Ritmo Mundo Puzzling Timekeeping to Hide Time

Don't be surprise if Ritmo Mundo timepiece brings sudden flashes of childhood party bags and sticky fingers. This is probably due to the fact that Ritmo Mundo fashioned its sliding puzzle watch after the party bag game.  The game slides in and out of a sleeve masking or displaying the watch face. In addition the actual "game" is functional.   The sliding puzzle watches typically sell for $5,500.00 and up depending on the model.
 The Puzzle timepiece ,unveiled in 2010, is a signature Ritmo Mundo timepiece.  The company has added to the Puzzle collection in different color combinations and gem encrustation.  

What is the inspiration for this timepiece?  President and Founder of Ritmo Mundo, Ali Soltani,  found inspiration in architecture "and by the limits which they can be joined" and of course the childhood sliding puzzles.
Timepieces manufactured by California based Ritmo Mundo  have a trendy fashionable appeal with  unique designs making them attractively distinct.  The timepieces exude a definite bold flair influenced by its Italian Origin. Being Beverly Hill based, Ritmo Mundo has attracted a host of celebrities who once hooked become instantly "Ritmotized" - the companies name for it. The string of celebrities donning a Ritmo Mundo timepiece range from Terry 'O Quinn of "LOST" fame to Sylvestor Stylone and Samuel L. Jackson.  Tyra Banks known for her excellent taste in attire wears one too. Ritmo Mundo has licensing agreements with many HBO award winning series like "Entourage" and "Sex and the City".

Beneath all the glitz and glamor of the timepiece beats a very good movement.

The watch is equipped with a Swiss Sellita SW 200 Automatic movement, which by all means is as good as an ETA movement. Sellita is an independent company  founded in 1950  which exclusively assembles Swiss made mechanical watch movements. In 2003,  Sellita decided to develop and produce there own mechanical movements.   The SW 200 was the first movement introduced to the market with excellent results.   Watch companies who want watch movements comparable to the precision and efficiency of ETA movements use Sellita movements. Since 2010, Swatch group, for the most part, has slowed the supply of complete  ETA movements to watch companies not owned by the Swatch Group making it impossible for small privately owned watch companies outside of the Swatch Group to purchase an ETA movement. The Sellita is almost a copy of the ETA 2824.  The main difference is that it has not been around nearly as long as the ETA 2824 and thus has not been naturally tested for longevity.
 ETA has contracted Sellita to make  their movements under the ETA brand. So one may actually be wearing an ETA movement assembled by Sellita. 
Many companies avoid the movement debate by simply stating the movement is Swiss made; however Ritmo Mundo clearly states that the movement within its Ritmo Mundo sliding puzzle is a Swiss Selita SW 200.

Ritmo Mundo uses Sapphire crystal to protect the dial.  An absolute must for watches in this price range.  One must raise an eyebrow to any watch over $500, which uses mineral crystal instead of sapphire crystal.  Sapphire crystal is still the best glass to protect the watch face - its hardness and scratch resistance only  bettered by diamond.

In just 10 years, Ritmo Mundo has achieved great strides in contributing to the watch industry.  One of its most intriguing collection is the Persepolis Automatic Collection which demands a blog of its own; however my own childhood memories of sliding puzzle games fueled by desire to blog about the RITMO MUNDO PUZZLE first.

Bubba Watson Win a Big Boost for Richard Mille

Richard Mille couldn't have chosen a better ambassador than Bubba Watson.  They even went as far as producing a $525,000  RM038 Bubba Watson Watch which  accompanies  him on many  golfing tournaments.

Richard Mille's absolute faith in its choice of golfing ambassador paid off in a big way.  The former golfing underdog, who was  relatively unknown to non-golfers became an instant celebrity in his latest victory over South African Louis Oosthuizen in a dramatic playoff at the 76th Masters.
With this victory Bubba Watson has become an instants celebrity and a "marketers dream." - (Forbes) "Bubba Watson was a bettor's dream" ( USA today).  And a bettor's dream it was for Richard Mille.  Now the limited number of 38 RM 038 ultra light tourbillon Bubba Watson timepieces and all Richard Mille's creations will attract a much wider interest.

Bubba Watson's RM 038 crafted from ultra light-weight tough magnesium-aluminum alloy or AZ91 is a tad heavier than Richard Mille Ambassador and tennis great Rafael Nadel's RM 037 weighing in a just 18 grams and crafted from titanium and lithium alloy. The feature focus on the Bubba Watson Watch is the incredible shock resistance capability in a watch sporting a manually wound tourbillon movement.  The incredible skeletonized structure of the timepiece emphasizes Richard Mille's advanced mechanical expertise and commitment to resilience and timekeeping precision.

Omega's Olympic London 2012 Collection

The Amirillo Sunday News, July 25th, 1948

The Olympics will be back in London come summer 2012 and   Omega will be timing the games for the 25th year.  To commemorate Omega's 80th year as the Olympic Games official Timekeeper, Omega launched an Olympic Collection London 2012.

Three versions of the   Olympic London 2012 Seamaster co-axial chronometer watches are available.

