This DIY item uses two standard dials and some odd telegraph keys to create something that looks like it belongs on the bridge of the Enterprise, circa 1801. The clock uses parts from ShareBrained and a tea box attached to some custom-engraved metal plates – actually curtain rod ends.
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Another bit of news from Tag is the RS2 Caliper chrono Ti2 running the Caliber 36 movement for 1/10th of a second accuracy. The 36 isn’t new – it appeared in 2008 – but the “caliper” system is quite interesting.
The dashboard is a stylish black 43mm dial designed for optimum readability and information. The spotlight feature is the exclusive Caliper Rotating Scale, an ingenious display mode marked by an oversize crown and red line at 10 o’clock that enables precise readings of 1/10th of a second — magnified 10X for rapid readability.
Tag has launched a number of retreads and a new concept at Basel this year. The Monaco chronograph, worn by Steve McQueen in the movie Le Mans way back in 1971, is a TH stalwart and they’ve been tweaking the timeless design for years. This year they have a concept chrono with 36,000 bph movement that “floats” inside the case to ensure shock absorption even in a 20 meter fall.
I’m not a big Tag man myself but you have to admit the square face and movement make this a bit nice than their low-end F1 racing watches you see on the daily.
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I’m not sure if this was supposed to be ironic or if it’s serious, but Borgeaud watches have created something rather interesting. It’s an analog watch that contains the “Rahu complication”.
What the watch is supposed to do is synchronize with and ancient Indian almanac, and provide you with a warning when it’s a bad time to make a decision. Apparently, there is a point every day when for 90 minutes, you would be ill-advised to do anything important. The watch indicates this to you by turning a small section of the face brown during this dangerous time.
Limited to a run of 650, and priced at around $2000, I predict that they are hoping people are making a buying decision during this “brown” time.
Breitling announced their new chronograph today, just in time for Baselworld 2009. Called the Chronomat B01, I have to say this has got to be the nicest looking Breitling I’ve seen so far. It’s a redesign of their popular Chronomat model, and it’s got some very attractive features.
The first thing that jumps out is the bezel, it’s been redesigned and now features engraved numbers instead of just lines. The face is slightly different as well, looking a bit more refined then the basic Chronomat model. The biggest change however, is something you’ll only see if you look through the mineral crystal back, and that’s the new movement. Breitling has decided to produce the movement for the Chronomat B01 in-house, and it shows. I’ll admit I’m a fan of mechanical movements to being with, but this new Breitling is something to behold. I’m hoping that they continue with this and make more and more of their timepieces with this movement.
Available in the typical array of Breitling cases, colors, and band choices, there is no word on the price at this time. Look for this at your favorite retailer in the near future.
WatchLuxus went all BLORP on the C1 QuantumGravity press release and sent us some huge pictures of this amazing and strange watch. While the release itself is pure jibberish (“An aerial bi-axial tourbillon mechanism. A vertical power reserve. Individualist seconds. A stripped-down dial and spectacular volumes: the latest specimen from the C Lab Series defies all theories.”) the watch is actually very cool. One thin we didn’t notice when we talked about it last? It has a freaking vertical power reserve that uses glowing green liquid to show how much energy is stored in the spring.
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Hamilton recently teamed up with Conservation International and Harrison Ford to create the “Khaki Conservation” edition. They’ve created a “eco-friendly” version of the Khaki Navy GMT with special design elements. It’s a limited edition using recycled material for the packaging, and Hamilton has pledged to donate the proceeds to Conservation International.
The movement is a 21 jewel automatic with a sapphire crystal, and a see-through back printed with Harrison Ford’s signature and the Conservation International logo.
Retailing for around $1100, it’s one of the sharpest watches we’ve seen from Hamilton in a long time.
It’s a little known fact that watchmakers like to note the time and date of their work on the inside cases of watches. If you ever have something repaired at a watch shop, chances are there’s a little note – “change battery”, “crystal” – in the case. This is fairly common and it’s fun to open an old watch and find notes from long-gone watchmakers secreted inside.
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From the Watch and Clock Forum we find a funny thread:
As you know, my watch was stolen. Apparently, a janitor in the building where I exercise decided that he would be happier with whatever was in my locker than I would be, and as a result became the proud (if illicit) owner of a JS Watch Co timepiece. From him, it went to a prostitute, in payment for some kind of activity. No doubt, the activity provided a much more gratifying sense of pleasure than wearing the watch, for he traded it for the prostitute’s services. According to my source, the prostitute’s time would have cost the janitor $500. The prostitute, in turn, traded it to a tattoo artist, who provided a red, yellow and orange shooting star on the back of her neck… a $200 decoration.
Check out the whole thread for more hijinks.
While some mysteries are occasionally solved, the majority tend to live on forever without the truth being revealed. One in the latter category concerns the recent discovery of a century-old Swiss watch discovered in an ancient Chinese tomb that has been sealed for more than 400 years.
