Evolution of the Wrist Watch

                               

The evolution of the modern watch has been from the tower clock through the pocket to the wrist. The word clock takes its origin from the French term for a bell. The earliest mechanical clocks appeared in France. The records of the town of Citeaux in France show the existence of a clock as early as 1120 that struck the bell every one hour of the day. Soon most of the cities in Europe had clocks in the city centre. These mechanical clocks worked on a system of pulleys and weights. They were not accurate and they could gain or lose up to half an hour a day.

                                   

Galileo is certainly the genius that made the modern precise clocks possible. His discovery in 1594 of the principle of pendulum was applied by Dutch scientist Christian Huygens to clock making in 1657 which resulted in the birth of the precise modern clock. The journey from clocks mounted on towers to watches in pockets was the result of the invention of the German locksmith Peter Henlein. The term watch was a loan word from sailors who had kept four hours of watch before the hour glass which soon were replaced by the handy and precise Henlein’s pocket clocks now newly christened as watches or pocket watches.

                                                  

In the earlier days men used watches that were attached to a chain and put it in the pocket. However, women did not have pockets so initially they wore them around their neck. It was something like a chain or necklace with the addition function of measuring time. By about the early part of 1920 watches shaped like bracelets became popular among women. The evolution of these bracelet-watches resulted in the birth of the modern lady’s wrist watches. However, in the army a wrist watch was a practical tool and the army adapted what was a fashion statement as a practical tool. The army wrist watches later became everyday wear for both men and women.

                                   

During the past thousand years many watches came into existence and some have become the relics celebrating man’s date with time. Names like Patek Philippe, Blancpain, Rolex, Zenith, Vacheron Constantin spell class. Owning these watches are the dreams of many. 

Emporio Armani Watches

Casual sophistication for to the fashion conscious seems to be the central core of the philosophy of the Emporio Armani watches. Giorgio Armani is a watch maker with a distinct philosophy and he has articulated it in clear terms and the watches embody this spirit : “ I design Emporio Armani for men and women who lead a modern lifestyle and want to dress with a sense of casual sophistication…A watch tells more than just time-it reveals something about the wearer".The affordability in price and the youthful quality of the design of these watches have made the Emporio Armani watches very popular among young people and among those who are in young in mind.

The watches are certainly made for the men and women of fashion who are more concerned about the visual impression that they make on other rater than the task of telling time.  While Men’s watches have four ranges called Newness, Classic, Sport and Meccanico women have only three ranges named Newness, Classic and Fashion.

The world over the brand enjoys lot of prestige as an expression of refinement in style. Many celebrities, the world over, wear Armani products. It exposes your taste and class and people notice you. That is why Armani watches have many takers. The lure of the Armani watches is not just fashion fad of modern pop culture. All customers expect certain features in a luxury watch. Armani knows the mind of the buyer. They are products of unique design that has understood the psychology of the masses.

                                                           

An angel looking to the right, the logo of the Armani watches certainly spells class. You do not need the eye of an eagle to understand this symbol. The logo is your entry to a world of fashion and class. The Emporio Armani watch, like the logo of the company, has a defining quality. The wearer of the watch is set apart as a unique person of style and taste. Because the brand has achieved status in fashion circles more and more people are eager to own that.

Dolce & Gabbana Watches

Daring, inventive, deliberately sensuous and strikingly beautiful, Dolce & Gabbana (D&G) brand made their debut of designs of apparel that earned global acceptance. The neon light glitter and glamour that the designers larded to many glittering stars on some of the most scintillating shows of the fashion world was largely due to the design excellence of D&G. Isabella Rossellini, Demi Moore, Nicole Kidman and Madonna were some of the great fashion icons whom D&G draped as they paraded their personae before the stunning audience of the fashion world.

                                            

 In the Italian style world, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were the two towering designers The Company was established in 1985. The hallmark of D&G is the special Italian flavor that they add to their watches. There is blatant sensual element in all their designs. In order to add fuel to the fire the company often comes up with bold and controversial ad campaigns. The controversies generated by the ads create a world of gossip which in turn has the value of an added on ad campaign.

There is a wide range of D & G watches. The watch adds a unique chic quality to any wrist and made the adorner a cut above the ordinary. The range of fabulous designs employing a galore of colors and materials give the wearer a rare confidence and festive aura. There are flamboyantly bold designs, subdued mellow patterns and overtly eccentric stuff to choose from.

