w a t c h e s

Ulysse Nardin

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:48:00 +0000

1846 Ulysse Nardin established the company of the same name in Le Locle, after serving his apprenticeship first under his father, Léonard-Frédéric, then under William Dubois, a specialist manufacturer of marine chronometers and astronomical watches.

1862 Ulysse Nardin was awarded the Prize Medal at the World’s Fair in London in the complicated watches and pocket chronometers category.

1876 Ulysse’s son Paul-David Nardin took over the family firm. As a specialist in precision marine chronometers, he supplied naval ministries and scientific institutes.

Ulysse Nardin mechanical marine chronometers would be awarded over 4,300 performance certificates. Numerous distinctions were also won at international fairs, including 18 gold medals at World Fairs and, between 1889 and 1964, 8 Grands Prix.

Following Ulysse Nardin’s death in 1920 and the Second World War, the company specialised in highly precise self-winding watches and ultra-thin watches.

1983 Ulysse Nardin was taken over by a group of investors led by Rolf W. Schnyder.

1985 The Astrolabium Galileo Galilei, named after the great physicist, astronomer and humanist. This astronomical wristwatch indicates the position of the Sun, Moon and stars at any given hour as seen from Earth. It also shows sunrise and sunset, moonrise and moonset, moon phases, solar and lunar eclipses, the month and the day of the week.

1988 The Planetarium Copernicus, in honour of the Polish astronomer. This astronomical wristwatch combines Ptolemy’s geocentric concept of the universe with Copernicus’ heliocentric concept.

1992 The Tellurium Johannes Kepler, a tribute to the German astronomer. This astronomical wristwatch shows the Earth as seen from directly above the North Pole. It also shows which part of the Earth is lit by the Sun at any one time, in addition to where the Sun rises and sets. With the Astrolabium and the Planetarium, the "Trilogy of Time" was thus complete.

1994 The GMT ± with rapid time-zone change and permanent home time. The Dual Time function instantly adjusts each of the calendar indications by means of a single crown, both backwards and forwards.

1996 The Perpetual Ludwig, named after its inventor Dr Ludwig Oechslin, with perpetual calendar.

2000 The first prototypes using silicon technology for the Dual Direct escapement, innovative in that it functions entirely without lubricant.

2001 The Freak 28,800 seven-day Carrousel-Tourbillon with neither hands, dial nor crown.

2002 The Gengis Khan, the first Westminster Carillon Tourbillon Jaquemarts Minute Repeater

2005 The Freak 28,800 V/h Diamond Heart with the new Dual Ulysse escapement in diamond. The first prototypes for a diamond escapement grown on silicon.

de Grisogono

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 11:04:00 +0000

1993 Fawaz Gruosi and two partners opened a boutique at 104 Rue du Rhône in Geneva. He specialised in designing and making jewellery and in selling objets d’art.

1995 Fawaz Gruosi decided to go it alone and founded de Grisogono SA.

1996 Fawaz Gruosi made his name with a collection using black diamonds, a stone which until then had been shunned by jewellers. Its success was such that the black diamond became the symbol of de Grisogono.

2000 Fawaz Gruosi presented his first watch collection, Instrumento N° Uno, at Basel. He was the first to propose watches with shagreen straps and the first to present a blackened steel movement.

2001 Instrumentino, the feminine counterpart of the brand’s first watch.

2002 Instrumentino Doppio, noted for having two dials and just one movement.

2003 Instrumento Doppio Tre with three time zones and Instrumento Tondo.

2004 Instrumentino Stell & Diamonds, Instrumento Chrono and Lipstick.

2005 Instrumento Grande, Power Breaker and the Occhio Ripetizione Minuti complication watch with a diaphragm that opens to reveal the movement when the striking mechanism sounds. Limited edition of 50.

2006 Instrumento Grande Open Date, Uno Grande Seconde, FG One with complications and Be Eight.

2007 Instrumento Novantatre and Piccolina. The company invested in vast production facilities for its watches, equipped with state-of-the-art machines.

bvlgari

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 10:50:00 +0000

In 1884, Sotirio, founder of the Bulgari dynasty, opened his first shop in Rome.

In 1940, Giorgio and Constantino Bulgari imagined the first Bulgari watches.

The Bulgari style was confirmed in the 1940s with the serpent watch. Made from bold coils in gold encrusted with precious stones, it would become an icon among jewellery watches.

The serpent returned in the 1970s as the Tubogas watch, this time with a supple and elastic gold bracelet, made entirely by hand.

The Bvlgari Bvlgari was launched in 1977, a perfectly sculpted cylinder whose two engraved logos form an intrinsic part of its design. Bulgari made use of innovative materials, such as in the Diagono Titanium and Diagono Aluminium collections, crafted in the finest tradition of Swiss watchmaking.

In the early 1980s, Bulgari Time became responsible for the design and production of all Bulgari’s watches. With headquarters in Neuchâtel, it today employs some 500 people.

Following targeted takeovers of prestigious brands such as Daniel Roth and Gérald Genta, and Swiss components, Bulgari made its first complication watches.

The company also took stakes in Cadrans Design for dials and Prestige D’Or for bracelets.

The master watchmakers of the Bulgari Group produce movements for Grandes Complications and Tourbillons, including the Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar.

Bulgari recently unveiled Ergon, Assioma and the new Bvlgari Bvlgari.

Blancpain

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 10:36:00 +0000

Jehan-Jacques Blancpain made his first watches in 1735, at his workshop in Villeret, in the Saint-Imier valley. The first Blancpain factory was established by his great-nephew, Frédéric-Emile, in 1815, again in Villeret. The company remained in the family until Frédéric-Emile’s death in 1932, after which production continued as Rayville SA. In 1982 the company was bought by Jean-Claude Biver and Jacques Piguet, then in 1992 by SMH, now Swatch Group. Since 2002, Marc A. Hayek is Blancpain’s President and CEO.

1926 Production of the first self-winding wristwatch based on John Harwood’s patent.

1953 Fifty Fathoms, the first modern diving watch, water-resistant to 91 metres, was worn by French Navy divers and by Jacques Cousteau while shooting "The Silent World", winner of the Palme d’Or at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival.

1956 Creation of the Ladybird, whose 15.3mm diameter made it the smallest round movement of its time.

1983 Smallest moon-phases display, indicating the date, day, month and moon phases. Renaissance of the mechanical moon-phases watch.

1987 Smallest minute-repeater movement of its time.

1987 Thinnest self-winding chronograph of its time.

1988 Thinnest split-seconds chronograph of its time.

1989 First self-winding split-seconds chronograph.

1989 Thinnest flying tourbillon wristwatch of its time with an eight-day power reserve

1990 Creation of six watches with identical cases, each corresponding to one of the Six Masterpieces leading to the grade of Master-watchmaker:

Ultra-thin

Full calendar and moon phases

Tourbillon

Split-seconds chronograph

Minute repeater

Perpetual calendar

1991 Presentation of the 1735 grande complication watch with all six "masterpiece" complications. Produced as a limited edition of 30, this self-winding watch was the most complicated ever made at that time.

