Introduction to the Watch Watchers Watch Blog

I am eager to continue blogging about luxury watches. Although this is my first post on this blog, this is by no means my first ever luxury watch blog. I have blogged for the past 3 years about luxury watches and I will continue to do so without a particular affiliation to any watch company.

I hope to accomplish many things through this blog.

• Dig up some long forgotten watch history - such as the time Harry Winston went rummaging through the garbage to find a lost gem or the Santos-Dumont story.
  
• Review cutting edge watch materials and watch movements.
• Describe new watch designs.
• Watch companies as time keepers of sporting events.
• Who's wearing what watch.
• Watch competitions and the winners.
• Watch Fairs like Baselworld and SIHH.
• Descriptions of Watch Movements such as the tourbillon, minute repeater, sonnerie, perpetual calender, chronograph and astronomical measurements.
• Weird watches
  
• Weird Watch stories (which I hope will be taken with a grain of salt)
• Important Watch Maintenance Techniques
  
• and so much more.

Please follow my blog and add comments.

Piaget Black Tie

Piaget's Black Tie Collection defines elegance and exceptional craftsmanship. Among them is the Piaget Emperador Coussin Regulator which I have blogged about in much detail; however, I cannot turn my back on the Black Tie collection thinking that I have blogged about one watch in the collection, and now can march off to other domains.


Another heart stopping beauty is the Piaget Emperador Cushion Watch presenting an exceptionally accurate moon phase indicator, with only a one day difference in 122 years.
... and presenting Piaget's Millionth Watch,

Piaget Emperador Tourbillon Skeleton Luxury Timepiece boasts the Worlds Thinnest Tourbillon. A mere 3.5mm thick, the tourbillon ensures that any slight time tracking discrepancy due to the force of gravity is annihilated. Then again the lightness and transparency of the skeleton 600p mechanical skeleton tourbillon movement seems to defy gravity. Softened angles and streamlined case is elegantly aristocratic. By far one of Piaget's finest. The Piaget Emperador Timepiece is also available encrusted with diamonds making this particular timepiece the world's only gem-set skeleton tourbillon.

Piaget's timepieces are among the top watch brands mendaciously crafting watches since 1874. The tradition of watchmaking is bound to the very essence of Piaget, so much so that every timepiece is crafted with exceptional care and meticulous precision. In addition, Piaget keeps up with today's technological advancements. Piaget has launched a touch screen version of its website, so users of the iPad and iphone can easily navigate Piaget's website.

Artya Bone Chilling Halloween Watches

Artya Halloween Special Collection Masks of Evil Watch sends chills down my spine. The bezel has been slashed like wounds on skin. On the dial a screaming deathly white skull appears from a slithering blackness as the time is marked in red razor sharp hour markers. The strap is a “Crazy frog” tanned toad skin. The watch is automatic mechanical movements with water resistance of 50 meters.

" Scared of spiders little one?", the evil green monster says through a row of pin like teeth. It is waving Artya's spider watch. Green blisters bubble, pop and ooze a thick yellowy goo from a leathery outstretched feeler.
The dial can send one with arachnophobia running for cover as the corpse of a real spider lies among cleverly crafted rubble of a long forgotten world. The battered bezel is emblazoned with demons. Hauntingly artistic, the watch has been subjected to 17 different artistic techniques to resemble that lone artifact to survive "the day after tomorrow".

As far as Halloween watches go, these two watches are about as unsettling as you can get. No candid shots at horror. These watches are the real deal.

Artya - Unbridled Watchmaking Creativity Unleashes Mezmerizing Watch Creations

Artya Tesla Squelette Quadri-Rotor Watches are quite different in a cool artsy way. Kind of like those sculptures designed from useless left over electronic junk and stuff, and believe me with all those new improved gizmos and gadgets out there and disdain for older models and styles, there are plenty more from where these electronic "has beens" came from. Artya vision is to merge contemporary art and watch making whilst employing unbridled creativity.
As Artya's brain child and watch making wizard, Yvan Arapa says " “Imagination running wild leads the artist, and the watchmaker has no choice but to follow”.
Yvan Arpa knows a thing or two about being quite unique. He is responsible for Romaine Jerome's DNA of Legends. He was the managing director of Romaine Jerome for just a short while and in that time he unveiled watches comprising of steel from the Titanic, dust from the moon and no time. Yes! The day and night watch told no time.
Now his passion is Artya ,Yvan Arpa being the founder and owner, and just by looking at these watches one can see his creativity bursting forth in even greater abundance.
The new Artya Tesla Squelette Quadri-Rotor are a mixture of mechanical and electronics. I would say the watch is a completely automatic mechanical Swiss ETA movement, but then you would indicate that there are some capacitors and wires and coils and such and such and these electronic components are right there on the dial, not even covered up by a steel case. Then I would have to acquiesce, as you are right. The mechanical watch does have some electronic components which serve an artistic function quite different from the electrical function making this watch collection excruciatingly unique.
The strap is well ... toad skin. Just in case you were thinking the strap was the usual plain jane leather. The 47mm case is steel and chemically colored and zapped. Yes! Zapped. The cases are shocked with some sort of lightning produced by the Tesla coils and end up looking like they weathered a mighty storm.
I wonder what next Artya has in store for the watchmaking world.

