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Zenith Chronomaster Heritage Limited Edition By Timeless Luxury Watches Watch Releases

Sponsored Post written for aBlogtoWatch by advertiser.

Timeless Luxury Watches is proud to announce our first collaboration with one of our all-time favorite watch companies, Zenith. As much or more than any other watch company in the world, Zenith is known for its chronographs, so deciding to make the Zenith Chronomaster Heritage Limited Edition, using their legendary El Primero automatic movement, was an easy choice.

Zenith Chronomaster Heritage Limited Edition By Timeless Luxury Watches Watch Releases

Within Zenith’s extensive portfolio of chronographs, however, the challenge was to create something that was true to the El Primero’s history without duplicating Zenith’s portfolio. To do that, we went back to the classic A273, one of Zenith’s dressiest interpretations of a chronograph.

Zenith Chronomaster Heritage Limited Edition By Timeless Luxury Watches Watch Releases

For all-around watch nerdiness, both are compelling timepieces but clearly different. Both also share a fondness for silicon – which Zenith is backing in a big way these days. Silicon is what makes movements like the ZO 342 even possible. Replacing metal with silicon is how these parts are able to move quickly and reliably. Unlike metal, silicon isn’t affected by temperature or magnetism, and because it has much lower friction, it doesn’t require lubrication. More so, the ability to cut very small, very precise parts allows for mechanisms not previously available when metal was more or less the only material option. These manufacturing options combined with computer modeling software have allowed for a new generation of mechanical watch movements such as the ZO 342 that combine traditional concepts of how a small machine tells the time, with a lot of modern know-how.

To recapture its understated appeal, we created a similar, yet unique, dial. As always, we have included a blue element to our limited edition’s sub-dial and seconds hands, just like the A273 had. However, while both use a sunburst metallic dial, our new Zenith Chronomaster Heritage Limited Edition moves away from the original’s silver in favor of a subtle champagne color. We think that this dial color offers a very pleasant contrast with the blued hands. We’re also quite fond of no-date watches at Timeless, so it should be no surprise that, like the original, the Zenith Timeless Chronomaster Heritage features a simple, chronograph-only layout.

Zenith Chronomaster Heritage Limited Edition By Timeless Luxury Watches Watch Releases

While perfecting the dial was challenging, choosing the case was not. The obvious case to utilize from Zenith’s modern portfolio was the Heritage 146 for its strong resemblance to the original. The 146’s lugs are bolder and more contemporary, but the versatile 38mm size was ideal for our purposes and the pushers matched its vintage style perfectly. However, the crown was thicker than what we were looking for, so instead we opted for a somewhat thinner and more understated crown which better contributed to its dressy look.

Zenith Chronomaster Heritage Limited Edition By Timeless Luxury Watches Watch Releases

We’re also pleased to offer three different straps, all priced identically, on the new Zenith Chronomaster Heritage Limited Edition. Collectors can choose between brown, black, and blue straps, as well as three different lengths. That optionality makes this a watch to perfectly fit and match every buyer, right out of the box.

The Zenith Chronomaster Heritage Limited Edition will be our smallest run of a limited edition yet, with only 25 pieces being made. The price is $7,500 per watch and you can pre-order it here. 

Sponsored Posts are a form of advertising that allows sponsors to share useful news, messages, and offers to aBlogtoWatch readers in a way traditional display advertising is often not best suited to. All Sponsored Posts are subject to editorial guidelines with the intent that they offer readers useful news, promotions, or stories. The viewpoints and opinions expressed in Sponsored Posts are those of the advertiser and not necessarily those of aBlogtoWatch or its writers.

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Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

Today, Zenith announces the brand new Zenith Defy Lab collection that contains what they claim is the world’s most accurate mechanical movement. The in-house made caliber ZO 342 automatic operates at 15Hz, which is faster (a good thing) than the vast majority of mechanical watches out there, including Zenith’s legendary 5Hz “high beat” frequency El Primero automatic chronograph movement. This is a bold new step not only for Zenith, but also for the entire watch industry as it further legitimizes a controversial but ultimately wise creative direction. Zenith will debut the Defy Lab as a very limited set of 10 “piece unique” watches – at comparably “exclusive” prices. What about everyone else who will want one of these very compelling timepieces? Zenith makes it clear that the initial 10 Defy Lab watches are “only the beginning.” The Defy Lab’s movement will not only be put into regular production, but it will serve as a base for future complications. The first set of Defy Lab watches after this initial debut collector’s set is planned for production in 2018.

Let’s step back a bit and discuss why this fast operating, silicon material technology is all a big deal. The name of the game here isn’t just to be exclusive with something different, but more importantly – about wristwatch performance. In the words of Jean-Claude Biver, “I imagine this is what Abraham-Louis Breguet would be excited about if he were alive today!” While we’ve seen an enormous level of variety in timepiece design over the years, there is very little new in terms of actual performance increases. That means that most mechanical watches produced are similarly accurate. Of course, there are major differences in terms of how well regulated a movement is, or how well it is constructed, but at the end of the day you can only tweak a standard mechanical watch movement to be so accurate.

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

The discussion about mechanical wristwatch accuracy can be long and is way outside the scope of us introducing the Zenith Defy Lab. Suffice it to say that Zenith’s claimed accuracy of 0.3 seconds per day for the caliber ZO 342 movement in this first model is going to cause a lot of people to do a double take because of how impressive it is (for a mechanical watch). Note that for production models down the road (when there is less opportunity to spend so much time choosing the right parts), accuracy will be guaranteed to +/- 0.5 seconds a day… with no loss in rate results as the torque of the mainspring winds down. In other words, the rate results are a flat horizontal line, which is something that silicon technology has made much more readily available in mechanical time measuring tools.

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

I want to also mention that it is a huge deal that Zenith pilot watch 40mm Replica even went so far as to make a claim about accuracy performance in their press release. I’ve read over a thousand wristwatch press releases and aside from Seiko (who routinely under-reports their wristwatches’ accuracy performance – for reasons again outside the scope of the conversation), Zenith is among a very small number of brands who actually make a specific claim about accuracy performance in their documentation. For Zenith and LVMH it is about increasing transparency according to Jean-Claude Biver (who is the head of watchmaking at the group).

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

By Zenith indicating the average accuracy (performance varies under different wearing conditions) of the Defy Lab’s movement, they more or less put other brands at notice that if they want to boast about a watch “designed for high accuracy,” they actually need go the distance and make a specific claim about accuracy. This is a good time to discuss mechanisms like a tourbillon and how watch makers typically deal with such features. While a tourbillon was originally designed to increase the accuracy of a mechanical watch or clock movement, it doesn’t actually do that in many real world wristwatch applications. Thus, watch brands often rode a thin line by not actually commenting on a watch’s performance, while trying to bolster the story about what the mechanism was originally designed for. I have to applaud Jean-Claude Biver along with Zenith’s management and communication teams for going the distance and not only promoting an accurate watch, but actually telling people the type of performance that they can expect.