Which to choose from is the dilemma of watch lover faced with this amazing variety D & G watches. There are elegant watches with stainless steel bracelet with attractive small faces laced with diamonds. There are watches designed to wear over the cuff full of glossy color suited to an extravagant taste. The leather straps are in different colors including white adding a unique novelty and break with tradition. Some watches are in classical style with large round faces while others with wearied octagonal faces. The value of Dolce & Gabbana watches is much hyped due to the universal appeal of the design. 

Diamond Piaget Watch

Just a look at the Piaget collection of watches will tell you why they are so popular in the world today. You are certainly draping yourself in magic when you wear a Piaget. The watches which are crafted in gold and diamonds are the expression of timeless in watch making. Piaget’s collection is the finest jewelry watches that the world can dream of. They open before you a world of glamour. These watches are not the assembly line production of watches for the masses churned out in truck loads, they are unique watches crafted to pamper the special man or woman in you. Each watch takes 300 hours for crafting and passes through human hands for the delicate work that machines cannot do in any appreciable perfection.

Look at the round Limelight watch. It is a large round model, the case, bracelet, dial and clasp are mode of 18 carat white gold. They are supplied with a lavish collection of stones. The brilliant-cut diamonds weigh 3.8 ct and trapeze-cut diamonds 13.9 and baguette-cut diamonds 47 ct. The watch derives its power form 530P automatic Piaget movement.

There is visible magic in the great appeal of the watch. The watch brings in images of a sprightly dance of Trapeze, baguette and brilliant-cut diamonds in a background of gold. This gives the watch a unique majesty. The watch is a brilliant composition where the traditional round geometrical shape assumes modernity. The watch draws its life from the Piaget movement inside.

There is a rare concentration in the entire product, the watch as well as the .The bracelet has been given lot of attention. Using the Parisian mesh technique traditionally employed in the making of jewelry the watch and the bracelet yields to the hands perfectly. The watch is tribute to the brilliant in human shape as there is nothing more beautiful in the world than a decorated human figure.

DeWitt Watches, an Overview

                                                 
Making watches of tomorrow by the application of micro-technology seems to be the central core of the mission of the De Witt watches. Zeal, inquisitiveness, inventive daring, taste for novelty and progressiveness are the guiding principles of the company. The connoisseurs of watches devoured these great watches in large numbers. Today the company is among the veteran watch making circles that pamper the elite taste of the new generation rich. The personality of its founder Jerome de Witt is stamped on every watch.  He has an illustrious pedigree as he has descended from the family of Napoleon. He was originally an investor who eventually turned a watch maker. He adopted what he see in other industry into watch making. His first watch was inspired by the transmission of the car.

                                                  
The genius behind the watches is genius in inventiveness of design with a deep insight into the tradition of watch making. However, he was not constrained by tradition. It is a great prestige for him that he received two patents in five years which was a rare international recognition. He in fact revolutionized the concept of a luxury watch.

 Among the DeWitt watches the most loved watch indeed is the Tourbillion Force Constante Ladies. It is a creative masterpiece. The entire machinery of the watch can be seen from the dial. It has a bold feminine design. It is a mechanical manually wound watch. The diameter of the movement is 30.40 mm. It has a power reserve for 72 hours which means that the watch needs to be wound only once in three days. There are 25 jewels for the watch. The watch is water resistant at 30 mm. The thickness of the watch is 21 mm. The case back is made of Sapphire. It is certainly an envied watch.

DeWitt watches is the result of the hunger to craft a sign that implies class. It does spell class. 

Corum Watches

  Corum watches have gifted to the world of luxury unique designs which are truly progressive. There is nothing like it in the world of horology to enhance your visual appeal. In this world where social interaction is very important the importance of what you wear has achieved paramount importance. That is why there are great many people who go for luxury watches of time tested brands. Corum is one such brand.

Two brothers Renee Bannwart and Gaston Ries in 1955 launched Corum watches into the world of high-end horology. By that time, the world of luxury has already seen many luxury watch giants very well established. Many thought that Corum will not be able to compete with the well established companies around. However, in a short period the Corum earned a name for itself in the magic world of watches. This was largely due to the bold, unique designs with which the company confronted the world.

