Alex Lynn’s Custom MarkVIII F

The British Formula 3 season promises to be another action packed season. The racing circuit has 10 events and 29 races scheduled throughout Europe. Driver Alex Lynn is set to debut in the Formula 3 series after winning the 2011 championship in Formula Renault, where he racked up an impressive 12 wins during the season.

The talented 18-year-old rising star of British Motorsport has caught the eye of legendary Formula One driver Stefan Johansson, who for the first time has agreed to sponsor a driver.

“This is my first initiative to sponsor a young athlete which I believe have all the ingredients to go all the way in their respective field. I have always been interested to try and help young drivers that have exceptional talent, and I believe Alex clearly falls into this category,” said Johansson.

Stefan Johansson, continues, “I have been following his progress the last few years and if he continues on the same path it won’t be long before we will see Alex reaching the top of the ladder in our sport. I am proud and honored to be a part of the team that will make Alex realize his dreams and goals.”

In addition to his continued involvement in motorsports both on and off the track, Johansson is enjoying a second career designing racing inspired Swiss timepieces for his eponymous line, Stefan Johansson Vaxjo. These complex mechanical wonders are put to the ultimate test of being worn by a professional driver during an actual race. They must withstand the vibrations of the steering wheel while negotiating sharp corners as well as, numerous gearshifts and thousands of miles of track.

Johansson has designed a limited edition series of 10 custom Mark VIIIF chronographs emblazoned with Lynn’s logo.

“Naturally, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Stefan, his watches are cool and his illustrious career is certainly an inspiration to me! We’ve known Stefan for a few years and I have always appreciated his help and advice along the way,” Said Lynn of the partnership. “Stefan knows what you need to do to get the job done in motorsport and when he suggested the watch partnership, I was really pleased. It will be extra motivation to me to be wearing my Stefan Johansson Växjö watch as I compete!”

In addition to Alex Lynn, legendary racecar drivers Mark Blundell, Johnny Herbert, Arie Luyendyk, Eddie Cheever, Emerson Fittipaldi and Scott Dixon have donned the Mark VIII Collection on the track.

Courtesy of: Lange & Söhne

Lange & Söhne celebrates the 165th year as the founder of Germany’s precision watchmaking industry.

To commemorate this milestone achievement, Lange & Söhne has introduced an wonderful trio of watches including” the Tourbograph “Pour le Mérite”, the Lange 1 Tourbillon, and the 1815 Moonphase.

The trilogy of luxury anniversary collection watches consist of novel gold alloy and offer a contemporary brilliance in their design.

Through four generations, Lange & Söhne watch dynasty and tradition lives on. Lange & Söhne continues to produce the ultimate in luxury timepieces.

This new collection is titled, “165 Years – Homage to F.A. Lange.”

Back in 1845, Ferdinand Adolph Lange moved from the Dresden, Germany to the remote and poor mining town of Glashütte.

Lange’s goal was to fulfill his dream of becoming a top watch maker.

Many of the watch innovations and enhancements designed by Ferdinand Adolph Lange have become industry standard over the years.

An example is he was among the first to adopt the metric unit of measurement, leaving behind the Parisian ligne system, which as standard at the time.

The hard work, dedication of Ferdinand Adolph Lange continues to be the backbone of the modern today company.

View the company’s web site for all their luxury watches –
http://www.alange-soehne.com/cms/de/index.html

Pequignet Moorea Elegance

Pequignet watches are a relative newcomer to the luxury watch industry. The luxury watchmaker was formed back in 1973.

Regardless, there is no doubt their credentials are top notch as one can see viewing a watch from their luxurious Moorea Elegance collection.

Pequignet watches are French designed and Swiss engineered, so you are getting the best of both worlds with Pequignet. Their excellent selection of men’s watches are taking the industry by storm and rapidly becoming amongst the most sought after in the luxury watch market.

The Pequignet Moorea Elegance timepiece offers a stylish design that is steeped in heritage, but also with a modern twist. The watch’s specifications are impressive and include sapphire crystal glass, Swiss made automatic movement, 41mm polished steel case and a water resistance of a not-too-shabby 50m.

