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ANNICK WOUNGLY, the designer behind the senora sol y estrella by Cuervo y Sobrinos

When Cuervo y Sobrinos decided to create a new lady’s watch, it looked to its spiritual home for inspiration. The Señora Sol y Estrellas refers to the sun and stars which look down on Havana’s inhabitants.
ANNICK WOUNGLY, THE DESIGNER BEHIND THE SEÑORA SOL Y ESTRELLA

The model was designed by female watch designer, Annick Woungly, who was born in Havana, close to Cuervo y Sobrinos’s inaugural boutique.

With the advent of the Señora Sol y Estrellas, Annick has sought to reference the clear skies of Cuba and capture the vibrant hues synonymous with life on this idyllic Caribbean island where sleep is not a priority.

As the sun descends and seemingly melts into the horizon, daylight begins to disappear. In most parts of the world, this period signifies the end of the day, a time to retire and enjoy some rest. However, in Cuba, the arrival of darkness indicates the party is about to begin.

When the sun vacates the clear skies, the stars come out to play, illuminating Havana’s streets with a warm glow. The humid night air, the smell of home-cooked food and the sound of latin beats provide the backdrop for this enchanting tapestry of colour, dance, vitality and, most of all, life. Havana never sleeps, merely the tempo changes ever so slightly.

 

Annick Woungly, a female watch designer, was born in Havana, close to San Rafael Avenue where Cuervo y Sobrinos opened its first boutique in 1882. Today, she lives in the Jura, close to the Swiss Manufacture. One day a friend told her about a Swiss watch firm with Cuban heritage and she wanted to know more, culminating in her making contact with Massimo Rossi, the CEO of Cuervo y Sobrinos.

The meeting of both parties was fortuitous as Massimo wanted to create a new lady’s watch designed by a female designer. Moreover, like Cuervo y Sobrinos, Annick has a deep understanding of both Cuban culture and Swiss watchmaking. The synergies were clear to see.

The meeting of both parties was fortuitous as Massimo wanted to create a new lady’s watch designed by a female designer. Moreover, like Cuervo y Sobrinos, Annick has a deep understanding of both Cuban culture and Swiss watchmaking. The synergies were clear to see.

The Señora Sol y Estrellas is offered in four dial variants, some more vibrant than others. Each version features a depiction of the sun at the centre of the dial, a reference to the orange orbe in the sky that influences life on the Caribbean

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The OMEGA De Ville Tourbillon Numbered Edition
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OMEGA’s Antimagnetic Tourbillon is a Watchmaking Breakthrough

Throughout OMEGA’s iconic history, the renowned Swiss watchmaker has earned a special reputation for its advancements in the art of Tourbillon craftsmanship. Today, the next chapter in the story is unveiled, through the release of the new De Ville Tourbillon Numbered Edition.

OMEGA’s Antimagnetic Tourbillon is a Watchmaking Breakthrough

Pushing the boundaries of innovation with every turn

 
The exceptional timepiece is OMEGA’s first ever Master Chronometer certified manual-winding central Tourbillon. Not only does this certification assure the Swiss industry’s highest standard of precision and performance, but it also serves as a testament to OMEGA’s expert watchmakers, who have crafted a tourbillon cage that is able to keep rotating even under a magnetic field of 15,000 gauss. The skilled watchmakers also set the Tourbillon’s speed to one revolution per minute allowing the display of seconds, which is essential for achieving certification. Two extraordinary feats in Tourbillon creation!

The OMEGA De Ville Tourbillon Numbered Edition

The OMEGA De Ville Tourbillon Numbered Edition

Customers can view the impressive OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 2640 through the sapphire crystal caseback, and also note its 3-day power reserve indicator. To add luxurious beauty, the bridges and mainplate are made from 18K Sedna™ gold, and have been hand-bevelled for a decorative finish.

Beyond the superb accuracy is the design, which incorporates the brand’s watchmaking expertise and advanced materials, including two precious alloys made famous by OMEGA. Presented on a black leather strap, the 43.00 mm central casebody, buckle logo and crown logo are made from 18K Canopus™ gold – an exclusive white gold alloy, distinctive for its high brilliance, whiteness and longevity. Meanwhile, the lugs, bezel and caseback of the watch are formed in 18K Sedna™ gold – OMEGA’s own fiery rose gold alloy.

The sun-brushed dial is also in 18K Sedna™ gold, but has been given a captivating dark shade, thanks to its black PVD treatment. Also unmistakable at the centre of the dial is the tourbillon cage with hand polished bevels in black ceramised titanium. This ingenious device drives the movements of the unique and mysterious hands, which give the timepiece its incomparable OMEGA style.

Lens Position: 4065

Each timepiece has been handcrafted by a select group of horologists at OMEGA’s Atelier Tourbillon, taking around an entire month of dedicated work to complete.

Lens Position: 4065

This latest industry-changing wristwatch is the next major accomplishment in OMEGA’s Tourbillon history. Other historical highlights include the first-ever wristwatch Tourbillon calibre, which was created by OMEGA in 1947 and entered into the precision competitions at three major European Observatories.

 

These calibres obtained excellent results, even setting a record in Geneva in 1950. Almost 50 years later, in 1994, OMEGA introduced the first self-winding Central Tourbillon wristwatch, with the Tourbillon carriage positioned in the middle of the watch. A decade later, in 2004, OMEGA would produce the first Tourbillon wristwatch to be Chronometer certified.

The new De Ville Tourbillon Numbered Edition comes with OMEGA’s full 5-year warranty, and is delivered in a special box with a travel pouch and watch crown winder. There is also a certificate that mentions the specific number of each watch.

