Omega has created the Seamaster Aqua Terra “Captain’s Watch” in celebration of this year’s Ryder Cup.
This
special edition timepiece will be worn by American Ryder Cup team captain and
Omega brand ambassador Davis Love III. Love, whose twenty PGA Tour
victories include the PGA Championship in 1997, has been a part of six
U.S. Ryder Cup teams, winning the cup in 1993 and 1999.
Omega will
be serving as Official Timekeeper of the Ryder Cup for the first time
in September within the scope of its partnership with The PGA of
America. The tournament, which is one of the most popular and hotly
anticipated events on the golfing calendar, is a competition between
teams from Europe and the United States contested every two years,
alternating between American and European courses. There is no prize
money involved – the best golfers in the world compete purely for the
victory.
The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra “Captain’s Watch” has a 41.50 mm
brushed and polished stainless steel case with a polished bezel. Its
polished screw-in caseback has a sapphire crystal that allows a clear
view of the watch’s movement.
Powering the “Captain’s Watch” is
Omega’s exclusive Co-Axial caliber 8500 with a Si14 silicon balance
spring. The combination offers such outstanding reliability and
performance that the watch is delivered with a four-year warranty.
The
silver dial has the vertical “teak-pattern” lines that characterize the
watches in the Aqua Terra collection. Brushed and polished 18 Ct white
gold indexes mark eleven of the hours; there is a date window at 3
o’clock. The watch has distinctive facetted blue hands that are coated
with Super-LumiNova, making them legible in all lighting conditions; the
central seconds hand has a yellow tip.
The Omega watch logo on the dial
and the words “CO-AXIAL CHRONOMETER” are red as are the non-numeral
markers on the minute track. “Seamaster”, “150m/500ft” and the numerals
on the minute track are blue. These colors against the silver background
of the dial subtly recall Davis Love III’s national flag.
The stainless steel screw-and-pin bracelet has brushed outer links and polished center links.
The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra “Captain’s Watch” is water resistant to 15 bar / 150 metres / 500 feet.
Thursday, 12 July 2012
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Swatch Group invests in Biel
The Swatch Group is planning new buildings for Swatch and Omega and a
renovation and redesign of existing buildings at its premises on Rue
Jakob Stämpfli in Biel / Bienne. Under the project lead of Hayek
Engineering construction is set to begin in November of 2012.
Two of Switzerland’s most important brands are planning to construct new buildings allowing them to expand their headquarters in Biel / Bienne. The surrounding area was purchased specifically for the project. The plans include three additional buildings that are being constructed according to the latest environmental and energy-efficiency criteria. They are being planned to respect the existing architectural and urban design already in the area.
An architectural competition was held in 2010 to select a suitable building concept. The jury’s choice was the proposal by the world-famous Japanese architect Shigeru Ban (Mr. Ban had already designed the Nicolas G. Hayek Center with the «Climbing Garden» in Tokyo, Japan). His proposal was particularly convincing with its pragmatic and brand-specific designs for each building. In addition, it takes the existing landscape into account and thoughtfully integrates Omega’s listed buildings from the early days of industrialization.
A new central building along the Gottstattstrasse will combine functional areas for the two brands under one roof and accommodate other Swatch Watches Group units. The building, which is slightly elevated on pillars, will also serve as a meeting area for visitors and pedestrians. Independent museum spaces for Swatch, Omega, and Swatchmobile, equipped with the latest interactive technologies, offer their guests an opportunity to explore the worlds of watchmaking and the pioneering days of the battery-operated Swatchmobile.
In the landscaping of the business areas, the existing, protected groups of trees are being considered and supplemented with new plantings of trees and greenery. At the southern edge of the site a hiking trail will be located along the river bank, adding to the recreation area of this part of the city.
Nestled between Omega’s historic buildings and the new central building elevated on pillars, a visitors’ entrance is being created in the form of a square to be called the «Omega Plaza». From Rue Jakob Stämpfli there will be access to the interior of the business area and the entrances to the museums via a ring road.
The new Swatch buildings feature curved wooden construction that runs from the north-east towards the city centre along Rue Jakob Stämpfli and cross above Gottstattstrasse where they are connected to the new central building. At the contact point between the two buildings is a public meeting area, the «Hayek Plaza.» This section of Gottstattstrasse will be a pedestrian zone with a speed limit, according to the new zoning map of the city of Biel / Bienne.
