The Origin of 10 Watch Logos

1. Eterna -  5 ball bearings.  In 1948 Eterna unveiled the Eterna-Matic which comprised of a low friction ball bearing used to support the rotor of the automatic movement. This led to a great increase in the efficiency of the rotor. The invention of the Eterna-Matic with its ball bearings had such an overwhelming effect on Eterna, it fashioned its logo after five ball bearings.

 2. Longines - Winged Hourglass - Oldest Valid Trademark in the in the International Registary at WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) . The iconic winged hourglass was originally registered in 1889 in Switzerland followed by a filing under the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks in 1893. Read More

3. Bulova - Tuning Fork - From Bulova's 1960's Accutron 214 movement, which was a ground breaker in electronic watches using a battery instead of a spring and a tuning fork instead of a balance.  This resulted in a watch that "hummed" rather than "ticked." Quartz eventually phased out the Accutron, but they are still well loved. Read more info on Bulova Accutron. 

4. Vacheron Constantin - Maltese Cross - First appeared on watches in 1880.  The logo is taken from the shape of the component of the movement  affixed to the barrel.  This hallmark component ensures the number of wheels can be kept low.

 5. Patek Philipe - Calatrava Cross -  A powerful symbol signifying  unbridled success.  The Calatrava Cross comprises of the Greek Cross with four fleur-de-lis at its ends. Created in 1158 by Pope Gregory VIII, as a symbol for the Knights of Calatrava (the name of an old Moorish castle that had been liberated), to bring victory in battle against the numerous and experienced Moors, as the Knights of Calatrava had been simple shepherds before becoming Knights.  The Knights of Calatrava were victorious, winning a battle outnumbered 10 to 1.  Patek chose this symbol very well.  He placed it on every Patek Phillipe timepiece to protect the timepiece and bring success to the wearer.

 

 6. Girard-Perregaux -  the Tourbillon Sous Trois Points d'Or or Tourbillon Under 3 gold bridges Crafted by Constant Girard Perregaux.  After which the design lay dormant for 115 years. In 1982 the design was revived in pocket watches and in 1991 adapted for wristwatches to commemorate the 200th birthday of Girard-Perregaux.

7. Breguet - Breguet Hands.  Breguet Hands were designed by  Abraham Louis Breguet in 1783 and are instantly identified by hollowed out points. 1775 inscribed below "Breguet" is the year that Abraham Louis Breguet, best known for the father of the tourbillon, founded the company. He was born in Neuchâtel, Switzeland on January 10th, 1747 and became one of the most revered watchmaking legends.



8.  JeanRichard - JR Initials of the company, name and date below.  Although there is no significant movement upon the logo, the date placing the foundation of the company deep within the 17th century is significant enough. The legend about the company's founder - Daniel JeanRichard is to intriguing to write here in just a few lines, but I recommend that you
Read it here - The Legend of Daniel JeanRichard 

9. Corum - Key to perfect time.
The name Corum stems from the Latin word Quorum meaning
"The minimum number of members whose presence is necessary to make the proceedings and decisions of an assembly or society valid. It is then said a Quorum is reached."
The number of a Quorum is very definite depending on the society,

The key is the key to perfect time, and the last person to arrive at a meeting whereby a decision has to be made is the key that unlocks the process. Without that one final person the door is closed and no decision can be made.

10. Omega, and its corresponding symbol Ω, is the 24th Letter in the Greek Alphabet.  In 1898, The company changed its name from Louis Brandt et Frères to Omega after its groundbreaking movement - the 19 caliber "Omega".  This relatively affordable movement introduced time setting via the crown as well as a new "assembly line" production procedure.

