Porsche Design Indicator Watch in Dubai Mall

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Swiss watch manufacturer Eterna and Porsche Design have created this limited edition timepiece, called Porsche Design Indicator Watch. Priced at $270,000, the watch flaunts Titanium, rose gold and natural rubber accents. It features a second timer, a stopwatch and a special dial that indicates the power status of the timepiece, by shifting colors from green to red.

Only 50 such watches were made and of them, just 11 come in this design and with this price. The Indicator is powered by the natural movement of your wrist while you wear it, but you can also manually wind it when power is to low. The piece is available at the Porsche Design store in Dubai Mall, where it arrived six months ago. Dubai Mall placed the order for two Indicators in 2008, but they were only delivered in 2009 and 2011 respectively.

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Captain Dual Time Watch from Zenith

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Not too formal, not too sporty, the Zenith Captain Dual Time Watch comes in two versions, both equally appealing: the black-dial model and the silvered-dial one. They each have their own unique charm, and they both share a lot of common features like Elite collection caliber automatic movement known as the 682, the date display, and the GMT hand, hence the Dual Time part of the name.

The dials are each 40 mm wide and the movements underneath them are 4 mm thick. The masculine look of the guilloche dial is completed by the simple yet expressive applied hour markers and the sleek hands. The GMT hand has an adjust pusher at 10 o’clock. It is an overall good looking timepiece that will certainly find its fans around the world.

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Jaeger LeCoultre Atmos Marqueterie Paille

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For several years, the Jaeger-LeCoultrehas been associating the mechanical prodigy of the Atmos with creations by artistic craftspeople and contemporary artists (Marc Newson, etc.). In 2011, the Atmos is celebrating straw marquetry work(called marqueterie paille in French), an ancient decorative technique that was revived by interior designers during the 1930s.

Straw marquetry work enjoyed its heyday in the 18th century, when Royal courts and noble families had various pieces of furniture or panels decorated according to this technique that was mastered by a few rare artisans and nuns labouring in the seclusion of their convents. It was based on the same principle as wood marquetry, except that the inlays are in straw.

Jaeger-LeCoultre is now rediscovering this all but forgotten craft by associating its iconic clock with this technique still cultivated by a talented artisan who continues to master the traditional gestures consisting of splitting a wisp of oat or wheat straw, soaking it in water and then flattening it with a hot iron. Like the “secret” furniture that was so much in vogue in 18th century European courts, the Atmos Marqueterie Paille reveals its true nature only when a button is pressed in order to open the inlaid outer cabinet and unveil the “celestial” mechanism within.

This almost perpetual clock, which also displays the month and the moon phase, will be issued in a strictly limited edition of 28 clocks.

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Tag Heur Carrera Mikrograph

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Cars and watches go together like peas and carrots, Abbott and Costello, Amos and…and…cookies.

Tag Heuer present a stunning new watch to go with their “150 Years of Mastering Speed” celebration. The company has a deep history in professional motor sports and if the new Carrera Mikrograph is any indication, they’ll continue that tradition for many more years.

The Carrera Mikrograph 1/100th Second Chronograph is a call-back to the first sports stopwatch (which happened to be patented by Tag Heuer) that displayed 1/50th and 1/100th of a second. Featuring a column wheel integrated mechanical chronograph, the Mikrograph is one of the most precise watches ever made.

Other specs include rose gold hour, minute and second hands, a 90-minute power reserve for the stopwatch and 42-hour power reserve for the watch, fluid rotation for a comfortable wearing experience and the knowledge that you just dropped $50,000 for something that doesn’t come with a steering wheel or rocking stereo.

Better get your orders in quickly, though, as only 150 will be made.

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Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy watch is an ode to the Terminator

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After learning the excessively long name of this great new watch from Audemars Piguet, I began to wonder what Arnold might sound like pronouncing it. The gUBERnator is back in public life now, but his time as California governor never stopped his passion for watches. I heard that being Governor cost him $200 millions dollars. I wonder what part of that went to his watch budget. While Arnold doesn't only wear Audemars Piguet, he has a deep place in his heart for the brand, and has worked with them for a long time.

Audemars Piguet and Arnold Schwarzenegger don't have an official relationship, but AP has made a few limited edition watches for him, including the popular T3 and End of Days watches. Both sold out rather quick. But those two watches don't wholly define that Austrio-Swiss love affair. It goes deeper... To celebrate the man-watch love Audemars and Arnold shared, AP will release a new limited edition of 1,500 watch set called "The Legacy." As I mentioned, the full name of the watch will be the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy watch - and it is a beautiful thing.

The Legacy actually represents three important things from a design perspective. I will get to that in a moment. I did want to mention that the proceeds of each of the 1,500 watches (profit after costs) will go to Arnold's "After School All-Stars" charity foundation. The first thing the watch represents are design cues from each of the previous AP for Arnold watches. What comes to mind first are the hour indicators, side treatments, and of course the size.

2011 is really about design subduction and certain key materials. AP lead designer Octavio Garcia kept his promise to me that 2011 would see wild design take a back seat to more simple, timeless designs. We wasn't kidding. 2011 was like a 180 degree turn from the famous Royal Oak Offshore Grand Prix watch from 2010. As such, the designs focus more on key lines and features, and less about wild details. It is an interesting look, and I think they feel right for the times. AP is still able to have the watches look very much Royal Oak Offshore, and also still look totally modern.