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

How will other watch makers respond? Will it become expected for watch makers to make claims about the accuracy of their watches? I am not sure that there will be an industry-wide move to mention actual numbers, but if there is a watch that comes out with a story about accuracy and some special technical elements, you can be damn sure we will point out if they omit actual performance numbers. I think what is more important is that a watch like this, with such a big emphasis on silicon, that isn’t stupid high in price, will force the industry to adopt next-generation watch movements with haste.

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

Only a few companies in Switzerland are able to produce silicon parts. The tools needed for this task are very expensive, which includes the labor needed to operate and program them. Most watch brands that use silicon parts don’t make the components themselves. Is now a time to start given clear levels of increased need? Note again that investments by watch makers into silicon technology in traditional watchmaking has been going on for well over a decade. Though, little of this technology has trickled down into what we might call “affordable” timepieces. Jean-Claude Biver said watch makers will not produce their own silicon parts until they can also make parts for other companies in different industries.

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

Biver’s vision for relevancy by watch makers in the future includes the bold but practical notion that watch makers need to use their skills to produce parts for other companies such as those that produce medical equipment or robotics. If the silicon part-making arm of a watch maker only needs 30% of the capacity of its output, then it is only possible to do business if the other 70% of that output is used to sell products others can buy. Biver feels there are loads of applications watch brands could thrive in being successful at serving, which could help them earn income allowing them the luxury to keep making mechanical watches on the side. I’ve not heard better ideas for how to maintain the complicated and arguably too-large-for-the-current-market industrial core of the Swiss watch industry.

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

Going back to the Defy Lab we have a movement which is not a chronograph. If you want a speedy Zenith watches defy Replica chronograph, then allow me to recommend the also recently released Zenith Defy El Primero 21. Both the Defy Lab and Defy El Primero 21 share a case design and are clearly in the same family. The Defy Lab is a 15Hz time-only watch, whereas the Defy El Primero 21 is a time and chronograph watch with a 5Hz oscillator for the time and a secondary 50Hz oscillator for the chronograph.

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

For all-around watch nerdiness, both are compelling timepieces but clearly different. Both also share a fondness for silicon – which Zenith is backing in a big way these days. Silicon is what makes movements like the ZO 342 even possible. Replacing metal with silicon is how these parts are able to move quickly and reliably. Unlike metal, silicon isn’t affected by temperature or magnetism, and because it has much lower friction, it doesn’t require lubrication. More so, the ability to cut very small, very precise parts allows for mechanisms not previously available when metal was more or less the only material option. These manufacturing options combined with computer modeling software have allowed for a new generation of mechanical watch movements such as the ZO 342 that combine traditional concepts of how a small machine tells the time, with a lot of modern know-how.

Today, Zenith announces the brand new Zenith Defy Lab collection that contains what they claim is the world’s most accurate mechanical movement. The in-house made caliber ZO 342 automatic operates at 15Hz, which is faster (a good thing) than the vast majority of mechanical watches out there, including Zenith’s legendary 5Hz “high beat” frequency El Primero automatic chronograph movement. This is a bold new step not only for Zenith, but also for the entire watch industry as it further legitimizes a controversial but ultimately wise creative direction. Zenith will debut the Defy Lab as a very limited set of 10 “piece unique” watches – at comparably “exclusive” prices. What about everyone else who will want one of these very compelling timepieces? Zenith makes it clear that the initial 10 Defy Lab watches are “only the beginning.” The Defy Lab’s movement will not only be put into regular production, but it will serve as a base for future complications. The first set of Defy Lab watches after this initial debut collector’s set is planned for production in 2018.
Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

In the watch community – conservatism being king and all – adoption of new technologies and techniques (such as silicon in watch movements) has been controversial at best. It was around 2001 that Ulysse Nardin – located right down the road from Zenith watches review Replica in Le Locle – released the Freak. As the first production watch that used silicon parts in the movement, it took years before it gained widespread acknowledgement. We now live in a time when even Patek Philippe and Rolex produce some watches with important silicon parts. The irony of course is that when techniques to cut silicon wafers into watch parts was new, Patek Philippe, Rolex, and the Swatch Group combined their efforts to research and develop the technology for wristwatches. I think it is safe to say that if you want a “modern, traditional watch” (yes, that unintentionally seems like a contradiction), you go for something with silicon in it.

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is 'World's Most Accurate' Hands-On

When is it a good idea to go “all metal” and invest in a truly classic timepiece? I would say when you are looking for hand-finished decoration and other aesthetic elements which define a particularly classic look. If you want something more contemporary, then you go with something like the Defy Lab, or many of the timepieces that Jean-Claude Biver has helped usher in at the various LVMH brands including Hublot, TAG Heuer, and Zenith.

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Zenith Chronomaster Heritage Chronometer Review By Timeless Luxury Watches Watch Releases

Zenith has always held a special place for me. From a fairly young age, not long after high school, the brand occupied an elite status in my mind. More specifically, it was and remains in my top two favorite brands of all-time, the other being Grand Seiko. In my mind, they offered two intriguing sides to the same high-frequency coin. Where Grand Seiko possessed a certain austerity to it, a degree of refinement I found in few, if any other places, Zenith was quite the opposite. Zenith might be a Swiss brand, but it always seems to have an American-grade boldness to it, a panache matched by none, at least none with Zenith’s horological pedigree. And thus, my two favorite watch brands were chosen: a restrained and sophisticated dress watch and a wild, avant-garde sports watch. Why can’t one watch just be both?

Zenith Chronomaster Heritage Chronometer Review By Timeless Luxury Watches Watch Releases

Zenith, to their credit, almost had an answer to my question already: the criminally overlooked A273, a classic chronograph that had a measure of civility to it. Yet the A273 itself had committed an offense: it was offered during the same basic time frame as the legendary tri-color El Primero. Because of this coexistence, it was doomed to be overshadowed by its more prolific brother, which continues to be available today. Unlike the El Primero, the A273 was powered by a beautiful, yet far less revolutionary, hand wound movement. There it remained, largely unnoticed even among Zenith watches hodinkee Replica collectors, awaiting the time it too would receive the El Primero.

Zenith Chronomaster Heritage Chronometer Review By Timeless Luxury Watches Watch Releases
Zenith has always held a special place for me. From a fairly young age, not long after high school, the brand occupied an elite status in my mind. More specifically, it was and remains in my top two favorite brands of all-time, the other being Grand Seiko. In my mind, they offered two intriguing sides to the same high-frequency coin. Where Grand Seiko possessed a certain austerity to it, a degree of refinement I found in few, if any other places, Zenith was quite the opposite. Zenith might be a Swiss brand, but it always seems to have an American-grade boldness to it, a panache matched by none, at least none with Zenith’s horological pedigree. And thus, my two favorite watch brands were chosen: a restrained and sophisticated dress watch and a wild, avant-garde sports watch. Why can’t one watch just be both?Zenith, to their credit, almost had an answer to my question already: the criminally overlooked A273, a classic chronograph that had a measure of civility to it. Yet the A273 itself had committed an offense: it was offered during the same basic time frame as the legendary tri-color El Primero. Because of this coexistence, it was doomed to be overshadowed by its more prolific brother, which continues to be available today. Unlike the El Primero, the A273 was powered by a beautiful, yet far less revolutionary, hand wound movement. There it remained, largely unnoticed even among Zenith collectors, awaiting the time it too would receive the El Primero.