Boucheron's Birds Surround Three Gold Bridges

Boucheron Cypris Tourbillon with three Gold Bridges - Baselworld 2012

Boucheron certainly knows how to create exceptional timepieces and Girard-Perregaux is a master in mechanical movements.  This collection is all Boucheron and all Girard-Perregaux. The three gold bridges require no introduction to the world of horology, and is the signature Girard-perregaux movement. Boucheron's obsession with the animal kingdom is quite another story deeming Cartier animal imagery quite tame. Boucheron gathers inspiration from the beauty of nature incorporating animals, from frogs to elephants to hummingbirds, into many of its timepieces.  The result is breathtaking and ingenious.  Precious gems perfectly matched for color and clarity adorn the creations bringing them to life in stone. Often rare gems, sometimes unique to a single geographic location, are used.

The Boucheron Cypris Tourbillon with three gold bridges is one of Boucheron's latest editions to its glittering flock. The elegant head of the bird, so beautiful in nature now has an equally magnificent image set in diamond, sapphire and spinal. The bright orange beak is cut from onyx and coral. Girard Perregaux's three gold bridges with tourbillon power the watch. Each creation took 10 months to complete with a staggering 1300 hours of work.

Boucheron Hera Tourbillon Watch- 2011

The Boucheron Hera Tourbillon Watch displays plumage of fascinating shades of blue achieved with a blue sapphire hue and the intriguing neon blue copper bearing Paraibas tourmalines.  The Paraibas tourmalines is found to date in Brazil, Nigeria and Mozambique.  The dial is framed by a bezel of 53 diamonds from where the exquisite plumage of the white gold bracelet extends.   271 diamonds, 868 blue sapphires, 426 purple sapphires, 310 Paraibas tourmalines and a single blue sapphire cabochon surround the wrist in feathery splendor.  The  Boucheron Hera Tourbillon watch is powered by an automatic mechanical Girard-Perregaux GP 9700.0A movement. The bridges beneath which suspends a tourbillon is surrounded by a plate paved with 160 Paraibas tourmalines and 18 diamonds. The movement beating at rate of 21.600 vph.

Boucheron Ladyhawke Tourbillon-2010

The Boucheron Ladyhawke Tourbillion unveiled in 2010 is my absolute favorite.  The falcon  has a certain raw ferocity about it, which I find quite appealing. 25 carats of 833 multicolored or "dirty diamonds" on white gold create the plumage.  Lifelike talons and a sharped curved beak  guard over the GP movement. A lone ruby red eye glares at trespassers daring them to cross the line. This piece ,capable of sending cold shivers down ones spine, displays a powerful representation of  high end jewelry and watch craftsmanship.

In the past Boucheron has teamed up with MB & F creating quite an interesting timepiece.

Girard-Perregaux and The Quartz Scare

This newspaper advertisement from the Winnipeg Free Press, November 27th, 1972 and others like it almost brought the world of mechanical watch making to its knees. A Watch only less accurate than the sun itself is quite a statement. While reading this 40 year old article, I can sense the shudder that pervaded the Mechanical Watch World in the early 1970's when Quartz watches flooded the market, relatively cheaper and more accurate than their mechanical counterparts.

Girard-Perregaux Calibre 351 (1970's)

This thought was very much the same of many companies that became redundant due to modern technologies. Companies that made camera film for camera's, ribbons for typewriters, VHS , gas lanterns and carriages for horses.
The Mechanical Watch World thought their days were numbered, and truth be told the sales of Mechanical Watches plummeted. Less people learned the trade of Mechanical Watch Making as they saw no future in it. Companies like Blancpain became dormant shutting their doors and vowing emphatically never to produce a watch powered by quartz (To this day they still have not).
Other companies like Girard-Perregaux were not as gloomy, but on the contrary grabbed the Quartz Revolution by the horns, revamping its Research Development Department and becoming a major player in the Quartz Revolution.  In the early 1970's, the Girard-Perregaux Calibre 351, unveiled in 1969, was  mass produced and widely available.  It was relatively expensive, but the novelty of a watch, which required no winding and was only less accurate then the sun itself, boosted sales.