                 

Corum Company, in a short time became a recognized brand name making amazing watch models like Admiral’s Cup, Golden Bridge, Coin Watch, Corum Classical, Artisan Timepieces, Corum Bubble and Corum Debutante. Among all these watches the most prestigious watch produced by the company is the celebrated Meteorite watches that have been created. With the limited edition strategy producing only 999 dials from the largest meteorite that has landed on earth in Greenland, the watch became a rage in the fashion circles of the world. Corum also made history by making the $20 Liberty Eagle watch from $20 coin. It was a great engineering feat splitting $20 coin into two. All these made the name of Corum a covetable and enviable name.

                                                          

Corum has understood the human psyche that longs for novelties rather than functional perfection. Anyone can make a perfect watch but who can create a new design. It its search for new designs Corum has been a trailer blazer. It is this philosophy that made Corum a unique company. 

Chopard Watches

There are certain aspects which make the Chopard watches different from others. Among the many high-end watch companies, this is still one company that is run by a family. The company makes its own machines and watches. In fact the entire watch making including the making of all the components are done by the same company. Because of these features watches come out of the company in small trickle and therefore very much priced by the fashion lovers of rare taste and refinement.

The history of Chopard started in 1860 in the tiny village of Sonvilier. There a gifted young creative genius named Louis-Ulysse Chopard started his workshop. The quality of the watches spread the entire Europe and the royalty started lapping up these watches in great numbers. After the initial success the company finally moved to Geneva, the heartland of world watch making. So, the Chopard watches that you adorn yourself with is the illustrious tradition started over one hundred and fifty years ago.

                                                    

The company’s ownership was changed in 1963 when Karl Scheufele took over the company. Under the new helmsman the company further progressed. Today, Chopard is inventiveness, technology and rare artistry. It is the most talked about jewelry watch among the fashion circles of the world. Because of the great fame of the watch the watches are also having a great many takers who value the design.

The Chopard watches have the design features of elegant jewelry. Since, jewelry is special to women the watches have a unique womanliness about them. They are extremely trendy at the same time the timeless quality of classic artifacts are very visible in them. The collection of watches with superb and scintillating diamonds in sprightly dance in background gold and purest sapphire crystals emanates lyrical mellowness of a life style that is vibrant as well as sprightly. These watches speak volumes of the femme in you. That is why today the Chopard watches also are sold like hot cakes to the women who look for luxury and style. Chopard have not forgotten men altogether. Chopard Mille Miglia Gran Tourismo XL is an amazing watch that tells the world that you are a man. It is 44mm, made of rose gold case, black dial with 46 hours of power reserve. It has a leather strap made of the finest leather and is water resistant at 100 meter.

Chopard Super Ice Cube: The Costliest Watch

Your clothes and what you use part of your personality. That is why long ago Shakespeare made the comment apparel proclaims the man.  The watch also proclaims the man. Cartier is the choice of lovers of social circles; Rolex is the choice of the footballers. However, Chopard is the choice of the fabulously wealthy.

 The Super Ice Cube is generally considered the costliest watch on earth by horologists. Is it good for any one for that price? Elton John found it good. But what does it cost? It could be more that a million dollars. Is it justified; a watch that costs more than a million dollars? Each watch has more than 66 carats of high quality diamonds procured from the best gem dealers and hand set by experts by using magnifying glasses in a case made of white gold. Each piece takes at least two months of meticulous attention and precision labor to complete. The watch even has a diamond on the back. The price is certainly justified for the rare rich.

There are quite a few people who found this watch seductive. Eva Herzigova, the super model and actress wore it at Cannes. David Beckham astounded the Queen when he wore it in his visit to the BuckinghamPalace to be dubbed a knight. Kate Moss, the English super model, Liz Hurley, English super model and the South African actress, Charlize Theron are other proud owners of the precious work of art. The watch is in fact deficient in many of the standard functions that we find in luxury watches. The price and the lure for this watch is an indication that wearing of watch has purposes other that knowing time. A luxury watch is indeed a fashion statement. The Chopard Super Ice Cube is a fashion accessory and it is all about diamonds.

A watch is not merely an instrument to know time. IT certainly speaks volumes about the class to which the user belongs. The lure for the celebrated watches are so strong that many of the companies are able to make a waiting list of customers  looking for years before they get the watch in their hands. This watch belongs to the category where the fabulously rich do not count the cost only think of owning it whatever be the price.