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LM101 MB&F x H. Moser an unprecedented collaboration…

In this crowning expression of the ties binding H. Moser & Cie. and MB&F for more than ten years, Edouard Meylan and Maximilian Büsser have composed a duet recital in the form of an exceptional concerto for devotees of fine watchmaking. For the first time in its history, MB&F is contributing to a Performance Art endeavour flowing in both directions in an entirely reciprocal manner. Within this framework, the two Maisons are co-signing a pair of creations whose DNA blends the main characteristics of each. A story of friendship between two men against a backdrop of shared values, for the pleasure of building and sharing, and then of jointly presenting the results of this extraordinary project.

UNITED WE STAND AMONG independents

through UNPRECEDENTED COLLABORATION

PROJECT ORIGINS

Moser & Cie. and MB&F are both independent, human-scale Swiss companies. They are run by two passionate personalities, longstanding acquaintances who both appreciate and respect each other on both a personal and professional level. The brands have in fact been working together for more than ten years, with Precision Engineering AG – a sister company of H. Moser & Cie. – notably supplying MB&F’s balance springs. It is therefore not surprising that MB&F asked Edouard Meylan to take part as a “friend” to help create a Performance Art Piece. The latest aspect of this collaboration lies in its being a two-way street. Maximilian Büsser says: “When I called Edouard to tell him that I wanted to collaborate on a creation, I mentioned that I really liked the double balance-spring, the Moser fumé dials and the Concept watch series. Edouard immediately told me that he would let me borrow these features, but on condition that he could also reinterpret one of my machines. After an initial moment of surprise, I gave it some thought. Being 50% Indian and 50% Swiss, I am firmly convinced that mixing DNA creates interesting results, so why not try the experiment in watchmaking? I therefore agreed and suggested the FlyingT model, which is particularly dear to my heart.” In a spirit of sharing and openness, while cultivating the notion of strength in unity, H. Moser & Cie. and MB&F have thus jointly created two models, available in several versions and issued in 15-piece limited series. This number is a nod to the 15th anniversary of MB&F as well as honouring the 15th anniversary of the relaunch of H. Moser & Cie. By pooling their strengths, these two competing yet friendly brands are working to harness the combined strengths of talented artisans, entirely in keeping with the philosophy adopted by MB&F.

LM101 MB&F X H. MOSER

The Legacy Machine 101 distils the very quintessence of mechanical watchmaking: the balance wheel, the power reserve and the passing of time. It is therefore no coincidence that MB&F has chosen to revisit this model – one of the purest and “simplest” in its collection – since it is indeed minimalism that guided the creation of the LM101 MB&F x H. Moser model. Like H. Moser & Cie. and the “back to basics” approach embodied in its Concept watch series, MB&F has chosen to remove its logo and return to its roots and indeed to the very origins of horology, when only the movements were signed. In the same understated spirit, it has abandoned the floating domed subdials to display the hours and minutes as well as the 45-hour power reserve by means of hands placed directly on the main dial. The fumé dials borrowed from H. Moser & Cie. can thus be expressed in complete freedom, also enhanced by a refined bezel. Four fumé dials have been chosen for the LM101 MB&F x H. Moser: Red fumé, Cosmic Green fumé, Aqua Blue fumé and, of course, the famous Funky Blue fumé. Topped with a domed sapphire crystal, the case is made of steel, for only the third time in the history of MB&F.

The mesmerising large suspended balance wheel continues to take centre stage, albeit completely redesigned on the LM101 MB&F x H. Moser in order to highlight the beauty of the fumé dials. This beating heart, which represents the quintessence of watchmaking in the eyes of Maximilian Büsser, has been fitted with a double balance spring produced by Precision Engineering AG. Thanks to this pair of matching balance springs, the displacement of the point of gravity undergone by each spring as it expands is corrected, significantly improving precision and isochronism in a continuous quest for perfection. In addition, the paired balance springs also reduce the friction effect normally encountered with a single balance spring, resulting in optimised isochronism. Through the case back, the curved sapphire crystal reveals the ‘engine’ driving this timepiece. Unlike the base movement of the Legacy Machine 101, of which the finishes were determined by co-creator Kari Voutilainen, the aesthetics of the calibre that powers the LM101 MB&F x H. Moser is more contemporary, with a subtle NAC treatment to enhance its beauty.

ENDEAVOUR CYLINDRICAL TOURBILLON H. MOSER X MB&F

Moser & Cie. has borrowed from MB&F the concept of three-dimensional movements, a strong element of the Geneva Maison’s identity, protected by a sapphire dome and featuring a one-minute flying tourbillon that rises above the main dial through a ventricular opening appearing at 12 o’clock. Benefiting from the expertise of its sister company Precision Engineering AG, H. Moser & Cie. has equipped its tourbillon with a cylindrical balance spring, the same as that developed by Precision Engineering AG for MB&F’s LM Thunderdome. Invented in the 18th century, the cylindrical balance spring is reminiscent of a worm- or corkscrew, rising perpendicularly around the upper rod of the balance staff. Commonly used in historical marine chronometers at the time, it offers the advantage of developing concentrically, and therefore geometrically, since it works perfectly along the axis of its pivots. This gives it a significant advantage over the flat balance spring, whose opposite ends tend to exert forces on the pivots, despite the Philips or Breguet terminal curves which were specifically developed to partially correct the non-concentric opening of the balance spring. Fitted with a Breguet overcoil at both attachment points, the cylindrical balance spring reduces pivot friction and greatly improves isochronism. Due to its specific shape, the cylindrical balance spring is far more difficult to produce and takes ten times longer to make than a traditional balance spring.