Girard-Perregaux Laureato (2010)

Today  Girard-Perreagux holds much pride in its Quartz Accomplishment. In January 2010,  the Girard-Perreaguax Laurateo (cost - $11,500) housing a GP 13500 quartz movement commemorated its 40 years in the quartz industry and the successful establishment of the quartz crystal's frequency of 32.768 hertz - a specification standard to all quartz calibers  today.
In fact Girard-Perregaux holds its quartz accomplishments in as great esteem as its iconic three gold bridges movement crafted over 100 years prior.  This year at the SIHH 2012, Girard-Perregaux joined these iconic milestones, separated by over 100 years, into a symbolic timepiece - the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Tourbillon with 3 spinal blue bridges.  The Original Girard- Perregaux Triple Gold Bridges was patented in March 1884, but developed in the 1860's.

Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon 3 Bridges (2012)

 The newest Laureauto Tourbillon is limited to 10 pieces and houses a automatic mechanical Girard-Perregaux 9600-0004 movement, within a 42.6 mm titanium case.  An octagonal platinum bezel add  bright bands of luster achieved by alternating  brushed and polished finishes accentuating the translucent blue of the clear spinal bridges. Spinals , a precious gem from the Corundum family, is the perfect material to use since the gem  requires very little treatment as  in nature they are flawless and transparent.   The clarity of the stone is a blue hued window to a tourbillon suspended beneath the bridge above the 6'o'clock position as well as mechanical components beneath the other bridges.  The transparent case back reveals the excellent mechanics in motion.  A rugged titanium bracelet fastened the timepiece securely to ones wrist.

So it seems that as a result of the inexpensiveness, accuracy, and sheer numbers of Quartz Watches available, Mechanical Watches would vanish from the modern world. It seemed The Mechanical Watch World was on the brink of extinction ,when the novelty of the Quartz watches began to fade, and slowly Mechanical Watches made a come back. Mechanical Watches now filled a different role of times past. Mechanical Watches filled the role of class, quality and centuries old tradition. True they are less effected by adverse temperatures, and can last longer if maintained , but it is not a competition between the two that can be tabulated. The two types of watches are very different, and it is in their difference that each will attain their place in the Watch World. Gerard-Perregaux found a place for Mechanical and Quartz Watches to exist in a harmonious balance. Excepting both and detracting from none. 

Girard-Perregaux Pays Tribute to JOHN "Longitude" HARRISON

Girard-Perregaux ww.tc John Harrison pays tribute to the monumental strides made by
JOHN "Longitude" HARRISON and his lifelong quest to find longitude.

A champlevé enamel dial displays John Harrison's son William's Atlantic Ocean route from Portsmouth, England, to Port Royal, Jamaica and back. This is the precise route traveled by John Harrison’s son William to test the reliability of the H-4 watch.
The incredible detail on the dial was achieved by first engraving the outline of the map on a plate of white gold and then filling it by hand with enamel in blue and varying shades of green. The dial is then baked in a 800°C furnace, cooled and subsequently polished. The route is silvered powder - silver being the choice of metal used in the making of pocket watches of that time. The dial is surrounded by a white ring displaying names of world cities in black and Portsmouth and Port Royal in blue. Skeletonized hands display the time. The GP caliber 033G0 automatic 41mm watch is crafted in 18k white gold. On the rotor, dates of the H4 sea voyage are engraved. The entire movement is visible via a sapphire crystal case back andaffixed to the watch with six screws.
Water resistant to 50 mm and having a power reserve of 46 hours, the 50 pieces limited edition Girard- Perregaux World Timer John Harrison timepiece is a wonderful tribute to a watchmaking genius who struggled to get the recognition he deserved for his great contributions made to timekeeping.

In 2008, I blogged about John Harrison in great detail, based on Dava Sobel's novel, and I am pleased to be able to refer back to the blog ...