1993 Minute-repeater watch with automata.

1998 First ladies’ flyback chronograph

1998 First self-winding tourbillon with an eight-day power reserve.

1999 First movement with an automatic winding split-seconds chronograph combined with flyback and tourbillon.

2000 First self-winding tourbillon and perpetual calendar with an eight-day power reserve.

2004 First wristwatch with running equation.

2005 New patented system of under-lug correctors.

2005 Thinnest hand-wound perpetual calendar watch of its time.

2006 Launch of the Blancpain Women collection.

2006 Blancpain patented the "rail effect" stone-setting technique.

2006 Tourbillon Semainier, an unprecedented combination of complications with a seven-day power reserve.

2006 The 13R0 hand-wound base movement with three barrels for an eight-day power reserve, and bi-directional rapid date-change mechanism.

2007 The new Sport collection comprising the Fifty Fathoms Automatic, Flyback Chronograph and Tourbillon.

2007 Automatic calibre 1315 with three barrels, glucydur balance with micrometric regulating screws, five-day power reserve and instant date change in both directions.

2008 First movement with a one-minute flying karussel and 100-hour power reserve.

Vacheron Constantin

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:12:00 +0000

The world’s oldest watch manufacturer in continuous operation since 1755 and founder of the spirit of technical and precious Haute Horlogerie, Vacheron Constantin has been making horological history for over 250 years. From the beginning, it has concentrated on building and consolidating its tradition for technical and aesthetic excellence. This is best illustrated by its timepieces, whose hand-finishing is of an exceptional quality.

1755 Foundation by Jean-Marc Vacheron.

1819 François Constantin joins the company.

1839 Hired as a production engineer, Georges-Auguste Leschot revolutionised watchmaking techniques by inventing the pantograph.

1880 Appearance of the “Maltese Cross” in the Vacheron Constantin logotype, based on a movement part fixed to the barrel and which made it possible to limit the degree of winding required for the latter.

1906 Inauguration of the very first Vacheron Constantin boutique, which is still located today on Quai de l’Ile in Geneva.

1935 Creation of one of the most complex pocket-watches ever made by Vacheron Constantin. Ordered by King Farouk of Egypt, this masterpiece took five years to create.

1955 200th anniversary and launch of the Patrimony, the world’s thinnest mechanical watch.

1979 Carved directly from a one-kilo solid gold ingot, the Kallista is set with 118 diamonds totalling 130 carats - five years of patient work. At the time, this was the most expensive watch ever sold.

1996 Vacheron Constantin joins the Richemont Group.

2004 Opening of the new head office and the Vacheron Constantin Manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva and renovation of the brand’s historic head office: “La Maison Vacheron Constantin”, including an exclusive Boutique, a heritage center and the “Métiers d’Art” workshops.

2005 250th anniversary of the brand.
2005 Creation of the Tour de l’Ile, the world’s most complicated watch with double-faced display featuring an unprecedented combination of 16 horological complications and astronomical indications, and the Saint Gervais, a watch combining for the very first time a perpetual calendar, a tourbillon and over ten days’ power reserve.

2006 Vacheron Constantin pays tribute to the most noble, rare and precious of metals with the Vacheron Constantin Collection Excellence Platine

JeanRichard

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:56:00 +0000

Even though JeanRichard is a modern brand, its name comes from the depths of the traditional Swiss watch-making industry. One of the founders of this history was Daniel JeanRichard.

As far as reality is concerned, authentic documents about Daniel JeanRichard are rare and insufficient for us to be accurate. However it is ascertained that, in addition to the first watches, watchmakers owe him the invention of machines and tools that were essential in their trade, as well as the establishment of the basic principles of the apprenticeship of the profession, hence the transmission of know-how.

1665 Birth of Daniel JeanRichard in La Sagne, in a place called “Les Bressels”. A product line, “Bressel”, is nowadays dedicated to him.

1680 The legend narrates that, at the age of 15, Daniel JeanRichard, blacksmith apprentice, had the opportunity to see a watch for the first time. The watch had been brought to Switzerland from England and was broken. Daniel JeanRichard studied the watch, repaired it and built a similar one.

1681 Daniel JeanRichard signs his first watch, the foremost produced in the region.

1741 Death of Daniel JeanRichard

1988 Luigi Macaluso, Sowind Group president, takes over the Daniel JeanRichard brand. The head office of the brand was established at that time in Le Brassus.

1994 The TV Screen collection is launched and today it is still one of JeanRichard flagship product lines.

2002 To renew the brand, Mr. Macaluso decides to change its name : Daniel JeanRichard becomes JeanRichard.

2003 The Sowind group purchases the “Villa JeanRichard”, a neo-gothic building dating back to 1907. This building has been renovated to welcome the head quarters of the brand. To reinforce the status of familiar and independent brand, Massimo Macaluso, Luigi’s son, takes the lead of JeanRichard.

2004 The Museum of watch-making tools and machineries opens its doors in the ground floor of the “Villa”. The first manufactured movement JR1000 is launched in a new manufactured case: Paramount.

2005 To celebrate the 340 years from the birth of Daniel JeanRichard, the brand pays tribute to him featuring a new manufactured case: Bressel 1665.

2006 JeanRichard is still in permanent research of innovation either from an aesthetical or technical point-of-view. Although the brand is primarily dedicated to men, it is now meeting perfectly women’s tastes as testifies the Bressel Flying Hands model.

Chopard

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:33:00 +0000

1860 Louis-Ulysse Chopard founds a high-precision watchmaking Manufacture (specialising in pocket-watches and chronometers) in Sonvilier, in the Swiss Jura.

1920 Chopard relocates to Geneva and expands the production of quality watches.

1963 Karl Scheufele takes over Chopard. Representing the third generation of a family of goldsmiths and watchmakers, he owns the German firm “Karl Scheufele”, founded in 1904 and specialised in jewellery watches (marketed under the "Eszeha" brand name).
From then on, production from both manufacturing entities continues under the Chopard brand.

1974 The Manufacture leaves the centre of Geneva for the new Meyrin-Geneva site.
Chopard further strengthens the creation of elegant ladies’ and jewellery watches.

1976 Creation of the first “Happy Diamonds” watch: mobile diamonds slide in perfect freedom between two transparent sapphire crystals, spinning around the centre dial.
At this time, Chopard is manufacturing its quality men’s watches exclusively in gold.

1980 Launch of the first sports watch with leather strap: "St. Moritz".

1985 Jewellery joined the “Happy Diamonds” line.

1988 Start of the partnership between Chopard and the famous Mille Miglia vintage and classic car rally held each year in Italy. Chopard creates the "Mille Miglia" watch collection, combining precision watchmaking and a sportive design.

1993 Launch of the "Happy Sport" collection, which will soon become the most prominent ladies’ watches collection of Chopard.