The central building, which is being created in timber frame construction, will have administrative offices and shared conference rooms in addition to the museums for Swatch, Omega and Swatchmobile. The central building will be connected to the Swatch Building on the opposite side of the road by a bridge over the Gottstattstrasse.
On the western Omega area will be the brand’s Production and Logistics Building, also in timber frame construction. It is to house the various production departments, training and exhibition spaces and offices. An educational pathway will allow visitors a view of some of the brand’s production activities inside the building.
The elongated Swatch Building, with its modern, semi-circular timber frame structure, will be the brand’s new Headquarters. The front-most part of the building, which is connected to the Central building, has space dedicated to all areas with direct customer contact, including showrooms, customer service and a Swatch store. In the central part of the building are the offices of the management, administration, marketing and sales. The rear of the building opens onto Rue Jakob Stämpfli. Delivery and collection area as well as storage rooms are located there.
It is anticipated that the buildings will be ready for occupancy in the summer of 2015.
Two of Switzerland’s most important brands are planning to construct new buildings allowing them to expand their headquarters in Biel / Bienne. The surrounding area was purchased specifically for the project. The plans include three additional buildings that are being constructed according to the latest environmental and energy-efficiency criteria. They are being planned to respect the existing architectural and urban design already in the area.
An architectural competition was held in 2010 to select a suitable building concept. The jury’s choice was the proposal by the world-famous Japanese architect Shigeru Ban (Mr. Ban had already designed the Nicolas G. Hayek Center with the «Climbing Garden» in Tokyo, Japan). His proposal was particularly convincing with its pragmatic and brand-specific designs for each building. In addition, it takes the existing landscape into account and thoughtfully integrates Omega’s listed buildings from the early days of industrialization.
A new central building along the Gottstattstrasse will combine functional areas for the two brands under one roof and accommodate other Swatch Watches Group units. The building, which is slightly elevated on pillars, will also serve as a meeting area for visitors and pedestrians. Independent museum spaces for Swatch, Omega, and Swatchmobile, equipped with the latest interactive technologies, offer their guests an opportunity to explore the worlds of watchmaking and the pioneering days of the battery-operated Swatchmobile.
In the landscaping of the business areas, the existing, protected groups of trees are being considered and supplemented with new plantings of trees and greenery. At the southern edge of the site a hiking trail will be located along the river bank, adding to the recreation area of this part of the city.
Nestled between Omega’s historic buildings and the new central building elevated on pillars, a visitors’ entrance is being created in the form of a square to be called the «Omega Plaza». From Rue Jakob Stämpfli there will be access to the interior of the business area and the entrances to the museums via a ring road.
The new Swatch buildings feature curved wooden construction that runs from the north-east towards the city centre along Rue Jakob Stämpfli and cross above Gottstattstrasse where they are connected to the new central building. At the contact point between the two buildings is a public meeting area, the «Hayek Plaza.» This section of Gottstattstrasse will be a pedestrian zone with a speed limit, according to the new zoning map of the city of Biel / Bienne.
The central building, which is being created in timber frame construction, will have administrative offices and shared conference rooms in addition to the museums for Swatch, Omega and Swatchmobile. The central building will be connected to the Swatch Building on the opposite side of the road by a bridge over the Gottstattstrasse.
On the western Omega area will be the brand’s Production and Logistics Building, also in timber frame construction. It is to house the various production departments, training and exhibition spaces and offices. An educational pathway will allow visitors a view of some of the brand’s production activities inside the building.
The elongated Swatch Building, with its modern, semi-circular timber frame structure, will be the brand’s new Headquarters. The front-most part of the building, which is connected to the Central building, has space dedicated to all areas with direct customer contact, including showrooms, customer service and a Swatch store. In the central part of the building are the offices of the management, administration, marketing and sales. The rear of the building opens onto Rue Jakob Stämpfli. Delivery and collection area as well as storage rooms are located there.
It is anticipated that the buildings will be ready for occupancy in the summer of 2015.
Breitling - The Transocean Chronograph Unitime
Breitling reasserts its horological mastery by
launching a “world time” chronograph equipped with a new caliber
entirely developed and produced in-house. Thanks to its double disk, the
Transocean Chronograph Unitime simultaneously and constantly indicates
the time in all 24 timezones.
