Tag Archive for: watch

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ROLEX: PROUD SPONSOR OF THE OSCARS® CEREMONY

ROLEX: PROUD SPONSOR OF THE OSCARS® CEREMONY

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE FILM SEASON

Geneva, 12 March 2023 – The Oscars® ceremony is a unique celebration of the excellence, inspiration and technical genius from which masterpieces are made. Since 2017, Rolex has been the Proud Sponsor of the Oscars® ceremony, held at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood. Telecast live in more than 200 territories worldwide, this unique event does more than celebrate cinema: year after year it helps shape the landscape of cinema worldwide.

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE

The Oscars® ceremony represents infinitely more than a recognition by one’s peers. It celebrates inspiration and emotion as well as the production process, the technical expertise and all else that goes into the making of a film. To borrow a favourite expression of Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf, it is an ode to “a work done handsomely”. Cinema is at once an art, a science and an industry, and the Oscars® ceremony shines a light on every one of its facets.

Rolex is the official host of the Greenroom, the antechamber of the Oscars®. Nominees and presenters gather inside this lounge before and after stepping onto the stage at the Oscars® ceremony, some returning with a coveted statuette.

Each year, Rolex develops a unique immersive experience and a new decor for the Greenroom. In 2023, the Greenroom captures the ambience of a tropical forest. More than a celebration of nature, Rolex is paying homage to explorers and scientists who take action on the ground, day after day, to protect the planet. A way to poetically express its commitment to the preservation of our ecosystems as part of its Perpetual Planet Initiative.

For almost a century, Rolex has accompanied those who explore our world, seek to understand its environmental challenges and put forward solutions to overcome them. Launched in 2019, the Perpetual Planet Initiative reflects this approach and is built on three founding pillars: two long-standing partners, Mission Blue and the National Geographic Society, and the Rolex Awards for Enterprise. Since then, the Initiative has continued to grow and today includes more than 20 partners.

ROLEX AND HOLLYWOOD

In 2017 two major events would cement the longstanding association between Rolex and the film industry. Firstly, director Martin Scorsese joined James Cameron as a Rolex Testimonee. And the same year, the brand sealed its partnership with the film industry’s highest authority, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Rolex became the Exclusive Watch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Proud Sponsor of the Oscars® and Exclusive Sponsor of the Governors Awards. Rolex is also a Founding Supporter of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures which opened in Los Angeles in September 2021.

Rolex accordingly promotes excellence, the perpetuation of knowledge, the conservation of the art and rise of new talent. The Academy’s mission is to uphold excellence in film and preserve its legacy for future generations, to spark the imagination and to celebrate cinema’s universal values. Hence, it is the convergence of values between Rolex and the Academy that is underscored through this long-term partnership.

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Alpine Eagle Pine Green
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The Alpine Eagle Pine Green, a pure and assertive design inspired by the majesty of the Alps.

The Alpine Eagle Pine Green, a pure and assertive design inspired by the majesty of the Alps.

As stunning as the alpine environment Chopard seeks to protect, the Alpine Eagle Pine Green is a symphony of exquisite details, from the sunburst dial reminiscent of the eagle’s iris to the in-house chronometer-certified movement nestled in the timepiece’s case and matching bracelet made of ultra-resistant Lucent Steel A223 made from 70% recycled material.

Alpine Eagle Pine Green

Alpine Eagle Pine Green

In keeping with the Maison’s support to the Alpine Eagle Foundation, part of the sale proceeds will go to preserving the alpine biotope and the reintroduction of the white-tailed eagle in its former natural habitats.

Alpine Eagle Pine Green

Alpine Eagle Pine Green

➡ Discover the Alpine Eagle Foundation:  

#Chopard #AlpineEagle #AlpineEagleFoundation #LuxuryWatch #SwissMade #Luxury #timepiece #foundation #myluxepoint

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blackplain 70-years-diving-watch-02
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Blancpain celebrates the 70th anniversary of the first modern diving watch.

BLANCPAIN FIFTY FATHOMS 70TH ANNIVERSARY

In 2023, Blancpain celebrates the 70th anniversary of the first modern diving watch.