1996 The company returns to its origins by founding a watch “Manufacture” in Fleurier in the Swiss Jura, dedicated to crafting the L.U.C movements.

1997 The first L.U.C 1860 watch fitted with Calibre L.U.C 1.96 is voted “Watch of the Year” by the Swiss magazine Montre Passion/Uhrenwelt.

1998 Chopard becomes official partner to the International Film Festival held each year in Cannes.

2000 Presentation of a world premiere: the L.U.C Quattro watch equipped with Calibre L.U.C 1.98. This new movement, fitted with 4 barrels (2 sets of 2 stacked barrels, patented L.U.C Quattro® Technology), offers an exceptional power reserve of approx. 216 hours equivalent to 9 full days.

2001 Launch of the L.U.C Tonneau model. Equipped with the world’s first tonneau-shaped self-winding movement (L.U.C 3.97) with off-centred microrotor, this watch represents a major innovation.

2002 Innovation in the field of Haute-Joaillerie with the presentation of the new “Golden Diamonds” concept.
Chopard becomes Official Timekeeper of the prestigious Grand Prix de Monaco Historique classic car racing event in Monte Carlo.

2003 Presentation of the"L.U.C Tourbillon" model. Crafted entirely by Chopard Manufacture the mastering of the first in-house L.U.C tourbillon movement represents an important technological accomplishment in Haute Horlogerie.
Successful introduction of the new "Happy Spirit" collection, the embodiment of contemporary design and the beauty of pure shapes.

2004 Presentation at Baselworld of the L.U.C Régulateur watch, which is awarded as“Watch of the Year” by the Swiss magazine Montres Passion/Uhrenwelt.
A worlds’ first: launch of the first qualitative horological certification for finished watches under the “Qualité Fleurier” hallmark.
Creation of the Haute-Joaillerie “Butterfly” collection.

2005 Presentation of the L.U.C Lunar One watch with the mechanical calibre L.U.C 96 QP disposing of a perpetual calendar and extraordinary orbital moon phase function.
Introduction of the “Happy Sport Carré XL” watch for ladies.

2006 Presentation of the L.U.C Chrono One, first “integrated chronograph” of the L.U.C collection.
Launch of the new international advertising campaign “Kind of Magic”. Chopard becomes official partner of the “8 metre world sailing championship”.

2007 Launch of the watch collection “TWO O TEN” and the jewellery line “Chopardissimo”.
Presentation of the first High Jewellery “Red Carpet Collection” during Cannes Film Festival

Audemars Piguet

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:04:00 +0000

In 1875, in the Swiss village of Le Brassus, two young men passionately dedicated to fine watchmaking, Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet, decided to unite their skills in order to design and produce watches with complex mechanisms. Their determination, imagination and discipline were soon to earn them noteworthy success. Around 1885, they set up a subsidiary in Geneva and in 1889 established new commercial relations at the Universal Exposition in Paris where they presented some complex pocket-watches. While the Manufacture Audemars Piguet has developed considerably since then, the spirit of high standards, inventiveness and watchmaking passion that drove its founder still persists, daily guiding the company in its choices. Today, Audemars Piguet remains the oldest Manufacture of Haute Horlogerie never to have left the hands of its founding families. More than 700 employees worldwide, including 550 on the three production sites located in Switzerland, and more than 24,000 watches produced each year, express its dynamism, its independence and its spirit of genuine creative daring.

1892 World première: Audemars Piguet develops and completes the first minute repeater wristwatch.

1899 A “Grande Complication” pocket-watch emerges from the Audemars Piguet work-shops. It is equipped with grand and small strike and minute repeater chiming on three gongs, with an alarm striking on independent gongs, perpetual calendar, deadbeat seconds, and chronograph with jumping seconds (fifth of a second indication,) and split-seconds hand.

1915 Audemars Piguet sets a world record that remains unmatched to this day, by creating the smallest five-minute repeater movement of all time.

1921 Audemars Piguet creates the first jumping-hour wristwatch driven by calibre HPVM10’’’.

1946 Thanks to calibre 9’’’ML which is a mere 1.64 mm thick, Audemars Piguet creates the world’s smallest hand-wound movement for a wristwatch.

1955 Introduction of the first Audemars Piguet wristwatch equipped with a perpetual calendar mechanism (calibre VZSSQP): this time-piece displays the “regular” irregularity of the months, while taking account of the leap years.

1972 Completely overturning the existing codes of Haute Horlogerie, Audemars Piguet creates the Royal Oak (calibre 2121), the first high-end steel sports watch, instantly recognisable thanks to its guilloché dial, its octagonal bezel secured with eight hexagonal screws, and its integrated bracelet.

1986 A new world first: Audemars Piguet makes the first ultra-thin selfwinding tourbillon wristwatch (calibre 2870). The tourbillon carriage is the smallest ever made.

1989 Audemars Piguet creates the Dual Time, the first wristwatch to display the time in a second time zone and yet driven by a single selfwinding movement (calibre 2229/2845).

1994 Whereas this mechanism had thus far only been integrated within pocket- watches, Audemars Piguet fits it within a wristwatch and presents the first hand-wound movement with grand and small strike and quarter repeater sounding on two gongs (calibre 2868).

1995 The Manufacture adds a split-seconds chronograph to its Triple Complication launched in 1992, thus giving rise to the first “Grande Complication” selfwinding wristwatch (calibre 2885).

2000 Celebrating the 125th anniversary of the company founding, the Jules Audemars Dynamograph wristwatch (calibre 2891) is added to the Audemars Piguet Classic Collection. It is characterised by a new qualitative indication: that of the torque supplied by the mainspring.

2002 For its 30th anniversary, the Royal Oak treats itself to the Concept watch. Its aesthetics are resolutely futurists; the materials used for its case, titanium and 602 alacrite, stem from cutting-edge technological research; and its original movement (calibre 2896) reaches new peaks of sophistication.

2004 Launch of the fourth piece in the Tradition d’Excellence Collection. Limited to 20 pieces, this Royal Oak hand-wound tourbillon chronograph has a double ten-day power-reserve indication and a 30-minute counter. The watch is equipped with the 2893 calibre. The caseback and the bracelet are made of platinum 950.

2005 Audemars Piguet presents the Edward Piguet Moss Agate Tourbillon. This tourbillon is the world’s first watch to be equipped with a plate in moss agate, a natural semi-translucent mineral graced with a fine mottled pattern reminiscent of plant-life motifs.

A. Lange & Sohne

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:46:00 +0000

For 100 years, A. Lange & Söhne pocket watches were among the most coveted timepieces in the world - until World War II when A. Lange & Söhne was forced into a 50-year hiatus. In 1990, immediately after Germany was reunited, Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s great grandson Walter Lange re-established the Lange Brand.

Today, Lange is again crafting horological masterpieces “Made in Germany” - indeed,
A. Lange & Söhne watches are now every bit as precious and unique as in the grand old days.