BRINGING THE WORLD TO THE WRIST
An innovative system based on a patented mechanism enables the user,
when changing timezone, to adjust all the indications in one smooth and
easy move by simply turning the crown. An exceptional new instrument
makes its grand entry into the world of exclusive fine mechanisms.
When the user changes timezone, he need only pull out the crown and turn it forwards or backwards in one-hour increments in order to correct the hours, the city disk and the 24-hour disk in one smooth move. Meanwhile, the calendar is easily adjusted in both directions to the date corresponding to local time. During these maneuvers, the minute and seconds hands continue turning normally without any loss of precision, and without perturbing any chronograph timing operations in progress.
PARIS, 2:15
In the example shown above, it is 2.15 am in Paris, on the 19th of the month French time. The dial simultaneously shows that it is 8.15 pm in New York, 11.15 am in Sydney, etc.
NEW YORK, 20:15
Upon arriving in New York, the user rotates the crown six notches backwards until the name New York (on the city disk) is facing 12 o’clock. This operation simultaneously corrects:
- the central hour hand, which now displays 8.15 pm;
- the 24-hour disk serving to read the time in all timezones (2.15 am in Paris, 11.15 am in Sydney, etc.);
- the date, which changes from the 19th to the 18th, since we have returned to the previous day
TIME FOR TRAVEL
While the chronograph and instruments for professionals have established themselves since 1884 as Breitling’s domain of excellence, travel watches have also played an important role in the history of the brand with the winged B. In sharing the finest hours in the conquest of the skies, Breitling accompanied the boom in air transport and long-distance travel. During the 1950s and 60s, the brand distinguished itself by introducing a sophisticated model named Unitime, a selfwinding “world time” watch that has since become a much sought-after collector’s item. Today, Breitling watches is further extending its invitation to enjoy travel and performances by combining universal time and the chronograph function within a new model in the Transocean range – a collection reflecting all the refinement and prestige of luxury long-distance journeys. Associating innovative technology with stylish aesthetics, the Transocean Chronograph Unitime is distinguished by its modern, pure lines and the infinite care lavished on the smallest details – such as its dial bearing a globe pattern. It comes in steel or red gold versions with the city bezel available in several languages. That unmistakable first-class feeling on the wrist.PERFORMANCE AND COMFORT
In creating Caliber 01, the Breitling engineers devised the world’s best chronograph movement. In developing the new Caliber 05, based on the same high-performance architecture, they have also reinvented the world time mechanism by equipping it with an adjustment system boasting unprecedented user friendliness. The Transocean Chronograph Unitime features two mobile disks: a 24-hour disk and a disk bearing the names of 24 cities representing the world’s 24 timezones. The time shown by the central hands corresponds to that of the timezone displayed at 12 o’clock. The city disk also bears indications serving to take account of “summer” or daylight saving time (DST).When the user changes timezone, he need only pull out the crown and turn it forwards or backwards in one-hour increments in order to correct the hours, the city disk and the 24-hour disk in one smooth move. Meanwhile, the calendar is easily adjusted in both directions to the date corresponding to local time. During these maneuvers, the minute and seconds hands continue turning normally without any loss of precision, and without perturbing any chronograph timing operations in progress.
PARIS, 2:15
In the example shown above, it is 2.15 am in Paris, on the 19th of the month French time. The dial simultaneously shows that it is 8.15 pm in New York, 11.15 am in Sydney, etc.
