Breguet was the original inventor of the tourbillon complication for pocket watches about two centuries ago. It was meant to help pocket watches that sat in a mostly vertical position remain relatively accurate by attempting to average out the effects of gravity on the balance wheel. The 20th century saw the tourbillon complication finds its way into wrist watches, even though the complication was never really meant to assist the different way wrist watches are carried around. For the most part a tourbillon complication in a watch remains a novelty – but a beautiful and wonderful one to watch at that.

Breguet recently held an exhibit of their tourbillon watches. The Swatch Group, Breguet’s current parent, has a large center in Tokyo where many of its brands have shops. Here a large collection of Breguet tourbillon watches was on display. Even though Breguet started the tourbillon craze, their current approach to advancing it is via interesting interpretations on the theme. For example, their reference 3998 watch has the tourbillon combined with the hour hand on the watch, making it circle the watch dial once every 12 hours.

The exhibit was held from September 25 – 27 at the Breguet Boutique Ginza in the famous high rent district of Tokyo, Japan. Everyone who attended who was an existing Breguet owner received a special gift and a free watch servicing. This makes sense as the best potential customers for a brand are already existing ones.

By Adam Keith, Associate Timepiece Editor for ViaLuxe-With the newest 1000 Miglia GT XL Chrono Speed Black watch, Chopard again makes a compelling case that sporty design and elegant sophistication are not mutually exclusive.  This striking Chopard watch presents famous Mille Miglia collection signatures, such as the tire tread-rubber strap and calibrated tachymeter bezel in combination with a sophisticated 44mm case that joins together stealthy DLC-treated stainless steel and brilliantly polished 18-karat rose gold.  

An abbreviation for “Diamond-Like Carbon”, the DLC treatment featured on the case lends the Chopard 1000 Miglia GT XL Chrono an extremely distinctive appearance, but it also provides a considerable degree of protection for the underlying stainless steel.  Nestled against this satiny black material are the sleek chronograph pushers, the screw-down winding crown, and the aforementioned tachymeter bezel that is indispensable for the calculation of average speeds.  

The Chopard 1000 Miglia GT XL Chrono Speed Black timepiece also makes a superb impression with its intricate and harmoniously arranged jet black dial bearing the Chopard signature and the famous Mille Miglia logo.  Luminous indications at the hours and minute track ensure superb legibility, while the countersunk chronograph subdials create a three-dimensional aspect that keeps visual interest high.  This visual fascination is also enhanced by the gently curved sapphire crystal which features large transferred Arabic numerals to mark the hours of 12 and 6 o’clock.  As with the hour markers, the polished gold-plated hands display an ample amount of Superluminova material for effortless reading in dim or nonexistent lighting.  A circular magnifier is applied to the underside of the crystal; this discreet element provides a subtle aid to reading the date in its dial aperture at the 3 o’clock position.  

Animating the Chopard 1000 Miglia GT XL Chrono Speed Black watch is a variant of the robust and extremely precise Valjoux 7750 chronograph caliber.  This self-winding Swiss movement has earned great praise throughout the watch fraternity for its robust construction, reliable operating characteristics, and well-proven integrated chronograph mechanism. A balance frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour enables the chronograph function to record elapsed time sets to the nearest 1/8th second.  Power reserve of the mainspring barrel is approximately 48 hours.  Each of these calibers is submitted by Chopard to an office of the Swiss Official Chronometer Control (COSC) where it undergoes 15 days of tests to assure that precision falls within an exacting range over a variety of positional and temperature variations.  The certificate supplied with each timepiece, as well as the “chronometer” inscription on the dial, both attest to the movement having emerged successfully from these trials.  

The Chopard 1000 Miglia GT XL Chrono Speed Black watch in rose gold will be produced in a limited edition of just 500 pieces.  Each of the watches features a sapphire crystal exhibition caseback with a “Speed Black” transferred motif, and a textured rubber strap patterned in the manner of a 1960’s-era Dunlop racing tire.  A DLC-treated stainless steel clasp engraved with the Chopard brand insignia joins the Speed Black to its owner.  Water resistance of this limited edition Chopard Mille Miglia timepiece is 100 meters.

Swami, who could not be present before metropolitan court after summons due to illness, died leaving many unanswered questions. The anti-terrorist squad (ATS) revealed this before the court in the last hearing.

The court also enquired assistant sub-inspector Narpatsinh Chavda, who had gone to the sessions court to deposit the muddamal in 1996. These articles included the expensive diamond-studded ring, a Rado watch, a Christian Bernard diamond watch and a television set, which were seized by ATS sleuths while arresting Latif in Delhi. However, the ASI argued that the sessions court normally does not admit any charge sheet without muddamal mentioned in it.