As for materials, The Legacy contains those materials the brand is most serious about this year. Those are ceramic, titanium, and gold. I don't care what AP says, this watch is bigger than 48mm wide. But that is the official number. Just look at it on my wrist. The case is also very long from lug to lug. What I love is that the case is made from black ceramic. The ceramic has been finished using some fancy techniques to give it delicately brushed and polished surfaces. The bezel is also ceramic, with elements of titanium screwed on to the side of the case, and used for the caseback, and screws. Last, there is rose gold use for the pushers and part of the crow, as well as for the hour indicators on the dial and the hands. Oh, and the majority of the crown is ceramic. The watch looks awesome, and the detailing is superb.

Some of the details are neat. One of them is the use of the mega tappiserie texture on the chronograph pusher as well as the dial. I also really like the diamond polishing of the surface of the gold Arabic numeral hour indicators that give them a rainbow color shine. Hints of red on the dial mix with all the colors nicely. This feels like a luxury military watch in essence. The watch mixes black, great, gold, green, and red together. The green is subtle, and is mixed with black and gray. You'll find it on the fabric strap that I am told is Kevlar. Don't quote me on this or trying anything funny, but the strap might actually be bullet proof.

This massive watch is massive cool - and I think you'll like it as much as Schwarzenegger. I know he is excited to get his. Inside the watch is an AP calibre 2326/2840 automatic chronograph movement. Each of the 1,500 pieces will be priced at $40,200. Big money, big watch. I want one in a big way.

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Limited Edition Carrera Mikrograph

in Luxury Watches

About 100 years ago TAG Heurer created their first Mikrograph. This is a chronograph that can record and display time with a mind-blowing accuracy: 1/100^th of a second precision. Now they plan to release a limited edition timepiece to boast that same technology and they will call it Carrera Mikrograph.

We have no further details on the project just yet: release date, movement details or price are all secrets for now, but we expect the piece to be absolutely stunning.

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Fifth Big Pilot’s Watch Edition Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

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IWC  Schaffhausen and the descendants of famous pilot and author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry have been maintaining a partnership since 2005. In order to keep the memory of the French author alive, they have been working together on some really impressive projects, the last one being the fifth edition of Big Pilot’s Watch Edition Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

Featuring an 18-karat rose gold case, a tobacco brown dial and a white-stitched  calfskin strap, the timepiece is elegant and classy in every detail. It is regulated by an IWC automatic 51614 caliber with a whole week power reserve. The calendar of the piece features a four-digit year display and a moon phase display that will give you accurate information for both hemispheres.

Speaking of accuracy, the timepiece can show you the actual course of the moon with a negligible error of just 12 seconds. Only 500 men will have the honor of wearing one of these luxe watches.

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New Brand Chinese Timekeeper Wants a Share of Chinese Luxury Watch Market

in Luxury Watches

Looking to compete for a piece of China’s luxury watch market dominated by Western brands is a homegrown brand that embraces its Chinese heritage.

The Chinese Timekeeper (CTK) is a new luxury watch brand that wants to be recognized as being distinctively Chinese and “proudly crafted in China.”

That’s something new, but a trend we will likely see more of.

The Chinese luxury watch market is worth RMB15.5 billion in 2009 and growing at 35% according to a Bain & Co. report. It is dominated by five top brands: Cartier, Longines, Omega, Rolex and Tudor.

To set itself apart from the crowded foreign brands, CTK is embracing China’s history to create the first exclusive Chinese watch collection, which consists of six models simply known as CTK01-06.

CTK has a simple, modern aesthetics with discreetly branded Chinese elements.

The Hong Kong luxury company draws inspiration from the renowned ancient scholar Su Song’s clock tower and China’s timekeeping prowess. Each step of the design is meticulously recreated based on the clock tower and extremely symbolic.

The case of a CTK is composed of four layers or rings made of stainless steel 316L and held together by four large screws on the bezel and four smaller screws on the back case.

CTK01 has a case large of 44mm and made entirely of black PVD. The dial displays the time with numerals in shiny gunpowder color, the ‘+’  in flamboyant red, offers a powerful visual impact.

Prices for these exclusive timepieces (one of only 38) range from HK$17,800 to HK$20,800 (US$2,300-$2,700).

Source: red-luxury

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The McLaren MP4-12C of Chronograph Watches

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McLaren and TAG Heuer are celebrating their 26-year long partnership as well as the 20th anniversary of the original McLaren F1 with the launch of the limited edition TAG Heuer MP4-12C Chronograph watch. Taking inspiration from the upcoming MP4-12C supercar, the watch boasts a matching color scheme and is built from exotic materials such as carbon fiber.


The lightweight composite material was used for the dial, which features sapphire inserts that reveal the mechanism. The latter is protected by a highly durable titanium case, also minimizing weight. Other highlights include the alcantara leather strap evoking the MP4-12C’s interior, and orange luminescent markers on the hands, complemented by orange stitching.


Pilots and track drivers will appreciate the Flyback function, which allows the chronograph to be reset to zero and instantly restarted by pressing only once on the push button. There’s also a tachymeter at hand, indicating what distance is travelled, while the chronograph can record time intervals between two locations.


“I love watches and have always wanted to design one myself. The TAG Heuer MP4-12C Chronograph was a particularly interesting project as we have combined our passion for precision technology, engineering and performance and included some of the most outstanding design features and materials that can be found in the MP4-12C”, said Frank Stephenson, Design Director McLaren Automotive.


The TAG Heuer MP4-12C Chronograph will be produced in a limited run of 1,000 units. Those interested can purchase the watch through McLaren later this year.


As for the car that inspired the creation of the chronograph, the MP4-12C is powered by a 600HP mid-mounted 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8, developed in-house by McLaren. Capable of reaching 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 3 seconds and a top speed of 320+ km/h (200+ mph), the MP4-12C will hit the European market in spring 2011, at a base price of €200,000 in Germany and £168,500 in the UK. U.S. pricing will be released at a later date.

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