Chanel Watches

 In the high-end fashion world of watches Chanel is rated very high. The specialty of the Paris based house is in luxury goods like garments, handbags, perfumery, cosmetics and watches. The pioneering Parisian fashion designer, Gabrielle Bonheur Coco Chanel, who founded the enterprise, is rated as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20^th century by TIME Magazine.

                                             

The celebrated Coco Chanel’s ventured into the opulent watch world very late. The company entered the watch crafting only in 1987 and the iconic image of Coco Chanel as a celebrated fashion designer and the brand equity of the company made the launch of the first model a roaring success. Men and women all over the world were crazy for Chanel watches. The first collection was poignantly called Premiere. The were elegantly crafted in octagonal shape. The premiere as expected were followed by other watches like the square shaped Mademoiselle and the diamond shaped Matelassee.Eventually the watches took simpler evolution into perfect round shape. They are called the La Ronde collection, launched in 1999.

                                                            
Knowing the amazing potential for sports watches the brand got into the sports watch niche in 2000. Chanel J12 was sports watch par excellence. They have a ceramic casing and are unisex. They catered to the needs of the young men and women who had an active life style. They were a roaring success. After this brief raid into the sports territory Chanel came back to its own field: fashion. The White Series was endearingly called Chocolat; the ceramic coating gave it the appearance of chocolates. These watches were so fanciful and were the rage of the fashion conscious men and women across the globe. Chanel watches can now boast of 65 different models in five series. Indeed Chanel watches are pretty expensive due to their high quality and excellence in design. 

Bulgari Watches

From 1884, the year of its inception, Bvlgari has been the byword for Italian luxury. The force behind the brand is the worship of the timeless in Greek and Roman art. The founder Sotirio Bvlagri was Greek in origin but he embraced the Roman culture. In its glorious history spreading over  a century and a quarter the word became synonymous with luxurious elegance for jewelry  and watches in all the continent where  glamorous men and women were making fashion statements for the masses to ape.

The house of Bvlgari, a house with a tilt towards the stylish aspect of life, started watch production in the early years of twentieth century. However, the watch brand acquired popularity only in the latter part of the same century. The designers wanted to create a unique signature for the watch, in addition to the classic qualities usually found on the great luxury watches. This was achieved by the clever manipulation of the Bulgari logo on the watches. The logo prominently and artistically displayed on the watch gave it a unique and unmistaken identity. The trick clicked and a Bulgari man and woman do stand out in the crowed as the proud owners of the ultimate luxury in horology.

There are many models for the brand. The greatly applauded lady’s model Bvlgari Parentsi that coils artistically on the woman’s wrist supported by the golden bracelet creates the visual effect of the celebrated Bulgari double ring. The models Ovale, Trika and Lucena, like their sweet Italian names, are chic on the wrists of a woman giving her elegance unparalleled by the wear of any other ornament. A well draped woman’s attire is complete when she is adorned in a Bulgari watch, adding an enviable aura to her demeanor. The Diagono collection is a detour from the watches that pamper the genteel in woman and man; they are for the active athletes and men and women who live in the workday world of wear and tear. Even they are cosseted by lavish larding of gold, steel, caoutchouc and leather.

breitling Watches

Breitling for Bentley

There is a close association between motor cars and watches. Though Breitling was concentrating on precision watches for the pilots they have not neglected this unique relation of cars with watches.  Bentley is certainly grand old sire of the automobile world. It was in the fitness of things that Breitling and Bentley come together to make a watch. The synergy produced has been remarkable. Breitling watches for Bentley today is the ultimate temptation of the lover of high end luxury watches. 

                                                     

What is unique about Breitling for Bentley? Traditionally Breitling is associated with aviation watches. However, this is a deviation from tradition and venturing into the world of cars. The bezel of the watches brings in the visual echoes of Bentley dashboard. The watch is fitted with tachometer that shows the average speed, distance covered and the highest speed reached. One of the models bears the name Breitling Bentley 6.75. It is named after the sprawling Bentley limo called Arnage. There is model Bentley Motors T which is a sport watch. It depicts the legendary Bentleys R type Continental, the Continental GT and the Speed 6 in carefully done engravings. Breitling for Bentley is the fusion of performance and fashion. The legendary quality of the names of Breitling and Bentley is captured in the watches and the user of the watch also exudes the great tradition.

