Dream Machines – Luxury watch and automobile collaborations

Blancpain & Lamborghini
In just three years of involvement in motor sport, Blancpain has unremittingly strengthened its presence in this compelling activity.
Partner of Lamborghini and title sponsor of the ‘Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo’ since 2009 and official timekeeper of the FIA GT1 world championship since 2010, Blancpain confirms its presence at the highest level of world motorsport with the launch of the ‘Blancpain Endurance Series’ and its participation as official partner in the ‘ADAC GT Masters’ championship.
To celebrate the various commitments in motor sport, Blancpain have developed the L-evolution ‘Super Trofeo’ Flyback Chronograph. The watch features an automatic movement, a titanium case, with the dial and horns made of carbon fibre and its strap of alcantara. This limited edition of 600 watches is a real reference to the world of car racing.

* What is the Flyback Function? Of particular use to pilots and professional drivers, the ‘Flyback Function’ allows the chronograph to be reset to zero and immediately restarted by pressing the push button.
www.blanpain.com www.lamborghini.com

Richard Mille & Grand Prix de Pau
Richard Mille immediately became the reference to the mechanical lovers of horology and automotive. Being a racing and car enthusiast, he always had the spirit of top performance. This year, he presented the new round case, the RM33. Classic form without tarnishing the RM codes. Ultra-technical and ultra-modern, its transparent dial reveals the automatic calibre with a micro-rotor. Visually, the screws of the thick bezel, bezel that provides the maximum security to the movement, reinforce the technical aspect.
Richard Mille is the main partner to the Grand Prix de Pau 2011, an event eagerly anticipated by all GP enthusiasts, especially as it takes place on one of the last remaining street circuits.
www.richardmille.com www.grandprixdepau.com

TAG Heuer Carrera MP4-12C Chronograph
TAG Heuer and McLaren have one of the longestrunning partnerships between a brand and a racing team in the history of Formula One. They have teamed up once again to meet performance and perfection. Produced in a limited edition of 1000 pieces, the TAG Heuer Carrera MP4-12C Chronograph’s exclusive design compliments the new astonishing McLaren road car.
Its sleek design reflects the new sports car in colour, materials and design. As in the road model, the sapphire crystal insert reveals the ‘engine’ behind the watch face, and in contrast to the carbon style, an extremely hi-tech watch face. The movement is automatic with a semi-perpetual calendar and Flyback Function.

*What is a semi-perpetual calendar? This complication is made to adjust the date only once yearly in February.
www.tagheuer.com www.mclaren.com

Hublot : Tribute to Ayrton Senna
The ‘King Power Ayrton Senna’ is a split-second chronograph with power-reserve indicator. In addition to Ayrton Senna’s signature,
displayed on the sapphire crystal of the dial, the watch includes a wealth of high-tech details directly inspired by Formula 1. The case is made entirely from carbon fibre with a ceramic bezel adorned with multiple holes to represent an F1 ceramic brake disk and a strap made from Nomex, fabric used to make the suits worn by F1 drivers. 500 numbered timepieces will be sold in support of Instituto Ayrton Senna.

F1 King Power Ceramic – The Official Watch of Formula 1!
In a limited edition of 500 numbered pieces, the ‘F1 King Power Ceramic’ is a chronograph with two push-buttons (Start and Reset), Its 48mm case is made from micro-blasted black ceramic. The special carbon fibre bezel is adorned with a signature-drilled ceramic
ring inspired by high performance brake discs. Finally, its strap is made of rubber and NomexTM, a synthetic fibre, which thanks to its very low combustibility, is used to make the overalls worn by racing drivers.
www.hublot.com

Scuderia Ferrari One by Cabestan
Cabestan, the high-end Swiss watchmaker surprised the watch industry by announcing a partnership with Ferrari to jointly design and
produce a very limited edition watch to celebrate the Cavallino Rampante. The Scuderia Ferrari One by Cabestan is inspired by
Ferrari race car technology and design. High-tech materials such as titanium, aluminium, magnesium and carbon fibre are the same as those used to produce components of Ferrari Formula1 race cars. And as for the strap, Ferrari owners will recognise the unmistakable Daytona leather. The heart of the motor is a vertical tourbillon, to compensate the effects of the Earth’s gravity. Here the energy delivered to the movement is transmitted by a miniature chain and fusée using a 6-speed automatic transmission to deliver a constant force to the tourbillon. The result is amazingly accurate to ± 1 second per day. The Scuderia Ferrari One by Cabestan will only be made available to Ferrari clients.