Thus, the ASI’s reply raised another question on whether these articles were mentioned in the charge sheet at all. This development led Latif’s sons – Mushtaq and Jamil – to file another application before the chief metropolitan magistrate complaining that 10 months have passed and the court inquiry has not been able to ascertain where their father’s belongings were?

In their recent application, advocate Aslamkhan Pathan demanded for perusal of the charge sheet as well as all notings on court register in this regard. Urging the court to expedite the search, the applicants requested the magistrate to call for all records from the sessions court registry and to summon all ATS officers concerned, who were involved in the operation to nab Latif.

Earlier, after Latif’s gang members came out of jail, the issue of confiscated articles came to the fore. A TADA court last year ordered that the seized goods should be returned to accused and their relatives in various cases. This led Latif’s sons to request the metropolitan court to get them the jewellery. The metropolitan court has already inquired from the ATS, the sessions court and the Shahibaug police station in this connection. But none of the above offices have claimed to have possession of these articles.

New York–All that glitters and is “green” was on full display last night in Manhattan at eco-luxe, a one-night showcase of luxury products that are eco-friendly and sustainable.

Fittingly held at environmentally conscious restaurant Rouge Tomate, the event showcased everything from reusable water bottles designed to cut down on plastic waste to a $3,000 wedding dress made entirely of 100-percent-natural Portuguese cork.

Jewelry on hand included Alberto Parada’s line of recycled and reclaimed gold jewelry with Kimberley Process-certified diamonds, pearls from Jewels of Ocean, watches from carbon-neutral IWC Schaffhausen and pieces from Conscious Jewelry and Let it Bee, a new line of jewelry where part of the proceeds go toward researching why the world’s honey bee population is dwindling.

While being green was all the rage in jewelry through much of 2008, it seemingly took a backseat to survival following the economic collapse in September.

Parada, who had traffic at his booth all night, said it’s a difficult market right now for a green designer who works exclusively in gold, even when that gold is all recycled or reclaimed.

He said the high price of gold–the metal hovered around $1,013 an ounce on Wednesday morning, according to Kitco.com–has consumers looking toward alternative metals.
Parada said his line is currently doing better on the West Coast, especially in eco-conscious cities such as Portland, Ore., and Seattle, and that he’s seen an increase in orders for custom engagement rings.

A few booths down from Parada was watch company IWC Schaffhausen, which prides itself on the fact that it produces its watches in a carbon-neutral Swiss factory.

IWC Schaffhausen North America spokeswoman Lisa Pilkington said price point will always be an issue with consumers–especially now–but green can still be a selling point.

“It helps justify the purchase and encourages someone to think in a smart way,” she said.

Designer Danna Weiss had her Conscious Jewelry line of gold-dipped brass, crystal and gemstone jewelry on display.

Her line, currently sold at Neiman Marcus and a number of other outlets, is designed to engage consumers, which is especially important in times when people are hesitant to part with their money.

Weiss encouraged each person to approach the table and select the stone to which they were most drawn, with the idea being that people will naturally choose the stone that contains the healing properties they currently need most.

Weiss, whose pieces are priced between $30 and $1,000, said consumers have taken a step back from green given the state of the economy, especially when the green product costs more than its non-green counterpart.

“But I do think that’s a temporary situation,” she said.

Also, making its debut last night at eco-luxe, was Let it Bee, a line of jewelry dedicated to drawing attention to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). CCD is the mysterious disappearance of worker bees from their hives. This causes the colony to collapse and ultimately threatens the pollination of agriculture and the food-supply

Despite the attendance of two luxury watch brands at the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix, there will be a raft of timepiece manufacturers aiming to attract buyers at the event, it has been reported.

According to Singapore’s Business Times, a number of leading chronographic watch makers will be putting their best foot forward via window displays around the city, particularly in Raffles City.

Many of them will also be displaying their exclusive deals through the event and its drivers and teams, such as Tag Heuer’s Carrera Calibre 16-Day Date Chronograph, which is affiliated with the grand prix itself, as well as Oris, which is producing watches on behalf of AT&T Williams F1.

A spokeswoman for Panerai, a subsidiary owned by Swiss luxury goods group Richemont, told the Business Times of its strategy: “We are leveraging on the F1 race to promote our watches and by increasing the visibility in the shops, such as doing Ferrari window animations during the F1 period.”

Earlier this year, Brawn GP announced they would be partnering with Graham-London to produce branded watches for the team.

Belleair Bluffs, United States  Florida’s premier Authorized Dealer of luxury timepieces, Harold Freeman Jewelers follows the success of its recently updated website by offering the complete collection of the Patek Philippe watches.

