Baume & Mercier: historic brand back on its game February 16, 2012 FOR a luxury watch brand with a history dating back to 1830, Baume & Mercier has been maintaining a curiously low profile for the past few years. Or rather had been until 2011, during which it had a bit of a break-out year. Suddenly there were interesting, charismatic pieces appearing again in its collection, and [...]
REACH for the SKIES February 16, 2012 THE meaning of value is hard to pin down. You’ve got perceived value versus actual value, for starters, and then the problem that one man’s tripe is another man’s caviar. One of the few things we can all agree on though, is that there is value in usefulness. Usefulness is reassuringly tangible. A car is [...]
The smooth, gliding beauty of Spring Drive February 16, 2012 GENERALLY speaking, for fans of fine watches there is a clear and even line to be drawn between mechanical and electronic watches. The one consists of an intricate system of cogs, gears, wheels and levers transforming power from the wound-up mainspring into regulated timekeeping, and is the product of craftsmanship, skillful engineering and deep tradition. [...]
The pick of the pilot watches February 16, 2012 1. Breguet – Type XXII, £13,300. www.breguet.com 2. Bremont – Solo, £2,550. www.bremont.com 3. Glycine – Airman SST Chronograph, £2,995. www.jurawatches.co.uk 4. Hamilton – Khaki Aviation X-Patrol, £1,350. www.hamiltonwatch.com 5. Bell & Ross – WW1 96 Grand Date, £2,500. www.bellross.com 6. Stowa Flieger with date, €580. www.stowa.de 7. IWC Pilot’s Watch Top Gun Miramar, £9,750. [...]
The £10,000 question February 16, 2012 Robin Swithinbank Calibre magazine In the one-watch game, IWC is never far from front of mind and nor, particularly, is the blue Portuguese Automatic (£9,250). Powered by an in-house movement with a seven-day power reserve, it’s understated, stylish but above the whims of flash-in-the-pan fashion, and cooler than an Eskimo’s freezer. Maria Doulton TheJewelleryEditor.com I [...]
News from the boutiques February 16, 2012 ● KENSINGTON boutique the Watch Gallery is one of the most esteemed watch shops in London, and it’s no longer one of a kind. Having been acquired by DM London, the independent retailer with its “Time2” shops in Westfield and Covent Garden and the luxury watch concession in Selfridges, it is now lending its name [...]
Personal Taste Time to go exploring for an old Explorer February 16, 2012 WHEN watch aficionados think of Rolex, it’s the brand’s steel sports models – its “tool” watches – that really excite them. No other brand has such a wide range of iconic watches so inexorably linked to achievement, adventure and celebrity. In the 1950s, Tenzeng Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary conquered Everest with Rolex Oysters an [...]
The new sophistication February 16, 2012 BEAUTY or brains? For a long time women’s watches have been focused on the former with lashings of diamonds distracting from what’s hidden inside – typically a battery-run movement. But now we can enjoy both and stop borrowing from the boys, because some of the world’s finest watch brands have realised that women want a [...]
The ultimate ladies’ watch February 16, 2012 As a name that’s synonymous with the most luxurious, covetable and collectable of timepieces, you’d expect Patek Philippe to come up with something pretty special for women – and it has. The Ladies First, housed within an elegant 18ct rose gold case, is a self-winding minute repeater – a watch that beautifully chimes, at your [...]
How to avoid an Olympian hassle February 16, 2012 Q. How much can I expect to earn from letting out my property for the Olympics? A. The exact figure would need to be determined on evaluating the property and assessing both the local area and transport links to Olympic venues, however, due to the inflation of hotel prices (most charging up to three times [...]