Another reference to MB&F’s identity lies in the tilted dials, which H Moser & Cie. has adopted for its hour and minute subdials. These are inclined at 40° so that the owner of the watch is the only one to whom it reveals the secret of time, and mounted on a conical gear train ensuring optimal torque transmission from one plane to the other. As Edouard Meylan explains: “We have Moserized the MB&F universe by developing a sapphire subdial, which melts into the background so as to highlight the beauty of our fumé dials. And to preserve the purity and elegance of this true work of horological art, we have inscribed our logo like a watermark on the sapphire subdial, thereby underlining the personal character and intimate relationship binding it to its owner”. Available in five different versions, the Endeavour Cylindrical Tourbillon H. Moser x MB&F model comes in a steel case topped by Funky Blue, Cosmic Green, Burgundy, Off-White or Ice Blue dials, all of the fumé variety.

FRUITFUL COOPERATION

Edouard Meylan and Maximilian Büsser are delighted with this rewarding collaborative project, which has achieved results far exceeding their expectations. In addition to the beauty of the models created in tandem, two bodies of expertise and two sets of DNA have been blended and mutually enriched. The two different communities of the two Maisons have also pooled their skills in a wonderful spirit of openness and transparency. This experience leaves Edouard and Maximilian with a keen sense of coming back to a sense of pleasure: the pleasure of working together and of creating.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

LM101 MB&F X H. MOSER

LM101 MB&F x H. Moser is available in 4 limited editions of 15 pieces in stainless steel: Funky Blue fumé dial, Cosmic Green fumé dial, Red fumé dial and a special edition with Aqua Blue fumé dial made for the retailer Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons.

Engine

Three-dimensional horological movement developed in-house by MB&F

Movement aesthetics and finishing specifications: Kari Voutilainen

Manual winding with single mainspring barrel

Power reserve: 45 hours

Balance wheel: Bespoke 14mm balance wheel with four traditional regulating screws floating above the movement

Balance spring: Straumann® double hairspring

Balance frequency: 18,000bph/2.5Hz

221 components

23 jewels

Chatons: gold chatons with polished countersinks

Fine finishing: superlative 19th century-style hand finishing throughout; internal bevel angles highlighting hand craft; polished bevels; Geneva waves; hand-made engravings, NAC black bridges

Functions

Hours, minutes and power reserve indicator

Large balance wheel suspended above the dial

Case

Available in 4 limited editions of 15 pieces in stainless steel 316, including a special edition with Aqua Blue fumé dial made for the retailer Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons.

Diameter: 40.0 mm

Height: 16.0 mm

35 components

High domed crystal sapphire on top and box sapphire crystal on back, both with anti-reflective coating on both sides

Dial

Funky Blue fumé, Cosmic Green fumé, Red fumé or Aqua Blue fumé with sunburst pattern

Strap

Hand-stitched calfskin strap

Steel 316L and titanium folding buckle

MB&F – GENESIS OF A CONCEPT LABORATORY

Founded in 2005, MB&F is the world’s first-ever horological concept laboratory. With almost 20 remarkable calibres forming the base of the critically acclaimed Horological and Legacy Machines, MB&F is continuing to follow Founder and Creative Director Maximilian Büsser’s vision of creating 3-D kinetic art by deconstructing traditional watchmaking.

After 15 years managing prestigious watch brands, Maximilian Büsser resigned from his Managing Director position at Harry Winston in 2005 to create MB&F – Maximilian Büsser & Friends. MB&F is an artistic and micro-engineering laboratory dedicated to designing and crafting small series of radical concept watches by bringing together talented horological professionals that Büsser both respects and enjoys working with.

In 2007, MB&F unveiled its first Horological Machine, HM1. HM1’s sculptured, three-dimensional case and beautifully finished engine (movement) set the standard for the idiosyncratic Horological Machines that have followed – all Machines that tell the time, rather than Machines to tell the time. The Horological Machines have explored space (HM2, HM3, HM6), the sky (HM4, HM9), the road (HM5, HMX, HM8) and the animal kingdom (HM7, HM10).

In 2011, MB&F launched its round-cased Legacy Machine collection. These more classical pieces – classical for MB&F, that is – pay tribute to nineteenth-century watchmaking excellence by reinterpreting complications from the great horological innovators of yesteryear to create contemporary objets d’art. LM1 and LM2 were followed by LM101, the first MB&F Machine to feature a movement developed entirely in-house. LM Perpetual, LM Split Escapement and LM Thunderdome broadened the collection further. 2019 marked a turning point with the creation of the first MB&F Machine dedicated to women: LM FlyingT. MB&F generally alternates between launching contemporary, resolutely unconventional Horological Machines and historically inspired Legacy Machines.

As the F stands for Friends, it was only natural for MB&F to develop collaborations with artists, watchmakers, designers and manufacturers they admire.

This brought about two new categories: Performance Art and Co-creations. While Performance Art pieces are MB&F machines revisited by external creative talent, Co-creations are not wristwatches but other types of machines, engineered and crafted by unique Swiss Manufactures from MB&F ideas and designs. Many of these Co-creations, such as the clocks created with L’Epée 1839, tell the time while collaborations with Reuge and Caran d’Ache generated other forms of mechanical art.

To give all these machines an appropriate platform, Büsser had the idea of placing them in an art gallery alongside various forms of mechanical art created by other artists, rather than in a traditional storefront. This brought about the creation of the first MB&F M.A.D.Gallery (M.A.D. stands for Mechanical Art Devices) in Geneva, which would later be followed by M.A.D.Galleries in Taipei, Dubai and Hong Kong.