10 Year Anniversary of de GRISIGONO's first Collection

At, Baselworld 2000 we were spoiled to the sighting of the first de GRISOGONO collection : Instrumento N°Uno. Now unmistakable by its sleek bold design. In commemoration of this, Fawaz Gruosi, founder and chairman of de GRISOGONO, has unveiled a trendy colorful take on its original collection. A vibrant aquamarine watch band fashioned from Galuchat, shark or stingray skin first used in luxury watch making by de GRISIGONO, compliments the matching hour numerals and the elegant band of paraiba tourmalines (aquamarine gems).
If you notice the watch band is bumpy - these bumps are calcified papillae called "placoid scales otherwise known as Denticles and are small outgrowths which cover the skin of many cartilaginous fish such as sharks and sting rays. In watch straps the placoid scales are polished down until the denticles are rounded and pearl like.
De Grisogono has taken the natural texture of the Galuchat and enhanced it with exceptional colors and polishing, creating a timepiece where the strap commands as much attention as the watch.
The iconic Instrumento N°Uno dial sports a a dual time zone display and a large date display in the 7:35 position. Beneath the sleek dial lies a premium automatic movement.
Once again, de GRISIGONO has swept watch lovers off their feet in another remarkable vision of perfection.

Richard Mille and Tennis Champion Rafael Nadel Launches the Tourbillon RM027 - One of the Lightest Watches Ever.

Back in May, Richard Mille celebrated the partnership with 24 year old Tennis Champion Rafael Nadel with the Launch of the Tourbillon Watch RM 027. Wimbledon begins tomorrow and Rafael Nadel will enter the court wearing the RM 027.
In regard to his partnership Rafael said,
"It is an honor for me that someone like Richard has chosen me as one of his ambassadors. Since the moment we met there was a special feeling. I know that has worked very hard to create this special watch. I am honored and I am sure it will be a special and successful partnership."

Weighing in at just 20g (without the lightweight strap) the RM 027 is specially designed so as not to add any extra weight to Rafael's wrist. Thus the RM027 has achieved a remarkable feat of becoming one of the lightest watches ever produced.


The watch is equipped with a tourbillon, in invented in 1795 by French watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet, a century after Newton defined gravity. Breguet reasoned that as a result of the constant position of the vertical position of the pocket watch, the balance spring is confounded by the effect of gravity effecting the accuracy of the watch. This error could be compensated with a tourbillion whereby the escapement, balance wheel, and balance spring is placed in a rotating carriage which turns once per minute on its own axis. It seems not only does the tourbillon defy the effects of gravity, but the watch as well, by weighing a mere 20 grams.
Richard Mille reduced the weight with absolutely no reduction of efficiency and accuracy. Richard Mille worked in close collaboration with Rafael Nadel while developing the RM 027. During his training sessions, Rafael wore the RM027 testing its weight and accuracy and will now wear it to his tennis matches.

This watch is a break through design on may levels: First, I have always advised not to wear a luxury watch during high impact sports like tennis ,where the wrist makes abrupt extreme movements, as the movement may not be able to withstand the shock and thereby become damaged; however the RM027 is super shock absorbent and the movement not be damaged during the match.

Secondly, the watch is extremely lightweight even with the tourbillon complication.

A remarkable design, and what better man to wear the watch than Rafael Nadel, who has won the French open, his fifth title in six years at Roland Garros and who is overtaking long time Tennis great, 29 year old Roger Federer. Nadal has beaten Federer 14 of the 21 times they have met, including six of the last seven matches. Although Federer has a long list of tennis victories, it seems Nadel has just begun to warm up, and 2010 Wimbledon is the perfect arena to achieve greatness.
The RM027 is Richard Mille's victory, and the perfect companion to a competitor striving for the Wimbledon title.

Listen Up FIFA! The First Watch Movement to Measure Football Time

Amid the zzzzizzing (Yes I know its not a word!) from the vuvuzelas, crowds pack Soccer City and other stadiums beneath the glorious electric blue of the South African sky to witness soccer history - FIFA World Cup 2010.
Although it is Hublot, who is the official timekeeper of the FIFA World Cup 2010, it is Ebel who has crafted the only watch specifically designed for the sport. Ebel has created the first proprietary movement to track football match time. The in-house caliber 245 chronograph movement measures match half times and code named "245" standing for 2 times 45 minutes - even capable of tracking over time. A large 45 minute counter situated at the 12 'o'clock position measures elapsed time while the small disc at the 6 'o'clock position displays hours in periods of 45 minutes. The revolutionary football movement will be housed in Ebel's 1911 Tekton case A signature football shaped oscillating weight is personalized with the football clubs insignia will be viewable via a scratch resistant sapphire crystal case-back as well as the number of the watch in its limited division. The skeleton construction ; alternating satin brushed and polished finishing plus chamfering present a timepiece that is both sporty and elegant. A combination most often hard to achieve. Ebel is passionate about football and is devoted to achieve the honor of becoming the official timing partner of a leading football team in each major market in Europe.