Finding a precise timekeeping instrument was a matter of life and death.
Mans struggle to determine longitude spanning four centuries, fueled the inventions of precise timekeepers. Timepieces which lost time, lost men at sea, as they were unable to calculate their location and wandered among invisible lines of longitude weaving in and out of degrees.
The 1600's and 1700's were perilous. Fleets of ships' sent out by hungry sovereigns on world exploration and to trade silks and spices were unable to determine their location. Some found land, some were too late spilling their scurvy riddled sailors onto an unmarked shore, others wandered aimlessly 20 degrees off coarse, some sunk in dark unforgiving waters. On October 22, 1707, four British Men 'O War sank just off the Cornish Coast. 2000 men were lost. In 1714, The British Parliament , aggravated by this obviously needless catastrophe, passed the Longitude Act: £20,000 or in today's reckoning - £2.87 million would be awarded to anyone who could invent a way to determine the precise longitude of a ship's location to within less than one degree.
Click here to read my post The Longitude Act of 1714. The desperate struggle for precision. An in depth review of Dava Sobel's novel - LONGITUDE

Girard Perregaux Diamond Covered Cat's Eye Tourbillon

Girard Perregaux originally introduced the Cat's Eye movement to provide women with the pleasure of owning a mechanical timepiece with a complication. To me, the latest Girard Perregaux Cat's Eye Tourbillon Haute Joaillerie timepiece is the epitome of timekeeping perfection.
Now I don't usually salivate over watches - I mean not overtly, but just look at Girard-Perregaux latest Cat's Eye Movement smothered in diamonds broken only by a captivating tourbillon suspended beneath a signature Girard Perregaux bridge.

The case is crafted in 18k white gold, which serves as the ultimate backdrop to 20 carats of diamonds. The exceptional diamond paving design and Girard-Perregaux in-house caliber GP09700-0006 manually wound (not automatic) required 700 hours of intense work.
The gray satin strap compliments the alluring display of diamonds and is secured with a white gold buckle decorated with ... what else... diamonds.

Oh and the price... how could I forget. For $490,000 this beauty can be yours to covet.

Is My Zodiac Wrist Watch Missing a Sign?

It all depends who you ask, and the debate is rife, but will Girard-Perregaux have to do a little tweaking to its Womens Cat's Eye Movement Zodiac Watch? Will it have to squeeze a new sign between its Capricorn and Sagittarius depiction? Blame this astrological debate and horoscope catastrophe on the the astronomers from the Minnesota Planetarium Society. They have discovered ,as a result of a an earth "wobble" or the moon's gravitational pull on Earth, the alignment of the stars were pushed by about a month. So what does this mean?

It means your zodiac sign may have changed. Mine has.

I am (was) a Sagittarius. I have always been a Sagittarius and have identified with my sign, but now I am an ancient sign "Ophiuchus, the snake holder".

So if you are opening up the morning paper to scan your weekend horoscope, keep in mind you may not be who you think you are.

Check out the newly revised dates below:

Capricorn: Jan. 20-Feb. 16.
Aquarius: Feb. 16-March 11.
Pisces: March 11-April 18.
Aries: April 18-May 13.
Taurus: May 13-June 21.
Gemini: June 21-July 20.
Cancer: July 20-Aug. 10.
Leo: Aug. 10-Sept. 16.
Virgo: Sept. 16-Oct. 30.
Libra: Oct. 30-Nov. 23.
Scorpio: Nov. 23-29.
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29-Dec. 17.
Sagittarius: Dec. 17-Jan. 20.



Girard-Perregaux Cat's Eye Movement watches are powered by either the automatic mechanical GP033 L0 or the GP 033 R0 movement, which beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and has 32 rubies as well as 48 hours power reserve. In Cat's Eye Watches diamonds encircle the bezel proclaiming that although this watch has a complication it is still very much feminine. These watches are available with a gorgeous moon phase version with a smoky mother of pearl dial, and a date version with a power-reserve arc as well as a small seconds sub dial. A Tourbillon version is also available suspended beneath one gold bridge nestled in soft pink with a matching satin strap. This version has a 20 jeweled movements which beats at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and offers 75 hours of power reserve.