There have been distinguished accolades reminding us of the innovative nature of MB&F’s journey so far. To name a few, there have been no less than 5 Grand Prix awards from the famous Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève: in 2019, the prize for Best Ladies Complication went to the LM FlyingT, in 2016, LM Perpetual won the Best Calendar Watch award; in 2012, Legacy Machine No.1 was awarded both the Public Prize (voted for by horology fans) and the Best Men’s Watch Prize (voted for by the professional jury). In 2010, MB&F won Best Concept and Design Watch for the HM4 Thunderbolt. In 2015 MB&F received a Red Dot: Best of the Best award – the top prize at the international Red Dot Awards – for the HM6 Space Pirate.

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TAG Heuer launches third generation luxury connected watch in New York
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TAG Heuer launches third generation luxury connected watch in New York

TAG Heuer unveiled its new luxury connected watch in New York on March 12th. The timepiece combines the purest watchmaking tradition with state-of-the-art technology, accelerating the Swiss watchmaker’s leadership in this category. Jade Ferreol, Product Manager within the team dedicated to the connected watch since the origin of the project in 2015, talks about the Swiss Maison’s avant-garde positioning. 

TAG Heuer launches third generation luxury connected watch in New York

WATCHES & JEWELRY

© TAG Heuer

“Your best performance is the one ahead.” This signature elegantly encapsulates the essence of the new TAG Heuer Connected model and the innovative spirit that has inspired the Maison since its founding.

TAG Heuer pioneered the luxury connected watch segment in 2015 with the creation of its first timepiece in partnership with Intel and Google. “Initially, production of this new watch was set to be a trial,” Jade Ferreol explains. The trial quickly proved a success, spawning the design of a second version in 2017. In the space of six months, the two timepieces emerged as a robust commercial success for the Maison.

© TAG Heuer

To develop the new model recently unveiled in New York, TAG Heuer built out the initial team, forming an inhouse team with an impressive high-tech skillset. “This is the first time that a team counting around 30 software and hardware engineers has come together to work exclusively on a connected watch,” Jade Ferreol notes.

The three pillars of the third-generation TAG Heuer Connected watch are traditional mechanical details – tapping into its rich heritage of Swiss watchmaking savoir-faire – sports performance (a dedicated app developed inhouse for the first time) and customization, with interchangeable straps and watch faces. It embodies the Maison’s commitment to combining traditional mechanical excellence and digital design, powered by bespoke, state-of-the-art software.

© TAG Heuer

“The TAG Heuer Connected watch was designed and engineered with the same passion and attention to detail as our mechanical watches. The Connected watch is not only a beautiful timepiece, it’s a truly immersive experience, now part of a complete TAG Heuer digital ecosystem geared towards performance and sports. The TAG Heuer Connected offers limitless possibilities in terms of future innovation. Thanks to the talent and dedication of our teams, the new Connected is a truly brand-defining product that will lead the way into a new era for TAG Heuer,” says Frédéric Arnault, TAG Heuer’s Chief Strategy and Digital Officer, who has led this ambitious project since its start.

The new TAG Heuer Connected bolsters the Maison’s position in the hotly competitive luxury connected watch segment, offering an elegant and versatile chronograph designed for both everyday life and sports.

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hublot-boutiqueginza
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HUBLOT LOVES TOKYO! Swiss luxury watch brand Hublot celebrates its 40th anniversary with another Big Bang!

Swiss luxury watch brand Hublot celebrates its 40th anniversary with another Big Bang! After Place Vendome in Paris, Rue du Rhône in Geneva, 5Th Avenue in New York City, New Bond Street in London, Heritage in Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui district, now comes Chuo-dori Street in Tokyo for the brand world’s biggest Flagship Boutique.

HUBLOT LOVES TOKYO!


In 2020, Hublot is turning 40! During this anniversary year Hublot has a reason to celebrate, as on May 26, its largest flagship store, the Hublot Boutique Ginza, will open. After Place Vendome in Paris, Rue  du Rhône in Geneva, 5Th Avenue in New York City, New Bond Street in London, Heritage in Hong Kong, now comes Chuo-dori Street in Tokyo.The swiss luxury watchmaker is now present on an iconic location on Chuo-dori Street. The new boutique, also called the “Hublot tower” thanks to its 56-meter-high dynamic façade, will offer Hublot a stylish, luxurious and open space. The Hublot Boutique Ginza perfectly expresses The Art of Fusion, the brand concept focused on the blending of materials and ideas. Across three floors, customers will be immersed in the world of Hublot. Visitors will find the whole collection displayed on the ground floor, the VIP experience room on the second floor and the exhibition area on the third floor.

“We are honored to celebrate the opening of our new flagship Boutique in Tokyo. In only 40 years, Hublot has seen many firsts and many successes, and today is again another milestone for our Maison. We have long had presence on the most prestigious streets in the world’s metropolises and from today in Japan too, our number one market. The “Hublot Tower” is a symbol of the fusion of modernity and tradition that we ardently pursue and uphold in all our actions.” -Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot

The 56-meter high dynamic façade is the most idiosyncratic and artistic façade of the brand’s boutiques. The laminated glass panels scattered with mirrored pieces exhibits different sights: it reflects sunlight to create a beautiful glitter during the daytime, and at nighttime a luxurious glow appears to emanate from within.

The interior of the boutique, boasting the brand’s largest retail space at 330 square meters, reflects one of the important elements of Hublot’s watchmaking—its unique use of materials. The spacious boutique expresses on three floors the contemporary style so dear to Hublot: leather chairs, ebony tables, floors of marble or carpet, and an impressive staircase with sides made of zigzag laser-cut mirrored stainless steel.