Ebel will be quite selective, only including successful, admired and prestigious football clubs. The creme de le creme of soccer. As in timekeeping, Ebel is looking for teams unparalleled excellence. To date Ebel has already chosen six clubs and in their honor has crafted watches representing their name. All Watches sport a Automatic COSC certified Ebel Calibre 245 movement housed in a 48.50mm case. The Dial is protected by a scratch resistant sapphire crystal with anti reflective treatment on both sides, thus if the sun is high over the stadium one can still view the dial without the sun reflecting off the crystal.

1) Rangers Football Club or "Light Blues" a Scottish premier Club- won more major trophies than any other football club in the world.
Home Turf: Ibrox Stadium, Glascow Scotland.
Distinctive Rangers Watch Features: Dial is Silver Skeleton baring 12 applied indexes. The band is deep blue alligator with white stitching matching the blue and white colors of the club. Limited Edition of 150 pieces.

2) Real Madrid Club de Fútbol or better knows as just Real Madrid is the most successful team in Spanish Football and was voted by FIFA as being the most successful club of the 20th century having won a record 31 La Liga titles, 17 Spanish "Copa del Ray" Cups, eight Spanish Supercups, one Eva Duarte Cup, a record nine European Cups, two UEFA Cups, one UEFA Supercup, three Intercontinental Cups. It is little wonder why Ebel has added Real Madrid to its repertoire of outstanding football clubs.

Distinctive Real Madrid Watch Features include a brushed titanium case with singly piece crystal/bezel construction. Dial is black skeleton with 12 applied indexes. Black alligator band with gray stitching. Limited edition of 500 pieces. Yellow, white, blue accents on the dial matches the colors of the clubs crest.
3) Arsenals Football Club or if you prefer "The Gunners" based in Holloway, North London plays in premier league and is recognized as one of the most successful clubs in English Football winning 13 first division Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups and achieving the feat of holding the record for the longest uninterrupted period in the English top flight and are the only side to have completed a Premier League season unbeaten.
Arsenals Distinctive Watch Features: Case Material is Stainless Steel with a band of deep blue with white stitching. The silver skeleton dial has 12 applied indexes. This watch too has anti reflective treatment on both sides of its sapphire crystal. The colors on the watch reflect the gold, red and blue of "The Gunners" crest. Limited edition of 350 pieces.

4) Olympique Lyonnais sometimes refereed to as just OL is a Fench Football club based in Lyon. and is one of the most popular football clubs in France. Not surprisingly it is also one of the most successful, the 21st century being. In 2002, the club won their first ever Ligue 1 championship, which began a national record-breaking streak of seven successive titles. Lyon has also won a record 7 Trophee des Champions, four Coupe de France totles and 3 Ligue 2 Championships as well as many other successes doing better in the 21st Century than ever before. The watch Ebel has chosen to represent this Football Club sports a Titanium and black coated steel case; black alligator band with blue lining and blue stitching, sapphire crystal with the anti reflective treatment. The blue, red and white accentuations represent the colors of the French Flag, the colors on the logo, and the teams colors. Limited to 250 pieces.

5) FC Bayern Munich or better known in Germany as: Fußball-Club Bayern München). It is a highly successful German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is the most successful club in German football, having won 22 German titles and no less than 15 cups.
Distinctive FC Bayern Munich watch features include an attractive sporty techno fiber band; black steel case, black skeleton dial with 12 applied indexes and anti reflective treatment on both sides of the sapphire crystal. The complete black of the watch represents the Clubs "away colors"

6) Ajax - Amsterdamsche Football Club - is the professional football club from Holland, Netherlands. Ajax is a remarkable success story- a two time winner of the FIFA Club World Cup; 4 time European Cup Winner; Ajax is historically one of the most successful clubs of the world; according to the IFFHS, Ajax were the seventh most successful European club of the 20th century. The club is one of the five teams that has earned the right to keep the European Cup and to don a multiple-winner badge.
Distinctive Ajax watch features a black techno fiber band with white stitching, silver skeleton dial accentuated with red and black representing both the "home" and "away" colors of the team as well as the colors of the club logo which depicts of the Greek hero Ajax drawn with a mere eleven lines to symbolize the eleven players of a football team.
The watch is only available in a limited edition of 150 pieces.