The Lange 31 by A. Lange & Sohne came out last year as the world’s first watch with a 31 day power reserve.  The key to the 31 day power reserve is the energy balance.  The energy is not only pulled from the battery but also from the movement which includes a winding key stored in a twin mainspring barrel.

This concept of using the movement as a power source has become popular recently including in the Perrelet Diamond Flower Watch which uses the wearers movement as additional power which we discussed about in a previous post.  The movement is a way for watchmakers to look a little deeper into the ongoing research in watch power. For example, in the Lange 31 the key winding mechanism is larger than usual for luxury watches, but the size is a technology in itself because fewer revolutions are needed and power can be built up a lot faster than a smaller key winder.

Another innovative and patented feature of the watch includes a outsized date indicator.  After the 31st day of each month it automatically switches to the 1st date of the following month and it’s extremely legible; really large for great reading.

This watch deserves a lot more recognition if you ask me, it has been the center of attention for a while, but 31 days of power reserve is an amazing technological feat in watchmaking.  Other specifications include a calibre L034.1 movement, power reserve indicator, outsized date, sapphire crystal glass and caseback, crocodile strap, solid silver dial, and constant force escapement for controlled torque delivery.

For a deeper look into the passion and technology into the Lange 31 Watch here is an interview from Horlogerie.com with Fabian Krone, the CEO of A. Lange & Shone.

At The Watch Digest we love concept watches so much that sometimes we get them mixed up with the real thing.  The great thing about concepts is that it’s like a high energy game on which concept watch has the guts to come to life and hit mainstream?

Our favorite places to check out concept watches would have to be Yanko Designs where designers submit some innovative concepts that will blow your mind.  For example, Above is the “Cycle” Life Watch by Andy Korovets, said to be a joke, the designer creates a creates a watch that cycles through the life of a modern man.  It starts off with “WAKE UP!” continues to CAR, PC, CAR, TV, and ends with “GO TO SLEEP”.  Pretty funny, but actually simply revolutionary.

This next watch below is the Elio Linear Scale Watch by Piere Haulot and William Boullier.  This is a “deep” watch conceptually; it’s based on the idea of a linear scale in terms of short term or long term goals.  So it measures the time spent and time remaining on just about anything… including starting your own business, working out, or finding the  cure for AIDS…

Okay, next is the Luna Watch by John Pszeniczny inspired by Swarovski.  The watch is all about suspension, touch, and balance.  The watch is made of crystal, stainless steel, and Spessartite Garnet; you can tell time by touching two points that seem to “float inside the crystal”.

Finally, below is an edgy and funky watch called Arresting Development and designed by Luis Berumen.  The watch takes its name quite literally and combines fetishes with technology, and edginess.  It’s basically a digital watch inside stylish handcuffs… hmmm?

MICHELE luxury watches are known for glamour and that extra special “something”.  Each watch is made to allow the wearer to feel as if they are of celebrity status or strutting down the runway wearing the latest trend in watchmaking.  MICHELE watch designs are reminiscent of art deco and design styles and usually feature diamonds, mother of pearl dials, and luxury.

MICHELE newest arrival includes the Deco Baguette Watch which reflects on the brands Deco collection in a new way. Above is the Deco Baguette Diamond Stainless Steel Bracelet retailed at $1,245 and features eight brilliant diamonds that surround a mother-of-pearl dial.  The deco and MICHELLE brand logos are featured at the 12 o’clock marker and the signature crow adorns the side of the sleek and beautiful watch.  The bracelet is stainless steel and the straps are interchangeable depending on the customer’s choosing.

This elegant imported watch defines luxury with .38 carat diamonds, crystal sapphire, and 5 ATM water resistance; a beautiful design twist to MICHELE renowned Deco Collection.

Maurice Lacroix is an amazing Swiss watch maker with an eye for detail… everyone loves a good Maurice Lacroix watch, but my favorite has one little dial that makes me smile.

The Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Double Retrograde Watch has a power reserve indication, small seconds, and a 24 hour indication for a second time zone. The watch is hand decorated with a hand wound  mechanical movement and 50 jewels.  Also noticeable on the Maurice Lacroix watch are the blue steel screws, polished steel pallet and escapement wheel.  The case is made of stainless steel with sapphire crystal that includes glare proofing and a screwed caseback.  Water resistance of 30 meters in included in with the Masterpiece Double Retrograde Case as well as a solid silver dial and Roman Numerals.  Each hand is made of blue steel and the strap is genuine crocodile leather with a folder clasp.

The part that makes me smile?  The wiggly hand for the 2nd time zone clock…it adds a small artistic touch to a minimalist watch.

Gucci is known for being luxuries and the epitome of the rich and famous, and their watch collections are no different.  Here is an exploration of three Gucci watch collections that give luxury an artistic twist.

The Gucci Signoria Watch Collection

The Gucci Signora Collection features 3 different watches all resembling bracelet watches but with unique twist and turns.  The bracelet, in a variety of materials link together seemingly in space in using intricate patterns. The case is a perfect square and has the Gucci logo at the 12 o’clock marker.  Each watch resembles an abstract art pieces suspending in the air.

The Gucci Chiodo Watch Collection

Similar to the Signora Collection is the Gucci Chiodo Watch Collection. Each watch is chained together with masculine yet feminine large bold locks in half moon shapes. The dial of the watches are in mother-of-pearl with a cotton candy tint to it called flinque.