All in all, a luxury watch not too be missed. Retail Price of the Pequignet Moorea Elegance watch is approximately $2,000.

Grieb & Benzinger

Grieb & Benzinger is a maker luxury timepieces. The watch company recently unveiled the 3 Masterpieces.

This watch collection from Grieb & Benzinger is Valued at greater more than $1.5 million dollars and includes three of the most complicated and heaviest platinum watches ever produced.

Prior to this year’s Baselworld show, Grieb & Benzinger drew a lot of attention with its “3 masterpieces” watches.

Below is a video showing the making and watch product details of the BLUE DANUBE – one of these three gorgeous masterpieces.

Grieb & Benzinger Blue Dragon

Luxury watchmaker Grieb & Benzinger is offering an unusual, limited watch collection in celebration of the Year of the Dragon 2012.

In China, the dragon has always been the symbol of imperial power – a symbol for happiness, peace, protection and destiny. According to one legend, the Chinese see themselves as the progeny of the dragon, and children born in the Year of the Dragon are said to have the same characteristics as the dragon itself: the child will be intelligent, benevolent, strong and just.

The new dragon watch collection of 2012 from Grieb & Benzinger integrates both Chinese mythology with the top notch craftsmanship of Grieb & Benzinger. This fine watch collection is the most lavish line of watches ever dedicated to the Year of the Dragon.

All the watches in this luxury dragon watch line are skeletonized, guilloché and engraved by hand. This has long been a tradition by Grieb & Benzinger.

The watch collection is made up of eight different models of eight pieces each. Eight is the lucky number in China.

All watch movements are hand-skeletonized and bear the number of limitation (1/8 through 8/8) hand-skeletonized into the gear train bridge.

– The mother-of-pearl models WHITE and GREY DRAGON. Their mother-of-pearl dials allude to the pearl that the male dragon carries underneath his chin.
– The BLACK DRAGON includes China’s favorite colors: black and red. The dragon hovers over a skeletonized Sterling silver dial, which covers a blackened, hand-skeletonized movement.
– The BLUE DRAGON (photo above) is the masterpiece of the dragon collection. The dragon is fully skeletonized out of the movement itself and majestically floats within the case.

Prices for the Dragon Watch Collection for 2012 by Brieb & Benzinger range from 32,500 Euros up to 65,000 Euros (net price, ex Germany).

Breguet

Breguet has become such an intrinsic part of not only European culture, but the worldwide luxury watch industry. Breguet’s emblematic “Tradition” collection is being enriched this year with an original model in 18-carat rose gold.

This “Grande Complication” timepiece features a tourbillon, fusee and chain transmission, and a Breguet balance spring in silicon, joins the existing models in yellow gold and platinum. Inspired by the legendary souscription watches created by A.-L. Breguet, this objet d’art symbolizes both a return to roots and a resolutely forward-looking brand vision.

The Tradition Breguet 7047 Tourbillon Fusee luxury watch’s pure, modern aesthetic sets the stage for the tourbillon and the fusee and chain transmission located on the upper part of the mainplate. This sculptural piece highlights the contrast and relief effects, giving vibrant life to each component. These technical accomplishments symbolising Breguet’s horological excellence are duly protected by four patents.

Back in 2006, Breguet presented the first watches with silicon balance spring and escapement. The flat silicon balance springs, made using a raised terminal curve, also known as a “Breguet overcoil”, were recognised as an authentic feat by the watch industry. The rose gold re-edition of the “Tradition 7047PT” also features a silicon Breguet balance spring, as well as a new black galvanic-coated and engine-turned 18-carat gold dial.

This highly technical new rose gold model is a source of legitimate pride for the Manufacture Breguet, which remains firmly in the vanguard of research and development. Not content with merely inventing, it also displays the ability of the House to combine technological innovation with aesthetic appeal.

Tradition Breguet 7047 Tourbillon Fusee, Rose Gold Watch Features:

– Case in 18-carat rose gold with a finely fluted caseband. Sapphire crystal back. Diameter 41 mm. Rounded lugs welded to the case, screw-secured spring-bars. Water-resistant to 3 bar (30 m).

