At BaselWorld 2011, Swiss watchmaker HD3 Complications will introduce its latest luxury watch design – HD3 Slyde.

HD3 Slyde digital touch screen luxury watch.

The Baselworld 2010 fair is undeniably the most important trade show for the watch industry. Within its immense confines there is one place that shines above all the rest.

Hall 1.0 is the first floor of the main building for watch brand exhibitors, and it is where important brands such as Patek and Rolex setup their impressive booths. Amongst the new-comers to Hall 1.0 this year was U-Boat.

As it is no small feat to be in this area, it is important to justify your presence by unveiling great new products. Italo Fontana, owner and designer of U-Boat watches, lived up to this expectation with several new models including the one I am about to present, the Classico Titanium Chronograph.

Three new limited edition versions of the U-Boat Classico Titanium chronograph were presented at Baselworld 2010. Two are all black models and one displays many white elements.

The case for these models is 53mm in diameter, and 17mm thick. This thickness is probably above average, but it is well justified when considering the diameter of the watch. While similar to the case of the basic Classico chronographs, several details differ.

It is made of titanium, and sports a massive crown system and robust chronograph pushers that have more demarcated and intricate grip teeth than those found on the regular Classico Chronographs.

The use of high-tech materials makes the Titanium about 15% lighter than the steel chronographs. This works together with the “left-handed” configuration of the crown and pushers to make these large watches surprisingly comfortable.

Not very noticeable until pointed out, the six structural screws that hold the bezel in place have been reworked as well. Specialized screw-drivers have been developed in tandem to be able to use these U-head screws,.

The back of the case offers a view of the U-77’s balance wheel. The U-77 caliber movement is a slightly modified version of the infamous automatic-winding 7750 chronograph movement. The markings on the back of the case indicate that each watch is one of only 200 of its kind to be manufactured.

U-Boat Limited Edition Classico Titanium Chronograph from Matt Baily on Vimeo.

While the white ceramic version of the Classico Titanium Chronograph offers contrasting color combinations, the other two models offer a decisively monochromatic style. Similarly colored materials, including carbon fiber, create a stealthy style that is reminiscent of the interior of a powerful race car.

Contrast is provided by the relief of the applied hour markers and hands as well as the alternating finishes of the matte metal and glossy carbon fiber. The titanium of the case is blackened by U-Boat’s in-house PVD treatment as are the clasp and the U-Boat plate on the strap.

The rubber band completes the all-black look and makes it possible to take the Classico Titanium Chronograph into water. Here the Classico Titanium Chronograps find themselves very comfortable thanks to a water resistance rating of 200 meters.

As a participant and a fan, Italo Fontana is strongly influenced by car racing. This is often noticeable on his watch creations.

The Limited Edition U-Boat Classico Titanium Series is a good example, where aspects of dashboard instrumentation collide with the same high-tech materials often used in manufacturing high-performance cars.

Author: Marco is the webmaster for Matt Baily and loves U-Boat Watches

Oris Flight Timer R4118

The Oris Flight Timer R4118 is named for famous British plane – Mark 1 Hurricane R4118.

As a tribute to the Mark 1 Hurricane R4118, only 4118 units were made.

Courtesy of: Hermes

Luxury watchmaker Hermès, has introduced a new timepiece – the Steel Arceau Skeleton.

The Steel Arceau Skeleton is inspired by legendary launch of Hermes in the equestrian world.

The Arceau Skeleton features the Hermes trademark – a single stirrup case design.

The new timepiece utilizes a round, 41mm wide Arceau steel case. The Steel Arceau Skeleton has an AR-coated sapphire crystal and display back. The watch is water resistant down to 30 meters.

The two sapphire crystals vividly reveal the beating heart of the internal mechanism.

The dial features royal blue hands, in addition to a larger seconds hand.

The vintage looking watch features a highly skeletonized and perlage decorated Vaucher H1 automatic movement.

There’s an automatic rotor that smartly portrays the Hermes signature logo.

Around the dial rim (which come in either slate-grey or brown), small, angled arabesque numerals provide an elegant style.

The watch come with a matching colored alligator strap includes a safety folding clasp.

For more information, go to Hermes

For hundreds of years now, luxury watches have been regarded as symbols of wealth, success and meticulous engineering.

The fine artisanship of luxury watches such as Rolex, Cartier, Breitling, TAG Heuer, Patek Philippe and others, has made them more than just timepieces. That is why for most people, owning a luxury watch is a symbol of having arrived, of success and triumph.

Luxury watches can quickly represent a status upon their wearers. Wearing a Rolex or Cartier watch signifies great class and wealth of the bearer.