The watch we’re looking at today does have an El Primero, but it’s not the A273. It’s the new Timeless Chronomaster Heritage Chronometer limited edition. It’s closely inspired by that A273, of course, but it is not a reissue or a new version. Instead, it takes a leap forward, and not only in terms of the movement as we’ve made subtle updates throughout the watch. Let’s take a close look at the Timeless Chronomaster Heritage Chronometer and learn more about both its predecessor and the limited edition.

Zenith Chronomaster Heritage Chronometer Review By Timeless Luxury Watches Watch Releases

The aesthetic heart of any watch is its dial. Almost everything that defines a model as a unique, distinctive piece can be found there. For this watch we wanted to use a dial that was extremely understated and clean, yet never boring. That meant removing almost everything that was superfluous. I find that the need for simplicity is greatest in chronographs, and other watches with intrinsically busy dials. This watch, therefore, would have no date and it would have no “El Primero” or “36,000 VPH” writing on it. It had to be reduced to the essence of what a chronograph must have while nonetheless balancing some of those traits that defined its ancestor.

While it lacks unnecessary writing or a date complication, the tachymeter remained, as well as the distinctive 3/6/9 lines on the minute sub-dial. Those were, at the end of the day, counterproductive to the task of simplification, but without them, the watch would lose almost any connection to the A273. Pursuing simplicity is, in our view, a good thing, but left unchecked it would inevitably lead to a uselessly blank dial. It must be balanced with other design goals.

Zenith Chronomaster Heritage Chronometer Review By Timeless Luxury Watches Watch Releases

The dial itself had to be both understated yet have a charming, dynamic character that keeps it from ever becoming boring. The best way to accomplish that, we’ve found, is via a sunburst finish. A good sunburst finish, like this one, almost disappears in some light, appearing flat and non reflective, yet in other lighting, usually more direct, it comes alive with vibrant, brighter colors. In these photos, with a white light box and perfectly even lighting, the dial comes off almost as silver, but in most situations, it’s a more appreciable champagne, or as some have commented, cream.

The three small lines on the minute sub-dial, pointing to 3, 6 and 9, have undoubtedly piqued your interest. This was a feature found not only on the A273 but on a variety of vintage Zeniths, and while it might look flamboyant, it had an extremely utilitarian nature. I’m told (I wasn’t alive at the time to offer my own testimony) that these marked the intervals at which long-distance phone calls increased in price. Thus, the chronograph complication could help its owner in the rather mundane task of reducing his phone costs.

Zenith Chronomaster Heritage Chronometer Review By Timeless Luxury Watches Watch Releases

The blued hands and champagne dial complement one another, each making the other more vibrant and visible. Typically, we would use a single color for a complication, like all chronograph hands being blue and all others being silver, but in keeping with the A273, we opted for the three sub-dial hands and the seconds hand to be blued while the hour and minute hands are silver. It’s not the most logical layout, but it has a very pleasing chromatic symmetry to it. Breaking with tradition, however, is the shape of the hands. The original A273 used sportier stick hands for hours and minutes, but we felt that the leaf-shaped hands better suited the dressy character that we were aiming for with the Timeless Chronomaster Heritage Chronometer. Conversely, we added a short counterbalance to the sub-dial hands because, being blue, they matched the similarly-shaped blued seconds hand, contributing a degree of consistency.

Zenith Chronomaster Heritage Chronometer Review By Timeless Luxury Watches Watch Releases

Another important goal for us was to avoid the overlapping dials found in so many modern Zeniths. These are often criticized by collectors, even fellow Zenith watches ebay uk Replica fans, although I’ve never personally found it to be troubling. The overlapping sub-dials matched the effortless avant-garde nature of the tri-color El Primero quite well, being almost flippant with its design. That sort of brashness works well on overtly sporty models, should a brand be gutsy enough to actually try it, but for a much dressier, more austere model like the Timeless Chronomaster Heritage it wouldn’t do. Naturally, we wouldn’t dare modify the El Primero within to space the sub-dials out further, so we were necessarily restricted as to where the sub-dials must be located. The solution was self-evident: the sub-dials had to be smaller. Although reduced in size, they’re now as large as they can possibly be without overlapping, and to aid in legibility, there is a subtle ring, a change in texture, around each sub-dial which helps separate it from the surrounding dial without need for an outline or applied marker.

Zenith Chronomaster Heritage Chronometer Review By Timeless Luxury Watches Watch Releases

One of the other important changes we made was moving to a new case. We chose the Heritage 146 case due to its size and classic design. As is so often the situation for our limited editions, we opted to use a 38mm size. In general, we use 38mm cases because we find it to be a very versatile size, and in a small run limited edition we want to reach the broadest variety of collectors possible. You’ll also notice in this photo that the crown is quite a bit thinner than the Heritage 146’s crown. The A273’s crown was also fairly thick, but again, we felt that the slightly thinner crown was more consistent with its dressier image. Being an accurate, automatic watch with no need to set the date, the crown won’t be needed particularly often to begin with. You’ll also notice that the pushers have a small groove in them, another subtle difference from the original.

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BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 30, 2017 ABTW Round-Ups

We are beginning September’s mega round-up with what could very well be one of the top new watches of this year. It was also one of the most read articles on aBlogtoWatch in September. I’m referring, of course, to the new Zenith watches felix baumgartner Replica Defy Lab. It is significant because it uses a new type of oscillator called the Zenith Oscillator that allows it to beat at an incredible rate of 15Hz. On top of that, Zenith claims the watch is accurate to 0.3 seconds a day.

Other popular articles on aBlogtoWatch in September include the announcement of Casio’s special edition 35th anniversary G-Shock watches, Tag Heuer’s Heritage Autavia Calibre Heuer 02, Tudor’s Heritage Black Bay Steel, and Patek Philippe’s Calatrava ref. 6006G. Readers of aBlogtoWatch certainly have varied tastes.

Elsewhere, readers were also interested in issues such as the troubled Swiss watch industry. Exports of Swiss watches have been down for the past two or so years and a question that seems to be on the back of a lot of people’s minds is, “What will the late Nicolas Hayek Sr. do if he were still alive today?” Finally, we wrap things up by taking a walk down memory lane and looking back at 100 years of the Cartier Tank. Yup, the Tank turns 100 this year, which makes it one of the world’s oldest watch models.