Launched in 1953, the Fifty Fathoms is the first modern diver’s watch. Created by a diver to meet the needs of underwater exploration, it was chosen by diving pioneers and elite marine corps around the world as a professional timekeeping instrument. With its water resistance, robust doubled-sealed crown, self-winding movement, contrasting dark dial with luminescent indications, unidirectional rotating bezel and anti-magnetic protection, the Fifty Fathoms has become an indispensable instrument for divers on their underwater missions.

These key signature elements that established the Fifty Fathoms as the archetypal diver’s watch continue to define the identity of such timepieces for the entire watch industry. Bearing witness to the past while simultaneously looking firmly to the future, contemporary Fifty Fathoms models incorporate modern movements renowned for their robustness and reliability. They feature numerous technical innovations derived from Blancpain’s longstanding experience in the field of diving, its risks and its imperious necessities.

The Fifty Fathoms has played an essential role in the development of scuba diving and the discovery of the ocean world. It has enabled Blancpain to forge close links with the ocean community that have been consistently strengthened over the past 70 years. The Fifty Fathoms is the catalyst for Blancpain’s commitment to the preservation of the ocean.

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OMEGA – Looks Magical. Works Beautifully.

Looks Magical.
Works Beautifully.

OMEGA celebrates its legendary history and the magical qualities of its precise and delicate watch mechanisms, with a stunning new campaign, that turns watch calibres into dream-like worlds.

The inner workings of Co-Axial movements provide the perfect stage settings for a dynamic and playful celebration of the Swiss brand’s extraordinary achievements.

OMEGA latest campaign tells the story of its technical prowess and pioneering spirit with scaled down figures and iconic objects, set against the backdrop of enchanting, futuristic “watch-scapes”.

OMEGA_Quality_Golf

OMEGA_Quality_Moon

OMEGA_Quality_Diving

The centrepiece of the campaign is a visually compelling movie, created by the same studio that produced the 3D Co-Axial video, now showing at the OMEGA Museum. It is from here that OMEGA has drawn its eye-catching pictures and designs for print media and window displays.

Themes explored include moon landings, deep-sea adventures, sports timekeeping and of course precision watchmaking. Even Snoopy makes an appearance, as the famous cartoon beagle has links to OMEGA’s role in the safe return of Apollo 13.

With its magical/sci-fi aesthetic, OMEGA’s new campaign is sure to catch the eyes of watch fans around the world. The settings are otherworldly and the models charming, witty – and collectable.

Making a return appearance in the campaign is OMEGA’s Co-Axial Escapement, launched in 1999.  Its smaller contact surfaces mean less friction, less lubrication and greater reliability. It also works its magic as a sculptural feature in a cinematic landscape.

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The UR-112 Aggregat Odyssey URWERK’s latest flash of brilliance

The UR-112 Aggregat Odyssey

URWERK’s latest flash of brilliance

Amid the calm and serene skies of Haute Horlogerie, an unidentified flying object is looming on the horizon. Could it be the announcement of an imminent upheaval? The intuition of an emotional cataclysm?

Flashing across the night sky, the new UR-112 Aggregat Odyssey appears in a shower of metal! The latest evolution of the UR-112 features a new titanium and steel fuselage. With this limited edition, URWERK – creator of ‘space opera’ watches – pushes its limits further than ever… to infinity and beyond!

Gleaming like Padme Amidala’s J-type 327; equipped with two large round eye-like windows like Archie; the ‘owl ship’ from Watchmen. Streamlined like a Klingon Bird of Prey. Grooved like the hull of the Battlestar Galactica. The UR-112 Aggregat Odyssée emerges from the URWERK shipyard in a limited edition, featuring an infinite number of flat, curved, grooved, sculpted, screwed and bonded surfaces, all incorporating advanced finishes alternating between matt and glossy, sandblasted and polished. This painstaking, meticulous work contributes to enhancing the two large cockpits where the rotating prisms representing the UR-112’s unique signature operate, akin to two advanced observation posts.

Sophisticated textures

The UR-112 Aggregat Odyssey is the successor to the UR-112 Aggregat Two-Tone. The upper part of this wrist spacecraft is suitable for polishing. The grooved steel cover opens vertically to give access to the secondary power reserve and digital seconds indications. It is mirror-polished on the top with a beadblasted edge. Its central titanium body is satin-brushed, grooved, sandblasted and beadblasted, thereby forming a field of functional microdots. The two steel wings of the UR-112 Odyssey fit into this central body.