Girard -Perregaux Richeville Ladies Watch Collection Now at THE WATCHERY

Girard-Perregaux Richeville Ladies' Watch 18K Yellow Gold Blue Dial on Blue Satin Strap 

The Richville collection by Girard-Perregaux is especially noticeable by its elegantly contoured watch case. The smooth undulating lines compliment the shape of ones wrist and is readily noticeable as being a timepiece of the highest caliber.
The electric blue of the Richeville Ladies' Watch is on dial and strap where it is made from fine satin. In contrast to the blue is the bezel crafted from 18k yellow gold.

Girard-Perregaux has a long history spanning over 200 years. In 1791 Jean Francois Bautte opens a factory in Geneva which was later sold to a husband and wife team Constant Girard and Marie Perregaux in 1854. Two years later the company changed its name to Girard-Perregaux. It was in 1867, a pocket watch with a tourbillon and three gold bridges was introduced. This concept made its reappearance in 1991, in a wristwatch form.

Sotirio Bulgari Watch unveiled for Bvlgari 125th anniversary

Bvlgari is 125 years old, founded in 1884 in Rome. In celebration of this milestone, Bvlgari has released 125 limited edition watches honoring the brand's founder Sotirio Bulgari. Bvlgari Time S.A. is Bvlgari Swiss subsidiary dedicated to the Brand's Watch production.


The new limited edition Sotirio Bulgari Watch is available in either pink, yellow or white gold. The highly precise BVL 250 automatic mechanical movement is decorated with numerous polishes and finishes, and careful engravings on the gold rotor. The movement is approximately 3.73 mm thick and placed in a 42mm case. The rear of the case opens so that the stunning view of the decorated movement is visible. The front and the back of the watch is protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.


The partially skeletonized aregente dial is a wonderful array of exquisite shapes. The hour markers are carefully hand applied. The gold hands are faceted adding to the splendour of the dial. Bvlgari timepiece is a exciting blend of long standing tradition and cutting edge design, bridging the past, present and future.

Girard-Perregaux Heritage Vintage 1945

Girard-Perregaux unveils its Heritage Vintage 1945 timepiece against the image of the Chrysler Building. An icon of Art Deco. This watch has been designed according to the principles of Art Deco. Click here to discover Art Derco's influence on watches.

Girard-Perregaux has added to its popular 1945 collection. At 32mm x 32mm this watch seems somewhat smaller among today's larger models; however, its perfect balance and gentle colors exude a sense of harmony. On the four corners of the watch case are small ledges called godrons. The godrons warp around the corners adding to the art deco geometric aspect of the watch. Although the case is small its movement is intensely accurate: The Mechanical with automatic winding GP3300. With a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, 28 jewels and 46 hours minimum power reserve, the movement can be viewed via a sapphire crystal case back.
The dial is rich in design, materials and color. The pink gold dauphine hands indicate to applied pink gold hour markers. The date is between the 1 and 2 o'clock and the subsidiary seconds dial is centered above the 9'o clock. The watch exudes an expression of distinction and worth.

Girard-Perregaux and its Cat's Eyes

In 2004, Girard Perregaux launched the Cat's Eye line of Luxury Watches. Putting a strong emphasis on its women's collection, Girard Perregaux developed this line placing a small complication within each watch. The watches are quite beautiful, either housed in a horizontal or vertical oval case shaped ,and as you might already have suspected, like a cat's eye. This watch collection has so inspired the World of Luxury Watches that in 2005 the Girard-Perregaux Cat's Eye Collection won an award in China.

Girard-Perregaux Cat's Eye Automatic Ladies' Watch 18K White Gold Pink Mother-of-Pearl Dial Diamond Bezel on Pink Strap

Cat's Eye watches are powered by either the automatic mechanical GP033 L0 or the GP 033 R0 movement, which beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and has 32 rubies as well as 48 hours power reserve. In Cat's Eye Watches diamonds encircle the bezel proclaiming that although this watch has a complication it is still very much feminine. These watches are available with a gorgeous moon phase version with a smoky mother of pearl dial, and a date version with a power-reserve arc as well as a small seconds sub dial. A Tourbillon version is also available suspended beneath one gold bridge nestled in soft pink with a matching satin strap. This version has a 20 jeweled movements which beats at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and offers 75 hours of power reserve.
These watches are truly an investment. Girard-Perregaux are building upon this line with more remarkable an innovative timepieces.