The most sporty looking of the three is a Seamaster chronograph timepiece with a steel case and bracelet surrounding a blue dial priced at  $7,600. The Olympic Logo is emblazoned in steel on the case back.

The second chronograph timepiece is more classical in design. A red gold case and blue dial and strap - currently the most trendiest  color combination. This Seamaster features a transparent case-back revealing its movement.

The third watch is an OMEGA Seamaster 1948 Co-Axial “London 2012″ in steel with a solid yellow gold case back sporting the logo of the  London Olympics 2012.  This watch is priced at $6,800.  This watch is limited to 1948 pieces, representing the last year the Olympics were in London and the  year the Omega Seamaster was launched. The watch is powered by a highly efficient Automatic Caliber 2202, sporting a Co-Axial Escapement for optimum precision and durability.  A silver dial with an hour minute and small seconds sub-dial at the 6 'o'clock is the most formal watch of the three.  A black leather strap is sealed by a matching polished steel buckle.  The Omega Seamaster 1948 is water resistant to 120 meters and is capable of a 48 hour power reserve.




 
At the heart of the first two watches is an Omega 3313 self-winding chronograph movement with a highly efficient column wheel mechanism and Co-axial Escapement ensuring maximum precision. The watches harbor a free sprung balance and display a date,hour,minute and continuous small seconds hand.  A central chronograph hand ensures reliable timing of the races.

Both the Chronograph watches are equipped with a crown which screws into the tube of the case and  locks.  This feature maximizes the water resistancy of the watch to 500 meters.

 

Omega has opted to utilize an outside source to ensure maximum performance, efficiency, precision and reliability ,even in adverse conditions, by having the movement tested by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres or Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute. (COSC).  The movement undergoes a battery of rigorous tests in order to achieve the status of chronometer.  After Rolex, Omega is one of the companies which submit the largest amounts of movements to be tested by the COSC.  As an added precaution of authenticity, a serial number ,officially certifying the movement as a chronometer, is engraved into the movement.

The dial of the watches are protected by a domed scratch resistant Sapphire crystal treated with an anti-reflective coating enabling maximum read out against the glare of the sun.

 Omega is the Official Timekeepers at the Olympic Games and has been since Los Angeles 1932 Olympic Games and the 1936 Olympic Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany -  when a single Omega technician came to the games hauling 27 stopwatches. In the intervening years , from then till now, Omega's expertise in Olympic timekeeping has increased dramatically.
In this years Olympics all eyes will be on 26 year old Omega Ambassador Swimmer Legend Micheal Phelps winner of no less than 14 gold medals and 2 bronze with Omega timing his progression stroke by stroke.

As far as efficiency, durability and precision goes, these watches are the complete package.  All three timepieces attract  different tastes for different occasions. 

Purchasing a watch commemorating an event adds a collectible quality to the timepiece especially if  manufactured in limited editions.

The Beauty of Blancpain's Villeret Collection

One of the most beautiful luxury watches available is the newest addition to the Blancpain Villeret Collection.  The watch exudes a distinction of excellence. Immediately noticed! Immediately understand! From a company which never manufactured a Quartz Watch.- Read a Luxury Watch Company that Never Went Quartz

Elegant hands sweep across an exquisite blue  flinqué lacquered dial. The endless deep blue like the sky on a still night is created by multiple applications of translucent blue lacquer.  The Arabic Numeral days of the month are indicated by a serpentine hand - its name derived from the shape of a snake. The hours are marked by Roman Numeral.  A extra elongated minute hand ensures precision time display. A retrograde second hand is situated at the 6 'o'clock. A new in-house automatic ultra slim (only 4.57mm) Blancpain Calibre 7663Q is housed within a white gold case. Comprising of 244 components and 34 jewels, the movement has the capacity for a 72 hour power reserve.
 An under lug corrector for  fast date adjustment is very discretely placed at the 5 'o'clock position.
A Sapphire Crystal scratch resistant case-back enables movement visibility.

ArtyA Captures a Spider

Some watch companies struggle for designs unveiling two or three new models a year. And then there is ArtA  just brimming with ideas creating intriguing one-of-a-kind watch designs.  

The ArtyA Spider 1/1 watch evokes the feeling of springtime.  Melting snow exposing last seasons fallen leaves across which a garden spider scurries to prepare for spring.  The "snow" is a unique "mix"; the "fallen leaves" are gold leaf pigments and the spider is of the garden variety  - no longer scurrying, but immortalized on the dial.

Within ArtYa signature "slashed' case, a highly competent automatic ETA movement powers the watch.  

A Pot of Gold at the End of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona Rainbow

As Rolex watch aficionados were eagerly anticipating the release of the new model Sky Dweller and the  Submariner 114060M at BaselWorld 2012, they were treated to a timepiece which was hard to miss.  The New Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Rainbow.  The bezel is embedded with a rainbow array of Sapphire crystals. While some may think the watch is a tad to colorful, I can definitely see its mass appeal.  This timepiece has everything going for it.  Like those gorgeous, smart, rich, popular girls who sweep across college campuses watched with admiration and envy. 