Another highlight of the boutique is the crystal chandelier installed on the vaulted ceiling reaching more than 9 metres high, which can be rarely found in Japan. The entrance hall is full of a sense of openness and welcomes customers.

Each floor of Hublot Boutique Ginza expresses the fusion of quality materials and contemporary, luxurious beauty by boldly displayed pop artworks depicting Hublot timepieces and movements on the walls, stretching from floor to ceiling.



Hublot Boutique Ginza Overview
            Opening:                                                                     May 26, 2020
            Address:                                                                      5-9, Ginza 3-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
            Telephone:                                                                  03-3538-5055
            Business hours:                                                          11:00 – 20:00
            Total store space                                                         330 m2
            Floors                                                                            3
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Vacheron Constantin – Yiqing Yin, A new talent joins the “One of not many” communication campaign

Yiqing Yin, A new talent joins the “One of not many” communication campaign

May 26th, 2020 – Vacheron Constantin is delighted to unveil its latest talent to join the “One of not many” communication campaign. Yiqinq Yin, a youthful prodigy in the world of Haute Couture, is joining the roster of talents who have chosen to collaborate with the Maison. She will epitomise the Égérie collection, dedicated to women and launched by the Manufacture in February 2020.

Born in Beijing in 1985, Yiqing Yin has been traveling the world since her childhood. At the age of four, she left China for Australia and France. A graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and armed with her innovative vision of Couture, Yiqing Yin sees garments as both a second skin and a supple, floaty envelope. Exploring the dynamic potential of pleats, she imagines vibrant structures that are never static but instead all about volumes in motion, and experiments with the way garments fall in a quest for smoothly flowing lines. She thus designs loose shapes with staggering structures. She admits her attraction to “an intuitive method of creation, a sensory wandering and a search for voluntary accidents”.

Acknowledged and respected within the select circle of Haute Couture connoisseurs, her universe naturally chimed with that of Vacheron Constantin. Yiqing Yin shares with the watchmakers and artisans of the Maison a concern for detail and a desire for discovery.

Ties were thus woven between Haute Couture and Haute Horlogerie, two worlds where craftsmanship, expertise and rarity would be nothing without passion and creativity, a vocation that is constantly being challenged and reinvented in step with successive creations. The Égérie collection symbolises this encounter through the pleated dial and the off-centre aesthetic of its design.

The “One of not many” campaign presented in 2018 showcases talents whose personality and work express the constant quest for excellence, openness to the world and the spirit of innovation and creation characterising Vacheron Constantin. Singular, visionary and passionate, they are recognised experts in their own field, thereby also reflecting the concept of connoisseurs.

About Yiqing Yin

A graduate of ENSAD (École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs de Paris), Yiqing Yin was awarded the Grand Prix de la Création de la Ville de Paris in 2009. Following the Hyères International Fashion Festival in 2010, her dreamy creations were staged in the windows of the Ministry of Culture, at the Chaillot National Theatre and then at the prestigious Joyce Gallery. In June 2011, she won the ANDAM (Association Nationale pour le Développement des Arts de la Mode/ANDAM Fashion Award Paris) and held her first runway showing during the Haute Couture Paris Fashion Week. That same year, Yiqing Yin was one of eight young “designers to watch” selected by the French edition of Vogue. In 2013, Maison Léonard appointed the young designer to head its ready-to-wear collections. Yiqing Yin also works with prestigious brands such as Cartier, Guerlain, Hermès, Swarovski and Lancôme.

Since 2012, Maison Yiqing Yin has been officially included in the Fédération Française de la Couture official calendar as a guest member. In December 2015, the Fédération Française de la Mode rewarded her work through the attribution of the Haute Couture appellation.

As a complete artist, Yiqing Yin also explores other artistic worlds. In 2013, at the invitation of the Venice Biennale, she created the artwork In-Between. For her Blooming Ashes collection, she combined fabric with light in the Stellar dress, in collaboration with sculptor Bastien Carré. She has also worked in the world of dance by designing the stage costumes of the étoile ballet dancers Dorothée Gilbert and Mathieu Ganio for Tristan and Iseult, directed by Giorgio Mancini.

Yiqing Yin has been regularly invited to participate in art exhibitions around the world for several years. The exhibition titled “A world of Feathers” staged at the Museum of Ethnography in Stockholm; the “Haute Dentelle” exhibition at the Cité de la Dentelle in Calais; as well as the “Animalia Fashion” exhibition at Palazzo Pitti in Florence, are just some of the many events where she presents the major pieces of her Haute Couture collections. She was also a guest of honour, exhibitor, lecturer and member of the jury at the Arts of Fashion Foundation Symposium held in the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco in December 2019. Finally, she is delighted to be working on a film project that will be released in the course of 2020.

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AUTOMOBILE CLUB DE MONACO APPOINTS TAG HEUER AS OFFICIAL SPONSOR AND TIMEKEEPER OF LEGENDARY GRAND PRIX DE MONACO HISTORIQUE

AUTOMOBILE CLUB DE MONACO APPOINTS TAG HEUER AS OFFICIAL SPONSOR AND TIMEKEEPER OF LEGENDARY GRAND PRIX DE MONACO HISTORIQUE

TAG Heuer reaffirms its long-standing association with the Principality of Monaco and its motor-racing history by partnering with the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM) and its prestigious event, the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, and introducing a limited-edition TAG Heuer Monaco timepiece as a tribute to the iconic race.

La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland – 8 May 2020: The appointment of TAG Heuer as the Official Sponsor and Timekeeper of the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique complements its current designation as the Official Watch of the Monaco Grand Prix and the Official Watch Partner of the Monaco Top Cars Collection museum.