NEW YORK, 20:15
Upon arriving in New York, the user rotates the crown six notches backwards until the name New York (on the city disk) is facing 12 o’clock. This operation simultaneously corrects:
- the central hour hand, which now displays 8.15 pm;
- the 24-hour disk serving to read the time in all timezones (2.15 am in Paris, 11.15 am in Sydney, etc.);
- the date, which changes from the 19th to the 18th, since we have returned to the previous day
MOVEMENT
Manufacture Breitling Caliber 05, officially chronometer-certified by the COSC, selfwinding, high-frequency (28,000 vibrations), 56 jewels. Over 70-hour power reserve. 1/4th second chronograph, 30-minute and 12-hour totalizers. World time. Calendar.CASE
Steel or 18K red gold. Water-resistant to 100 m/10 bars. Convex sapphire crystal, glareproofed on both sides. Diameter: 46 mmDIALS
Black or Polar white.STRAPS/BRACELET
Barenia leather, crocodile leather/Ocean Classic (steel mesh, steel version only).Longines - Conquest 24 Hours
Founded in the town of Saint-Imier, the famous
Swiss watchmaker Longines, which celebrates this year its 180th
anniversary, has a long tradition marked by the continual elegance and
performance of its products. The Conquest line is the quintessential
expression of Longines’ sporting elegance and presents most emblematic
pieces within the Longines Sport Collection. The brand now extends this
line with the Conquest 24 hours – dedicated to all of those who aim to
discover new horizons.
The Conquest series perpetuates the spirit of conquest of all those
who, to discover new horizons, have dared to go further than others,
without sacrificing elegance. It is with this spirit and its personal
heritage that Longines watches has designed the models in the Conquest line. The
design of each watch contains the subtle fusion of performance and
elegance, including the most demanding technical characteristics.
The new Conquest 24 hours now adds a second time zone, a tool used by pilots crossing different time-zones in both directions. As the sun was not always visible as a point of reference, instruments were needed that could immediately indicated the correct part of the day. With a 24-hour dial navigators had no problem in this respect. The new Conquest 24 hours will attract people with an adventurous streak always trying to get a step further without sacrificing elegance. With its water-resistance to 5 bar (50 m), this model is not only a reliable partner in the air but also under water.
The robust, yet elegant stainless steel case of the new Longines Conquest 24 hours has a diameter of 41 mm and houses a self-winding mechanical movement. The sapphire glass with anti-reflective coating on the underside protects a black, silvered or blue dial with 2 applied Arabic numerals and 9 applied indices. Rhodium-plated hands with Super-LumiNova show hours, minutes and seconds, the date is indicated at 3 o’clock. The bright red 24-hour hand immediately attracts the eye. All models are available on a stainless steel bracelet and have a screw-in back cover and crown. Another feature is the lateral protection for the crown.
The Conquest 24 hours definitely meets the most demanding requirements of travellers, sportsmen and -women and people searching for a reliable watch wherever they are.
The new Conquest 24 hours now adds a second time zone, a tool used by pilots crossing different time-zones in both directions. As the sun was not always visible as a point of reference, instruments were needed that could immediately indicated the correct part of the day. With a 24-hour dial navigators had no problem in this respect. The new Conquest 24 hours will attract people with an adventurous streak always trying to get a step further without sacrificing elegance. With its water-resistance to 5 bar (50 m), this model is not only a reliable partner in the air but also under water.
The robust, yet elegant stainless steel case of the new Longines Conquest 24 hours has a diameter of 41 mm and houses a self-winding mechanical movement. The sapphire glass with anti-reflective coating on the underside protects a black, silvered or blue dial with 2 applied Arabic numerals and 9 applied indices. Rhodium-plated hands with Super-LumiNova show hours, minutes and seconds, the date is indicated at 3 o’clock. The bright red 24-hour hand immediately attracts the eye. All models are available on a stainless steel bracelet and have a screw-in back cover and crown. Another feature is the lateral protection for the crown.
The Conquest 24 hours definitely meets the most demanding requirements of travellers, sportsmen and -women and people searching for a reliable watch wherever they are.
Monday, 2 July 2012
Ulysse Nardin - Classico Luna
Press release:
The sun is a constant – a blazing sphere of light that rises each morning. The moon, equally stunning, illuminates a sense of mystery. Changing every evening – from the delicate shadow of a new moon, to the jagged “D” formation of a waxing moon as it grows from new to full, to the smooth “C” shape of a waning moon as it minimizes from full to new – its lure has affected and fascinated the natural world for millenniums.
Honoring the moon’s majesty is the new Ulysse Nardin Classico Luna for men and women.
A traditionally styled timepiece, the Classico Luna draws inspiration from the moon in a different way. Similar in principle to the limited-edition Moonstruck’s indication of the moon’s phases and based on a development with Ludwig Oechslin DNA, the Classico Luna precisely depicts the moon’s rotation in a realistic representation.