When buying luxury watches, there are several pointers that one should know before buying and investing in an expensive timepiece.
Full article

Jaermann & Stubi

Jaermann & Stubi has teamed with famous Spanish professional golfer Seve Ballesteros, to introduce the Seve Ballesteros Golf Watch.

Definitely a stylish luxury golf watch, the limited edition Seve Ballesteros Golf Watch is made from melting golf clubs, which was being used by Seve during the 1991 Chunichi Crowns Open in Japan.

The Seve Ballesteros Golf Watch features a brilliant blue dial and bezel and a unique counting mechanism that golfers can use to track the number of strokes taken at each golf hole.

The luxury Seve Ballesteros Golf Watch also comes with a certificate of authenticity and is personally signed by Seve Ballesteros himself.

Price for this must-have collectable watch begins at $19,000.

Inspired by the latest haute couture, the limited-edition Perles de Cartier women’s watch is made of 18-karat, rhodium-plated, white gold with round diamonds and two, freshwater pearls.

Its white mother-of-pearl dial features a flinque pattern accented by enamelled Roman numerals.

This watch from the Cartier Libre Collection combines sheer brilliance with style.

Dark grey in color, this captivating watch has a brushed canvas strap and is set with 389 diamonds for a total weight of approximately 2.9 carats.

Price tag – $55,000

Heuer Watch Company was founded in 1860 by Edouard Heuer. Heuer watches soon became well recognized for their high level of accuracy and workmanship. The precise watches were perfect for the timing of sporting events. Heuer soon found its market niche.

After almost 150 years of focusing on the watch industry, Tag Heuer is now taking aim at the luxury phone market. The company is offering us the “Meridiist”.

The Meridiist is Swiss-engineered and hand-assembled. Although the Tag Heuer Meridiist will cost you around $6,000 for the mobile phone, it seems to fall short on features justifying its lofty price.

For example, the features of the Meridiist don’t even come close to most of the ultra-luxury cell phones out on the market, such as the Vertu family of phones.

Similar to the AURA by Motorola, the Meridiist is produced by ModeLabs, which also a long history in timepieces.

Although Tag Heuer has been manufacturing sports watches and chronographs since 1860, we expect a lot from them. But I’m not sure they delivered enough value for the steep price.

Looking for real serious head turning wrist fashion? If you’re looking for a watch that is lighter on the wrist with a sleek look, this BR01 by Bell & Ross Pro Titanium Watch may be the perfect choice.

The Bell & Ross brings the food for your style cravings. Check out their latest collection of popular BR01 series of watches, which are hitting the market with a cool twist this time.

They are slimmer, all the more tech loaded and all the more stylish than their older counterparts. The lightweight titanium model that works as a complete complement to the high-tech design features an anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal.

While other features that make it a perfect pick-me-up for a man who doesn’t mind making a pricey style statement includes photo luminescent coating on hands making them night readable, virtually unscratchable numerals the 100 meter water resistance, and a crisp automatic chronograph movement.

We hope you are not expecting the BR01 series to come to you as an easy deal, as the price tag that reads $8000, is good enough to suit the class and finesse that the watch offers.

Via: Acquire

To commemorate its 150th anniversary, the fine jewelry house Boucheron teamed up with the renowned watch designer Richard Mille to create the RM 018 Tourbillon Wristwatch Hommage a Boucheron.

The resulting timepiece is a never-before-seen design that uses stones hand-picked by the jewelry house that have been carved down to make wheels of the Mille movement.

Price from $700,000 to over $1,000,000

Contact: Barbara Simonian at Westime in Los Angeles, California
Phone: 310-470-1388
Website: www.richardmille.com

Source: Elite Traveler

Looking for cool timepiece? Ever wanted to live in the undercover spy world, like James Bond? Well then, you may want to check out the Veldini Q wristwatch inspired by 007.

Designed by Taylor Welden, the Q ‘Bond-inspired’ luxury wrist watch has been inspired by the gadgets, luxury, class, character, and darker side of James Bond.

The design team really wanted to avoid Pierce Brosnan and the laser cutting watch, but instead provide the customer with a beautiful masculine watch, equipped with ’spy tools’ that they can actually use.

The plans are for three modular card designs – outdoor, spy, and everyday. Each of the wristwatchs has its own set of tools. Currently the ‘Q’ wristwatch is in pre-production, and the company owner plans to release at least 3 models.

Sterling silver will likely sell for $2-3k, Gold or Rose Gold will be in the $5-7k price range, and the Platinum version will be priced in the $10-15k range.

The spy tools include a set of pick locks, a glass cutter, a blade, and much more. For everyday use, this 007 watch features a mirror, a blade, bottle opener, and more. The watch also echoes the design of the hammer mechanism of 007’s Walther PPK pistol, which releases the previously mentioned card.

You never know, but the ‘Q’ may be appearing on 007’s wrist on the big screen some day soon.