Nato strap with matching hardware or a textile strap and buckle. Inside is an in-house caliber 1315 automatic movement with 227 components, 35 of which are jewels and a 120-hour power reserve.
May 8, 2013 | $1,000 or less, Baselworld, Casio, Hands-On
At Baselworld 2013, Casio launched multiple new Pro Trek models, but today we will discuss the new Triple Sensor Ver 3. model - the PRW-3000. Previously called “Pathfinder”, the “Pro Trek” is the new name for Casio’s popular collection of outdoor/exploring wristwatches.
The Pro Trek PRW-3000 has Casio’s newest Triple Sensor Ver 3. tough solar powered atomic quartz movement. For 2013, the movement is now smaller, consumes less energy, it has improved measurement accuracy (down to 1 meter accuracy on the altimeter, for example - which is really good compared to the competition and even when comparing previous Pro Treks/Pathfinders). The case has been redesigned and is more ergonomic, sleek and better looking.
May 7, 2013 | Arnold & Son, Baselworld, Hands-On
Arnold & Son, a brand that was recently purchased Manufacture La Joux-Perret SA (a well known movement maker) came out with a lot of very interesting new pieces at Baselworld as a result of the collaboration between their new parent company. Of the new timepieces from Arnold & Son, none stands out more than the new Time Pyramid, which was inspired by vintage regulators and antique British Skeleton clocks (like the one shown below).
The Time Pyramid is a fully skeletonized timepiece with a dial in sapphire with a circular satin-finished dial frame with chamfered and polished edge. At 6 o’clock a smaller display shows the hours and minutes, which are indicated via blued skeletonized hands which point to Roman numeral hour markers and minute dots. The in-house made A&S1615 movement is completely visible from both sides of the watch, and is laid out in a very unique vertical linear configuration, hence the name “Time Pyramid.”
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