                                                 

 Breitling for Bentley watches have such a rare perfection in watch making and therefore considered watch sculptures. A watch is great also due to the legendary quality it acquires. The hassle free performance for years and years is only one aspect of the greatness. The legend is also fueled by various great users and the short supply of the pieces. For these you pay a great price. 

Breitling and the Aviation Industry

One of the main focuses of Breitling is the needs of the airplane pilots as evident from their slogan, instruments for professionals. The company always hailed new ideas and earned a name for themselves as specialists in watch making for the aviation industry. They were authorized providers of horological instruments for the various purposes of flying to the Royal Air Force and the American Air Force. The legendry models Chronomat and Navitimer were produced with an aviation flavor.

One of the glorious movements in the history of Breitling is the flight of astronaut Scott Carpenter into the space in 1962 wearing Cosmonaute Chronograph. Aviation oriented watches like Aerospace and Emergency witness the abiding interest of the company in flying. The model Emergency is a multifunctional chronograph with in-built micro-transmitter which can broadcast in aircraft emergency frequency if needed.

The brand built their models with the aviation industry in mind. This functional aspect of flying calls for accuracy and efficiency in the most trying situations. The rugged

perfection of the watches fit for the magnificent men in their flying machines has made the Breitling a highly romanticized watch. The fame of the watches has now spread to people who have nothing to do with flying. Today Breitling is a lifestyle statement of the active and outdoor life. It is the watch for the truly young in spirit. The watches have been used by aviators who perform dangerous stunts in the air like Xavier de Lapparent and Partick Paris. The use of these watches during the time of their air-shows has made their acrobatics a kind of flying Breitling watch-testing laboratories. A watch of such legendary lore and fable around it is definitely a great buy. 

Breitling watches in Films

The catchphrase, instruments for professionals sums up the ethos of the great Breitling watches.  . The brand placing of watches in the big screen is an interesting study today and it is good to have a peep into the laudable presence of the Breitling watches in the fascinating world of celluloid. The glory of the Breitling watches has been enhanced by the great neon light celebrities of the past and present and many a great fans of Breitling today.

From the very infancy of motion picture production Breitling watches appeared on the films. However, we have an authentic documentation of that in the enthralling James Bond film, Thunderball produced in 1965. It is the one and the only time the super spy bond uses a Breitling. In the film Major Boothroyd, more commonly known as Q, travels to Nassau to supply Bond with gadgets. The watch was a Breitling Top Time. The watch serves also as a Geiger counter (an instrument for measuring radiation levels) to measure the radiation level. The watch was given considerable screen time in the movie. In the same film the Bond girl Domino’s brother wears on his wrist a Breitling Navitimer.

After the first use of Breitling by Bond we see them also in other films like Fathom produced in 1967. In the film Raquel Welch, a skydiving spy wears, a Breitling Co Pilot. Similarly in the film Shattered made in 1991 Tom Berenger wears a Bretling Chronomat. You can see Breitling Sirius around the wrist of Kurt Russel in the film made in 1994 called Stargate. The use of watches in films are seen by the masses the world over and this has an impact in the sale of Breitling watches.

                 

In Die Hard 3 With a Vengeance released in 1995 you can see a Breitling Chronomat around the wrist of Bruce Wills. The all time favorite John Trevolta has a wonderful Breitling Aerospace in the Broken Arrow Produced in 1996. When we come to our own recent times you have Leonard Di Caprio elegantly appearing with Breitling Chrono Avernger in the Blood Diamond. This film was made in 2006 and the brand placing of the Breitling indeed enhanced the brand equity of the great watch.

Breitling Emergency and Emergency Mission

In the perilous adventures of Caroline Hamilton Breitling Emergency was her life line. Record breaking polar explorer, she was the part of the first all-women team to explore both North and South poles. Hauling sledges of enormous weight she covered many miles of the North and South poles in 2000. In her Everest expedition when she fell into a crevasse the most reliable companion she had was the Breitling emergency watch equipped with a transmitter that can send a distress signal on the emergency 121.5 MHz frequency. The watch has already saved the lives of some 23 people in distressing situations.