1845 Ferdinand Adolph Lange established Saxon precision watchmaking industry in Glashütte, near Dresden in Germany.

1898 Kaiser William II ordered a magnificent A. Lange & Söhne pocket watch: it was a gift to Sultan Abdul Hamid II on the occasion of a visit to the Ottoman Empire.

1924 Walter Lange is born in Dresden. He will follow the footsteps of his forebears and learns the art of watchmaking.

1945 On the last day of World War II, Lange’s main production workshops are bombed.

1948 The company is seized and expropriated by the communist regime. Walter Lange is forced to flee his homeland. The family business is transformed into a people’s collective, the Lange brand disappears, and “A. Lange & Söhne” becomes a legend.

1990 German reunification occurs on 3 October 1990. Walter Lange returns to Glashütte. On 7 December, he re-registered the traditional trademark of A. Lange & Söhne worldwide.

1994 The comeback: Germany re-established its reputation as a source of high-grade horology when the first Lange watches of the new era are presented in Dresden.

2000 Lange joins Richemont Group.

For the future: Actual Lange watches are created in the traditional high standards of the earlier generations of pocket watches made by A. Lange & Söhne.

Roger Dubuis

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:38:00 +0000

Founded in 1995, the manufacturing structure of ROGER DUBUIS was fully in place by 1999. The first building was inaugurated in Meyrin in 2001. Manufacturing independence was achieved in 2003 with its own production of balance-and-spring regulating organs. In 2005, a second building served to regroup the 500 employees in a single 14,500 square-metre site. The 120 machines of its micromechanical engineering workshops produce the entire range of parts for the proprietary ROGER DUBUIS movements. This fully verticalised and state-of-the-art industrialisation brilliantly endorses the company’s status as an authentic Manufacture.

April 2006 Six new movements were presented at Geneva’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), three of them for the first time. They were fitted mainly in the latest Excalibur models, one of the brand’s flagship collections, and bring the number of movements manufactured to 28, each of which is hallmarked with the Poinçon de Genève, sometimes referred to as the Geneva Seal.

2007 An exhibition organised at the SIHH displayed all 28 movements, thereby demonstrating the brand’s exceptional heritage.

April 2008 Roger Dubuis presented a new collection, called KingSquare. Bursting with the brand’s DNA, this square model features highly studied technical specifications. Its construction is unique and its overall design astonishingly innovative as it opens a new field of innumerable styling variations. One of them is the lavish model with a skeleton movement, which has been restructured to transform the skeleton movement from a great classic to a totally contemporary work of art.

Today, the Manufacture Roger Dubuis is a high-performance company which intends to be one of the big players specialised in the luxury goods sector.

Panerai

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:41:00 +0000

Renowned for the exceptional quality of its precision mechanical engineering, Officine Panerai began as a manufacturer of precision instruments and watches for the Royal Italian Navy. Now it has established itself as one of the world’s most celebrated haute horlogerie technical sports watches brand.

1860 Giovanni Panerai, founder of the family business, opens the first watchmaker’s shop in Florence.

1890/1900 Guido Panerai, grandson of the founder, expands his grandfather’s business and gives it new impetus, specializing in high precision mechanisms and becoming official supplier to the Royal Italian Navy.

1900 At the turn of the century, the shop moves to the Piazza San Giovanni site in Florence, where the Panerai boutique can be found today.

1938 Production of Radiomir watches begins for the Italian Navy, with a large (47 mm in diameter) cushion-shaped case, wire loop strap attachments welded to the case, a screw-down crown, a luminous dial easy to read underwater in the dark, and a hand-wound mechanical movement supplied by Rolex

1940s Creation of the Luminor watch. Its water-resistance is guaranteed by a locking lever device fixed to the case, enabling the watches to descend to a depth of 200 metres, a remarkable achievement for the time. This device would be patented in Italy in 1956 and in the USA in 1960.

1956 At the request of the Egyptian Navy, Panerai creates a large Radiomir watch with an Angelus movement with 8-day power reserve and a scale with 5-minute intervals for calculating immersion times.

1980 Production of a prototype titanium watch designed to survive a pressure equivalent to a depth of 1000 metres.

1997 Richemont acquires Officine Panerai and the company’s range of watches, compasses, torches and depth gauges.

2001 Opening of the first Panerai boutique at the historic site in Piazza San Giovanni in Florence.

2002 Opening of a manufacturing base in Neuchâtel and the first boutique in Asia, in the Prince’s Building in Hong Kong.

2003 Opening of the Panerai boutique in Portofino.

2004 The Radiomir collection is enhanced by the 8 Days model. This is a return to the past, with the re-presentation in a modern key of a mechanism which Officine Panerai had already experimented with, the hand-wound 8-day autonomy movement.

2005 Opening of the Panerai boutiques in Shanghai and Los Angeles. Presentation of the first Panerai in-house movement: the calibre P.2002. This is a hand-wound mechanical movement of the latest technical conception with 8 days autonomy.

For the future: Panerai is increasingly orienting itself towards a consistent product range characteristic of the manufacture of technical haute horlogerie.

Chanel

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:23:00 +0000

As she had no time to lose, Mademoiselle Chanel chose to take her time. Born at the end of the 19th century, she quickly understood that the new century opening itself before her, was there for the taking. She wanted to make it her époque and to live her time.

“Fashion goes out of fashion, but style never,” she said repeatedly.
In November 1932, she presented her first Fine Jewelry collection entitled, “Bijoux de Diamants”, in her “hôtel particulier” at 29 Faubourg Saint Honoré in Paris; a dazzling collection of jewelry pieces in platinum and diamonds.
“If I chose diamonds, it’s because they represent the highest value in the smallest volume,” she declared.
She chose the Star as the principle theme for this first collection, as it best highlighted the sparkle of the diamonds.

All throughout her life, Gabrielle Chanel innovated and proposed her unique and inimitable style. This innovative tradition can be found throughout all the contemporary Fine Jewelry and Watchmaking creations of Chanel.

1987: The “Première” - a symbol in itself, in a very masculine watchmaking universe, its style immediately seduces women the world over.

1993: The “Matelassée” watch is created – a simple ribbon in steel that launches the cuff-style watch.
2000: CHANEL creates the surprise with its black J12, dreamed of, thought up and signed by Jacques Helleu.
Ennobled by this watch icon, ceramic becomes one of contemporary watchmaking’s leading materials.

2003: The J12 watch goes from absolute black to immaculate white projecting its opalescence into a new and timeless dimension.
2005: CHANEL creates its innovative new Tourbillon with a ceramic bottom-plate. This movement further reinforces the J12 legend with its watchmaking and technical prowess.
Associating audacity, fine jewelry mastery and the know-how of its watchmaking factory, CHANEL establishes itself as one of the major references of jewelry – watchmaking.

Cartier

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:58:00 +0000

In 1847, Louis-François Cartier takes over the jewellery workshop of his master, Adolphe Picard, at 29 rue Montorgueil in Paris. This marks the birth of the Maison Cartier.