Each zone, each space, each element has its own texture, its own finish, its own language. Martin Frei, co-founder of URWERK and head designer, said: “I am lucky enough to experience the birth of our creations first-hand – in the workshops and in close proximity with our watchmakers. I witness the final assembly. I see the material come to life, and even more importantly, finishes that existed only in my mind materialize before my eyes. Like the pencil strokes that draw and refine the outlines of the watch on paper, the traces of machining on the titanium and steel render its creative process visible. It then takes all the magic and mastery of the craftsman’s hand to transcript this emotion in the finished product, which is beadblasted, satin-brushed and polished. In the case of the UR-112, this was a particularly long and trying process, a real odyssey, which enabled us to convert the strength of the raw material into the refinement of the finished product. “

Digital sequence

The UR-112 belongs to the Special Project line. This is a departure from the founding concept of URWERK’s wandering-hour indication, on a whole new scale. There are no cubes, no carousel with arms, no 120-degree sector-type indication like on so many models that have marked the history of URWERK over the last 25 years. The UR-112 Aggregat Odyssey displays jumping hours and trailing minutes on prisms. Shifted to the front of the watch, they are visible in their large sapphire crystal housings. As the hours jump on one side and the minutes advance in five-minute increments on the other, an additional trailing indicator shows the precise minutes. Felix Baumgartner, co-founder of URWERK and master watchmaker said: “Once again we have let our guts speak for us in making a spaceship, a UFO that is a technical challenge. This UR-112 is pure madness in terms of the mechanics and the finishes. We will only be able to make a very limited number and there may be just five of them, but this is sheer unadulterated watchmaking pleasure!”

Heart of the reactor

The central body of the case contains the driving and regulating components of the UR-13.01 caliber: a large barrel providing 48 hours of power reserve, coupled with an automatic-winding rotor. Pressing the two pushers on the sides of the watch opens the cover to reveal the power-reserve indicator and the spectacular small seconds. The latter is composed of a skeletonized silicon disk attached to a red anodized aluminum bridge, a typical URWERK design feature.

Spatio-temporal module

A long, thin rod stands out in the middle of this incredible vessel. Measuring several centimeters in length, it is possibly the longest component in contemporary watchmaking. To guarantee its lightness and rigidity, this cardan shaft is made of titanium and ensures the coupling with the display module, located at the front of the shell. It establishes this link thanks to a new succession of gears that drive the hours and minutes prisms via two 90° bevel gears. The black aluminum prisms featuring grooved sides are enhanced with Super-LumiNovaTM and are secured by planetary systems that ensure they rotate both on their axis and in space. This kinematic approach calls for absolute precision and contributes to endowing the UR-112 Aggregat Odyssey with a totally unique and unconventional design. So URWERK!

UR-112 Aggregat Odyssey

Limited edition

Price: CHF 250,000.00 (Swiss francs / excluding tax)

MOVEMENT

Caliber: UR-13.01 automatic
Jewels: 66
Escapement: Swiss lever-type
Frequency: 4 Hz; 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 48 hours
Materials Aluminum hours and minutes satellite prisms; titanium cardan shaft, silicon second wheel
Surface finishing: Circular graining, sandblasting, Côtes de Genève, polished screw heads
   
   
INDICATIONS

 

 Jumping digital hours and trailing digital minutes on satellite prisms; silicon digital seconds; power-reserve indicator

 
   
CASE  
Dimensions: Width 42mm; length 51mm; thickness 16 mm
Materials Titanium, steel
Glass Sapphire crystal
Water resistance Pressure tested to 3 ATM / 100 ft / 30 m
   

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A Piece of Your Time: What Does It Mean to Gift a Woman a Watch?

A Piece of Your Time: What Does It Mean to Gift a Woman a Watch?

From as far back as the 16th-century, watches have been a luxury that holds far more sentimental value than merely telling the time. Today, giving a watch as a gift still contains a great deal of meaning. If that gift is from a man to a woman, it’s even more significant. 

If you’ve received one of our high-end, luxury timepieces as a gift from the special man in your life you might be wondering what it signifies. To offer some insight, we’ve outlined just some of the wonderful reasons men have bought their girlfriends, fiancées or wives a Backes & Strauss watch.

THE GIFT OF STYLE

Wristwatches have been a must-have fashion accessory since they became popular at the beginning of the 20th century. As small as they are, they say a lot about the wearer, and classic designs can complement even the most dedicated follower of fashion.