The 12th edition of the event was scheduled to take place from 8 to 10 May 2020 on the legendary Monaco circuit but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ACM event team has already started planning for the next edition, and, over the course of the scheduled 2020 race weekend, TAG Heuer will be presenting a special-edition timepiece as a tribute to this prestigious event and to the Monaco collection.

The biannual Grand Prix de Monaco Historique weekend is one of the highlights of the classic-car racing calendar, and its passionate community of owners, drivers and spectators relish the spectacle of historic grand prix racing and love the warm spirit and camaraderie around the circuit. More than 200 grand prix cars representing 50 different car makers enter each event.

Selected for their historical value and degree of originality, they compete in seven series spanning the periods from the 1930s to the 1970s. Drivers from more than 21 countries took part in the 2018 edition.

A limited-edition Monaco timepiece dedicated to the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique

The strikingly elegant and charismatic chronograph designed especially for the occasion features the signature red-and-white colour code that is reminiscent of eye-catching sports cars from the thrilling world of motor racing. The small silver historic car logo of the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique at the 1 o’clock position on the crimson brushed dial instantly links this special model to the historic race. This model is produced in a limited edition of 1,000 watches, each of which is engraved with its unique number and the words “One of 1000”.

This TAG Heuer Monaco wristwatch is presented on a luxurious perforated strap made of fine-grain black leather. The stainless-steel case back of this iconic square model has a transparent sapphire glass with the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique logo printed on the inside through which the sophisticated Calibre Heuer 02 in-house mechanical movement is visible. With a total of 168 individual components, including a column wheel and a vertical clutch, the TAG Heuer Calibre Heuer 02 offers outstanding precision and an extraordinary 80-hour power reserve.

The Grand Prix de Monaco Historique timepiece is packaged in a red watch box that is decorated with a chequered racing flag – a nod to the historic Heuer watch box and the perfect touch for this contemporary 2020 classic. It will be on display especially for racing enthusiasts at the ACM and available for pre-orders via www.tagheuer.com and in select TAG Heuer boutiques before its launch on July 27th, 2020.

An enduring bond: the TAG Heuer Monaco and motor racing in Monaco

In the late 1950s, building on the brand’s heritage in stopwatches, dashboard timers and chronographs suitable for racing, Jack Heuer saw an opportunity to become even more involved in the golden age of motorsport, merging his passion with the family business. Inspired by the action he witnessed on the track, he started a tradition of naming his creations after the evocative races in Monza, Silverstone, Montreal and Monaco. Celebrated for its glamorous Formula 1 Grand Prix, Monaco has also lent its name to one of TAG Heuer’s most iconic watch collections since 1969.

Avant-garde yet timelessly chic, the TAG Heuer Monaco Grand Prix de Monaco Historique is a bold new take on a maverick timepiece, and a celebration of the enduring bond between TAG Heuer, its iconic Monaco line and the prestigious racing events that take place in its namesake destination.

TAG Heuer Monaco Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Limited Edition

Reference CBL2114.FC6486

MOVEMENT

TAG Heuer Automatic Calibre Heuer 02 Manufacture movement, automatic chronograph, diameter 31 mm, 33 jewels, balance oscillating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), 80-hour power reserve

FUNCTIONS
Chronograph with minutes and hours, permanent second indicator; date, hours, minutes; central chronograph seconds hand

CASE

Diameter 39 mm, fine-brushed and polished case, fixed bezel,  sapphire crystal with Grand Prix de Monaco Historique logo printing on  the back, polished stainless-steel crown at 3 o’clock and push  buttons at 2 and 4 o’clock, water-resistant to 100 metres (10 bar), stainless-steel case back with limited-edition number engraving

DIAL
Rhodium-plated red sunray brushed dial, rhodium-plated indexes and hour and minute hands with white Super-LumiNova®, red lacquered central hand, Grand Prix de Monaco Historique logo at 1 o’clock on the dial

 STRAP

 Black calfskin leather strap, folding clasp in polished stainless steel

Limited to 1,000 watches

SPECIAL PACKAGING

About TAG Heuer

TAG Heuer, founded in 1860 by Edouard Heuer in the Jura Mountains of Switzerland, is a luxury watch brand that is part of LVMH Moët Hennessey Louis Vuitton SE (“LVMH”), the world’s leading luxury group. Based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland and with four production sites, TAG Heuer has 1470 employees and is active in 139 countries. TAG Heuer products are available online on the watchmaker’s website www.tagheuer.com for select countries and in 160 boutiques and 3,500 points of sale worldwide. The company is headed up by Stéphane Bianchi, CEO of the LVMH Watchmaking Division and CEO of TAG Heuer.

For 160 years, TAG Heuer has demonstrated pure avant-garde watchmaking spirit and a commitment to innovation with revolutionary technologies that have included the oscillating pinion for mechanical stopwatches in 1887, the Mikrograph in 1916, the first automatic-winding chronograph movement – Calibre 11 – in 1969, the first luxury smartwatch in 2015, and the ground-breaking Isograph technology in 2019, made possible through a unique collaboration with the TAG Heuer Institute. Today, the brand’s core collection consists of three iconic families designed by Jack Heuer – TAG Heuer Carrera, Monaco and Autavia – and is rounded out with the contemporary Link, Aquaracer, Formula 1 and Connected lines.

Capturing TAG Heuer’s motto, “Don’t Crack Under Pressure”, are prominent partnerships and brand ambassadors that express the brand’s passion for action and high performance. These include the Formula E World Championship, of which the brand is a founding partner, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E team, the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Formula 1 Team, the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, the World Endurance Championships, the Indianapolis 500, legends Steve McQueen and Ayrton Senna, actors Chris Hemsworth and Patrick Dempsey, ATP next-generation tennis players Alex de Minaur, Frances Tiafoe, Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger Aliassime, and surfer Kai Lenny, among others.

