Archive for the ‘Misc’ Category
The Movado Kara 0605283 Doesn’t Shine
Movado Kara Lacks That Special Something
The Movado Women’s Kara Watch #0605283 is a well made watch, don’t get me wrong. I’m actually a big Movado fan, but I think that this watch falls short. It does have all the proper components, yet for me the look is lacking. Movado is known for their minimalistic styling, but this women’s timepiece is a bit drab. Even though the dial of 0605283 Kara watch comes in a pale and beautiful shade of blue…I believe that the designers could have added a bit more oomph, ya know?
Let’s get to the nuts and bolts of the Movado Women’s Kara Watch #0605283, in case you decide to disagree with my taste. The dial is presented in blue Mother-of-Pearl. It is your standard Museum dial that we are used to, and is cases in stainless-steel, which has been polished. The Swiss quartz movement keeps the cost down, but this watch still retails for just around $200. Movado has used a scratch resistant Sapphire crystal and made this women’s watch water resistant to 30 meters.
While it is not a bad watch by any means, the Movado Women’s Kara Watch #0605283 comes as a bit of a disappointment to me, because of its lack of originality.
Authentic Watches
Authentic watches are classics
Rolex is, arguably the most recognized luxury watchmaker in the world. Rolex has become a symbol of wealth and success in our culture in the states, and around the world. Wearing one of these coveted watches is a sign that you have arrived, and that status is what many of us dream of. The Rolex Presidential is worn by many company heads, and signifies to others your position.
Cartier was founded back in 1847 and has remained a premier, quality watchmaker since. Cartier is sophistication, epitomized. Creating many diverse and beautiful designs, has served Cartier well. The name stands for luxury and high quality, and the look of these watches is unmistakable.
These timepieces aren’t merely functional, they tell a bit of a story. They become, very much a part of whom we are…or who we want to portray to the world. The wrist-watch has become an extension of our personality, and an emblem or our achievements.
Authenticity can take many forms, when we are speaking of watches. It can come in a very expensive package or in a simple brown box. To me, authenticity means honest, steadfast, quality. Many watchmakers today fall into that category.
The authentic watch for you has to be made well, feel and look amazing enough on you to wear everyday, and be matched with your pocket-book. Be choosy…this is something you’ll have for quite a while.
Watch Sales Find Omega At Great Prices
Omega Watch Sales are a great find for anyone looking for a fine watch at the best price. On-line searches of Omega watches can produce substantial savings for a savvy shopper.
A recent sale highlighted several Omega styles such as the Men’s Constellation Perpetual Calendar Steel Yellow-Gold watch for the super sale price of $545.00. That’s a savings of $295.00 off the list price of $840.00. The 123.20.35.60.02.002 Omega Constellation Perpetual Calendar Steel Yellow-Gold watch is from the Constellation line and is one of Omega’s signature styles.
Another fantastic deal was on the Omega Women’s Constellation Automatic Champagne Gold Cindy Crawford Watch. The 1292.10.00 Omega Women’s Constellation Automatic Champagne Gold Cindy Crawford Watch is being offered for $465.00, an astounding 33% off the list price of $690.00.
The Omega Constellation series is the cornerstone of Omega design. Showing off the craftsmanship and attention to style has made Omega the premier watchmakers they are today. Finding these quality timepieces and incredible prices makes owning one all the more sweet.
Watches, Then And Now
The first watch was created in Italy around 1500 CE, yet the Egyptians were using sun-dials to keep time even before that. The early timepieces were quite inaccurate and not very user-friendly. It wasn’t until nearly 100 years later that watches were invented that could keep time to the fraction of the minute. Before this, keeping time was only as accurate as down to the fraction of the hour.
Over time technology has improved, greatly. Accurate timekeeping is invaluable and often taken for granted in our advanced society.
Back as early as the 1600’s we began decorating our watches. The watch was looked at as more of a piece of jewelry, and watchmakers showcased this by engraving watches and encrusting them with stones and gems.
As time passed, watches became smaller and more polished in appearance. Thus, more sought after and readily available. Watchmakers from around the world worked on perfecting their trade.
Until the early 1800’s watches were all hand-made. The parts, of course, were not interchangeable. The Swiss would soon change this. They believed that was a huge market for mass production watches and went forward in creating that.
Fast forward to today and you will find many, quality, accurate, mass-produced watches.
The history of the watch has seen much innovation, but a watch does more than simply tell time. Your watch makes a statement about you. Are you practical or artistic? Do you like bright or muted colors? Do you want to blend in with the crowd or sparkle? All of these questions can be answered by looking at your wrist. A watch is something you wear everyday, it is an extension of your personality.
Albert Einstein wore a Gold Longines, John F. Kennedy wore the Omega Ultra-Thin, and President Barrack Obama wears the Elini New Yorker Men’s Chronograph.