Our timepieces have been designed to be worn for decades, and tie into changing tastes in the world of what’s in vogue. When you’re given the perfect watch, you’re getting the result of careful thinking about your specific taste and lifestyle. You’ll hopefully receive an accessory that complements your overall style and makes you look that much more fabulous.

Whether it’s a streamlined chronograph or a frothy rose gold timepiece with a delicate strap, every Backes & Strauss watch has a character of its very own. Just like you do. The person who purchased your watch will have considered the essence of you, and your watch should express this.

THE GIFT OF PRACTICALITY

Even the sumptuous, diamond-encrusted, handcrafted masterpieces we create are utilitarian items. However advanced we may be technologically, people still need watches!

It’s good to stay organised, and this means keeping track of time throughout the day. But as many women can agree, it’s not always the most straight forward task to root around in your handbag to find your cellphone! A quick glance at a beautiful timepiece on your wrist is much easier and far more satisfying. Plus, it provides a subtle yet constant reminder of the special person who gifted you your watch too.

THE GIFT OF LUXURY

There’s nothing that can quite compare to unboxing a luxurious gift and Backes & Strauss makes this part of the process especially enjoyable. The sumptuousness of our designs extends into how our pieces are packaged, and we make sure every second you spend with one of our items counts!

Like jewellery, there is the exquisite suspense in sliding the box open to reveal what’s inside and then the pure joy at the thing of beauty you find. Whether it’s a birthday gift, a present for the holiday season or just because, when you gift a woman a watch, you’re also gifting her a symbol of opulence and splendour.

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

Another significant metaphor that comes into play with a watch gift is that of giving someone time. This is a commodity we all wish we had more of with the ones we love. Watches can even become treasured heirlooms, handed down to the next generation of powerful women in the family to mark important milestones. In that sense, the strong sentimental value of your watch has no time limit – it is to be enjoyed for generations to come.

Wearing your new gift may even help you be more on time! After all, it elevates you and makes you look more polished and professional. This goes a long way towards readying you for the challenges you face every day.

THE GIFT OF A DAILY REMINDER

There’s nothing throwaway about the gift of a watch. After all, they’ve been carefully designed to be worn, used, and enjoyed each day. They’re also one of the only things that can be worn all the time and giving someone a timepiece means they’ll think of you more often.

A wristwatch will remind a woman of the person who gave it to her every time she puts it on, each time she looks at it during your day or night. And then once more when she takes it off before a shower, bath, swim, or to get a good night’s rest.

For betrothed couples, watches can make a poetic, romantic gift symbolising the couple’s time together. Classic timepieces are ideal as an anniversary gift as they signify the past, present and future. A man who gives you this kind of present is communicating the depth of his commitment and his abiding affection for you.

If you’re not yet betrothed and have received something of this calibre from the man in your life, it almost always means that he’s committed to you. It signifies the depth of your relationship and cements the idea that he would like to share every second, minute and hour together.

A PERSONAL, UNIQUE GIFT

What makes the perfect wristwatch such an ideal gift for women is the fact that so much care and attention goes into choosing it. You’ll treasure not only the handcrafted excellence that defines our pieces but how personally meaningful it is too. It tells you that the giver values your wants and needs and deepens your relationship with recognition of your individuality.

The gift of wristwatch shows that a lot of thought has gone into the present and that the giver is interested in you and wants to know what you like. As complex a process as this is, it’s simplicity itself and is evidence of a deep and abiding connection between two people.

Giving something as personal and meaningful as a Backes & Strauss wristwatch requires the giver to make a calculated risk because he has to understand you to buy you something you’ll love. It’s a way to establish even more of an emotional tie between a couple and is about your beloved taking a more active role in your life.

Many literal and figurative meanings can be ascribed to the gift-giving of a watch. But at the end of the day, it’s up to you to decipher what the intention is behind it. However, it’s a pretty safe assumption that if someone has taken the time to try and figure out what kind of timepiece would suit you and your needs best; he’s been hit by Cupid’s arrow!