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URWERK – UR-100 Gold Edition “FIGHT – C19”

As you may have seen May The 4th was the day the new UR-100 Gold Edition premiered nicknamed C3PO this golden edition is the 4th edition of the UR-100 saga!

UR-100 GOLD EDITION “FIGHT – C19”

Episode 4 The Return of the UR-100…

The Auction

We are auctioning the first production piece of the UR-100 Gold Edition on our URWERK-STORE. To make this BRAND NEW watch a little more special the limited edition plate which usually has 25 PCS engraved to note the amount we are manufacturing has been changed to FIGHT C19 engraved instead.

The arrival of the UR-100 Gold Edition also gives us a golden opportunity to give something back, and help in the fight against Covid-19.

The UR-100 Gold Edition

Like all URWERK’s the UR-100 has been influenced by science fiction. Co-founder Martin Frei’s father worked on the Apollo Lunar Rover for NASA, and this achievement left an indelible mark, and you can see from the design that inner sci-fi geek is in full force.

Cut from a solid block of 2N yellow gold, and satin-finished this UR-100 has the same pale shine as the Star Wars droid it takes its moniker from. The UR-100 C3PO’s has a slim design – extra-flat for a satellite-geared watch – with angular contours; it’s an elongated octagon with three notched sides. The form uses subtle asymmetry, taking clues from Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon. Topping the case is a sapphire crystal bubble reminiscent of the shape of the first URWERK models, the dome housing the control centre of this intergalactic visitor.


The UR-100’s astrophysics govern the URWERK universe with rotating satellites displaying the hours and minutes. Isochronal revolutions create a miniature cosmic ballet, the hour satellites also displaying minutes as they traverse 120 degrees across the bright green scale. A bold red arrowhead marks the confluence of hours and minutes, offering a unique, highly legible, and intuitive time display. Even while manoeuvring at light speed, the automatic winding system is never overloaded thanks to the Windfänger’s regulation of the oscillating mass: this planetary gear limits the speed of rotation of the rotor, minimising both excessive winding and wear and maximising reliability and lifespan.


And last, but certainly not least, are the discreet spacetime indications on each side of the top of the dome’s periphery, which are both essential for intergalactic voyages and unique on planet earth. After each of the three red minute arrowheads passes the numeral 60 they disappear and then reappear again on two separate kilometre scales. The first display at 9 o’clock marks the 555 km travelled along the equator during 20 minutes of the earth’s rotation, the second display at 3 o’clock indicates the distance – 35,740 kilometres – travelled by the earth as it orbits the around the sun over 20 minutes. Spacetime never looked so good; Einstein would be proud!

A Unique Opportunity

While sadly the UR-100 cannot speed up space and time to a safer world, URWERK together with you can do our bit to help. So for two days, you can bid for this first production piece UR-100 Gold Edition “FIGHT C19.” URWERK will then donate proceeds to the winners chosen charity to help support the fight against Covid-19.

From everyone at URWERK, stay safe, stay home and may the force be with you!

Please remember to bid you need to create an account first.

You can also set auto bidding, click the auto-bid button and set your highest value. Email updates will be sent to you during the auction, to let you know if you have been outbid.

Creators Thoughts:

Martin – “Science fiction has been an inexhaustible source of inspiration since the creation of URWERK,” explains co-founder Martin Frei. “I have been a sci-fi geek since childhood. My father was an engineer and worked on incredible projects, including the Apollo Lunar Rover. He was my hero and left me his love of the cosmos and his dreams. ”

Felix – “We live in a universe governed by three dimensions — time, rotation, and orbit — that we attempt to measure and master, but what escapes us is this notion of spacetime.”

The auction clock will run from May 8th 4 PM – May 10th 4 PM. Please check back then to enter the auction. 

*Bid price displayed does not include taxes. This will be payable by the winner upon delivery

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Two New Shades Of Aqua Terra
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OMEGA’s classic collection – Two New Shades Of Aqua Terra

OMEGA’s classic collection gets a boost of extra colour – with new dials in blue and green.

Two New Shades Of Aqua Terra

Two New Shades Of Aqua Terra

Two New Shades Of Aqua Terra

With its diverse selection of dials, bracelets and straps, OMEGA’s Seamaster Aqua Terra collection for men already offers an incredible choice of looks.

There is of course, always room to bloom, especially when discerning customers demand it. To answer the call, OMEGA’s watchmakers have added two new dial colours to the popular collection’s rich palette.

Two New Shades Of Aqua Terra

Two New Shades Of Aqua Terra

In keeping with Aqua Terra’s well-established aesthetic, both dials are sun-brushed and distinguished by a horizontal “teak” pattern, inspired by the wooden decks of luxury sailboats.

Two new dials equals four new combinations, as the latest 41 mm stainless steel watches come with a choice of steel bracelet or matching-coloured leather strap.

 

Two New Shades Of Aqua Terra

Two New Shades Of Aqua Terra

Whichever colour they choose, customers can expect to receive a red card, as the driving force behind the dial is OMEGA’s Master Chronometer Calibre 8900, certified at the industry’s highest standard by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS).

All OMEGA timepieces have a 5-year warranty.