Known as the very finest high-end luxury watches, Patek Philippe watches occupy one of the most important ranks in the art of fine watch making. Harold Freeman Jewelers prominently features  the Patek Philippe Twenty~4 collection, the Patek Philippe Nautilus collection, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut, Gondolo and Calatrava collections. Patek Philippe is well known and valued for its complicated movement timepieces such as the Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Ref. 5146. You will always find an excellent selection of Patek Philippe complicated timepieces at Harold Freeman Jewelers.  Patek Philippe is the top choice for luxury watches among watch enthusiasts.

Harold Freeman Jewelers also offers a fine selection of Patek Philippe cufflinks and Patek Philippe jewelry. Having built a reputation as Authorized watch specialists, Harold Freeman Jewelers proudly offers its customers the complete line of Patek Philippe watches.

Harold Freeman Jewelers carries a superb collection of Swiss timepieces. Harold Freeman Jewelers can offer rare and limited edition timepieces from many of the finest luxury watch brands including the Patek Philippe.  “Every spring we travel  to the Basel World in Switzerland, where we get the first opportunity to purchase the very latest models of watches” says Mr. Ron Freeman, owner of Harold Freeman Jewelers. Sign up for their online newsletter and be informed of rare and limited timepieces, as well as fine jewelry .

The clock is ticking, and I’m late. Waiting for me in the trendy St Martins Lane Hotel is Madame Arlette-Elsa Emch, head of Swatch , and one of the most senior female executives in the Swiss watch-making industry.

Up until now the organisational machine behind the interview has gone like… well, I don’t really need to say, do I? There have been calls and emails from three different people to set up the interview, brief me on the woman in question and then make sure I’m on my way.
But I’m still late, although as it turns out so is she.

Once I have been greeted in the lobby of the hotel by a Swatch communications executive, escorted to her suite and then introduced to three more people, there is just a slight delay before Mme Emch emerges from her room. From that point on we are back to running like clockwork.

With a background in journalism and corporate communications, Mme Emch has no problem putting her message across. Her English is accented with the peculiar Franco-German cocktail particular to the Swiss, but it is excellent. And despite plenty of evidence to the contrary, she uses it to deliver an unremittingly upbeat message.

Last month’s half-year results (turnover down 15pc, operating profit down 42pc) were “very good” she tells me.

An interesting choice of words, but she has a point. Compared to the rest of the Swiss watch-manufacturing industry, which saw turnover fall by closer to 25pc, Swatch Group did relatively well.

It maintained production levels and staff numbers, and continued to expand into new markets. The company’s penetration into Asia and its exposure to both the top and bottom end of the market gave it the edge over the competition, Mme Emch explains.

Although you wouldn’t realise it when peering into the window of your local jeweller, Swatch Group owns or controls, among other brands, Breguet, Omega, Longines, Tissot and CK watches, as well as its trademark natty Swatches, the division that Mme Emch oversees.

While the company saw a significant decrease in sales of its top-end brands such as Breguet and Omega during the first part of the recession, sales of Longines, Tissot and CK have held up well.

“We have a birthday cake of brands,” she explains, illustrating the point by waving a heavily be-watched hand, “covering all the different layers of the market.

“We have been touched much more in the higher end of the market than the bottom, because it was a rich person’s crisis. But further down the scale some brands have done better than last year.”

Encouragingly, Mme Emch says the company is already starting to see some improvement in the market. Sales in July and August are up.

“Just now, if I look at the July figures we have very clear signals that sales are starting again in the luxury high end. We are recovering and we are optimistic that sales will be good for the rest of the year,” she adds.

But Swatch faces other problems. It supplies mechanical parts to most of the Swiss watch industry. Rolex, Hublot and other brands all use Swatch Group manufactured parts, meaning the company is dependent on its peers maintaining their sales. With sales across the sector down by 25pc this is obviously not happening.

Another factor that is out of Swatch’s control is the Swiss franc. In the past six months the currency has risen 10pc against the US dollar; over the past 12 months it is up 6pc against the euro making Swatch’s products significantly less attractive to the export market.

In the first six months of the year Swatch’s profit margin was 14.7pc. If world currencies continue to move against the company most of that could be eaten up come the full year.

But before full-year results come round the company has its biggest launch of the year, Swatch’s £295 automatic chronograph, the you.automatic.

Both Mme Emch and her head of press were wearing the chunky new timepieces.

If Swatch’s recovery is going to be as good as the Swatch boss is predicting the watch will be adorning the wrist of many more people before the end of the year.

Paris’s premier trunk-maker for more than a hundred years, Louis Vuitton began producing quality timepieces in 2002 from their workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, a district renowned for the manufacture of exquisite timepieces. Shaped like its namesake–tambour means “drum”–this watch is a thick, bold, statement timepiece. It is available in several different versions intended for multiple purposes, including a chronograph and a GMT, but I think this new automatic diver’s version is the crème de la crème. It’s waterproof up to 300 meters and easily viewed at depth thanks to the large 44-millimeter case, Super-LumiNova coated hands, and rotating diving flange. The LV Damier pattern embossed on the rubber strap and protection crowns are a nice touch for a diving watch: if yellow is showing, the crowns aren’t fully screwed into place.