1. Zenith Defy Lab Watch With 15Hz Movement Is ‘World’s Most Accurate’

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 30, 2017 ABTW Round-Ups

The honor of most important new watch release in September definitely has to be the Zenith Defy Lab. Unless you are well-versed in watch movements, it is not apparent at all what is powering the watch. There’s no conventional balance, balance spring, or lever. Instead, what the Defy Lab has is a new type of oscillator called the Zenith Oscillator, which is made entirely out of silicon using a Deep Reactive Ion Etching process. This unique oscillator has two immediately appreciable qualities. It looks fantastic in operation, but perhaps just as important, it allows the movement to beat at a very fast rate of 15Hz. This improves timekeeping and makes it more resistant to shock. In fact, Zenith goes as far as to call it the most accurate movement in the world, with a deviation of only about 0.3 seconds a day. Find out more about this remarkable watch in the link below.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

2. What Advice Can The Late Nicolas Hayek Tell Us About How To Fix Today’s Watch Industry Problems?

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 30, 2017 ABTW Round-Ups

The late Nicolas Hayek Sr. is often credited as the man who saved the Swiss watch industry. 30 or so years ago, the advent of quartz technology severely threatened Swiss watch companies. However, it was the foresight of Nicolas Hayek Sr. and his boldness that saved the industry. Today, the Swiss watch industry faces an entirely different problem – one that can perhaps be said to be mostly self-inflicted. Inefficient distribution, haphazard marketing, unrealistic retail prices, are all but some of the problems that plague today’s Swiss watch companies. What would Nicolas Hayek Sr. do or say if he were still alive today?

Source: aBlogtoWatch

3. Casio G-Shock 35th Anniversary Collection Watches

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 30, 2017 ABTW Round-Ups
The movement is of course more or less fully exposed, and certainly cool looking with an emphasis on the Zenith five-pointed star shaped logo in the movement design itself. The movement has a full 60 hours of power reserve and again operates at 15Hz (108,000 bph). Power reserve is actually 72 hours, but at 60 hours the stable 0.3 – 0.5 seconds per day accuracy drops to 1 second per day. Amplitude is extremely slim with a movement arc of just plus or minus six degrees. The movement is on the thicker side at 8.13mm, but is also only produced out of 148 parts. The ZO 342 is of course an automatic (C?tes de Genève stripes decorate the rotor), and indicates just the time with minutes, hours, and seconds.Theoretically speaking, all-silicon watch movements (we aren’t there yet) should be able to decrease the cost, while upgrading the performance of your standard mechanical watch. Though for now (and for a while), silicon will continue to be a more or less exotic material in the mechanical watch world that brands will ask customers to pay a bit of a premium for. So long as the products that contain such movements look like the Zenith Defy Lab, or other ultra-modern mechanical timepieces, I think customers will be willing.

In 1983, Japanese engineer Kikuo Ibe finally achieved his goal of designing a watch that could withstand a drop from 10 meters, be water resistant to 100 meters, and have a battery life of 10 years. That watch was called the G-Shock, and it would go on to be an horological and cultural icon. 2017 marks the 35th anniversary of the G-Shock and coincidentally, Casio also announced that it has just sold its 100 millionth G-Shock. But perhaps what’s more important for G-Shock fans is that Casio also announced a collection of special edition 35th anniversary G-Shock watches. Here they are for your viewing pleasure.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

4. TAG Heuer Heritage Autavia Calibre Heuer 02 Watch Review

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 30, 2017 ABTW Round-Ups

The Heritage Autavia Calibre Heuer 02 is an unusual and important watch for Tag Heuer. It’s unusual because the design was voted for by Heuer fans through an online voting campaign called the Autavia Cup. It is also important because it’s one of Tag Heuer’s most important initiatives in recent years. The way I see it is that the watch is really more of a project to reignite the passion for the brand and to prove to fans that Tag Heuer really cares and listens to its fans. But most crucially, the end result is a really sweet watch that is a nice modern take on a vintage Heuer watch.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

5. Tudor Heritage Black Bay Steel Watch Hands-On

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 30, 2017 ABTW Round-Ups

The Heritage Black Bay series has got to be one of Tudor’s most popular collections. At Baselworld this year, they added a new model called the Heritage Black Bay Steel. It isn’t that much different from the earlier Heritage Black Bay models, but it does give watch lovers more options. As its name suggests, the Heritage Black Bay Steel comes in all steel. While the earlier models had colored bezels, the Heritage Black Bay Steel has a raw stainless steel bezel. It also differentiates itself by having a date display at 3 o’clock. Overall, it can be argued that this model looks more modern and that the addition of the date display makes it more practical and functional.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

6. Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref. 6006G Watch Hands-On

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 30, 2017 ABTW Round-Ups

Mention the words “Patek Philippe Calatrava” and you will very likely think of a small-ish 38mm or so three-handed dress watch with a date display. The ref. 6006G happens to be a Calatrava, but it is easily the most distinctive and one might even say oddball of them all. To begin, the dial is super busy. From the center, you have a minute track, and then a larger hour track, and finally a pointer-style date display. That’s not all. There is even a subsidiary seconds dial at 5 o’clock. Find out more about this unusual Calatrava watch in the link below.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

7. The Psychology Of Wanting To Show Off Your Luxury Watch

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 30, 2017 ABTW Round-Ups

Why do we really wear luxury watches? Let’s be really honest with ourselves. Sure, a big part of it is because we can understand and appreciate the amount of work that goes into it. Each F.P. Journe watch, for example, was conceived from the ground up and manufactured by the brand itself. A Philippe Dufour Simplicity is the result of countless hours of hand work by the great master Dufour himself. Sure, these are certainly reasons why we love, buy, and wear luxury watches. But really, isn’t a small, or maybe huge part, of why we wear luxury watches because we want to show them off too?

Source: aBlogtoWatch

8. Rolex Daytona 116520 In Steel With Black Dial Watch Review

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 30, 2017 ABTW Round-Ups

Though the Rolex Daytona 116520 has been replaced by the ref. 116500, it remains to be a grail watch for many. It is also a historically important watch for Rolex. In production for over 16 years, it was introduced at the turn of the millennium, and it is significant because it introduced the Rolex caliber 4130, which is the brand’s first in-house chronograph movement. Prior to the ref. 116520, Rolex used modified Zenith El Primero movements in their Daytona watches. Now that the new Daytona 116500 has been around for a year, how does the older Daytona 116520 hold up?

Source: aBlogtoWatch

9. Bamford Abandons Rolex, Instead Focuses On LVMH Watch Division Brands

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 30, 2017 ABTW Round-Ups

Mention Bamford and you will likely think of blacked out Rolex watches. For most of its history, Bamford was known for customizing Rolex watches. It even has some pretty sweet customized Rolex pieces such as the Bamford Heritage Bicolor Paul Newman Daytona watch. That said, Bamford recently announced that it has been given blessings by Zenith to go nuts with their watches. In other words, Bamford is now the official customizer of Zenith watches. Now, the relationship with Zenith will run deeper as Bamford has just shared that it will soon stop customizing Rolex watches and focus entirely on brands in the LVMH watch division.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

10. Orient Nami Watch Review

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends September 30, 2017 ABTW Round-Ups

Most readers think only of Seiko when it comes to affordable dive watches, but that would be missing out on all the equally wonderful watches that Orient makes. Orient, which is actually a subsidiary of Seiko, makes some nice divers such as the Mako, King Diver, and the Ray. Now, it has a new model called the Nami, and I think it is the best-looking one yet. I like that it has a clean dial with larger block indexes and that the case has sharply curved lugs that give it a strong distinct look. The best thing about it is that you can get it for well under $500.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

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Our Take On The Timepieces To Be Sold At The Only Watch 2017 Charity Auction Sales & Auctions

Auctions are best suited to the sale of unique items that aren’t otherwise available on the market. For that reason, I always look forward to the interesting watches that are donated to the Only Watch auction series which is currently being run by the auction house Christie’s. Only Watch is an event that we’ve covered a lot over the years on aBlogtoWatch, and the next installment of this biennial auction sale will happen in Geneva on November 11th, 2017.