 A $6000 price tag is perhaps something that is possible for many. However, owning it is not a child’s play. The prospective buyers of the Breitling Emergency watches have to go through training sessions and then execute a legally binding document agreeing to the terms and conditions of use. The product targets the niche area of airplane pilots and adventure travelers. The watch has a unique micro transmitter that sends signals to the international aviation frequency. This gives an additional opportunity to survive, faced with a hazardous situation. The special nature of the watch forces the company to sell them only to specialized customers who will not make the special feature of the watch an opportunity for reckless and childish escapade. Of, course it is not the most expensive Breitling product. But due to this unique feature the watch has invited the attention of many people.

There are two versions of these to choose from. The version named Emergency is aimed at the professional pilots and the model called Emergency Mission is targeted towards the civilians who are private pilots and others in the adventure sports. The watch is not a fanciful gimmick. It has already saved many lives and has accompanied travelers into the poles and in the trackless ranges of the Himalayas.

The novel attribute of the watch has been the topic of never-ending talk among the watch lovers. The brand equity of the Breitling has increased, as often the connoisseurs are interested in watches that invite endless stories. The legend and lore has boosted the sales of the brand.

Breguet Watches

Breguet Watches

A.L.Breguet launched the fabled and innovative watch making enterprise in 1775. It was started at Quai del’Horloge in Paris. For the next two hundred years the innovation genius of the company helped in determining the future of watch making in the world. For innovation and style the name Breguet is in the forefront. The  fame enjoyed by the company for more than 220 made it a great name.

When we consider the great strides in the challenging world of horology, many of them have originated from the house of Breguet. In 1780 Breguet launched a version of self-winding watches known as perpetuelles. The invention of gong spring in 1783 was another great invention of Breguet. The making of the perpetual calendar in 1785 was another great jump for the world of horology. It also developed a technique for correcting the time and date equation for a century. This means that the watch would correct itself for a hundred years. The company has not forgotten the visually impaired. They developed a watch known as the Tact Watch which enabled the user to know time by touch. This was way back in 1799. The regulating technique known as the tourbillion developed in 1801 was another great innovation of the company. All these wonderful achievement spread the fame of the Breguet watches.

There have been a number of illustrious watches that have come from the fascinating world of Breguet. One of them is called Classique. This one has movement that would wind automatically. It shows date, power-reserve through a special indicator and illustrates various phases of the moon. It is a scintillating artifact known for its charms. This watch is indeed very popular the world over. It has hand engraved dial in background of silver. It has a sapphire case back and it is presented in yellow gold and white gold.

The Marine is another fantastic watch from the house of Breguet. The watch has numerals written in the classic Roman style and the minute markers are luminous which enable unhampered measuring of time at night also. There is a large date indicator at the position 6 0’Clock. The engine can be seen from the rear through the sapphire crystal. The presentations are in 18K yellow gold. The dial made of 18 k gold has been given the silver finish.

Heritage is another brilliant watch that is loved the world over. It is a fantastic watch crafted in 18 K white gold. It has an automatic movement. The large date indicator is set at 12 0’clock. The seconds hand is placed at 6 0’Clock. The model is produced in both 18K yellow gold and pink gold.

Actual and Fictional Users of Breguet Watches

The Breguet watch factory was launched in 1775, the enterprise of Abraham Breguet in Paris. Now the company is owned by The Swatch Group. From a 1976 the watches began to be manufactured in Valee de joux in Switzerland. Breguet is credited with a range of inventions in horology. Tourbillion technology is an invention of Breguet. The breguet usually carries certain recognizable signatures on the watches like the coin-edge case, a technique of engraving known as guilloche and the celebrated pomme hands now popularly called the Breguet hands.

                                                

With the introduction of Breguet to the court of Louis XVI he got the much needed incentive to make watches for the King. The king bought several of his watches. The queen Marie Antoinette was fascinated by Breguet’s watches. She gave him the commission to make a watch that contained all the functions known in watches at that time in a single watch. It took 34 years for the watch to be completed and she did not live to see the watch to be completed. This association of the watch with the ill-fated queen became a celebrated saga in horology and augmented the fame of the Breguet watches. The watch has association with a galore of celebrated men and women of history and of our times.

                                             

Apart from the legendary real owners of Breguet it had many fictional owners like Dr. Lorrain the famous Petersburg doctor in Tolstoy’s War and Peace. The watch is a real presence, by its association with Baron Danglers, the dubious rich merchant, in Alexander Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo. Breguet appears in the celebrated science fiction of Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days. Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin has many references to articles of luxury. Breguet luxury watches were Pushkin’s predilection.