In 1899, Cartier moves into 13 rue de la Paix, the Maison’s current address. The future of the Maison falls to the three Cartier brothers: Louis, Pierre and Jacques. They travel the world, from India to Russia, from the Persian Gulf to the United States. Branches are opened in London in 1902 and New York in 1909. The foundations of the Maison Cartier are laid.

Cartier soon wins fame among the royal courts of Europe. The Prince of Wales, who in 1902 was to become Edward VII, proclaims Cartier “Jeweller of Kings and King of Jewellers”, and in 1904 grants the Maison the first Royal warrant as supplier to the court of England. Cartier’s creations are marked by the exotic influences of the civilisations that the three brothers discover on their travels.
Today, Cartier creations, whether pieces of high jewellery or contemporary jewellery collections, such as Caresse d’Orchidées par Cartier collection, translate the values of a Maison built on a unique know-how, style and expertise.

Quite early, Cartier takes an interest in watchmaking. It is not long before a large number of fob and chatelaine watches appear. It is in 1888 that the Cartier account books mention the first ladies’ wristwatches, as, for Louis Cartier, that is where the future lies. In 1904, he creates the Santos watch for his friend the Brazilian aviator, Santos-Dumont. This success was to be followed by the creation of several other models which, taken as a whole, form the watchmaking heritage of the 20th century: Tonneau watch (1906), Tortue watch (1912), Tank watch (1919), Baignoire watch (1957), Panthère watch (1983), Pasha de Cartier watch (1985), Tank française watch (1996), the Collection Privée Cartier Paris : in 1997, Cartier decided to assemble the classic Cartier shapes and the most exceptionally crafted watches into one collection, Roadster watch (2002), Santos 100 watch (2004), Pasha 42 mm (2005) …

In 1911, Cartier dreams up what was to become one of its most celebrated creations: the mystery clocks. Their hands appear to float in space, independently of the movement. A mysterious creation, the secret of which was to remain jealously guarded by Cartier, and gave rise to numerous variations, from the “chimera” clocks to the so-called “portico” models, a distant imitation of Buddhist temples.

Shaped watches, simple or complication watches, all evoke a know-how and love of the craft that the jeweller-watchmaker has always succeeded in renewing and enriching. Watches that go down in history, forming the heritage of a Maison that is recognised throughout the world and that seems to embody an eternal aesthetic, as testified by the Santos watch - which is now 100 years old and has inspired a new Cartier collection…

Gerald Genta

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:24:00 +0000

The man behind the brand that bears his name was undeniably the most talented Haute Horlogerie designer of his era. He created iconic models that have become milestones in the history of the greatest names in Swiss prestige watchmaking.

1969 Gérald Genta creates his own brand and opened his workshops in St-Jean - Geneva

1973 Development of the first Grande Sonnerie 3-hammer pocket-watch and of the first Gérald Genta Perpetual Calendar model.

1979 Gérald Genta is awarded the much-coveted Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark.

1988 Gérald Genta hits the watchmaking headlines with the launch of the Gefica, the first model equipped with a model featuring complications dedicated to “Big Five” hunters (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros and buffalos). The main innovation, a world first for a wristwatch, the movement is clothed with a bronze case, a material guaranteeing the model against any inadvertent glinting that would warn the prey of the hunter’s approach.

1994 Presentation of the Grande Sonnerie Tourbillon Automatic with 4 hammers, Westminster chime, perpetual calendar and dual time zone. Considered at the time to be the world’s most complex wristwatch.

1996 Development of the Retrograde and Biretrograde movements that are to become brand signature features.

2000 The Gérald Genta brand is bought up by the Bulgari group.

2004 Launch of the Octo line, referring to the Brand’s original octagonal model.

2005 World-first launch of the Chrono Quatro Retro, equipped with a column-wheel chronograph movement and 4 retrograde functions.
Launch of the Tourbillon Incontro, combining a complicated mechanical movement with a digital display.

2007 Launch of the new Gefica, an exceptional model featuring a complex case crafted in bronze and titanium. Opening of the two first own-name Gérald Genta boutiques in Paris and Geneva. Construction of the new premises of the Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Gérald Genta in Le Sentier.

Hublot

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:55:00 +0000

1980, Carlo Crocco founds his own company and creates the Hublot watch in gold. It is fitted with the first natural black rubber strap in the history of watchmaking.

In the mid-90s, rubber became the focus of interest for the top watchmaking brands. Hublot remains one of the last independent family-run watchmaking businesses with a unique mono-product concept. Around this material, Hublot extends its range to include a vast array of collections, some featuring sports complications.

Late 2003, Carlo Crocco, preoccupied by his own design work and many activities for the Hand-in-Hand Foundation, a charity helping deprived children all around the world, is looking for his successor. He meets Jean-Claude Biver.

May 2004, Jean-Claude Biver assumes his duties as CEO. He reinvents the DNA of Hublot by going back to its roots. Jean-Claude Biver relaunches the "Fusion" concept, the Fusion of sometimes unlikely materials such as gold and ceramic, tantalum and pink gold, and even magnesium and titanium, and the Fusion between the Swiss Watchmaking Tradition and the Watchmaker’s Art in the 21st century, all the while preserving the unique, timeless design of Hublot watches.

In April 2005, Jean-Claude Biver sets up a new collection that is presented in Basel with the Hublot "Big Bang" chronograph, an illustration of the Fusion concept. It scoops the "2005 Design Prize", the "Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix", the "Sports Watch Prize" at the "Watch of the Year" ceremony in Japan, and the Middle Eastern Prize for the "Best Oversized Watch" at the Editor’s Choice "Watch of the Year" in Bahrain.

June 2006, Jean-Claude Biver founds a television channel on the web, Hublot TV, the first ever channel to be founded by a luxury brand.

February 2007, Hublot opens its first mono-brand store in Paris, Rue Saint-Honoré. The second opens in the summer, in the Hôtel Byblos, Saint-Tropez.

March 2007, a brand new Big Bang diver is born; it’s the third version in term of size: the Big Bang King has an oversized bezel of 48mm, but fits remarkably well big and small wrists!

October 2007, Hublot presents its first entirely built in house Big Bang: the Mag Bang, an illustration of the 3 M’s for mono-material, monochrome and mat.

November 2007 This same watch receives the first prize for best technological innovation at the “Middle East Watches, Jewellery & Pens Awards 2007”. Almost simultaneously, in Switzerland this time, Hublot is rewarded in the category ‘Jewellery Watch’ at the “Grand Prix of Geneva” for the watch named ‘One Million $ BB’.

In the future, with the incredible development of the brand and the construction of a new factory, the company should grow from 70 to 150 employees within 2 years.

Corum

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:58:00 +0000

1955 The founder of Corum, René Bannwart, was called upon by his uncle Gaston Ries to assume joint management of the watchmaking workshop he had been running since 1924 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Together they transformed this small private label watch factory into a unique brand all their own.