The Only Watch auction series isn’t as strong an event as it used to be, but its main theme continues to be respected. The idea is that watch brands submit unique watches made especially to be donated and sold at the auction. These are unique prototypes or are the first in a limited-edition series. The proceeds (minus all sorts of fees, I am sure) are to be given to Association Monegasque Contre le Myopathies (AMM) whose goal is to fund medical research to help treat a form of muscular dystrophy.

Only Watch is only as strong as the watches which are donated by watch brands. These are tax write-offs as well as a way to get publicity and an ego boost. Brands love to see their products go under the gavel and get bought up by collectors. With that said, there is nothing to stop brands from bidding on their own watches either directly or via a proxy. So, in my opinion, the actual numerical value of what the watches end up going for at the auction should be taken with a grain of salt. That same philosophy should be applied to the results of any auction, as they merely represent what one buyer, who happened to be present, was willing to do on that day.

This year, Only Watch decided to debut all of the watch auction lots on the same day, which is a departure from their more traditional tactic of slowly releasing watches over a several-week or several-month period. Nevertheless, certain brands didn’t quite get their acts together and get stuff done on time. I will go into that a bit more below. Another semi-new element to the auction is that many of the auction lots include an experience such as a trip or special meeting – along with the watch, of course. These experiences (which are not attached to all the lots, should help liven up the bidding quite a bit when the experiences prove as interesting as the timepieces.

Our Take On The Timepieces To Be Sold At The Only Watch 2017 Charity Auction Sales & Auctions

A total of 49 lots will be auctioned off during the event in November that, unfortunately, won’t be able to benefit from the glitz of having an event in Monaco itself. With that said, the watches (well, the complete ones) will be traveling around the world “on tour” so that potential buyers can check them out. Click the link above to see if you are in one of the nine cities that will have the watches there for a few days at a time starting at the end of September 2017.

In the video that is embedded in this article, you can hear myself and David Bredan talk about all 49 of the watches/clocks. We spend just a few moments on each in order to bring you our take. This year’s lots aren’t bad as wearable items, but leave much to be desired when it comes to actually being interesting or unique. Allow me to go over some of the most interesting and important lots from Only Watch 2017. For a full list of the watches along with technical specifications and auction price estimates check out the watches at the Only Watch website.

Our Take On The Timepieces To Be Sold At The Only Watch 2017 Charity Auction Sales & Auctions

Patek Philippe always uses this occasion to release a one-of-a-kind version with a titanium or steel case of an existing watch they produce or have produced. This year’s model is a bit more on the conservative side, but is very high-end and will easily be the auction’s top lot with a price that is almost guaranteed to be over a million dollars. The watch is the Patek Philippe 5208T-010, which is a version in titanium on a blue cordura strap of their perpetual calendar chronograph minute repeater. At 42mm wide, this is among the larger timepieces that Patek Philippe makes – and of course, it is considered to be a “grand complication,” which means it is far more exclusive than more standard Patek Philippe products. The 5208 is a really nifty Patek Philippe, and this version – like all the titanium or steel models for Only Watch – will be coveted by collectors.

For all-around watch nerdiness, both are compelling timepieces but clearly different. Both also share a fondness for silicon – which Zenith pilot watch 48mm Replica is backing in a big way these days. Silicon is what makes movements like the ZO 342 even possible. Replacing metal with silicon is how these parts are able to move quickly and reliably. Unlike metal, silicon isn’t affected by temperature or magnetism, and because it has much lower friction, it doesn’t require lubrication. More so, the ability to cut very small, very precise parts allows for mechanisms not previously available when metal was more or less the only material option. These manufacturing options combined with computer modeling software have allowed for a new generation of mechanical watch movements such as the ZO 342 that combine traditional concepts of how a small machine tells the time, with a lot of modern know-how.
Our Take On The Timepieces To Be Sold At The Only Watch 2017 Charity Auction Sales & Auctions

Audemars Piguet offers a blue-dialed version of its all black ceramic Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar as the reference 26599CE.OO.1225CE.01. Audemars Piguet also points out that the caseback and the oscillating weight (rotor) on the movement are also ceramic – which I believe is a first for the ceramic Royal Oak models. It will go for a fair amount of money, but nothing mind-blowing, in my opinion. This is just another uncommon (in this instance, unique) watch for one of the world’s many Audemars Piguet fans.

Our Take On The Timepieces To Be Sold At The Only Watch 2017 Charity Auction Sales & Auctions

The last Only Watch auction was the first that Tudor participated in, and even though their watch was among the lowest when it came to the auction estimate, it went for a really high price. Once again, Tudor comes to Only Watch with a small change on an existing model which is a lefty version with an olive green bezel and dial of the Tudor Heritage Black Bay Bronze. They call it the Black Bay Bronze One, and it is the reference 7925/001. It isn’t the most amazing thing in the world, but it is pretty and it should attract a price likely several times what the stock Black Bay Bronze goes for. With the Tudor watch comes the experience of being invited to the Tudor headquarters in Geneva – a place that is normally not open to guests.

Our Take On The Timepieces To Be Sold At The Only Watch 2017 Charity Auction Sales & Auctions

Ulysse Nardin’s Only Watch 2017 entrant isn’t all that original either, but pleasant enough, with a steel-cased version of the Marine Tourbillon known as the Ulysse Nardin Marine Tourbillon Only Watch. It has the same type of engraved and then blue enamel painted dial as this Ulysse Nardin Classic watch – so it should be truly striking in person. I would love one of these if I had the money.

Our Take On The Timepieces To Be Sold At The Only Watch 2017 Charity Auction Sales & Auctions

I have a feeling that the second most valuable watch at Only Watch 2017 will be the piece submitted by F.P. Journe. Interestingly enough, there are two watches in the auction with movements produced by F.P. Journe’s Geneva factory. The F.P. Journe Chronographe Monopoussoir Rattrapante (chronograph monopusher split second) is likely going to be very nice looking in person. It begins with a unique tantalum case that is 44mm wide (bigger than pretty much anything F.P. Journe makes) and has a dial that is “blue chrome” with orange and yellow accents. The watch’s movement is further extremely beautiful being the caliber 1517 and was apparently developed just for the Only Watch 2017 auction. That makes it one of the few unique movements for the event. This watch has “half a million bucks” written all over it.

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Julien Tornare Named New CEO Of Zenith Watches Watch Industry News

Head of Watchmaking at LVMH Jean-Claude Biver has named Julien Tornare as his pick for the role of CEO at Zenith Watches. Earlier this year, Biver announced that Aldo Magada had resigned and that he would himself take over as the interim CEO of Zenith. Back then, Biver said that he hoped to appoint a new CEO for Zenith within six months. And after his interim CEO position at TAG Heuer seemed to be becoming indefinite, it wasn’t clear just how much Mr. Biver intended to take on in addition to his vague but regal title at LVMH. But now, just three months later, we have our man to run Zenith.