Breguet has an amazing range of watches distributed between men’s and women’s collections. A simple categorization places them among Classique, Marine, Heritage, Type XX, XXI, La Tradition and Reine de Naples. Women’s watches are larded with a lavish supply of diamonds.

The historic and the unique Parisian lineage, the connection with a galore of distinguished men and women of the past, the spontaneous fictional presence of the Breguet watches in works of literary art and the amazing range of watches have conjured up an image of the watch in the luxury niche of the world that is seductive and needs no serious marketing effort. 

The Russian Writer Pushkin and Breguet watches

  A dandy on the boulevards... strolling at 

                                                leisure until his Breguet, ever vigilant reminds

                                               him it is midday

                                               Alexander Pushkin,  Eugene Onegin, 1820

Pushkin is a well known Russian writer of universal fame. In his Eugene Onegin, a novel in verse, he tells how time is measured in the house of Larins: Zheludok—verniy nash Breget. The phrase can be rendered into English: The stomach is our accurate Breguet. How deeply the brand has penetrated into the Russian psyche. The celebrated French watch maker was a favorite of the Tsars. Pushkin’s works found favor with the Tsars. It is a daring use of a brand name as a synonym for timepiece. The reactionary writers of pre-communist days eschewed foreign words and foreign goods. But Pushkin loved the old world charm of luxury. As an artist his psyche spontaneously relished anything French for their sheer quality of excellence.

                                                   

The famous ad of Breguet: The Breguet Watch. One thing you can have in common with Napoleon, Josephine, GeorgeIV, Wellington, the Tsar Alexander 1…The advertisements in a way epitomizes the glitter and glamour associated with the brand. It is surprising that Breguet so much banks on the dead celebrities in their ad campaigns. Recently in one of the Breguet advertisements the person looming large was Winston Churchill with a caption, Sir Winston Churchill, from 1901, a client of Breguet. To the western world, Churchill with his ubiquitous Vazir cigar between his lips is the savior of their world and the fact that his choice of watch was Breguet is appealing indeed. Even when the celebrity was defeated his early glory makes the brand alluring as in the case of Napoleon who took his Breguet on his Egyptian campaign in the late 1790’s.

Poets similar to Pushkin, the numerous crowned heads of yesteryears and the neon light celebrities of recent times have made the Breguet brand name one of the most identifiable symbols of wealth and luxury. This has given the brand a highly hyped value in the watch market. 

Blancpain Watches

In the era of high-definition Photography the importance of painting has only increased.. Similarly the introduction of Japanese quartz movements, reliable, durable and inexpensive, did not wipe away the Swiss mechanical movements. However, it gave a jolt to the Swiss watch making industry in the latter part of the1960s. The Swiss monopoly as the time keepers to the world was severely challenged by the Japanese. The noble and ancient Swiss companies, which basked smugly on their ancient glory as horologists to Kings and Queens, simply withered in the Japanese onslaught and many went bankrupt.

                                                             

The down turn in the watch industry was combated by the Swiss by going back to the roots, making watch making once again a craft. This they achieved by making their luxury watches unique specimens of art, a thing of joy, something to wonder it and an heirloom for the next generation. This had made the Swiss watches ornate and intricate for gallant men and beautiful women to wear as jewelry. Let the Japanese do the mundane chore of keeping time for the masses. The Swiss would cater to the glamorous. Blancpain one of the oldest Swiss companies, has successfully survived by crafting art from time and selling astonishingly expensive luxury watches.

Situated in the north of Geneva in the tiny town of Le Brassus is the surprisingly little house where about twenty craftsmen make the top end of the Blancpain range. The most famous one the 1735 model contains not less than five complications. Each piece takes at least a year for crafting and the price is in the border line of a million dollars. The limited edition called The Equation is produced in small trickles that the authentic models are only on the hands of limited fortunate enthusiasts. The watch has a deceptive appearance of simplicity but on closer scrutiny it displays two times at the same time, the conventional time and the solar time. The measuring of the solar time serves no practical purpose other than makes it a clever fanciful gadget. The limited edition Blancpain has always a prolonged waiting period during which the appetite for the watch is further whetted that one is eager to write the huge amount on the pay out bill.

