RSW Unveils The Classic, The Regulator and The Rugged

RSW, a Rama Watch SA Swiss brand,  situated on the shores of Lake Biel in the medieval town of Le Neuveville, manufacture watches with a twist remaining unique in a burgeoning horological market.

Basel World 2012 marks RSW's  introduction  of three new watch collections.  Each collection attracts a different taste.  The Classic.  The Regulator.  The Rugged.

Le Neuveville Collection - The Classic


This Collection pays tribute to RSW's home town's 700th anniversary by naming an entire collection after its name -  "Le Neuveville".  Le Neuveville was founded in 1312 by the bishop of Basle - Gerard de Vuippens.

The Le Neuveville Collection is a classic analog display sporting a vintage design. This formal dress watch is a handsome steel or steel coated with yellow PVD timepiece equipped with a signature RSW patented fold out crank crown.  Beneath the case a highly efficient automatic ETA 2824-2 movement ensures maximum timekeeping precision.  A quartz model powered by an ETA 955.112 movement  is also available - distinguishable from the mechanical model by a traditional crown. 
The dial is available in white, black and gray sun ray pattern.

RSW High King Collection - The Regulator

The Regulator Complication must have the hours indicated on a different sub dial. On this model the Roman Numeral Hours are indicated on a sub dial located at the 12 'o'clock position, while the long minutes are indicated by a single central hand. The seconds hand sub dial is located a the 6 'o'clock position.
A discrete date aperture resides at the 3 'o'clock position.

 The bezel is an enigmatic display of steel work adding a futuristic charm to the timepiece. The watch is powered by an excellent automatic RSW 1912 ETA based Dubois Dépraz 14070.

Look for the watch in different case and dial combinations.

Urban Contemporary Collection: Diving Camo Tool Limited Edition - The Rugged

So here is the watch that caught my attention in the first place.  It breathes ruggedness and adventure.  Actually I am quite drawn to it.  The angular lines resemble a rocky outcrop on the African Savannah, and RSW is taken the theme further by adding a camo dial motif. Aside from its tough appearance this watch is one hell of a diver. Take it down 980 feet and the automatic ETA 2824-2 movement will keep ticking . Depending on your wanderings and the adventurers you seek - whether by land or sea - you have a choice of Woodland Green or Oceanic Blue surrounded by a case of solid steel or PVD coated steel. Only 49 pieces are available in each combination.  And to ease your journey, the Diving Camo Tool Timepiece is accompanied by a very handy Camo-style Swiss army knife as well as a rubber and NATO strap.

Gevril Group is the US Agent of RSW Watches.

BaselWorld Doors Open March 8th, 2012 and HYT H1 Hydro Mechanical Watch is on Display

 

Ok! Whose a running to BaselWorld Hall Palace Booth P05 A?  Run through the palace entrance. Race past the huge CASIO exhibits (lots of G-shocks on display - I assume).  Take note of the Urwerk and MB & F on your left ( a definite stop on your way out).  Hurry past the large P03 hall - yes the Haldimann un-watch is keeping its un-time as well as numerous ArtyA creations! Zoom past the Ikepod Hour Glasses and De Bethune on your right! Come to a screaming halt outside your destination at Booth P05 A- the HYT H1 Hydro Mechanical Watch on Display. Bend over! Place your hands on your knees and take a deep breath.  You have arrived to view the most talked about watch on the web - The HYT H1 Hydro Mechanical Watch... and once you have taken a good look at the Watch - please do me a favor and tell me all about it.

I know you have probably heard tons about this watch - Ariel Adams at  a blog to read - describes this watch better than anyone on the net.  Read his article for a full synopsis. 

And if Videos are your preferred source of information - I have provided that for you too.  

Quantième Perpétuel au Grand Balancier Accounts for February 29th

Antoine Martin Quantieme Perpetual au Grand Blancier

If you are on  my side of the International Date Line, it is still February 29th, 2012 and that means one of two things. Since it is a leap year, the date on your mechanical watch requires adjusting or it does not.  If the date on your watch does not need adjusting chances are it is a perpetual calender.  A perpetual calender is a highly complex watch complication, which accounts for differing lengths of months and leap years.  Many of the high end perpetual calender timepieces needs no adjustment until the year 2100.  Only highly skilled watchmakers craft perpetual calender, as this particular complication requires many additional components and extreme watchmaking know how, thus it is quite astonishing the brand ,Antoine Martin, debuted only last year, should present a perpetual calender as its start-up collection.
The company's focus is on functional perfection provided by unique technologically advanced movements and signature designs. This watch has been something of the brands flagship design, proving Antoine Martin is a new brand breaking old barriers and making  innovative strides in the world of horology.

Martin Braun

Don't be fooled by the brand's age,  the skill and watchmaking experience is 30 years old.  Martin Braun, the brands founder, who needs no introduction to the world of horology,  is not only experienced in watchmaking, but highly talented.   Entrepreneur Antoine Meier is a critical part of the team.  The brands CEO, Bruno Jufer has an impressive resume from a number of high end watch companies such as Maurice Lacroix, Jaquet Drois, Zenith and Carl F. Bucherer.