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HUBLOT LOVES ASPEN SNOWMASS

HUBLOT LOVES ASPEN SNOWMASS

Hublot takes on the (Black) Diamond and pays tribute to 75 years of Aspen Snowmass with the Classic Fusion Aerofusion Aspen Snowmass Limited Edition

Aspen Snowmass is an enigma. A destination steeped in history and community, it also moves with speed and draws visitors the world over. It is hard to make time stand still in America’s most iconic and adventurous mountain town, but that’s exactly what Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot and Aspen Snowmass have achieved today.

In honor of the 75th Anniversary of Aspen Snowmass, Hublot: The Official Resort Partner and Official Timekeeper of Aspen Snowmass, has kicked off the resort’s auspicious 75th anniversary (taking place in January 2022) ahead of time, by launching a limited-edition commemorative timepiece to celebrate the Diamond Anniversary (that is fondly termed “The Black Diamond Anniversary” in acknowledgement of the mountain’s famed downhill terrain).

Aspen Snowmass – home to four mountains, two towns and one unforgettable experience at the confluence of nature, culture, and recreation – and Hublot – renowned for The Art of Fusion, have combined forces to design a piece that speaks to the DNA of both the mountain and the Swiss luxury Maison.

Designed in artful collaboration, the alpine-white skeletonized timepiece takes on the iconic Hublot Classic Fusion model. This limited edition of 30 pieces made of black ceramic with a white ceramic bezel features the Aspen tree leaf on the second hand and high shine brilliant titanium, a homage to the silver mining heritage of the Rockies and Aspen township. The limitation is stamped on the back of the timepiece along with the 75-year commemorative logo: the piece is a true collector’s item for 30 lucky few.

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Excalibur Gully Monotourbillon
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Roger Dubuis’ DNA – EXCALIBUR GULLY MONOTOURBILLON

Roger Dubuis’ DNA – EXCALIBUR GULLY MONOTOURBILLON

Searching for inspiration in the most unexpected places is in Roger Dubuis’ DNA. This includes uniting with world-famous urban culture artists who share its common values to break the rules, showcase radical expertise and obsess daily over the design of the future. Continuing on a journey to create boundary-breaking masterpieces in the world of Hyper Horology, Roger Dubuis is proud to introduce the second of its URBAN ART TRIBE timepieces with the Excalibur Gully Monotourbillon.

Gully, the French graffiti-turned-studio artist, follows the path started by Dr. Woo after being granted access to Roger Dubuis’ most important room: the manufacture itself. Taking on the same creative challenge to reinterpret the astral signature of the iconic Excalibur Monotourbillon, he presents his vision of the star by uniting it with his colourful world of graffiti.

BRINGING TWO WORLDS TOGETHER

Extravagant, determined and disruptive, Gully is as bold and bright in his ideas as Roger Dubuis. Having created a name for himself graffitiing throughout France in the nineties and noughties, he left the streets behind to maintain his anonymity. Now he works in a studio and exhibits his work at respected galleries. Master of appropriations, Gully’s art combines all movements, from hyperrealism to pop art, as well as surrealism and cubism, to create facetious and narrative masterworks that travel the history of art as if seen through a child’s eyes. Talking about his craft, Gully says: “Bringing different worlds together is my trademark. This project has that ethos at its core, making it an obvious collaboration for us both.”

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Roger Dubuis made the decision to recraft and reshape its own work of art – the Excalibur Monotourbillon – earlier this year. Through the exceptional skill and ingenuity of its watchmakers, the perfect conditions were created for the URBAN ART TRIBE collaboration. The use of clean cut lines on both case and movement as well as modern and technical materials not only raises the timepiece to an even higher standard, but also makes it an exciting canvas for creativity. In providing this pure, versatile space, it becomes the playground on which Gully expresses himself.

A MASTERPIECE REMASTERED

Gully unites two worlds into a new singular masterpiece by combining the Maison’s high watchmaking expertise with his fun artistic flair. Consciously appropriating the astral signature and merging it with his graffiti, the star is lifted to new heights by his style. As a nod to his very first street works, Gully’s lettered tag uses the famous single-line technique. Starting from the centre of the timepiece, his hand moves straight towards 11 o’clock, drawing the preliminary draft of a G. The line then heads towards 3 o’clock, but changes direction half-way to partially design a Y. Finally, the line reaches 9, then 12, 6 and 3, before it moves to the centre of the tourbillon and across to 4 o’clock. Returning the line to the centre, it becomes clear that two L’s have been drawn. He finishes the run by drawing a U partially around the tourbillon. Look carefully at the letters born out of this continuous movement as the artist not only reinterprets the Roger Dubuis star but also signs the dial. Look closer still and it becomes apparent that two new stars have been created, levitating in parallel harmony on the top left and bottom right of the dial. From a single line to a singular masterpiece.