This partnership was perfect – the uncle brought an eye for detail and the nephew an eye for beauty. All that was lacking was a name.

The partners were fascinated by one particular word: “Quorum” which means “the minimum number of persons present required to enable a meeting to hold discussions and take valid decisions. The Quorum is then said to have been reached”. They simplified the spelling of the word to “CORUM”.

The emblem, a key pointing skywards, which embellishes the dial, symbolizes the brand slogan “the key to perfect time.”

1956 The first CORUM watches to appear on the market were greeted with great success. The distinctive CORUM style was born.

1958 Creation of the “Chinese hat” watch for woman whose bezel recalls the famous head covering worn by the people of China.

1960 First interpretation of the Admiral’s Cup model with a square case. The first ever water-resistant square watch.

1964 The Coin Watch was created around an authentic $20 Double Eagle Coin, a symbol evoking the spirit of free enterprise and, a model worn by numerous U.S. Presidents and prominent civilians alike.

1965 Launch of the “Buckingham model” with its oversize proportions, something of a revolution in its day.

1966 The Romulus watch was created with an hourless dial and hour markings on the bezel.

1970 Creation of watches with a “Feather” dial made using genuine bird feathers. Beginning of the use by the brand of materials of extreme delicacy.

1976 The “Rolls-Royce” watch created in an avant-garde partnership with the most famous and prestigious automobile marque of the day.

1980 The “Golden Bridge” with its delicately hand-engraved baguette movement reveals, behind the perfect transparency of its sapphire surround, the very summit of technical mastery of watchmaking style.

1983 The famous Admiral’s Cup design was reinterpreted in a contemporary spirit. It featured nautical pennants that correspond to the international maritime code and a twelve-sided bezel

1986 The Meteorite model featured a dial cut from authentic meteorites

1992 Launch of the Admiral’s Cup “Tides” watch fitted with an exclusive CORUM movement indicating the current state of the tide and also enabling the height of the water and strength of the currents to be estimated.

2000 Buying of CORUM by Severin Wundermann.

Piaget

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 09:16:00 +0000

Since its founding in 1874, Piaget has been cultivating the spirit of luxury by fostering creativity, concern for detail, as well as totally integrated watchmaking and jewellery know-how. Originally specialising in the development and production of watch movements, the company extended its know-how to jewellery in order to launch its first jewellery-watch collections in the 1960s. Demonstrating a rare aptitude for regularly surpassing itself, Piaget excels in all that is rare, precious and exceptional. Whether in creating the thinnest automatic movement or the most expensive watch in the world, Piaget dedicates the full force of its watch- and jewellery-making competence to rising to each new challenge. “Always do better than necessary” was the founder’s motto, and the guiding principle that still prevails in the workshops of La Côte-aux-Fées where the Piaget movements are crafted, or in the Plan-les-Ouates Haute Horlogerie Manufacture in Geneva where the gold cases and bracelets, often set with precious stones, are patiently fashioned. Piaget captures the spirit of the times and its creations are signs of a timeless quest for technical mastery, driven by audacity, expertise and imagination.

1874 Founding of the House of Piaget by Georges Edouard Piaget. Setting up in the Swiss Jura of Piaget’s workshop dedicated to the manufacture of movements.

1943 The Piaget brand name is registered and the House starts creating its own watches.

1956 Launch of the first mechanical ultra-thin movement with manual winding - 9P calibre. Piaget becomes the master of ultra-thin movements.

1959 Inauguration of the first Piaget boutique in Geneva.

1960 The 12P calibre is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the thinnest self-winding movement (2.3 mm) in the world. Piaget becomes the “Swiss exception” by developing watchmaking in an original direction, the jewellery watch, and expands its know-how to gold treatment and gem-setting by acquiring workshops in Geneva. This precocious intuition for jewellery-watches has made Piaget today the undisputed leader in this field.

1964 Piaget surprises the world on a period over 10 years by launching the first watches featuring semi-precious stone dials.

1979 Launch of the Piaget Polo which adorned the wrists of the most famous stars of that period.

1980 Creation of the most expensive gent’s jewellery wristwatch of its time - 5 million Swiss Francs.

1990 Launch of the Tanagra Watches and Jewellery Collection.

1998 Launch of the Miss Protocole Watch.
2001 Piaget inaugurates its new manufacturing facilities in Plan les Ouates, close to Geneva.

2003 Piaget creates its 600P tourbillon calibre, the thinnest shaped tourbillon movement in the world.

2004 Piaget celebrates its 130th anniversary.

The House of Piaget is entirely dedicated to perpetuating and enriching its watchmaking and jewellery know-how, which serve as guarantees of the originality and quality of its creations.

IWC

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:32:00 +0000

IWC has been religiously practicing the fine art of watchmaking in Schaffhausen for 138 years. The fascination and challenge of manufacturing classical, timeless products while remaining at the forefront of the industry in design and technology have been the driving force behind numerous impressive achievements. Its motto, Probus Scafusia, expresses the good and solid craftsmanship of Schaffhausen and remains true to the IWC promise.

1868 An American engineer from Boston, Florentine Ariosto Jones, established the “International Watch Co.” in Schaffhausen and started producing pocket watch movements.

1885 IWC produced its first digital display watches based on the patent owned by Mr. Pallweber.

1936 IWC made the “Spezialuhr für Flieger” also known as “Mark IX”, its first watch especially made for pilots.

1938 Demand from the Portuguese market for a large, extremely accurate wristwatch results in the Portuguese with its original pocket watch movement.

1955 The Ingenieur, the first automatic wristwatch with a soft-iron inner case, went into production and was a huge success.

1978 The first compass watch marked the beginning of 20 years of cooperation between IWC & Designer F.A. Porsche.

1985 With the Da Vinci, IWC introduced the first perpetual calendar which has a four digit year display and can be adjusted exclusively via the crown.

1990 After seven years’ development, IWC presents the first-ever-wristwatch-size Grande Complication with a perpetual calendar, chronograph and minute repeating mechanism.

1993 The masterpiece, Il Destriero, appeared on the occasion of IWC’s 125th anniversary in an edition limited to 125 pieces, fitted with a flying-minute tourbillon and IWC’s exclusive split-seconds mechanism.

2000 IWC introduces the 5000 calibre, a new automatic mechanical movement with a seven-day power reserve and the legendary winding mechanism of the patented Pellaton system. The Portuguese Automatic, produced in a limited edition, is fitted with this exclusive calibre.

2003 The Portuguese Perpetual Calendar, with its new design of perpetual calendar and the world exclusive two-hemisphere display of the moon phase, maintains the IWC tradition of innovation.