Girard Perregaux has just unveiled a watch. A Luxury Watch that surely would steer the conversation away from those sordid secrets told over cucumber sandwiches and delicately buttered scones. How about the ...

Girard Perregaux Cat's Eye Annual and Zodiac Calender Watch.

"Brilliant. Just Brilliant," I say.

Now how many times have you asked someone, "So what sign are you?" thinking that all this odd behavior can be explained by being a Sagittarius or a Leo. I love this watch it so feminine and so right. Like giving a man a watch with his current stock portfolio updates (if they haven't come up with that yet) The watch itself is mysterious like a palm readers circus tent with a diamond studded star. Gerard-Perregaux utilizes the Horizontal oval case with hazy mother-of-pearl dial, and encircled upon the bezel by 68 diamonds. The watch beats to a GP033 automatic mechanical movement to display the time with seconds and date at the 9:00 and between the 12:00 and 3:00 position respectively. The moon phase is just below the bottom center of the watch. At the bottom like a crooked smile is zodiac indicator with wonderful illustrated depictions of each sign. The case is 35.25mm wide by 30.25 tall. The rear of the watch is comprised of clear sapphire crystal so that one can view the exceptional movement that has kept Gerard Perregaux watches ticking since 1791.


It is late and I need to prep for my New Years Resolution (going to bed at a somewhat reasonable time) however I grit my teeth as I really must blog about the other incredible Girard-Perregaux Cat's Eye movement. The Cat's Eye Haute Joaillerie Watch simply smothered in diamonds. Once in a while a Watch Company presents its favorite collection in diamonds. So how many diamonds can fit on a Girard-Perregaux Cat's Eye Movement?
394 baguette diamonds weighing (breath in) 52 carats (okay you can breath out now) itemized as follows:
Oval Case: 87 baguette diamonds weighing 7.5 carats.
Crown: 5 baguette diamonds weighing .1 carat.
Dial: 98 baguette diamonds weighing 6.5 carats.
Bracelet: 204 baguette diamonds weighing 38 carats.

The GP033 automatic movement is visible via the Sapphire crystal case back and beating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations. The bridges are engraved with the Seal of Geneva or Cotes de Geneve. The surface of the 18k winding rotor is pave-set with 145 round brilliants, weighing .35 carat. The watch has a 46 hour power reserve.
This watch is available in very limited editions.

However when one purchases this watch one has to bare in mind all the hours of meticoulous labor that was required to craft this elegant timepiece. 1200 hours of highly skilled watchmaking experts working in over 10 workshops.

Girard-Perregaux has a long watch history; history Girard Perregaux makes everyday.

This blog is a Luxury Watch Treasure Trove.