The Gucci Twirl Watch Collection

Lastly, is a collection of watches by Gucci entitled the Twirl Watch where the dial is created in a rotating case.  The strap is made of either stainless steel or gold and each have the Gucci logo motifed at every angle.

And for a limited time this holiday many Gucci watches are  10% off…

Happy Holidays

Since 1856 Eterna has been making luxury watches.  Even though the family ran business was taken over by the Porsche family in 1995, they have stuck the heritage and history keeping products in line with the original philosophy and mission.

One repeating milestone that keeps popping up throughout the company’s history is their obsession with size.  Here is a look at how the company, Eterna, manipulated size to create some of the world’s greatest watch master pieces.

1930: Eterna creates the smallest Baguette Calibre watch to be manufacture in series production.

1956: Eterna launches an extra-thin Centenaire watch with self winding mechanisms and advertised by violinist Yehudi Manuhin. At the time Eterna was celebrating 100 years of business and this watch became the companies most popular product; hence the name.

1958: Another small record, Eterna creates the EternaMatic Golden which becomes, at that time, the world’s smallest automatic movement.

1962: Eterna launches the EternaMatic 300 and it becomes the world’s thinnest man’s wristwatch during that time at just 3.6 millimeter in height.

1980: This was my favorite. Eterna creates the Eterna Museum watch which, including the watch case, measure at .98 millimeters in height.  It also won the Grand Prix Triomphe del’Excellence Europeene Award in 1980.

Prada and LG just released the new Prada Phone by LG.  It’s sleek, it’s new, and looks to be just as popular as the first one… but this is not a cell phone blog so why are we talking about a Prada Phone?  Well the Prada Phone by LG threw the watch world a fast one by including a new accessory with the phone, The Prada Link, a digital watch that links directly to the phone.

The Prada Link has a 48 hour standby time and a 2.5 hour charging time.  It’s made of stainless steel metal and has a genuine leather strap and 3 ATM of water resistance.  Although the Prada Link only has three buttons on the right, those three buttons can do a lot including:

• caller id
• call history
• snooze/reject a cal
• full text messaging display
• call and alarm alerts with a ring or vibration
• alarm stop
• alarm snooze
• watch themes
• world time
• stopwatch
• batter indicator

Amazing…

Bell & Ross luxury watches are unique men watches designed by men who work in extreme environments such as astronauts, pilots, divers, explorers, and my favorite, bomb squad experts.  Bell & Ross designs feature airplane instrument materials and exceptional design mechanics.  One of my favorites is from the BR Instrument collection.

This BR-S Gold Ivory Dial watch from the BR Instrument collection includes mechanical winding chronograph with an independent second counter at the 6 o’clock position.  The case is 39 mm and the case is also made of grey 18k gold.  Each dial is made of ivory and the hour and minute hands are blue. The watch case is made of crystal sapphire with a water resistance of 50 meters.

This Bell & Ross watch is small, flat and sleek and includes a 42 hour power reserve and alligator strap. Some cool features include different crown settings to manipulate water resistance and care instruction that include simply rinsing the watch in fresh water after entering seawater.

Luxury digital watches are becoming the wave of the future, especially when made by a company called Nooka.

Nook was created by Matthew Waldman in 1997 whose first idea came to life on a napkin… like all great artist beginnings; the napkin made its way to New York and viola, Nooka was born.

So what exactly does the word Nooka mean?  Well it depends on who you are.  If you’re a Hawaiian then it means “sleek”, if you are a history buff then it’s from the ancient Amararunk’thuh word meaning “future is now”, if you are a New Yorker then it’s a pet name that means “New Yorker”.  Whatever it means to you, the timepieces design touch all of using design, diamond, crocodile bands, digital displays, bold colors, and inventiveness.

The watch I picked out above captures the heart of the company; it’s called the Zing Zoo BK and has 16 diamonds around the digital display.  The strap is made of certified farm raised crocodile skin and is available in black or brown.  Other specifications include.78 carats of diamonds, 5ATM of water resistance, stainless steel case, LCD display with backlight, and a 1 year warranty all for $3,000.00.

Luxury watches fall in a number of categories including vintage watches, sports watch, diamond watches, and more.  But how about luxury watches so decadent that putting one on would change the way people look at you?  What about luxury watches so delectable that the a prince in Arabia would most likely own one?

That’s exactly what you would find in Angular Momentum’s Sculpture Collection, a collection of timepieces hand sculptured in silver and gold.

The watch above is entitled the Oriental Blossom Time Cushion and is hand sculptured and engraved using 18 karat gold.  All over the watch, 100 full cut diamonds add an amazing sparkle and a pear shaped padparadscha sitting proudly in the middle pointing at the digital time display.   The Oriental Blossom Time Cushion by Angular Movement is a mechanical self-winding  movement and a digital time display works through revolving disk.

One thing I was curious about was the Padparadscha.  The Padparadscha is described as one of the world’s most expensive and rarest gems… right along with the ruby or the emerald.  However, a natural Padparadscha is almost none existent its so rare that they start pricing at $5,000 per carat and can get up to $30,000 per carat depending on size, color, clarity, and tone.