2004 IWC launches a whole new generation of diver’s watches named Aquatimer.

2005 Relaunch of the Ingenieur collection supported by the partnership with Mercedes AMG.

2006 Relaunch of the Pilot’s watch Classics and Spitfire collection.

Haute Horlogerie is combined in Schaffhausen with precision engineering and distinctive design. As an engineer among watchmakers, IWC also manufactures its own cases, and as a watchmaker it is keen to ensure that its craft traditions are handed down continuously. IWC has always trained apprentices, ever since the company was founded, and today 20 young talents are completing their four-year training as horloger complet (all-round watchmaker). This sense of continuity also distinguishes the factory from all others in the industry

Girard Perregaux

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:10:00 +0000

Two centuries of watchmaking innovations

The primary objective of any company is innovation. To innovate is to be creative, to have the vision and talent to blaze new trails. By adhering to its vocation as a manufactory, Girard-Perregaux is one of the few Swiss watch companies today to conceive and manufacture its own movements. This means it has to meet the constant challenge of achieving an ever higher level of quality and reliability. It is also the surest way of cultivating the exceptional "savoir-faire" that has made Girard-Perregaux one of the most beautiful jewels in the watch industry’s crown.

1791 Foundation by J.F. Bautte

1854 Constant Girard married Marie Perregaux.

Around 1890, the brand developed itself and opened sales outlets in South America, the United States and Japan.

In 1928, Otto Graef, a German watchmaker and owner of Mimo (International Manufactory of Gold Watches) bought out Girard-Perregaux’s share capital.

1965 Girard-Perregaux developed and manufactured the first high-frequency mechanical movement, with a balance making 36,000 vibrations per hour.

1969 the Manufactory designed and produced a quartz movement with a frequency of 32,768 hertz, which became the universally accepted standard for all watches with quartz movements, including those made in Asia. This standard frequency was a veritable technical breakthrough.

In 1991, to celebrate its bicentenary, the Manufactory created a miniaturised wrist-watch version of its celebrated Tourbillon with three gold Bridges. On 15 September 1992, Luigi Macaluso took over the GIRARD-PERREGAUX Manufacture

1999 Opening of the Girard-Perregaux private museum at Villa Marguerite

2002 Opening of the new Manufacture at La Chaux-de-Fonds

Montblanc

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:41:00 +0000

In 1906 the stationer Claus-Johannes Voss, the banker Alfred Nehemias and the engineer August Eberstein recognize the signs of a “modern” new century. Ingenuity and Imagination help the fountain pen to make its technical and commercial breakthrough as a writing instrument. The three decided to produce fountain pens, placing the cornerstones for the future internationally successful company Montblanc with this “Joint Venture”.

1909 Introduction of the technically improved fountain pen “ Montblanc”. The name “ Montblanc” is registered as a trademark and is used for all writing instruments produced by the company.

1913 The brand logo the Montblanc star is born. Since then, Montblanc products wear the unmistakable rounded star, representing the snow-covered peak of Mont Blanc – the highest European mountain, which symbolizes the brand’s commitment to the highest quality and finest European craftsmanship.

1924 Launch of the legendary Meisterstück and the beginning of its successful career as the world’s most famous writing instrument.

1988 Integration of Montblanc in the group Richemont.

1997 Montblanc attracts great attention and recognition among top international jewellers when it participates in the SIHH watch fair in Geneva for the very first time.

2003 Montblanc presents the TimeWalker watch collection for people who are cosmopolitan, dynamic and have a love for pure, aesthetic design.

2006 The company celebrates its 100th birthday and for this occasion Montblanc creates a diamond with 43 facets, cut in the form of the Montblanc signet. For this Anniversary Montblanc launches the Star Chrono GMT Perpetual Calendar, adorned with the Montblanc Diamond in the crown.

2007 Montblanc and the Swiss Watch Brand Minerva, founded in 1858, join forces to create the “Institut Minerva de Recherche en Haute Horlogerie”.

The “Collection Villeret 1858” is introduced for the first time to the public at SIHH in April 2007.

Bulova

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:10:00 +0000

In the late 1800's a young man by the name of Joseph Bulova began selling the watches he made in a small jewelry store in New York City. It did not take long for the public to begin to realize the unique quality of his work, and sales of Bulova watches skyrocketed. The Bulova watch company was founded in 1923 and is one of the most respected names there has ever been in the watch industry.

Although Bulova began in a rather small, unassuming jewelry store where he offered items such as discount gold jewelry as well as watches, it was the beginning of an empire that has lasted to this day. By the early 1900's the company had a world wide presence, and opened manufacturing facilities in Switzerland as well. This has played a part in the Swiss watch being noted for supreme quality.

During the depression years the Bulova Watch Company sold their goods to customers on credit and faith that they would be repaid. Though this was considered a risky move by many in the business community, it ultimately paid off and people appreciated this approach to doing business in such hard times.

Throughout the 1960's the company was involved with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and they played several major roles in the US space program. Credited with the invention of the Accutron technology, Bulova watches were the first in history to accurately and reliably keep time via electronics, as opposed to simple winding mechanisms. The company has even had its mark left on the moon, which has played a part in information transmission since the original moon landing.

For many people there comes a sense of pride along with the ownership of one of these history rich watches. Although some of the designs may seem rather basic in aesthetics, the overall quality of the watch has been a testament to the vision of Joseph Bulova for over a century.

With today's Bulova watches you will find an absolutely vast array of choices in both design and style. Many people prefer the self winding type of watch because it is essentially maintenance free. These are what are known as mechanical watches because they do not rely on electricity in any form in order to keep time. On the upper side of the scale, these watches may be made out of such desirable materials as 14K white gold and inlaid with natural round cut diamonds. Those who prefer a watch designed for more utilitarian purposes may find models which are made of much more common and much less expensive materials.

Other people enjoy the many options that come with an electronic watch such as LED displays, lights, special calendars, or even audible alerts which can be set to go off at desired points in time. Although most people think of electric watches as just getting their power from small, replaceable batteries found within the watches themselves, Bulova watches pioneered the quartz technology; and this technology has played a major role in the development and eventual perfecting of integrated circuits.

Wenger

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:03:00 +0000

Wenger Company came into existence in the year 1893, when Paul Boechat found the company Paul Boechat and Cie, a knife factory in Courtetelle. Since then they have a history of manufacturing and achieving excellence in many products. In 1895, another group of Delsberg takes over the company and renamed it as Fabrique Swiss de Coutellerie S.A. In 1898 Theo Wenger became the director and after purchasing Basler, the merged company renamed as Schweizer besleckfabrik and company operations were moved to Delsberg.

In 1907, Theo Wenger became the owner of the company and renamed the company as Wenger and company SA. In 1908, Wenger was chosen as supplier of knife for Swiss Army, since then the Wenger watches also contains the term “SWISS ARMY” on the various models of watches supplied by Wenger. After 14 years in 1922 Kasper Oeretti purchased majority equity holding and renamed the company as Wenger SA. After twenty-five years Max Oertli takes over the management of the company. In 1988, Wenger watch collection is launched and in the year 2003, Wenger launches the Swiss Business Tools globally.