In case you were confused by the word "Luxury" this watch will re clarify the concept. Chopard (Founded in 1860) sells a Super Ice Cube Luxury Watch. Retail $1,130,620. Take your Tourbillons - give me diamonds - lots and lots. 66.16 carats of diamonds including 1,897 brilliants, 288 trapeze-cuts, and a center case glimmering with 16 squares. The watch is subtly pretentious and overtly glamorous. Chopard offers over fifty variations on the "Ice Cube" from black diamonds to pastel sapphires to rubies. Chopard is renowned for its incredible "gem sense" in that every hand picked gem is placed on the watch in perfect harmony and balance.
This next watch is a Blancpain 1735 - Blancpain was founded in 1735 and this watch was named for the year. At first glance this Luxury Watch worth about One Million Dollars seems quite humble; however this watch has 6 individual complications. Two more than necessary to qualify as a "Grand Complication". The 6 Complications are compacted in an ultra slim 42 mm case which in itself can almost be deemed a complication. The Blancpain 1735 is equipped with:
a) A Perpetual Calander making allowances for different lengths of month as well as leap years till the year 2100.
b) Split-second chronograph or "rattrapante" which has two second hands, one of which can be blocked with a special dial train lever to indicate an intermediate time while the other continues to run. When released, the split-seconds hand jumps ahead to the position of the other second hand.
c)Minute repeater which has a striking mechanism with hammers and gongs for sounding the hours or quarter hours at the will of the wearer. The wearer pushes a slide which winds the spring. Most Repeaters use two different gongs to signal hours (low tone), quarters hours (high and low tones in succession), and minutes (high tone).
d) Tourbillon - said to compensate for the interference of gravity on the watch thus improving the watches accuracy, From the French word "whirlwind", in the Tourbillon the entire escapement escapement is mounted on a epicyclic train in a cage and rotated completely on its axis over a regular period of time, usually once a minute. A tourbillon is valued more for its superb horological craftsmanship than its actual functional abilities.
e) Moon-phase minder which displays the phases of the moon.

The streamlined case encapsulates 740 components that takes eight to ten months to build. This timepiece collection is limited to 30 watches. Crocodile Strap and 80 hour power reserve, what more could you ask for.
Hublot does everything big. The materials under the diamonds are invisible giving a perfect shimmer to the watch. The "Big Bang Chronograph" with a heart throbbing tourbillon is worth One Million Dollars.

The following three watches have yet to be priced, but my guess is it is going to be quite high and they add quite nicely to my treasure trove of watches blog.

This sleek bracelet is more bracelet than watch but since it is a Jaeger-LeCoultre creation the tiny watch nestled between the gleaming squares is a mechanical masterpiece of fine watch craftmanship. No price quoted as of yet for this Joaillerie 101 Manchette stunning timepiece.
This watch is the Tag Heuer Fantasy where for the first time the diamonds tell the time. There is no one other than Tag Heuer themselves to explain how this marvelous space age watch operates:

This luxury watch set with 879 Top Wesselton (5.8 carats) VS/SI (1.1 mm), full-cut, diamonds hides a surprising innovation: the digital display through the diamonds. 54 of the 879 diamonds have been cut in a revolutionary way to provide a very high-definition concentration of the light emitted by 54 LEDs (light emitting diodes) that display the time in glowing red. The red is echoed in the satin strap that gives a warm and silky look contrasting with the brilliance of the multiple diamonds.

There you have it and the price is inestimable as only three of these watches have been crafted. Quite mind-boggling that a creation like this has been limited to but three.
Diamond Rotolog Watch. Crafted by Watch Manufacturer Nixon. Interesting no doubt. I kind of cannot wrap my mind around it. This watch is studded with 1,851 diamonds - 764 full cut white diamonds while the remaining ones are full cut black diamonds, bringing the total number of carats to 9.25 carats.By this time I expect you to be salivating at the sight of all these luxurious items. I was going to sign off but Corum's Classical Billionaire Tourbillon kept on surfacing above my subconscious. Retailing at around a Million Dollars - Okay $998,000. A spectacular time-piece with a white gold case set with baguette diamond bezel, transparent dial and a stunningly blue alligator strap. The watch is a manual winding tourbillon with sapphire bridges. A 90 day power reserve with a 2007 limited production of 10 pieces.

A watch like this comes up for sale only once in a lifetime like a fleeting comet. The Girard-Perregaux Opera One. This luxury timepiece has no dial hiding the craftsmanship. The watch has three bridges, a tourbillon and a minute repeater sounding a Westminster Chime.

Imagine wearing one of these beauties on your wrist.

The Rare Girard-Perregaux's Masterpiece, the Opera One Three Bridges Without a Dial

Girard-Perregaux has sculpted a watch so exquisite, movement so precise that a dial will only hide the complications. Visible to the eye are three gold bridges and the tourbillon, usually placed on the underside of the Watch. Gently surrounded by its richly hued rose gold case, this Watch is a symphony of three monumental watch making inventions crafted with intense precision by Girard Perregaux.