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HUBLOT CELEBRATES THE OPENING OF ITS FIRST ASPEN BOUTIQUE AND LAUNCH OF THE SPECIAL EDITION ROCKIES

HUBLOT LOVES ASPEN!
Hublot celebrates the opening of its first Aspen boutique and launch of the Special Edition Rockies

January 2020 [Aspen, CO] – Today, Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot celebrated the opening of its first U.S. mountain-resort boutique in Aspen and launch of the Spirit of Big Bang Special Edition Rockies. The celebration hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony, cocktail reception, and dinner alongside friend of the brand, Olympic Gold Medalist, and world champion, Bode Miller.

HUBLOT CELEBRATES THE OPENING OF ITS FIRST ASPEN BOUTIQUE AND LAUNCH OF THE SPECIAL EDITION ROCKIES


VIP and members of the media enjoyed an action-packed day set against the unrivaled Aspen landscape, hitting the slopes at Aspen Snowmass while keeping time with Hublot clocks on display throughout the resort. The evening kicked off with an official ribbon cutting ceremony presented by Jean-Francois Sberro, President of Hublot North America, which flowed into a cocktail reception where guests perused Hublot’s latest novelties and mingled with Bode Miller. All attention turned to Jean-Francois Sberro as the hazy white glass of the main vitrines faded to reveal the Spirit of Big Bang Rockies. To cap the day of celebrations, guests dined at legendary members-only Caribou Club, toasting to Hublot’s expanding presence in Aspen.
To stay up-to-date, follow: @Hublot

Hublot has developed strong relationships with leading ski destinations around the world, so we are proud to be opening the first North American mountain-resort boutique in the iconic city of Aspen. We are looking forward to developing our relationship with this incredible city and are grateful for Bode Miller’s continued support.
Jean-Francois Sberro

CEO HUBLOT NORTH AMERICA

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST, HUBLOT FRIEND OF THE BRAND

The Spirit of Big Bang Special Edition Rockies, limited to 25 pieces, features a white ceramic case and blue lined rubber straps, offering another chic take on the brand’s signature Art of Fusion. Designed for the serious and stylish skier, the high-tech ceramic – zirconium dioxide with high temperature sintering – provides a hard and solid case resistant to scratching and ageing, yet lighter than steel. Sporty and sophisticated, the trademark rubber straps add another element of function and style. Outfitted with the quintessential colors of ski season, snow white against clear blue skies, the newest Spirit of Big Bang houses the HUB4700 self-winding chronograph movement inside the iconic 42mm tonneau case.
Hublot Aspen, the brand’s first mountain-resort boutique in North America, will be operating through the winter with a full selection of timepieces in addition to the exclusive special edition Spirit of Big Bang Rockies. Featuring a bar and lounge with evening trading hours, the boutique is perfect for après! Located in the heart of West End, the charming and vibrant bustle of the town encompassed by the Rocky Mountains creates the perfect backdrop for Hublot.

 

The seasonal boutique supports Hublot’s position as the Official Timekeeper of Aspen Snowmass, one of the most prestigious ski destinations in North America, where Hublot reinforces the mountain culture closely tied to the brand’s Swiss heritage. In addition to this partnership, Hublot has developed strong relationships with leading luxury ski resorts around the world including Courchevel 1850 in the French Alps and Zermatt, where Hublot opened a chalet-styled boutique in both villages, released dedicated limited editions, and signed partnerships with iconic actors and venues affiliated with both resorts. Aspen Snowmass Resort joined the Hublot portfolio sharing the same ambition of being “first, unique and different” and celebrating ski culture.


HUBLOT
Founded in Switzerland in 1980, HUBLOT is defined by its innovation, which began with the highly original combination of gold and rubber. This “Art of Fusion” stems from the imagination of its visionary Chairman, Jean-Claude Biver, and has been driven forward by CEO Ricardo Guadalupe since 2012.
The release of the iconic, multi-award-winning Big Bang in 2005 paved the way for new flagship collections (Classic Fusion, Spirit of Big Bang), with complications ranging from the simple to the highly sophisticated, establishing the extraordinary DNA of the Swiss watchmaking house and ensuring its impressive growth.
Keen to preserve its traditional and cutting-edge expertise, and guided by its philosophy to “Be First, Different and Unique”, the Swiss watchmaker is consistently ahead of the curve, through its innovations in materials (scratch-resistant Magic Gold, ceramics in vibrant colours, sapphire), and the creation of Manufacture movements (Unico, Meca-10, Tourbillon).
HUBLOT is fully committed to creating a Haute Horlogerie brand with a visionary future: a future which is fused with the key events of our times (FIFA World CupTM, UEFA Champions League, UEFA EUROTM and Ferrari) and the finest ambassadors our era has to offer (Kylian Mbappé, Usain Bolt, Pelé).
Discover the HUBLOT universe at our network of boutiques located in key cities across the globe: Geneva, Paris, London, New York, Hong Kong, Dubai, Tokyo, Singapore, and at HUBLOT.com

”

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS REFERENCE
CASE
CASE-BACK
BEZEL
641.HX.7170.RX.ASP19
Limited to 25 pieces
Microblasted and Polished White Ceramic
Diameter: 42mm
Thickness: 14.10mm
Water resistance: 10 ATM (100m)
White Microblasted Ceramic and Crystal Sapphire
“SPECIAL EDITION xx/25” engraved
Microblasted and Polished White Ceramic
DIAL & HANDS
MOVEMENT
STRAP & BUCKLE
PRICE
Sapphire Crystal with White Luminescent
HUB4700: Manufacture Self-Winding Chronograph movement
Frequency: 5Hz (36’000 A/h)
Power reserve: Approx. 50 Hours
No. of Components: 278
Jewels: 31
Blue Structured Lined Rubber Straps
Titanium Deployant Buckle Clasp
26’700 USD

HUBLOT: www.hublot.com

 

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