Julien Tornare Named New CEO Of Zenith Watches Watch Industry News

In the watch community – conservatism being king and all – adoption of new technologies and techniques (such as silicon in watch movements) has been controversial at best. It was around 2001 that Ulysse Nardin – located right down the road from Zenith watches buy Replica in Le Locle – released the Freak. As the first production watch that used silicon parts in the movement, it took years before it gained widespread acknowledgement. We now live in a time when even Patek Philippe and Rolex produce some watches with important silicon parts. The irony of course is that when techniques to cut silicon wafers into watch parts was new, Patek Philippe, Rolex, and the Swatch Group combined their efforts to research and develop the technology for wristwatches. I think it is safe to say that if you want a “modern, traditional watch” (yes, that unintentionally seems like a contradiction), you go for something with silicon in it.

Julien Tornare has been in the watch industry for nearly two decades and has spent the last 17 years at Vacheron Constantin, where there have also been recent management changes along with other Richemont brands. Mr. Tornare started at Vacheron Constantin as the market head for Switzerland, and his last post at the brand was Managing Director for Asia-Pacific, where he helped grow the number of boutiques in the region from 3 to 13.

Julien Tornare Named New CEO Of Zenith Watches Watch Industry News

Tornare will face an uphill task at Zenith, where turnover and profits have been declining non-stop since 2014, as we have seen as a trend across the industry with each major Swiss group scrambling to react in their own ways to difficult market conditions. The outspoken Biver is not known to be an exceptionally patient man, and regarding Magada’s departure at Zenith earlier this year, he said that he had lost “a certain confidence” in the ability of the managing team, which led to strained relations.

Julien Tornare Named New CEO Of Zenith watches japan Replica Watches Watch Industry News

Industry-watchers agreed with Biver that Zenith watches book Replica had stagnated and failed to live up to its potential in recent years. At Baselworld this year, we named the Zenith Defy El Primero 21 one of our “top 10” watches of the show, and took it as a sign of the brand’s refresh and possible Biverian direction going forward. It still remains to be seen, however, how the brand will evolve under Tornare and Biver’s leadership and what kind of watches we can look forward.

Julien Tornare Named New CEO Of Zenith Watches Watch Industry News

Zenith watches hodinkee Replica Defy El Primero 21

Tornare will report directly to Biver and, according to a press release from the brand, will be focusing on the “renewal of Zenith” as well as the development of its markets and marketing activities. Zenith watches sale Replica is a brand with a rich history and it will be interesting to see if and how Tornare and Biver will be able to seize upon all that potential. zenith-watches.com

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Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Full Open 38.00 Watch Review Wrist Time Reviews

The new-for-2017 Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Full Open 38.00 is based on a simple, but powerful recipe. Step 1: take an original-sized Zenith El Primero chronograph. Step 2: remove its dial and fine-tune a few details accordingly and Step 3: enjoy. It was nearly two years ago that I reviewed the El Primero Original 1969 – one of the few watches I can say I thoroughly enjoyed and miss wearing – and I was curious to see if this “full open-ized” piece gets to be a considerable alternative, or if it falls short by trying too hard.

Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Full Open 38.00 Watch Review Wrist Time Reviews

As such, allow me to keep this review a bit shorter and more to the point, as this Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Full Open 38.00 (reference 03.2153.400/78.C813) has essentially the same case, movement, strap, and clasp as the Original 1969. One last point to clarify: the Original 1969 has been discontinued, but the Chronomaster El Primero 38mm (reference 03.2150.400/69.C713) is a minutely updated version of that piece that is currently available from Zenith.

Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Full Open 38.00 Watch Review Wrist Time Reviews

Quick Run-Down On Specs

The Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Full Open 38.00 comes in a 38mm wide and 12.45mm thick case, sporting an ample 100m of water resistance and matched to an odd, 19mm wide strap. Both the front and back feature sapphire crystal windows, with the front featuring dual-side AR-coating over its boxed and slightly domed crystal element.

Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Full Open 38.00 Watch Review Wrist Time Reviews

Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Full Open 38.00 Watch Review Wrist Time Reviews

The movement inside remains the El Primero 400 Automatic, a classic iteration that falls very close to the original El Primero caliber – mind you, it is now behind a grey tinted crystal that makes it a bit more difficult to appreciate under some lighting conditions. It is, of course, a fully integrated chronograph caliber, composed of 278 parts, 31 jewels, and a balance wheel that beats at the much-loved 5Hz frequency, while power reserve runs over two full days at around 50 hours. The column wheel, horizontal clutch, automatic winding, and a beautiful movement and sub-dial layout make it a true classic.

Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Full Open 38.00 Watch Review Wrist Time Reviews

Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Full Open 38.00 Watch Review Wrist Time Reviews

Notably, the El Primero 400 is also as loud as it’s ever been, especially now, with the open dial, that allows sound to pass through the case with yet greater ease. In a quiet room, it is audible when on the desk at about two feet away, and when I lift my arm near my head – striking my Rodin’s The Thinker pose – I can hear it tick-tocking at its frantic and impressive 36,000bph. Some will love the El Primero for that, but others will want to know that it’s a watch you can hear in quiet environments – not something you’ll likely make out in the boutique, when trying it on.

Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Full Open 38.00 Watch Review Wrist Time Reviews

The El Primero – Transformed

The Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Full Open 38.00 is a new reference for 2017, and while there have been numerous variations of the El Primero with different extents of skeletonization, this is the first one I can recall to be a 38mm-wide variant with a fully removed dial. It is also here where we should note that this is not really a skeletonized watch, as that term is traditionally used to refer to movements whose plates (and maybe some other parts) have been fully hollowed out so as to introduce as much transparency into the movement’s structure as possible. Kudos to Zenith watches kuwait Replica for using the correct term and calling this a Full Open and not an El Primero Skeleton, although this piece does seem to include a few pieces that appear to have been modified to make the dial-side of the El Primero more fascinating to look at.

Let’s step back a bit and discuss why this fast operating, silicon material technology is all a big deal. The name of the game here isn’t just to be exclusive with something different, but more importantly – about wristwatch performance. In the words of Jean-Claude Biver, “I imagine this is what Abraham-Louis Breguet would be excited about if he were alive today!” While we’ve seen an enormous level of variety in timepiece design over the years, there is very little new in terms of actual performance increases. That means that most mechanical watches produced are similarly accurate. Of course, there are major differences in terms of how well regulated a movement is, or how well it is constructed, but at the end of the day you can only tweak a standard mechanical watch movement to be so accurate.

Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Full Open 38.00 Watch Review Wrist Time Reviews

The end result is one bonkers looking El Primero that comes with tons of newness and excitement to it – but also a few issues that are worth mentioning. Let’s dig in and see all the pros and cons of this bold, new, and attractive iteration of such a much-loved chronograph.

Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Full Open 38.00 Watch Review Wrist Time Reviews

Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Full Open 38.00 Watch Review Wrist Time Reviews

There can be no doubt to the wow-factor of the El Primero Full Open – it’s a striking watch, with a full skyline of wheels, tiny springs, cams, plates, and openworked sub-dials – it’s one heck of a view, and also something that you’re highly unlikely to get bored of anytime soon (or ever, for that matter). Whether one likes or dislikes full open watches is down to personal preferences and taste, but that doesn’t mean a watch without a dial can’t be tastefully done.

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Interview With Swizz Beatz & His New Zenith watches on sale Replica Defy El Primero 21 Limited Edition Watch ABTW Interviews

Swiss watchmaker Zenith recently celebrated music producer Swizz Beatz during an event in New York City. At the event, the new limited edition of six pieces reference 45.9001.9004/78.R581 Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Swizz Beatz watch was debuted, with one of them (the reference 45.9000.9004/78.R587 Unique Edition) being raffled off for charity. The American music producer is a long-time watch collector who has been working behind the scenes with LVMH’s (Zenith’s parent company) head of watchmaking Jean-Claude Biver for a while. Swizz Beatz himself decided that Zenith (which he has coined “the watch brand of confidence”) would be the watchmaker he would publicly associate himself with. His ambitions with the company seem far deeper than simply being the basis of a few limited edition timepieces, and I think it is interesting to see where his ability to anticipate popular cultural trends will have impacts on the future direction of the Swiss brand.

The New York event was a more formal acknowledgement of Swizz Beatz’s participation in the group’s efforts to translate the art of traditional watchmaking to today’s popular culture. Swizz Beatz considers himself mature in his appreciation of timepieces, opting for watches that have appeal on both the inside and outside – but never shying away from statement pieces. In an interview, Swizz Beatz described how like many in the music community, one’s watch tastes might be initially fueled by status-demonstrating models with diamonds, but later evolve into appreciating more subdued models that focus on technique and timelessness. That’s part of becoming a mature watch collector – though Swizz Beatz routinely advises his friends not to get aftermarket diamonds (as they negatively affect value).

Interview With Swizz Beatz & His New Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Limited Edition Watch ABTW Interviews

Interview With Swizz Beatz & His New Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Limited Edition Watch ABTW Interviews

Interview With Swizz Beatz & His New Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Limited Edition Watch ABTW Interviews

The Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Swizz Beatz timepiece – in one item – seems to combine a wide range of the elements that Swizz Beatz has passion for in a watch. It begins with the in-house El Primero 21 automatic movement inside of the Zenith Defy El Primero 21 (aBlogtoWatch hands-on here). With two regulation systems, the watch uses a “hi-beat” 5Hz oscillator to regulate the main time, and a much faster 50Hz speed oscillator that makes the 1/100th of a second chronograph possible. Rather than merely make a new dial color for the limited edition watch, Zenith actually revised the dial of the Defy El Primero 21 for Swizz Beatz. This offers a welcome view of the movement, which is important to Swizz Beatz because in his opinion, the original and exclusive technology that Zenith features is among the strongest highlights of the brand.

Interview With Swizz Beatz & His New Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Limited Edition Watch ABTW Interviews

Interview With Swizz Beatz & His New Zenith watches defy lab Replica Defy El Primero 21 Limited Edition Watch ABTW Interviews

44mm wide in 18k white gold with tastefully set diamonds is how Swizz Beatz wanted the watch dressed. When diamonds are an option on the table, it is really hard to say no. I personally like the combination of the round-cut stones (288 of them, about 2.55ct) set into the case with the larger (and more masculine) baguette-cut diamonds (44 of them, about 2.46ct) set into the bezel. Matching the orange accent colors on the dial is a white rubber strap with an orange fabric lining. Swizz Beatz considers orange one of his favorite colors, and more importantly sees colorful timepieces such as this his preferred choice to wear when in the mood to have fun.

Interview With Swizz Beatz & His New Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Limited Edition Watch ABTW Interviews

Interview With Swizz Beatz & His New Zenith watches felix baumgartner Replica Defy El Primero 21 Limited Edition Watch ABTW Interviews

Interview With Swizz Beatz & His New Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Limited Edition Watch ABTW Interviews

Among the more interesting and distinctive elements on the limited edition watch are engraved statements on the inner strap, as well as on the outside of the case bezel. Swizz Beatz penned the statement “Never let people tell you what you can’t do, because the sky’s not the limit, it’s just the view.” The feel good, realistic, and poetic remark is indicative of the values a lot of Swizz Beatz’s music attempts to convey. More directly, the application of a statement like this on a watch is a tacit reminder that watches are often used by their owners as celebration totems. Swizz Beatz shared my own thoughts (using the same words) that watches make the best trophies. I couldn’t agree more, and nothing makes a personal trophy better than having your own message on it.

Interview With Swizz Beatz & His New Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Limited Edition Watch ABTW Interviews

Interview With Swizz Beatz & His New Zenith watches newcastle Replica Defy El Primero 21 Limited Edition Watch ABTW Interviews

Thanks to Swizz Beatz for chatting with aBlogtoWatch. The retail price for the Zenith watch 2 Replica Defy El Primero 21 Swizz Beatz watch is $55,000 USD. zenith-watches.com

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It is true that Zenith’s new Defy case feels a bit like that of the Hublot Big Bang. It isn’t a bad thing or an accident. Biver has long since found out that most new or younger watch lovers prefer something more bold, more edgy, more masculine, and certainly more visible than most vintage timepieces. For that reason, Zenith is smart to combine exciting technology with a spirited design. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a watch brand debut a new movement or technical concept into a timepiece that looks like a boring dress watch. Are those conservative watch buyers the first ones to jump on something new? Heavens no. Another interesting conversation piece about the Defy Lab is how much of a showcase it is of Biver’s policy of “sharing” among the brands. The Zenith Defy Lab might be assembled at Zenith, but the case is made at (and developed by) Hublot, and the movement is produced (and developed) at TAG Heuer.The first 10 pieces of the Zenith Defy Lab watch will come in a 44mm wide case produced from something else which is exotic known as “Aeronith.” Hublot invented it at part of their materials science division that came up with things such as red ceramic and magic gold. Aeronith (or “the Swiss cheese of aluminum” as you might call it) is actually produced at Hublot’s facility in Nyon. Aeronith is apparently similar to aluminum alloys used in the naval world because it is both strong and corrosion-resistant. Aluminum is rarely used in watches because it is relatively fragile – but in special forms can prove to be a useful material. In person, Aeronith certainly feels impressively light, and in a lot of ways has the visual appearance of concrete (in a cool way).

Interview: Jean-Claude Biver On The Past, Present, & Future Of The Swiss Watch Industry ABTW Interviews

Mr. Jean-Claude Biver recently invited aBlogtoWatch into his home for a candid interview about where the high-end Swiss watch industry is going, and where it has come from. Brimming with stories and explanations about the companies and people who make some of the world’s most iconic or interesting watches and leader of the LVMH Watch Division that puts TAG Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith under his supervision, Jean-Claude Biver delights us with his personality, humor, wit, and rich collection of stories that make being a watch enthusiast all the more tangible for us.

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Jean-Claude’s opinions and insight are important because he is considered today’s most effective and talented watch brand manager when it comes to innovative marketing practices, synergistic “bridge-building” relationships, and helping to bring interesting products to market. A life-long veteran of the Swiss watch industry, Jean-Claude Biver is also a seasoned watch collector himself. Being personally interested in timepieces has arguably allowed this “product-focused” luxury watch brand executive to bring the most compelling products to market, while also satisfying his own expectations for product quality and design.

Interview: Jean-Claude Biver On The Past, Present, & Future Of The Swiss Watch Industry ABTW Interviews

Jean-Claude Biver currently directly manages or oversees TAG Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith, which are LVMH portfolio brands. He has a broad level of oversight and power to set actions in motion. Jean-Claude has earned a unique status in the watch industry because he is known for having an accelerated ability to “get stuff done,” which is usually a serious challenge as watchmakers are typically known for their conservative stance toward taking new actions and making “risky” decisions. One can easily attribute a lot of Jean-Claude Biver’s success to simply being able to get more things done than many of his colleagues.

Interview: Jean-Claude Biver On The Past, Present, & Future Of The Swiss Watch Industry ABTW Interviews

Jean-Claude Biver, President du Conseil d’administration de Hublot, CEO de Tag Heuer et Directeur du pole horloger LVMH. Nyon, Novembre 2015 © Fred Merz | lundi13

At this point in his career, Jean-Claude Biver works out of choice much more so than out of necessity. To him, the ability to bring fun watches into existence seems to make it all worth it. Once keenly interested in all areas of the industry, more recently Jean-Claude Biver has had the fortune which allows him to narrow his focus on his brands and colleagues. With that said, we always relish in hearing stories about the people and occurrences that helped make the watch industry – both the beautiful and fractured parts – what it is today.

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BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends June 30, 2017 ABTW Round-Ups

We have a couple of biggies in this last round-up for the month of June. We begin first with Vacheron Constantin’s epic Les Cabinotier Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600 watch, a watch that combines 23 complications into a case that is just 13.6mm thick. Next, we have a brand new perpetual calendar watch from Patek Philippe. Patek Philippe is widely credited for giving us the world’s first perpetual calendar wristwatch, so every new perpetual calendar watch from them is a little special. In this round-up, we take a look at the very charming new Ref. 5320G. And from the Land of the Rising Sun, we have the Citizen Eco-Drive One, the world’s thinnest solar-powered watch. Find out how Citizen managed to create a solar-powered watch that is just 2.98mm thick.

Elsewhere, we have stories from the world of independent watchmaking, beginning with the news of Peter Speake-Marin leaving his eponymous brand. Find out what Peter will be up to next. To wrap things up, we visit the workshop of one of the most revered and prominent independent watchmakers, the creator of the iconic Antiqua and the man behind the epic Harry Winston Opus 3, the one and only Vianney Halter.

1. Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600 Watch Hands-On

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends June 30, 2017 ABTW Round-Ups

The Vacheron Constantin Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical Grand Complication 3600 is a watch of grand numbers. But you probably already know that from its imposing name. 5 years of development, 23 complications, 6 barrels offering over 500 hours of power reserve, 514 components, and a caliber that, in spite of all its complications, is just a mere 13.6mm thick. But all of that is dwarfed by its $1,000,000 price tag. It is a thoroughly impressive watch and we got the chance to get up close and personal with it recently. Check out our report by hitting the link below.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

2. Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5320G Watch Hands-On

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends June 30, 2017 ABTW Round-Ups

Aeronith is very light (2.7 times lighter than titanium, and 1.7 times lighter than standard aluminum) and also durable. The formation process (which is patented by Hublot) boils aluminum in some manner as to create air bubbles. When it dries, Aeronith takes on a foam-like texturing, and the pores are said to be filled in with a special polymer. I don’t know how much Aeronith will be used in future watch production, but I have a feeling Hublot and its sister brands will make use of the exotic material when they see fit – such as for these 10 unique watches. The issue is that each case is simply very time consuming to produce.Each of the 10 debut Zenith Defy Lab watches has a slightly different look mixing silver and gold-toned hour markers and hands with different dial and strap colors. It feels a bit like Zenith’s prototype collection where they tested out what the production models might look like – but honestly each looks cool (I’m partial to the green). Buying one of these 10 pieces (which are all sold out) came with some special perks. Not only do you as a customer get to be at the launch event with us members of the watch media, but they also get to take a watch home with them. The buyers of each of these piece unique watches also get a Zenith manufacture visit, an “exceptional gift box,” (which I will admit is pretty nice) as well as rare bottles of Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes white wine.

Patek Philippe is widely credited for giving us the first perpetual calendar wristwatch. As such, a new perpetual calendar watch from Patek Philippe is always something of an occasion, especially for the hardcore Patek collectors. For 2017, Patek Philippe released a new perpetual calendar watch called the Ref. 5320G, which adapts and combines traits of various vintage Patek perpetual calendar watches. It’s a charming watch for sure, with an interesting stepped case construction, creamy ivory dial, and unique syringe-style hour and minute hands. For readers lucky enough to be considering a new perpetual calendar, this has got to be one of your top considerations.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

3. Citizen Eco-Drive One Watch Review

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends June 30, 2017 ABTW Round-Ups

In the world of quartz watches, the Japanese reign supreme. After all, it was a Japanese company – Seiko – that gave the world its first quartz watch. Apart from Seiko, Citizen is another one of the world’s largest manufacturers of quartz and digital watches. Citizen is perhaps most famous for its Eco-Drive watches. First introduced around 1995, these are solar-powered watches that had solar cells hidden under the dial, allowing them to have a cleaner and more pleasing look. Last year, Citizen announced a new breakthrough Eco-Drive watch aptly called the Eco-Drive One, which is just 2.98mm thick, making it the world’s thinnest solar-powered watch. Here’s our review of this engineering marvel.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

4. Bulova Moon Watch Chronograph 98A186 For 2017 Hands-On

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends June 30, 2017 ABTW Round-Ups

Only a handful of brands can lay claim to having been on the moon. Omega is perhaps the most famous of them all, but so has Bulova. Despite Omega being the official watch of for missions to the moon, that didn’t stop astronauts from wearing additional watches of their own. One of such watches to make its way to the moon was a chronograph by Bulova worn by astronaut Dave Scott. Bulova, keen to impress upon the world its space credentials, released a modern replica of the watch that astronaut Dave Scott wore to the moon last year. For 2017, they are updating that modern reissue with a new darker and stealthier model that you see here.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

5. Chanel Monsieur De Chanel Watch In Platinum With Black Enamel Dial Hands-On

BEST FROM: aBlogtoWatch & Friends June 30, 2017 ABTW Round-Ups

Chanel is arguably more famous for its ladies handbags and fragrances, but last year, Chanel made headlines for releasing a new men’s watch called the Monsieur de Chanel. By all accounts, it is a great watch. I love the styling and it even has an in-house movement designed by the extremely talented Romain Gauthier. For 2017, Chanel is introducing a new version that comes in a platinum case and a gorgeous black grand feu enamel dial. Gorgeous, that’s one word that I never thought I would use to describe a Chanel watch.

Source: aBlogtoWatch

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