Bruno Jufer

The Antoine Martin Quantieme Perpetual au Grand Blancier is already breaking world records by incorporating the largest balance wheel (17.55mm in diameter) in a wrist watch crafted from grade 5 titanium as well as a cutting edge silicon escapement increasing efficiency and requiring no lubrication.  The in-house caliber AM39.001 has 60 jewels, beats at 18,000 vph, comprises of 324 components and is equipped with a 6 day power reserve. The Bauhaus design is all form giving way to function with a large amount of elegance. 
Elegance increased by a clever combination of polishing and satin finishing on the 18k rose gold case  The case itself is comprised of 85 components, including a unique and useful AM and PM indicator, leap year indicator at the 12 'o'clock and a day of the month indicator straddled by two bold screws.  The different levels of the face incorporating a silvered dial and long sweeping hand indicators display resolute efficiency and functionality with uncanny elegance.

The 18k white or rose gold case as well as the steel version is fixed to the wrist by a genuine Alligator mississippiensis (Louisiana alligator) strap and matching 18k rose or white gold folding clasp.
This style is also available is a rugged steel black DLC case with a black rubber strap and DLC folding clasp.

The timepieces Antoine Martin has presented so far integrate all factors leading to a successful watch company. The Antoine Martin Quantieme Perpetual au Grand Blancier is crafted for the person who relish complicated watch movements as well as appreciating clear functional and efficient time display.  


Visit Antoine Martin's debut of its latest TOURBILLON QUANTIÈME PERPÉTUEL collection from March 8th to 15th, 2012 in Baselworld Hall 4.1 Booth A15.  This is a brand to be watched. 

The New Longines Saint-Imier Collection

Strolling past the Longines Booth at BaselWorld 2012, one will notice an entirely new collection - The New Longines Saint-Imier Collection.  The collection pays homage to its birth place - Saint-Imier situated in a picturesque Canton of Bern in Switzerland.  Longines has not moved from Saint-Imier since its establishment in 1832 and now is the predominant factory in this largely agricultural region. The Longines Saint-Imier collection houses exclusively mechanical movements securely connecting this collection to the tradition of watchmaking.

The Collection is quite prolific consisting of no less than 18 models, all exceedingly elegant and efficient.   A quick yet intense glance at the Ladies Mechanical Timepiece assures me that the Longines watch will be an instant hit. The mother of pearl dial surrounded by an elegant 60 diamond studded bezel atop a steel case is a classic combination with a subtle sensuality. The varying lengths of pink gold and steel bracelet links surround a wrist in delicate embrace.  Beating within compact 26mm  case is the  Calibre L595 movement crafted  from the base ETA 2000/1 movement. Comprising of 20 jewels and beating at 28,800 vph, the automatic timepiece is equipped with a 40 hour power reserve. Superluminova coated pink hour and minute hands ensure optimal readout in the dark, and anti-reflective scratch resistant sapphire crystal ensure optimal read out under the glare of the sun.  12 Diamond hour markers add a glimmer of elegance hour after hour.

 

Chronograph Movements are all the rage among the ladies where elegance and note-worthy efficiency is highly respected. Mentioning efficiency in regard to this timepiece is of supreme relevance since this 39mm Chronograph is equipped with the L688 column-wheel chronograph movement exclusively developed and produced for Longines by ETA.  Since both companies are owned by The Swatch Group Ltd, ETA has taken great lengths to ensure that this exclusive movement is of exceptional quality. The column wheel component increases the timepiece's shock absorbant capability. The Calibre L688.2 self-winding mechanical movement is equipped with 27 jewels and beats at 28,800 vph with 54 hour power reserve.

 I always find it most fitting when Longines unveils a chronograph movement, since Longines is highly associated with equestrian sports and the chronograph function was first developed to determine exactly how long a horse race lasted. The Chronograph was actually invented in 1821 by Nicolas Mathieu Rieussec, at the command of horse racing enthusiast King Louis XVIII and patented in 1822, ten years before Auguste Agassiz founded Longines. 

The Silver Tone Dial of the  Longines Ladies Chronograph elegantly displays the 12 o’clock Arabic numeral marker and 8 applied hour markers.  12-hour, 30-minute and small seconds sub dials are located  at the  6, 3 and 9 o’clock respectively.  Boldly indicated beneath the 12 'o'clock position is the Longines winged hourglass - The Oldest Valid Trademark in the International Registry - click here for some fascinating information  

 

Longines pride of its collection The Longines Saint-Imier Retrograde Moon Phase Watch is a beauty to behold.  Its understated elegance coupled with a bold assertion of mechanical complications exude a potent mix of horological magnificence. The sleek stainless steel 44mm case houses a Calibre L707 (base movement ETA A07.L31)  mechanical automatic movement comprised of 25 jewels and beating at a frequency of 4 HZ equipped with a 48 hour power reserve. 

This timepiece features a traditional analog time display surrounded on all four sides by retrograde displays. The days of the week are placed just beneath the 12 'o'clock.  The date and the second time zone straddle either side of the dial and a retrograde small second indicator is located below the day night indicator.  A triple folding safety clasp ensures maximum protection for the flagship model of this collection. 

This collection will be on prominent display at Basel World 2012.