The moon reflects the light of the sun as it rotates clockwise around the earth, and the Classico Luna depicts its angle of illumination as its moon rotates around the center of the timepiece – a portrayal of earth – making one rotation in 12 hours. In its speed to fulfill its moon phase circle in 29.5 days, the color of the moon phase disc will change, increasing and decreasing as the moon wanes or waxes.
A self-winding watch, the Classico Luna makes reading the moon’s phases simple. The moon phase is set over a corrector at the 4 to 5 o’clock position.
Inventive in true Ulysse Nardin form, the Classico Luna is equally pleasing to the eye. The Classico Luna mens watches are an elegant, classic and slim dress timepieces with a traditional dial design with a silver and black background and straight indexes. Yet, for women, the Classico Lady Luna is expressive, honoring the moon’s powerfully feminine mystique through its glamorous aesthetic, particularly when set with diamonds on the bezel. The Classico Lady Luna is available in stainless steel and gold, with or without diamonds, and with one dial version made from the beautiful and enduring mother of pearl.
As earth goddesses nurture, the moon maneuvers the ebb and flow of life’s tides. The Ulysse Nardin Classico Luna brings the moon’s magnetism to its wearers every day.
The sun is a constant – a blazing sphere of light that rises each morning. The moon, equally stunning, illuminates a sense of mystery. Changing every evening – from the delicate shadow of a new moon, to the jagged “D” formation of a waxing moon as it grows from new to full, to the smooth “C” shape of a waning moon as it minimizes from full to new – its lure has affected and fascinated the natural world for millenniums.
Honoring the moon’s majesty is the new Ulysse Nardin Classico Luna for men and women.
A traditionally styled timepiece, the Classico Luna draws inspiration from the moon in a different way. Similar in principle to the limited-edition Moonstruck’s indication of the moon’s phases and based on a development with Ludwig Oechslin DNA, the Classico Luna precisely depicts the moon’s rotation in a realistic representation.
The moon reflects the light of the sun as it rotates clockwise around the earth, and the Classico Luna depicts its angle of illumination as its moon rotates around the center of the timepiece – a portrayal of earth – making one rotation in 12 hours. In its speed to fulfill its moon phase circle in 29.5 days, the color of the moon phase disc will change, increasing and decreasing as the moon wanes or waxes.
A self-winding watch, the Classico Luna makes reading the moon’s phases simple. The moon phase is set over a corrector at the 4 to 5 o’clock position.
Inventive in true Ulysse Nardin form, the Classico Luna is equally pleasing to the eye. The Classico Luna mens watches are an elegant, classic and slim dress timepieces with a traditional dial design with a silver and black background and straight indexes. Yet, for women, the Classico Lady Luna is expressive, honoring the moon’s powerfully feminine mystique through its glamorous aesthetic, particularly when set with diamonds on the bezel. The Classico Lady Luna is available in stainless steel and gold, with or without diamonds, and with one dial version made from the beautiful and enduring mother of pearl.
As earth goddesses nurture, the moon maneuvers the ebb and flow of life’s tides. The Ulysse Nardin Classico Luna brings the moon’s magnetism to its wearers every day.
Hublot Chairman said: "Swiss Watch Industry Has No Competition".
Hublot Chairman, Mr. Jean-Claude Biver told Reuters Wednesday that US sales were going to be a key driver of brands revenue going forward.
"The country is important," Biver said. "You cannot underestimate America. It's underdeveloped. We have not reached the (full) potential."
The brand was founded in 1980 and is renowned for its distinctive design, highly decorated dials, and iconic rubber straps.
While acknowledging a slowing of growth industry wide, Biver said luxury watches like Hublot's were relatively insulated from a pullback in spending, given their scarcity.
"The Swiss watch industry has no competition," Biver said. "Nobody will buy a $10,000 watch if it's not Swiss made."
"The country is important," Biver said. "You cannot underestimate America. It's underdeveloped. We have not reached the (full) potential."
The brand was founded in 1980 and is renowned for its distinctive design, highly decorated dials, and iconic rubber straps.
While acknowledging a slowing of growth industry wide, Biver said luxury watches like Hublot's were relatively insulated from a pullback in spending, given their scarcity.
"The Swiss watch industry has no competition," Biver said. "Nobody will buy a $10,000 watch if it's not Swiss made."
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