*What is a chain and fusée? A chain and fusée enables the watchmaker to deliver a constant force to the movement. As a result, the tourbillon receives a constant force and the variations in amplitude are considerably reduced, thus dramatically increasing the accuracy of the movement.
www.cabestan.ch www.ferrari.com

Chopard & Mille Miglia
The Mille Miglia (round Italy road rally) is the continuation of the fierce ‘Gran Turismo’ competition that stopped in 1957. Chopard became the historical partner of this modern version of the mythical gentlemen-collectors race. To pay tribute to modern motor sport,
Chopard LUC have created the One Engine LUC Tourbillon with a high performance engine. The movement shape reminds us of the
V8 or V10 engines of the big German sedans, which are found in big GT competitions for example. All the details of this timekeeper, such as the power reserve indicator or the movement shock absorbers, are dedicated to the passion for motor sports.
www.chopard.com www.1000miglia.eu

Parmigiani Fleurier & Bugatti
The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport made history by setting a world land speed record for production sports cars. On the wrist of test driver, travelling at a top speed of 431 km/h, the new Parmigiani Bugatti Super Sport. Parmigiani Fleurier, the official partner of Bugatti since 2001, unveiled the second generation of its Bugatti models. Parmigiani flips all the mechanical components of the new
calibre Bugatti PF 372 onto a vertical axis, retaining the lateral time display so appreciated by car drivers. The manually-wound Calibre Parmigiani 372 (power reserve of 10 days) was designed in two planes in order to match the contours of the new Bugatti watch. Six sapphire crystals reveal its 337 impressive components and the ‘openworked’ oval dial, inclined on a 90-degree axis and
made from carbon fibre in honour of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, shows the hours and minutes. The ‘gold black’ Côtes de Genève and satin finishes on the bridges and the 3-dimensional turn-in angles on the train wheel bridge reflect Parmigiani’s exacting standards. Only 30 Haute Horlogerie pieces of this special edition will be delivered.
www.parmigiani.ch www.bugatti.com

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This is the first article from Watchonista, our resident experts on all things horology. The article was written by Alexander Friedman, Founder/Partner of Watchonista.

For more information on Watchonista, visit the website: www.watchonista.com

Baselworld 2011

TW Steel CEO Goliath

TW Steel presented the CEO Goliath at Basel, which has 15 models in its collection. The Dutch watch brand renowned for being ‘big in oversized watches’ have stepped up their game in refining their existing offerings and producing watches that feature a new level of comfort for the wearer which will ‘fit every wrist, no matter the size’. Features of the CEO Goliath range include the use of sandblasted cases on the models sporting PVD rose-gold plating and PVD black coating. Creating a superior matt case, combined with a shiny bezel, this look further distinguishes the watches adding to their appeal and enhanced qualities, which also include bold indexes and the 12 and 6 in striking roman numerals.
www.twsteel.com

Bulova Accutron Conqueror Limited Edition

Bulova is celebrating its aeronautical legacy with the Basel launch of the Accutron Conqueror, with Sir Richard Branson as its ambassador. Featuring a Dubois-Depraz 31340 53-jewel automatic mechanical movement, this distinguished Swissmade chronometer incorporates a precision chronograph with fl yback function for immediate reset, as well as a 24-hour GMT indicator to allow simultaneous independent dual time-zone readings. Crafted of solid stainless steel, with a
smoothly curved tonneau case, engraved to capture the essence of the 1927 original, the Bulova Accutron Conqueror includes green luminous numerals and hands, as well as a Mississippi alligator strap. This limited edition timepiece is individually numbered on its caseback and includes a certificate of authenticity to attest to its position in a controlled production run of only 200 pieces.
www.bulova.com

MeisterSinger Pangaea Automatik

A classic MeisterSinger design, the Pangaea Automatik has no minute or second hands, or time zones or a date display. Stripped to the very basic level, this is a classic dress watch for those that have a different perception of time. Simple and very elegant. Comes in a stainless steel casing, with exhibition back and a 48-hour power reserve.
www.meistersinger.de

Raymond Weil Maestro Moon Phase

From the Maestro collection, this is Raymond Weil’s first Moon Phase complication with a mechanical movement, due for release later in the year. Equipped with the RW4500 mechanical movement with automatic winding, it has a power reserve of 38 hours. 39.5mm round polished steel case with a sapphire crystal back and black leather alligator-style strap.
www.raymond-weil.com

Ebel Classic Sport

EBEL presents a new interpretation of its emblematic Ebel Classic Sport collection. The gleaming stainless steel exterior of this contemporary, sporting version is punctuated by touches of gold that offer a bright reminder of the brand’s expertise in creating two-tone watches. The men and women’s collections come in 18k gold and stainless steel and are available in 40mm and 27mm respectively.
www.ebel.com