– Dial in black-coated engine-turned 18-carat gold, off-centred at 7 o’clock. Individually numbered and signed Breguet. Chapter ring with Roman numerals. 60-second tourbillon at 1 o’clock. Polished steel “moon” tip Breguet hands.

– Movement mechanical hand-wound with tourbillon, anthracite coating. Numbered and signed Breguet. Cal. 569. 16 lignes. 43 jewels. 50-hour power reserve with power-reserve indication on the barrel drum. Constant torque ensured throughout the running of the watch thanks to the fusee and chain transmission. Titanium upper bridge of the tourbillon carriage Breguet type tourbillon bar. Straight-line Swiss lever escapement. Breguet titanium balance with four gold adjustment screws. Breguet silicon balance spring, 2.5 Hz. Adjusted in 6 positions. Alligator leather strap.

Blancpain Villeret Collection Calibre 7663Q

Blancpain has just introduced it’s first Villeret collection watch with a Flinqu Lacquered Dial. The Blancpain Calibre 7663Q watch includes 244 parts and 34 jewels.

The stunning effect is achieved by adding several layers of translucent blue lacquer to the watch dial to create an incomparable depth effect. Blancpain has carefully adopted a subtly balanced approach by introducing this original touch while preserving the pure lines of its most classic collection.

The Calibre 7663Q watch from Blancpain is housed within a 40mm diameter white gold case. The luxury watch has a three-day power reserve.

This new self-winding movement powers hour and minute hands as well as an equally central serpentine date pointer, while the retrograde seconds appear at 6 o’clock.

The under-lug corrector at 5 o’clock enables fast date adjustment, while the sapphire crystal caseback reveals the collection’s distinctive guilloche oscillating weight.

In addition, Blancpain’s new Villeret collection watch (Ref# 6653q-1529-55b) is water-resistant to 3 bars and is accompanied by an alligator leather strap with an alzavel lining, matching the dial color and fitted with a folding clasp to ensure enhanced wearer comfort.

Grieb & Benzinger

Luxury watchmaker Grieb & Benzinger, along with Rolls-Royce Motorcars and Revolution Magazine recently presented the three heaviest platinum watches in the world. The combined value of these luxury watches from Grieb & Benzinger was 1,200,000 euros or US$ 1,500,000!

Select guests in Singapore had the privilege to review these fine, luxury watches. They saw firsthand the BLUE DANUBE (a unique skeletonized minute repeater split-seconds chronograph) and the BLUE WHIRLWIND (a unique tourbillon minute repeater)as well as the legendary BLUE SENSATION (the only split-seconds skeletonized regulator chronograph on the market ) by Grieb & Benzinger.

Each of these unique watches is based on a rare Patek Philippe caliber design. The watches were fully disassembled, modified and recreated in the typical style of Grieb & Benzinger. The restoration process of these three solid platinum case watches took 12 months to complete.

Unforgettable highlights among these watches are the refined guilloché, hand-skeletonization and hand-engraving as well as the skeletonized Sterling silver dials with original Breguet frosted finish as only Grieb & Benzinger does.

The BLUE SENSATION watch features a 49-millimeter diameter and a total weight of 230 grams. The luxury watch is the largest of the three from Grieb & Benzinger. Even though its size, the watch is the most affordable one with a value of 200,000 euros (US$ 260,000).

For additional information about these three luxury Grieb & Benzinger watches, please visit: www.benzinger-boutique.com

Blancpain – Saint-Valentin Chronograph 2012

Frequently featured on AskMen.com, Blancpain is undoubtedly one of the legendary watchmakers in the world.  In the spotlight this time is a glitzy new addition to their Blancpain Women collection.

Following its tradition of Valentine’s Day romance, Blancpain is unveiling its annual exclusive creation for Valentine’s Day with a new limited design watches, the Saint-Valentin Chronograph 2012.