Audemars Piguet Watches

.                                                       Audemars Piguet Watches

Audemars Piguet watches possess a celebrated fame about them and the name carries with it the Greek ideal of excellence which the later the Romans made their own. Today anything of Greek and Roman have the classic touch and the passage of time have not antiquated them. Audemars Piguet while trying to adhere to the classical ideal of excellence also chooses to blend it with the efficiency and precision that modern technology can give them. AP 3120 caliber movement of the self-winding watch is the source of power for these masterpieces.

                                                   

Following the hackneyed trails of the ancient watch makers is not classicism. Sometimes the Audemars Piguet defys the convention of the round and chooses the oval face. However, this detour from the past is not at the neglect of details. The watches are an example crafted art that captures the attention of the onlooker. In perfect art artist and the art becomes one. In these watches a stylish wearer of the watch and the watch merges perfectly that we see both the watch and the person as one.

There is a wide range of tantalizing Audemars Piguet watches to choose from. In the Starlit collection Audemars Piguet plays on the celestial theme. So the watches are strewn with stars and moons as in the Milky Way. There is also a rich supply of diamonds in keeping with the celestial theme. The Starlit collection comes in black and blue representing the night and white and gold signifying the day. One line of watches has the musical theme of the piano. The face of the watch is made up rectangles of white and black visually echoing the key board of a piano. There are watches that cater to the special tastes like the ones that can be used for diving. There are watches that represent many time zones.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

The question why wear a watch when you can wear a legend, is certainly true in the case of Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. The challenge that faced the modern watchmaker in the new era is the reinterpretation of watch making to satisfy the ethos of the present generation. The result was the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. When the Royal Oak was launched in 1972 the success of the watch was far above the expectations of the watchmakers.

  

There is a fascinating array of ideas behind the Royal Oak taking us back to the early dawn of human history when man named the oak the king of all trees and gave the tree a royal touch. In recent history King Charles the II of England, Scotland and Wales found a hiding place in the hollows of huge oak tree when he was being pursued by his enemies. The king of trees thus played host to the King of England.

The role of the fleet in the wars of Napoleon is a theme that has glorified all the vessels that play roles in the battles. The navy is associated with the oak from the traditional use of the wood in the making of the ships. The inspiration behind the name Royal Oak is closely related to the sea faring tradition of man.

The chief features of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak are the octagonal shape and a bezel set by hexagonal screws in white gold. It is difficult to see how the hexagonal screw has been driven in the case of the watch. The design of the bracelet has been integrated into the design of the watch that observer feel that both form a single piece. There is a sequel to the bang of the success of the first Royal Oak. In 1993 the company launched the Royal Oak Offshore. The watch comes with many features incorporating new materials and using manufacturing techniques that go into the making of an aircraft.

Graham Watches

Graham watches have inherited the British tradition in watch making which is today over three centuries old. Before the Swiss watch making got recognition as the ultimate perfection of watch making British watches had their heyday and Graham watches epitomized the best practices in British horology. Today, Graham watches have a great reputation as the best examples of excellence in design and performance.

                                                              

Graham watches are named after George Graham (1674-1751) who learned the art and science of watch making from Thomas Tompion who is considered the father of British Horology. Graham made some wonderful contributions to the art and science of watch making. The mercury pendulum that can withstand the temperature variations due to heat and consequent changes in time is one of his great gifts to horology. The much celebrated deadbeat escapement technique is another of his great inventions. Though he contributed much he did not care to earn any money. However, his contributions to watch making earned him a place in the Westminster Abbey. The user of Graham watches is wearing this ancient tradition.

Though the brand is steeped in tradition it is not averse to new ideas. There are many watches that have become legendary by their style and quality. The line watches called Foudroyante Chronograph has 40 jewels and a power reserve if 42 hours. It is equipped with a tough watch movement and is water resistant at 50 meters. The watch that is made of steel has three different faces, black, blue and silver colored.

One of the models called the Graham Chronofighter is a renowned watch in which many qualities blend gracefully. It has a stunning visual appeal coupled with a brilliant perfection in working. To make the winding easy it has been supplied with a special lever which can be easily operated without straining your fingers. The watch has seen battle conditions as the British pilots were equipped with this watch. The watch was found worthy by the Royal Air Force speaks volumes about its excellence in working. There is a romantic halo around the watch as the participant in the high drama of Brinish success in the blitz.