Baselworld 2011 / 2

Boucheron Héra Tourbillon

The high-jewellery and high-watchmaking Héra Tourbillon bracelet watch. The bracelet is in white gold set with diamonds, sapphires and Paribia tourmalines. The Girard-Perregaux three gold bridges tourbillion movement is set with diamonds and Paribia tourmalines. A striking piece of objet d’art from the ‘Audacious – Cabinet of Curiosities’ collection.
www.boucheron.com

Oris Carlos Coste Limited Edition – Cenote Series

In 2010, Carlos Coste established a new Guinness World Record for freediving, by completing a 150 metre underwater swim using no apparatus through Dos Ojos, a colossal cenote (cave network) that twists for 31 miles under the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. The Venezuelan freediver was armed with only a torch and a monofin when he made the death-defying dive. Oris have honoured this great achievement by creating a special limited edition of 2000 pieces. The case is made out of titanium with ceramic top ring and superluminova inlay. Pushers and screw-down crown are stainless steel and water resistant to 50 bar (500 metres).
www.oris.ch

DeWitt Twenty-8-Eight Tourbillon

The Twenty-8-Eight Tourbillon marked a new era for DeWitt’s watch making capabilities, as the DW8028 movement was assembled entirely in-house. Each art-deco inspired watch has a little plate, placed on the barrel-bridge and bears the signature of the master watchmaker, who is responsible for the assembly, adjustment and testing of the watch from A to Z. The black anthracite face contrasts with the creamy coloured circle appliqué in palladium, with the numerals, hands and central construction in rose gold.
www.dewitt.ch

Hermès Arceau Pocket Promenade de Longchamp

This exquisite, one-off pocket watch is hand-engraved with a natural grey-blue mother-of-pearl dial, with the carriage and horseman in gold using the relief modelling technique. The motif is inspired by the ‘Promenade de Longchamp’ silk carré designed by Philippe Ledoux. Driven by an Hermès H1928 movement, it comes with a 55- hour power reserve. In 750 (18ct) white gold and alligator cord-strap.
www.hermes.com

The JwlryMachine: Boucheron’s interpretation of MB&F’s Horological Machine No 3 (HM3)

When the first HM3 model was released in 2009, it sent shockwaves throughout the fine watchmaking community for its bold and unconventional design. A year later MB&F collaborated with the house of Boucheron to create another masterpiece; a haute-joaillerie version of the HM3, and what a result! The three-dimensional jewelled owl is presented here in 18k red gold with pink tourmaline, rose quartz, diamonds and pink sapphires. The owl even has a ‘beating’ heart, thanks to the swings of the solid-gold battle-axe-shaped rotor beneath the translucent stone.
www.mbandf.com

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II

Rolex unveiled five new models from their flagship Oyster collection at Basel, including the Yacht-Master II. This revolutionary regatta chronograph is equipped with an exclusive programmable countdown with a mechanical memory and this new version is the first Professional watch in the Oyster collection to be available in ‘EVEROSE ROLESOR’ – an exclusive combination of the 904L steel superalloy and 18 ct EVEROSE gold. The model’s 4160 movement, designed and developed by Rolex, is fitted with a PARACHROM hairspring, 10 times more resistant to shocks and insensitive to magnetic fields. The countdown is operated by a column wheel and a vertical clutch. A number of micro-components in this unique movement are produced by UV-LiGA – a new technology, which enables the production of components whose fineness or geometry makes them impossible to manufacture by traditional means.
www.rolex.com

Tag Heuer Mikrotimer Flying 1000 Concept Chronograph

The Mikrotimer Flying 1000 Concept Chronograph, the world’s first mechanical wrist chronograph to measure and display 1/1,000th of a second, sets a new milestone in mechanical precision. It is 125 times more accurate than most of the mechanical chronographs on the market — thanks to a heart beating at the unbelievable speed of 3,600,000 beats-per-hour. If the Heuer CARRERA MIKROGRAPH 1/100th Second Chronograph is to watchmaking what walking on the moon is to space history, then the Mikrotimer Flying 1000 Concept Chronograph is the equivalent of the first manned landing on Mars!
www.tagheuer.com

Jorg Hysek Slyde

The Slyde from avant-garde watchmaker Jorg Hysek is a great example of the dynamic fusion of technology and luxury watchmaking at its best. SLYDE takes the underlying principle of the smartphone – the ability to change applications by merely sliding a finger over a tactile screen – and adapts it to the world of 21st century watchmaking. This revolutionary display means that, by simply sliding across the watch screen, the user can generate an unlimited variety of timepieces on the wrist – creating a range of ‘different’ watches within a single timepiece using a range of virtual modules.
www.hd3complication.com