Inspired by the spray paint used in urban art, the Maison’s watchmakers filled the letters with luminescent coloured lacquer while the hour markers and the hands are filled withSuper-Luminova™*.The bright modern shades recall the artist’s universe, while creating aesthetic harmony and a one-of-a-kind finish.Imbued with a further technical feat, the Excalibur Gully Monotourbillon glows under UV light as the Maison’s obsession withluminescence shines through.

Gully adds: “To collaborate with expert craftsmen in industries that I am unfamiliar with helps me grow in my understanding of the world – and of art itself. Together we have created something singular, entirely new, and inimitable.”

The watchmakers’ technical talent is further evident in the RD512SQ calibre itself. By reducing the tourbillon weight, the power reserve is radically optimised to 72 hours, providing the option of leaving the watch unworn over weekends. What’s more, to be sealed with a highly demanding signature in fine watchmaking – the Poinçon de Genève – requires the manual decoration of every component, as well as unexpected and antinomic decorations, such as sandblasted top surfaces and polished angles. Underscored by rarity and limited to just eight pieces, the Excalibur Gully Monotourbillon is housed in a 42 mm Dark Grey DLC Titanium case and mounted on a black calf leather strap, interchangeable with a Quick Release System for ultimate comfort and flexibility.

Together with its friends, the Maison shows what happens when rules are rejected and creativity is unleashed. In bringing a visionary artist together with incredible watchmakers, Roger Dubuis proves once again it is unquestionably the most exciting way to experience Hyper Horology.

NO RULES. OUR GAME.

*Roger Dubuis is not owner of the trademark Super Luminova™

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PATEK PHILIPPE X TIFFANY & CO. NAUTILUS WATCH
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Phillips is honored to be offering the only publicly available watch from Patek Philippe & Tiffany Blue® Nautilus watch

PATEK PHILIPPE X TIFFANY & CO. NAUTILUS WATCH

Patek Philippe Ref. 5711/1A-018

An historic, highly important, and brand-new stainless steel wristwatch with “Tiffany Blue” lacquer dial, date and bracelet, with certificate of origin and presentation box, with proceeds benefitting The Nature Conservancy.

PATEK PHILIPPE X TIFFANY & CO. NAUTILUS WATCH

PATEK PHILIPPE X TIFFANY & CO. NAUTILUS WATCH

2021 40mm Diameter Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed

Estimate In Excess of $50,000

  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 2021
    Reference No: 5711/1A-018
    Movement No: 7’441’868
    Case No: 6’497’092
    Model Name: Nautilus
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 26-330 S C, 30 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Patek Philippe bracelet, max overall length 190mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Patek Philippe deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 40mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by a dated (December 11) Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin from Tiffany & Co. in New York, fitted presentation box, leather envelope, and product literature.
www.phillips.com

Catalogue Essay

Phillips is extremely honored and thrilled to present the very first Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5711/1A-018 with a stunning, Tiffany Blue® lacquer dial. It is, without a doubt, amongst the most exciting, exclusive, and coveted examples of a Nautilus ever offered.

Announced to the public just days ago, this limited series Nautilus celebrates the 170-year alliance between Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. that remains one of the longest and most enduring relationships in all of watchmaking. A total of 170 timepieces will be produced and available exclusively through Tiffany locations in New York, Beverly Hills, and San Francisco – with the exception of this very watch. The present lot is therefore the first timepiece to be sold, and will be available for immediate delivery to the winning bidder.

The Nautilus reference 5711 is the modern iteration of the first luxury sports wristwatch by Patek Philippe, first launched in 1976 as the reference 3700. Premiering in 2006, the reference 5711 updated the Nautilus for modern times with new innovations, such as an exhibition caseback, and an in-house, self-winding movement with center seconds.

Selected by Tiffany’s founder, Charles Lewis Tiffany for the cover of its annual Blue Book published beginning in 1845, the dial’s “Tiffany Blue” color is immediately recognizable for its distinctive shade and vibrancy. Tiffany Blue is now registered as a color trademark by Tiffany & Co., standardized as a private custom color by Pantone as “1837 Blue” – with the number marking the year of Tiffany’s founding. Not only featuring a Tiffany Blue-colored dial for the first time ever, the dial is also double stamped with the exclusive “Tiffany & Co.” signature at 6 o’clock paired with the Patek Philippe logo at 12 o’clock – both in black print. The luminous, baton hour markers and hands are in blackened 18K white gold, perfectly matching the printing, while providing outstanding legibility against the dial’s light blue lacquered surface.

PATEK PHILIPPE X TIFFANY & CO. NAUTILUS WATCH

PATEK PHILIPPE X TIFFANY & CO. NAUTILUS WATCH

Soon to be retired in 2022, this last version of the reference 5711 is fitted with the self-winding caliber 26-330 S C. Featuring a stop-seconds mechanism permitting time to be set with one-second accuracy, this state-of-the-art movement is visible through a sapphire-crystal caseback, inscribed “170th Anniversary 1851-2021 Tiffany & Co. – Patek Philippe”.

Accordingly, the watch pays tribute to the historic, 170-year shared vision and relationship that links Patek Philippe with the United States. Soon after Patek Philippe (1839) and Tiffany & Co. (1837) were founded, in 1851, the two companies forged an agreement that made Tiffany & Co. the first official partner for Patek Philippe timepieces in the U.S. In 1876, the two companies signed a new agreement appointing Tiffany & Co. as the general representative for the U.S. “who safeguards the interests of Patek Philippe & Cie. as if they
were its own interests”. At the same time, Patek Phillipe pledged to safeguard Tiffany & Co.’s interests as evidenced by a large sign “Agents for Tiffany & Co., New York” at Patek Philippe’s historic headquarters in Geneva. On the premises of the same Patek Philippe Salons in Geneva, there is further proof of this enduring relationship: a large steel vault formerly owned by Tiffany & Co. and decorated by an American eagle sporting two flags.

During the early 1900s, Tiffany & Co. supported key relationships between Patek Philippe and major American collectors, including Henry Graves Junior, for whom the manufacture crafted an extensive range of complicated watches. In the 21st century, Patek Philippe created several limited editions for Tiffany & Co., many of which commemorate important dates and featuring double-stamped dials for both brands, including the ref. 5150 Annual Calendar launched in 2001, the ref. 4987 Gondolo launched in 2009, and the ref. 5396G-012 in 2012. This last reference commemorated the fifth anniversary of the Patek Philippe Boutique at Tiffany & Co, which opened in 2008 and was the manufacture’s first boutique in the U.S.

Today, Tiffany & Co. remains the world’s only retailer whose name appears on a Patek Philippe dial, making any Tiffany-signed timepiece extremely sought after. Throughout the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, much has changed, but the relationship between Tiffany & Co. and Patek Philippe has only grown. The present lot, offered in factory new condition, is a rare and stunning limited series Nautilus exemplifying the strength of their long-lasting partnership, and is certain to delight any watch enthusiast.

One hundred percent of proceeds from the sale of this watch will benefit The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Founded in the U.S. in 1951, TNC is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Its mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends and shape a brighter future for people and our planet. To date, TNC has protected more than 119 million acres of land and 5000 river miles worldwide, with the past support of Tiffany & Co. and The Tiffany & Co. Foundation. With conservation programs in more than 70 countries around the world, their programs are dedicated to food and water sustainability, protecting land and water, deploying solutions for climate change, and building healthy cities.

Artist Biography

Patek Philippe

Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking’s most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe’s watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.

Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek’s complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world’s first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only “Calatrava” dress watches, and the “Nautilus,” an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.

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Vacheron Constantin – Traditionnelle Tourbillon China Limited Edition

Vacheron Constantin – Traditionnelle Tourbillon China Limited Edition

  • Inspired by the Chinese Jade culture, the Traditionnelle tourbillon model is dedicated to China market, numbered and engraved in 30-piece limited edition.
  • A limited edition entirely dressed in Imperial Green, a color that represents the purest and highest grade of green jadeite.
  • Featuring the ultra-thin mechanical self-winding movement, calibre 2160/1.
Traditionnelle Tourbillon China Limited Edition

Traditionnelle Tourbillon China Limited Edition

Geneva, November 29th, 2021 – Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Vacheron Constantin presents a high complication limited-edition timepiece, exclusive to the China market.