Buying a watch on eBay can be a very attractive and fruitful proposition. There are no good reasons to recommend against it, but from time to time there are fake/replica watches that are sold on eBay which may be easily confusable for the real thing. It is not always easy to know how to pick out a fake on eBay, but here are a few basic thing you can do to greatly reduce that chances of you being deceived. Again, most watches sold on eBay are NOT fakes, but a few bad apples are out there.

1. Ask the seller

Not sure about something? Ask the seller. Don’t be shy, ask question such as “is the watch real,” “does it come with the proper paper,” and anything else that you are concern about. If the seller does not respond, is that the type of person that you want to do business with?

2. Read carefully

Not everyone is trying to pass off a fake as the real thing. Sometimes people are frank with the fact that the watch is not authentic, but you sometimes need to read the item description carefully. At the same time, be weary of those who claim to not know whether a watch is real or not. Such messages are usually a thinly veiled statement that the timepiece is a replica.

3. If it looks to good to be true…

…it probably is. That does not mean that eBay does not have good deals, but a watch with a retail price of $10,000 going for $199 is likely a replica. Most people who have luxury watches know a bit about their value. That doesn’t mean they are being stingy when unloading them, but they would have to have head problems to be OK selling a watch they could get $5,000 for $200.

4. Look closely at the pictures

Two things you need to look out for here. The more pictures and the more clear the pictures are the better. A common tactic of scammers is making you think that someone who is unsophisticated is selling the watch, and that they don’t know how to take clear images of a watch. If the picture is too blurry, but you think it may be legit, ask for more. Otherwise you have fuel to be suspicious. Plus, if you are concerned, try to compare images of the watch in the auction with other images out there. Is everything in the right place? Does this watch model even exist?

5. Other interest

Is there something that other people know that you don’t? Unless the watch is a very rare or little known brand, most likely other people will bid on a watch that is a good deal. Does a watch at auction look like a great find but no one else seems to? Other people might know something you don’t if there are simply no bids on an auction that has been up for a while.

6. Can PayPal protect you?

New eBay sellers should often be held with suspicion. This is not to say that just because someone is new to eBay you should not do business with them, but take all the factors into consideration before doing so. Sellers with enough feedback will trigger automatic PayPal Buyer Protection insurance. You can learn more about this on eBay. In a nutshell, PayPal Buyer Protection insurance will protect you for part or the full purchase price of an item is a seller deceives you. This means that such Buyer Protection may be able to refund your money if the promised “real” watch turns out to be a fake

Overall, just use common sense in combination with these tips. eBay has increasingly been cracking down on auctions for fake replica products. Stuff, there are questionable items out there, and just one bad experience can turn you off to one of the best venues to buy watches that has ever existed.

Once again, magic is in the air since Sarcar’s impressive technical feat is presenting a stunning visual delight at Damas, the leading international Jewellery retailer in the Middle East.

The distinguished Sarcar brand, established in 1948 in Geneva is the outcome of its creative founder Carlo Sarzano who had worked for serveral prestigious Swiss brands before striking out on his own. He was developing his first collection, piece by piece. Guided by a keen sense of aesthetics, Carlo started to conceive jewellery watches which, although naturally functional, were above all distinguished by their beauty and exclusivity. Sarcar watches are produced in an old Genevese house on the outskirts of the town.

Commenting on the latest collections Tawhid Abdullah, Managing Director of Damas, said: “The leading idea of Carlo Sarzano was already what they called ‘big enough to be strong yet small enough to be free’. The brand produces limited and numbered pieces every year. The top quality of the production is comparable with that of the diamonds used in the setting of different parts of the watches. Extremely strict controls are carried out through every stage of the production. Thus the brand is known to offer something really different: which is one of its sales arguments and we are proud to bring them to Dubai.”

Maya Koenig, Managing Director of the brand said: “This is a perfect reason for us to stay small because that’s how we ensure our exclusivity and focus. At Sarcar, our mission is to create dreams for the most unique and most beautiful timepieces you will ever wish to possess and we then let you bring such dreams to reality.”

The tastes for innovation displayed by the founder and his successors- eloquently confirmed by the latest lines – have progressively led the brand to develop in parallel a line of complication watches. These models are perfect illustrations of the company’s determination to express its technical expertise as well as its flair for design. Thus Sarcar watches are characterised by an aura of apparent simplicity concealing an entirely original system.

The latest Sarcar watches are available at Damas Les Exclusives Boutiques in Emirates Towers; Burj Al Arab; Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates.