Monthly Archives: March 2015

TAG HEUER – Formula 1 Cristiano Ronaldo CR7

Cristiano Ronaldo needs no introduction. Even people who aren’t interested in football or dislike this popular sport which inspires powerful emotion know the captain of the Portugal team. The Real Madrid attacker and winner of the Ballon d’Or has collaborated with TAG Heuer to design a watch named after him (CR7 brings together his initials and the number on his Portugal shirt). The racy design epitomises the professional player and beautifully contrasts midnight black and bright green inspired by football turf. The 42mm case and bezel engraved with a tachymeter scale are in black titanium-coated steel. The black dial has a checkerboard pattern which brings out the green features (indices, hour and minute hands coated in black Super-Luminova, markers on the blue-tone counters and chapter ring with a white minute track). Price: 1’450 CHF

CORUM – Bubble

Chaux-de-Fonnier watch brand Corum is bubbling over with creativity as it presents the brand new Bubble model 15 years after it first launched. This timepiece was first unveiled in 2000 and surprised the world with its pioneering 44mm diameter and the magnifying effect created by the sapphire glass protecting the dial. The 2015 model is an even more spectacular feast for the eyes and comes in two limited editions: 350 of both the Vintage or All Black model are available. The steel case housing the self-winding calibre has been expanded to a diameter of 47mm; it has short lugs to better hug the wrist and the case is coated with black PVD or copper. Appearances can be deceiving as the dial is in fact flat and divided into cubes; the delightfully deceptive 8mm thick sapphire glass makes it appear domed. The dial bears leaf-shape hands, indice dots and large Arabic numerals, one of which wraps its curves around the date display. Price upon request

HERMÈS – Slim d’Hermès

Let’s celebrate the launch of a new watch collection which, just like the Parisian brand, is of a rare beauty. As the name suggests, the rose gold or steel case with or without diamonds and its very open silver-tone opalescent dial with weightless typography are all super svelte. The hour numerals have their own unique personality and smooth curves designed by graphic artist Philippe Apeloig who often works with Hermès. This collection has a variety of case sizes: a classic 39.5mm model brought to life by the super-slim self-winding H1950 calibre and two 32 and 25mm ladies watches with a quartz movement. The first model’s dial features baton-shaped rhodium or gold plated hour and minute hands and a small seconds at 6 o’ clock whilst the other more minimalist pieces display the time, pure and simple. Price between 2,800 CHF and 16,500 CHF

Audi Sport Limited Edition II

The fruit of the watch brand Oris’ romance with German car manufacturer Audi, this chronograph radiates sporty style with both its bold all-black look and its technical talent. The black DLC-coated titanium makes it light and the case houses a self-winding movement on a Sellita base which brings to life the time, chronograph and date functions. The chronograph hour, minute and second functions lie in the centre of the matt black dial; the linear retrograde small seconds counter at 9 o’ clock and the chronograph minute counter at 12 with a 10 minute countdown. The applied hour numerals are coated in black Super-LumiNova® whilst the minute track has been engraved on the bidirectional ceramic rotating bezel. The tachymeter scale lies on the chapter ring. 2000 pieces of this limited edition model are available. Price: 3,900 CHF

CHOPARD – Mille Miglia GTS Power Control

The prolific Mille Miglia collection launched in 1988 and now it’s time for it to branch into a new watch family: Mille Miglia GTS. The GTS (Gran Turismo Sport) symbol is a direct reference to the luxury cars which race in events such as the Mille Miglia. One of the three pieces in this brand new range is the Power Control with a power reserve indicator (between 8 and 10 on the dial) inspired by a 50s style fuel gauge. Luminescent hour and minute hands burst from the heart of the black dial along with a red central seconds hand. Scarlet radiates the brand’s sporty soul and also features on the minute track and arrow surrounding the date display (at 3 o’ clock), the logo of the famous Italian race. These functions are brought to life by a COSC-certified self-winding calibre designed and made entirely by Chopard inside the 43mm case. Price on request

Tonda 1950 Squelette

It’s already known for its pure elegance, sophisticated case, iconic lugs and timeless dial but this year the Tonda 1950 is unveiling its mechanical heart. It lays itself bare or plays peek-a-boo to show off the in-house PF 705 calibre whose micro rotor is engraved with an efflorescent design at 10 o’ clock on the dial. The self-winding movement provides a 42-hour power reserve from inside the 39mm white or rose gold case available with or without 84 diamonds (0.65 carat). It brings to life two luminescent delta-shape hour and minute hands which glide over slender applied indices dotted around the guilloché metal rim. In terms of aesthetics, the star of the show is the sapphire dial. The shiny white gold model has transparent glass to showcase the movement in all its glory whilst the frosted glass on the rose gold model gives a glimpse of the calibre’s curves through a milky veil. Price: 39,500 CHF (gold) – 42,500 CHF (diamond and gold)

Radiomir Firenze 3 Days Acciaio

The most Italian watch brand in Switzerland pays tribute to its home city of Florence. Founder Giovanni Panerai opened a watchmaking workshop in the Tuscan capital in 1860. It has since become the flagship store whose windows showcase its very own exclusively designed timepiece: Radiomir Firenze. The brushed steel case has been engraved with typical Florentine shapes and forms, reminiscent of those on the Santa Maria Novella basilica, including the famous fleur-de-lys which has been on the city’s coat of arms for 10 centuries. The sculpted case houses a manual wind in-house movement (P.3000) which provides a 72-hour power reserve (3 days) and brings the hours and minutes to life. The time functions appear on the black sunburst dial as two luminescent hands gliding above phosphorescent oversize Arab numerals and indices. Price: 18,800 €

Rendez-Vous Moon

The moon has fascinated Man since the dawn of time. It affects our mood, influences the nature around us, controls the tide and lights up the night sky with its silvery sparkle when the sun goes down. Aside from its poetic image and power over nature, the moon and its many phases primarily help us tell the time. A white mother-of-pearl moon shines from the lower half of the Rendez-Vous’ dial. A guilloché and midnight blue lacquered sky glides over the moon depending on its phase. Chiselled mother-of-pearl adorns the diamond-rimmed crescent bearing the hour numerals at the top of the dial under a bright star which subtly tells the wearer what time it is. The floral hour and minute hands and moon cycle are brought to life by the self-winding 935 calibre in the diamond-set white gold 36 or 39mm case. Price: 43,300 CHF (Ø36) – 52,500 CHF (Ø39)

TISSOT aims high through its partnership with the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC)

The Swiss watch brand sets its watches to Alpine time by announcing a partnership with Switzerland’s largest Alpine sports association from 1st January 2015.

They have decided to team up to conquer the highest summits! Tissot and the Swiss Alpine Club SAC are partners from 1st January 2015. “It is an honour for Tissot to become the official watch of the Swiss Alpine Club,” notes with enthusiasm François Thiébaud, President of the Swiss watch manufacturer. Their association follows a certain logic, a fact underlined by François Thiébaud: “The watch preferred by Swiss people is purchased from generation to generation, it’s almost like a tradition. And when the phrase Swiss tradition is mentioned, mountains spring inevitably to mind. Hence the many partnerships we have developed with great names of Swiss Alpine tourism, for example with Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn; with the 100th anniversary of the Jungfrau cog railway; with the Tissot Glacier 3000 Peak Walk in Les Diablerets and the first suspension bridge in the world linking two summits; or with festivities celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first ascent of the Matterhorn. The Alpine dimension is without doubt part of our DNA and our image.”

 

The T-Touch Solar in mountain refuges

A marketing trajectory which logically follows the high-altitude paths taken by mountain lovers. “This environment conveys our brand values: the quest for precision and performance, but without being overly competitive,” notes François Thiébaud. “In mountain sports, the further you stray from base camp the closer you get to others, and to yourself – a humbling experience.”

This partnership, which will run for several years, is also of course welcomed by the Swiss Alpine Club: “We’ve been thinking of teaming up with a watch brand for a long time, but have waited for the right candidate who shares our values. Today the search is over,” says Pit Meyer, head of marketing at SAC. Tissot thus joins outdoor equipment supplier Salewa, and energy producer Axpo in the very select circle of SAC’s main partners. “Tissot and SAC were made for each other, particularly since the new T-Touch Solar watch is very popular with our members,” continues Pit Meyer. “What’s more, it’s a model which will be displayed in all the mountain refuges of the Swiss Alpine Club in a giant version. But over and above the gain in visibility benefiting both parties, this partnership marks a similar vision of the world, focusing our gaze once and for all on the highest summits!”

About Tissot

It’s the Swissness at the very heart of Tissot that makes the brand such a distinguished one. The + in the Tissot logo is the same as the Swiss flag, symbolising the quality and the reliability that watchmakers have proudly demonstrated since 1853. The innovative brand remains in its home in Le Locle in the Swiss Jura Mountains, keeping its Swiss identity at its core. Tissot watches are authentic and accessible, using special materials, advanced functionality and meticulous design detail to create pieces that are both precise and stylish. The high calibre of the brand has been repeatedly recognised, as in its illustrious history Tissot has been named Official Timekeeper and Partner of MotoGPTM, FIM World Superbike, FIBA, AFL, RBS 6 Nations Rugby and the World Championships of cycling, fencing and ice hockey. Tissot, which sells its timepieces in more than 160 countries round the world, is a member of the Swatch Group, the world’s largest watch producer and distributor of Swiss watches. As it continues to create pioneering creations, Tissot stands by its signature, “Innovators by Tradition.”

www.tissot.ch

About the Swiss Alpine Club SAC

With more than 145,000 members, the Swiss Alpine Club SAC, founded in 1863, is the fourth largest sports association in Switzerland. The SAC works to promote mountain sports such as traditional mountaineering, but also more modern disciplines such as ice climbing and bouldering. Its 152 mountain refuges situated in the Swiss Alps are the jewel in the crown of the SAC. Moreover, the club is involved in mountain rescue activities in conjunction with Secours Alpin and Rega, and now works to protect the environment by actively supporting preservation of the Alpine space, while at the same time defending free access to climbers to these areas.

In terms of figures, the SAC also represents 350,000 overnight stays a year, 50,000 books sold each year, as well as 9,500 accommodation options and 200 training courses per year.

www.sac-cas.ch

Vintage 1945 Lady

The iconic watch inspired by a piece from 1945 (hence the name of the collection) is wrapped in thirty diamonds and its eye-catching dial is coated in silky smooth cocoa. A square of chocolate edged by 42 brilliant-cut diamonds in the centre of the dial houses the dauphine-shape hour and minute hands whilst three applied Arabic numerals (3, 9 and 12) and a black-on-white date display at 6 o’ clock lie on a caramel background. The 28x27mm steel case is true to the Vintage 1945 collection’s signature rectangular shape and Art Déco style; a self-winding movement made by Girard-Perregaux brings to life the time and date functions along with a 36- hour power reserve. This piece in warm tones is available with a chocolate alligator strap or steel strap. Price: 13,800 CHF (leather strap) – 14,800 (steel strap)