Classical Models of Wenger Wrist watches:

Some of the classical watch models of Wenger includes Aerograph day date, Alpine 2-eye day date, Alpine Swiss Rallye limited edition, aqua graph deep diver for male and Commando chrono, escort, and Alpenrose for females. All these watches are available from a range of $ 150 to $ 500 in the market.

Baume & Mercier

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:09:00 +0000

Personality, elegance and precision is what has classified Baume et Mercier watches since its beginning in 1830. After more than 170 years of creative and distinguishable watch making, the company continues to modernize its watches and appeal to the public. Every year there are a plethora of stylish watches available for men and women with several different models to choose from.

It all started when Louis Victor and Pierre-Joseph-Celestin Baume found the "Freres Baume" trading entity in the Les Bois Village in 1830, which lies within the Swiss Jura Mountains. From there a dynasty took off among this family that had already been making watches for several years.

In 1834, members of the Baume family founded the Societe Baume Feres in Le Bois. At first the family targeted enameled pocket watches, but it soon branched off into a large company with great diversity. In 1844, Joseph Celestin Baume traveled to England to set up business relations. It was this trip that helped diversify the company and spread their watches across Europe. Soon after, watches signed "Waterloo," "Diviko" and "Sirdar" opened markets in Australia and New Zealand.

In the early 1880's the second generation of the family headed the company into more modernized watches. Louis-Victor's son, Alcide Eugene headed the Swiss firm while Alcide's brother, Arthur Joseph was managing the London branch. Their elegance and precision was rewarded in 1893 as their watches won the timing competitions at the Kew- Teddington Observatory. The watches scored 91.3 out of 100 possible.

The turn of the century saw new and exciting things for the company beginning in 1912. It was in 1912 that William Baume met the watchmaker and jeweler Paul Mercier at the Geneva watch and jewelry shop in Haas. This meeting between the two would eventually lead to a signing for the establishment of Baume and Mercier in Geneva on November 26, 1918.

The agreement amongst the two proved to be an extremely smart and successful one in years to come. Just three years later in 1921 the company was rewarded again, this time by the coveted Poincon de Geneve, which was the official recognition of flawless quality products.

After World War II the company shifted its focus to conventional men's watches, chronographs and ladies' jewelry watches. In 1965 the Piaget family took control over Baume et Mercier outbidding international competition and that same year the new owners switched to electronic tuning fork movements.

Currently, Baume et Mercier just opened a store in Switzerland in 2004 and has made a name for itself as a trendsetter. Continuous production and modernization in watches such as the Riviera, which was released in 1980, has kept the company alive and strong over 170 years later.

Pulsar

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:25:00 +0000

Pulsar Watch, a division of Seiko Watch Corporation, is among the leading watch brands worldwide. These watches are extremely elegant, classy and sparkling. They are wrapped up in contemporary designs by the mean of an eternal appeal. The stunning thick range includes watches for almost all ages of people and their taste. Through the production of modern timepiece watches, it has set up a unique customer category for its brand. By following the same line of parent Seiko, Pulsar persists to innovate, captivate and shine.

In the year 1972, the first Pulsar watch was made public by the Hamilton Watch Company. The expertise and novelty, through which it was created, mesmerized some contemporary press reports to shower a huge amount of praise on it. At that time, it was the first of its kind incorporating digital display and electronic quartz. In the midst of a light emitting diode, it got a new space-age look.

Pulsar watches were a 'colossal beat' and had a great demand in those times. At the time, when the watch boom lessened a bit, since then, the Pulsar brand had got hold of a vast territory and made its lasting impression worldwide. Subsequent to a string of alterations in brand ownership, Pulsar watches were launched in the U.S. in 1979 by Seiko Corporation of America. By means of latest looks and innovative features, this collection was the first full line series of all-quartz, specially designed for men and women.

The move became a huge sensation and brought eminence to the brand. To replicate the accomplishment of the U.S. market, in the 1980s, the Pulsar brand was rolled out in the UK, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain and other European markets. This move saw the brand taking sway over worldwide market. The company continued with its expansion strategy so as to gain a wider geographical coverage.

In the mid 1980s, the company added some new range to its existing products and started taking control over the market by bringing in the latest technologies. It enlarged its collection of timepieces and inducted classic sport and dress watches to lure women. Further, in the mid 1990s, it amassed some most extraordinary compilations: Sports, Titanium, Diamond and Pocket. To remain competitive, it added some magnificent features which were unique in nature. The patented integrated circuit technology, which is one of those remarkable features, was handy in providing a quick-start function. It also included a step-motion second hand, which enabled it to report regarding the need of charging the watch.

The LumiBrite dial, an exciting feature, was capable of shining for a long duration with no push of any special button. The newly launched NOS Sport 3502 watch, which symbolizes a synthesis of a graceful retro design of 70's and a modern apparatus of 90s, is a model of hi-tech brilliance among its touch sensitive display points.

Even after more than thirty years, Pulsar now takes a step further in its tradition of technological fineness and exceptional design. From the time of its market entry, it has maintained its cutting edge of approach and expertise. Right throughout in its stupendous journey, the company built nearly each and every Pulsar watch to match the topmost values of quality.

After taking over the U.S. market in the 1980s, by the way of its aggressive marketing strategy, Pulsar is not only a key brand in all the European countries, but it has also made its presence felt in Australia, Canada, Africa and Israel. It offers a broad series of timepieces that not simply look stylish but moreover possess various appealing functions. With a trademark of Seiko Corporation - the world's top notch maker of classic timepieces, one might easily rely on Pulsar's products along with their after sales service program. Pulsar offers one of the best warranty programs in the industry where it not only covers the movement, but the entire watch including the case, the crystal, and the bracelet for a period of 3 years.

AK Anne Klein

noreply@blogger.com (redman05) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:20:00 +0000

Anne Klein began her company in 1968. Originally Anne Klein only sold clothes in matching pieces and bits to make it easier to put outfits together. She was able to offer women products that fit their needs and well before anyone was serving this market. It could be called an overnight success -in the least a smashing success as the result of Klein's hard work, confidence, and brilliance. Anne saw herself rise to the top and was one of the world's top designers when she died, unexpectedly, in 1974. The company has succeeded in her absence with labels such as Donna Karan, an assistant on Ann's.

Of course clothing pieces was not enough when women wanted accessories, along with handbags, purses, hats and gloves came the Anne Klein watch line. Today there are actually two lines: Anne Klein and Anne Klein II. These watches come in hundreds of models and are almost all priced below $200. There are a few exceptions that include diamond faces and can be found in stores such as Bloomingdales, Macy's, and Nordstrom.

The range of price is exceeded by Anne Klein's range of styles. Fittingly, there are Anne Klein watches to match any outfit and any style or trend. The one thing that seems to emanate from all Anne Klein watches; however; is an unassuming elegance. The are never pretentious and even the advanced and detailed models somehow maintain the pure simplicity captured by only the world's finest designers.