With its diamond-set bezel and lugs, caseband set with four diamonds and a heart-shaped ruby, crown adorned with a diamond and pushpieces covered with cabochon-cut rubies, the Saint-Valentin Chronograph is the statement piece of this season.  Its engraved mother-of-pearl dial, featuring a marquetry-work motif composed of three white mother-of-pearl hearts and set with eight diamonds, and delicately hand painted heart shape, all highlight the intense attention to detail infused into this exquisite line of watches.

The sapphire crystal back of the 36 mm case features 308 parts and 37 jewels, along with the oscillating weight clothed in pink mother-of-pearl.  With a nod to tradition, the Saint-Valentin Chronograph 2012 uses the same self-winding Calibre F185 featured in the very first ladies’ flyback chronograph model.  This model is exclusively available through Blancpain’s boutiques.

Acclaimed as the world’s oldest watch brand, Blancpain has been heralded for its aesthetic and technology since its inception in 1735.  Founded by Jehan-Jaques Blancpain, this luxury Swiss watch manufacturer is famous for being the creator of some of the most complicated mechanical watches ever created in history.

TAG Heuer Grand Carrera

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and you can rest assured that your man will be searching high and low for what will be the best gift for you. While he is doing that and pulling out his hair let us save you some time. The perfect way to tell him that he is appreciated is with a great TAG Heuer watch.

You are expecting him to roll out the red carpet for you on Valentine’s Day and he probably will, why not surprise him with a fine piece of jewelry yourself? TAG Heuer is a world renowned maker of luxury watches that not only look and feel great but also extremely practical. Their watches are perfect for the man with an active and athletic lifestyle as well as the man who is conscious of how he looks. They are versatile; he will be able to wear one with a suit or a t-shirt and he will feel like a million dollars knowing that you had him in mind when you bought it.

In the past ten years, TAG Heuer has won seven Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève. This proves that TAG Heuer is elite and unparalleled in its master craft of luxury and practical timepieces. Does he deserve any less than the absolute best in watches? TAG Heuer has an unparalleled determination to beautifully design their watches but this may hide how technically complex the watches they create are. TAG has created watches that can read up to one thousandth of a second – a feat once thought impossible for mechanical watches! So do not let the elegance and style of their watches fool you; TAG makes a much better mechanical watch than any other company can even hold a claim to.

TAG Heuer Calibre

The TAG Heuer brand is synonymous with sports and active lifestyles. Throughout its history back to 1860, TAG has been adding notches to its belt with great achievements including creating the first dashboard stopwatch for race cars. As such, it’s no mystery that their watches are designed specifically for those with active lifestyles in mind. They are designed to resist everything the elements throw at them. Because of this mindset when creating watches, their watches are water resistant and scratch resistant.

This Valentine’s Day while he is running around trying to get the perfect gift for you, show him you appreciate it with a watch that is simply unparalleled in men’s watches. A TAG Heuer watch is the perfect gift.

Written by Andrew Hilbert

Cartier

I’m a firm believer that no matter how fancy, as soon as you introduce gaudiness into an item, it begins to look cheap.

Diamonds is the ultimate symbol of luxury, but if one starts wearing diamond-encrusted coats with matching hat and scarf, the look screams more Jersey Shore than Audrey Hepburn; not to mention the backlash an overly flashy ensemble would elicit.

With the same concerns in mind, Cartier, the indisputable brand of sophistication is introducing discreet watches to assuage luxury-goods guilt.

With a prestigious client list that includes the star of Russia and the late and great Elizabeth Taylor, Cartier is focusing on watches with more understated class than ostentatious displays of wealth. Not skimping on jewels, diamond, gold, and other precious stones and metals, Cartier will show complicated timepieces and watches at the SIHH watch fair in Geneva.

The new product, Tank Anglaise, is available in three colors of gold as well as a gold and steel version. It’s said to be the biggest introduction since the Balloon Bleu. Balloon Bleu watches was first introduced to the market in 2007 and stood apart from its competitors with round cases and a crown set with sapphire.

Standard model of the Balloon Bleu begin at 10,000 euros while the diamond-encrusted versions are worth hundreds of thousands of euros.

Class, sophistication, and the agility to roll with the current socio-economic times are just a few of the reasons for Cartier’s revenue and market share growth.