A Gentleman of Jade

“A gentleman of jade” is a well-known phrase since ancient China to describe a man with noble character. The Chinese believe that a real gentleman is elegant and dignified just as the Jade, which gives inspiration to the creation of the first high complication wristwatch specially designed for the China market. Considered as a mirror of Chinese civilization, Jade has been a treasure of Chinese tradition for thousands of years. This gemstone has been a symbol of high morality throughout Chinese history.

“Imperial Green”

The color of green is described in Chinese poetry as gentle, soothing, and full of vigour and energy. Living in a green environment or adding touches of green to your surroundings can surprisingly bring sophistication, tranquillity and vitality to life.

The well-known Hongshan (Green) Jade Dragon from the Neolithic Period – the earliest known jade dragon carving in China – defines the imperial nature of Green jade carvings. In modern times, jadeite, a harder form of jade known by Chinese, is greatly appreciated for its gentle, translucent, luxurious, but not overstated color.

A jade’s quality is largely determined by the purity of its color. Imperial green, the color that Vacheron Constantin’s first high complication China Limited Edition wristwatch is dressed in, is known to represent the purest and most sophisticated shade of green jadeite, and has a sharp boldness while retaining being understated and warm.

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Traditionnelle Tourbillon China Limited Edition

This Traditionnelle tourbillon watch features an elegant 41 mm-diameter case in 18K 5N pink gold which houses a self-winding movement developed by Vacheron Constantin.

In addition to the refinement of its openworked tourbillon carriage shaped like a Maltese cross, the emblem of the Manufacture and entirely hand chamfered and finished, Caliber 2160 is distinguished by its incredible slimness: this ultra-thin 188-part movement endowed with an approximately 80-hour power reserve measures just 5.65 mm thick. Its relatively sedate frequency (2.5 Hz), along with its 22K gold sandblasted peripheral oscillating weight, provide a chance to admire the steady beating of its mechanism and the exceptional level of traditional Côtes de Genève finishing visible through the sapphire crystal caseback.

The new Traditionnelle tourbillon China Limited Edition timepiece displays the hours and minutes with central hands, while the small seconds appear at 6 o’clock on the tourbillon, framed by an Imperial green-toned dial graced with gold hour-markers and bi-facetted Dauphine-type hands.

As an old Chinese saying goes, like the Jade, those who accomplish great things are modest about their capabilities. As the epitome of radiance, balanced proportions, and subtle details, the new Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Tourbillon China Limited Edition honors and interprets a Gentleman of Jade.

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Summary

Technical refinement meets aesthetic elegance in this model imbued with exquisite masculinity. It represents the epitome of radiance, balanced proportions, and subtle details. Faithful to the origins of Vacheron Constantin and dedicated to Chinese clients enamored of beautifully crafted watches that are both understated and distinguished. Issued in a 30-piece limited series exclusively for Mainland China, it asserts the style in the accordant shades of green: from the elegant Imperial green-toned sunburst finishing dial to the Mississippiensis alligator leather strap with 18K 5N pink gold buckle. Powered by the in-house self-winding Calibre 2160/1, this Traditionnelle tourbillon watch displays the hours and minutes with central hands, while the small seconds appear at 6 o’clock on the tourbillon.

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TECHNICAL DATA

Reference 6000T/000R-B972

Calibre
2160/1
Developed and manufactured by Vacheron Constantin
Mechanical, self-winding, peripheral rotor
31 mm (13½’’’) diameter, 5.65 mm thick
Approximately 80 hours of power reserve
2.5 Hz (18,000 vibrations/hour)
188 components
30 jewels
Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece

Indications
Hours, minutes, small seconds on tourbillon carriage
Tourbillon

Case
18K 5N pink gold
41 mm diameter, 10.4 mm thick
Transparent sapphire crystal caseback
Water-resistance tested at a pressure of 3 bar (approx. 30 meters)

Dial
Imperial Green, sunburst finishing
18K 5N pink applied hour-markers and Maltese cross

Strap
Imperial Green Mississippiensis alligator leather with alligator inner shell, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, large square scales

Clasp
18K 5N pink gold folding clasp
Polished half Maltese cross-shaped

Limited edition of 30 pieces, individually numbered

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