The Tourbillon, invented in 1795 by Abraham-Louis Breguet. A Tourbillon is a regulating device that compensate the effects of gravity on a mechanical watch. The Tourbillon was originally developed for a pocket watch that spent most of the time in a vertical position and then read in a horizontal position. In the vertical position the balance, balance spring and escapement undergo slight errors of rate with each oscillation as a result of gravity. Abraham-Louis Breguet placed the entire regulating mechanism in a cage which rotates on its own axis , generally once a minute in a variety of vertical positions . Jean Breguet's words regarding the Tourbillon regulator (as it was called) " With the aid of this invention, I have been able to compensate for the anomalies caused by shifts in the center of gravity of the escapement and obtain even friction on all pivots and bearings.

Today most do not buy the Tourbillon for its ability to compensate the force of gravity, but for its hypnotic artistry. The earliest and most artistically riveting adaption of the Tourbillon principle was crafted by Constant Girard Perregaux in 1867: the Tourbillon Sous Trois Points d'Or or Tourbillon Under 3 gold bridges crafted for his pocket chronometers. The Opera One Watch is crafted with this technique, its warm gold bold bridges wash the watch in a bold luster like still shapes beneath the waves.

It is a wonder that a perfect design like The Tourbillon Under 3 gold bridges was crafted in 1867 and then was dormant for 115 years. In 1982 the design was revived in pocket watches, after the company limped back from the effects of the quartz epidemic. The design was then adapted for wristwatches in 1991 to commemorate Girard Perregeaux 200th birthday. Only a limited amount of these watches are released by Girard-Perregaux as the tradition of perfection has not wavered in the last 200 years. Reviving the Tourbillon under three bridges was not an easy task, as engineers at Girard Perrregaux had to scrutinize original models of the three bridge watches, and then determine what precise tools were used to craft the pocket chronometers of 1867. The tools of then were unique to the cause, and thus in creating the wrist watch version of the three bridges, new tools were made and numerous hours of research were done in order to create a perfect miniature adaption of the original piece. However, the design engineers decided to invert the mechanism prior to installing it in a wristwatch case so that the perfect craftsmanship of the 3 gold bridges, and the tourbillon cage could be visible on the dial side of the watch.

In this watch the solid gold bridges, and tourbillon are prominently displayed through the dial. The simple yet perfect placement of the watch hands emphasize the exceptional beauty of the watch.

If the above is not enough to mark this watch as a unique masterpiece, this watch is crafted with a minute repeater. A minute repeater in itself is a complex complication which features a carillon striking work that imitates the bells that chime at Westminster Cathedral in London. On demand, this watch can sound the hours, minutes and even seconds in four different bells, enabling the combination of four different notes.

In addition this watch has a 72 hour power reserve.

Girard- Perregaux Vintage 1945

Girard-Perregaux is intertwined in the history of watches. Upon researching the history of watchmaking from the time ships wandered aimlessly on the ocean looking at the stars for direction and a sundial for time to complications such as a Tourbillon under three bridges, Gerard- Perregaux name kept coming up page after page. It is no wonder as Girard-Perregaux was founded in 1791. Girard Perregaux was held in high regard by the Queen of England, Victoria and by the courts in Europe. Two centuries later, in 1991 Girard-Perregaux, celebrated its 200 birthday. With over 200 years of watchmaking experience, precision and craftsmanship, Girard Perregaux is one of the watchmaking leaders of all times.

Girard-Perregaux has a wealth of unique designs, like the 1945 line, reintroduced in 1995. The Vintage 1945. The Vintage 1945 is recognizable by its sleek curved rectangular case and retro design. Another feature of this collection is a unique placement of the column wheel chronograph movement - beneath the dial rather than beneath the usual placement, under the rotor.
The Vintage 1945 collection encompasses Luxury Watches with many different complications, such as the minute repeater, turbillon, perpetual calender and chronograph.