So here is the 10 reasons why you would want the New Oyster Perpetual Rolex Cosmograph Daytona

a) A Rolex - luxury watch brand known by all.
No explanation required as to the quality of the watch.  Status symbol right on your wrist. 

b) The Watch is an Oyster Perpetual - Click to read story behind the watch.
Groundbreaking innovation of 1926 exponentially increasing water resistance, dust resistance and shock absorbancy of the timepiece. (The Watch was actually advertised in a fishbowl for dramatic effect.) Now almost 90 years down the line Rolex is experimenting with a Rolex Deepsea Challenge, which can remain water resistant to a depth of 12,000 meters or 40,000 feet.  This Oyster Perpetual Model is water resistant to 100 meters or 330 feet. 

c) The timepiece is equipped with a Perpetual Rotor.  The perpetual rotor is a highly efficient self-winding mechanism consisting of a half moon rotor, which is affixed to a central pivot, but which can pivot back and forth in response to the natural motion of the wearers wrist. Energy transmitted to the mainspring has a fifty hour power reserve.  

d) The watch is a Superlative Chronometer.  Superlative is a Rolex trademark to accentuate the distinction of a Chronometer.  Unlike the Chronometer used in nautical navigation of days gone by.  Chronometers today are a title of distinction and quality awarded to a watch movement, which has undergone stringent COSC testing performed over 15 days and nights.  Click here for more information about COSC.  This mark ensures the movement is capable of withstanding environmental influences while still maintaining perfect precision and working order. 

e)  If you are a professional race car driver or an enthusiast there of.  The Daytona Cosmograph is equipped with two critical  racing features.  Designed for the  professional race car driver in 1963, the Daytona Cosmograph is equipped with a chronograph and a tachymeter scale on the bezel enabling the driver to calculate elapsed time on the speedway and calculate average speed. This chronograph is accurate to a whopping 1/8th of a second with handy 30 minute counter placed at the 3 'o'clock and a 12 hour counter at the 9 'o'clock.  The small seconds hand is situated above the 3 'o'clock.  


f) If you happen to pass through a strong magnetic field - the oscillator of the timepiece is equipped with an innovative Paramagnetic blue PARACHROM hairspring which markedly increases the precision of the timepiece and increases its shock resistance up to 10 times more than that of a regular ferromagnetic alloy hairspring.

g) The security of a watch is only as good as the clasp that keeps it on the wrist. No worries losing this baby.  The watch is equipped with a folding Oysterlock Safety Clasp ensuring that one will not find a wrist empty of watch.

h) If the Rolex fits wear it and to increase this likelihood, a Rolex timepiece is equipped with a patented extension system known as the Easylink 5 mm comfort extension link. So don't despair if the bracelet is a touch to snug. 

i)And ladies - the watch is a perfect beauty. A rainbow of 36 baguette-cut  sapphires ring the bezel in perfectly matched shades of color.  Available in 18k yellow or white gold, the 40 mm case is flanked by diamond set lugs.  The crown guards are embedded with diamonds as well creating the look of pure luxury.
The black lacquer dial beams with yellow or white gold crystal counters where 8 diamonds in gold settings mark the hours between the 18 ct gold 15,30,45 and 60 numerals.

j) The final desirable appeal of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona is the fact it will match every last piece of clothing in one wardrobe.

CHANEL Première Flying Tourbillon a Distinction in Design

25 years ago Chanel launched its first line of watches, and they have celebrated this milestone with the Limited Edition CHANEL Première Flying Tourbillon
Equipped with a flying tourbillon - one of the most complicated and highly regarded watch mechanism - the Limited Edition timepiece represents a new age of timepieces made for women.  In most watch companies, woman's timepieces are mostly powered by quartz. 
It is thought that men are more of a mechanical mind and thus can appreciate the intricate craftsmanship required to create a mechanical masterpiece.
 Chanel always on the forefront of woman's fashion is making a stand for mechanical movement in woman's watches by unveiling a timepiece of incredible watchmaking expertise.  The movement is that of highly regarded Audemars Piguet (Renaud et Papi)SA.  This is not the first contribution, Audemars Piguet has had with Chanel.  In 2008, Chanel partnered with AP to create the J12 caliber 3125, a fusion of AP 3120 an innovative automatic winding system and a Chanel J12 ceramic case.

The unique 37mm diameter case shape is fashioned after the cap of the Chanel N °5 perfume bottle, which is inspired by one of Coco Chanel's most favourite places - place Vendôme. The place Vendôme also inspired Chanel's Première watch unveiled in 1987.

 

  The glossy black ceramic dial surrounds a Camélia Flying Tourbillon at the 6 'o'clock position. Coco Chanel loved the Camélia flower for its elegant simplicity and purity.  She decorated her apartment in the motif of this flower on Coromandel screens and in vases with rock crystal. In Asia the flower symbolized purity and longevity, and thus she placed it on many of her designs.  The top of the flying tourbillon cage displays the flower in geometric simplicity.  The flying tourbillon is only supported on one side creating the illusion that it rotating,  unsupported by any means.  Click here to read an in depth tourbillon article.