Whatever statement you want to make about yourself…there is a wrist-watch out there to convey it.
Tissot Watches Offer Elegance And Affordability
Tissot Watches, founded in 1853, produced the first-ever production pocket watches. Their innovation did not stop there…the luxury watchmaker has since produced beautiful designs, rich in texture and style. Among these are timepieces crafted of materials like mother-of-pearl, wood, and even rock.
Artistically, Tissot Watches excel, but pairing that with new and creative technology, really sets Tissot apart. Implementing the, first ever, T-Touch technology is a shining example of the dedication to craftsmanship that Tissot exemplifies.
Tactile touch technology, or T-Touch allows the wearer to, simply, touch the face of the watch to alter the function. This invention marks a true milestone in watch making history.
Tissot’s T-Touch watches are designed for everyone. There are sporty styles with colorful, rubber bands to classic gold, silver, and platinum creations. T-Touch series comes in both men’s and woman’s versions and with enough options to suit most any taste.
With all the accolades, you would think the prices would be out of reach, but Tissot offers watches for any pocketbook. Tissot produces nearly 2 million watches per year and offers tons of options. The T34.1.481.14 Tissot PR50 Men’s Watch is a beautiful example of their desire to offer the consumer a quality watch at a reasonable price. This watch retails for just $146.25. On the other end of the spectrum is the T71.3.445.11 Tissot T-Touch Men’s Watch. This watch is a masterpiece of design, offering T-Touch technology, with leather band and gold dial and accents. The T71.3.445.11 retails for $6,495.00.
No matter your taste or budget, it’s clear that Tissot has a watch for you. You can’t go wrong with one of these fine watches, and with so many options offered, the only problem you will encounter is choosing the one you want.
Cruise donates Breitling to charity auction
At the Living Legends of Aviation Awards, Tom Cruise was honored as the Top Aviation Inspiration and Patriotism Award. And who better to present him with this award than John Travolta, the Ambassador of Aviation. Cruise was awarded a bird shaped statuette and a Breitling watch which he promptly donated to a charity auction that evening.
Travolta has always been known for his obsession with planes. He is a certified pilot and owns five aircraft. One of his collection is the Australian Boeing 707-138 airliner. He acts as an ambassador for Qantas whose insignia remains are still visible on the plain. On his $4.9 million estate in Florida, Travolta has his own runway and taxiway till the front door.
It is with this history that Travolta was seen as the perfect one to award Tom Cruise with the Top Aviation Inspiration and Patriotism Award. Cruise received the award not only for his own passion in flying and planes, but mainly for his movie Top Gun which features the most grossing aviation scenes of all time.
Many other awards were presented during the evening, most notably the First Out of This World Landing and Take-Off Award, which was awarded to Dr. Buzz Aldrin for his own accomplishments in aviation and exploration. When he was younger, Aldrin flew 66 times on missions to Korea. He is one of 12 astronauts to ever walk on the moon.
The Legends awards gala is organized by the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, which is a non-profit organization that introduces children to aviation.
The World’s Most Pointless Men’s Watch?
Luxury watch companies are always trying to think of some new angle with which to pitch their watches; it’s hard given that a watch can really only do so much. However, the Swiss company Horus has come out with a new watch called the Ultramarinum Marine watch that promises to give its owners “the power of time”.
What does this mean? Well, by pressing a button the wearer can adjust the seconds, minutes and hours; making them “follow the pace of his or her choice and then return to the current time at any point.”
What? Who has the time to play with time? Well, Horus is betting that millionaires do and this makes sense given that the cost of this men’s watch, in U.S. dollars is about $664,000. Horus is hoping that the illusion of being able to control time appeals to a millionaire’s taste. For example, if someone is sunbathing and wants to pretend that time has slowed down; that the world has stopped moving, this person can (on his / her watch) stop time. When it comes time to snap back to reality (find out if it’s time to flip) he / she pushes a button and the time returns to normal.
The design f this watch was inspired by the 1920s steam yacht the SS Delphine, which in the eyes of Kat Hannaford, the contributing editor of Gizmodo, makes it “clearly aimed at yachtsmen.” However, anyone knows that when you’re out at sea, the idea of manipulating time is not a smart one.
Perhaps the Ultramarinum Marine will appeal to rich owners of yachts who never really leave the harbor. After all, this watch is only available for purchase in Horus boutiques which happen to be located in Montreux, Switzerland, Monaco and Abu Dhabi.
Andre Grossmann, the founder of Horus, defends his masterpiece saying “It took four years to create this breathtaking time-piece. We used avant-garde materials and revolutionary technologies to create a watch with a time-control system. I am really pleased to be able to offer people the possibility of controlling time. That, for me, is the very essence of true luxury. What could be more precious than time?”
The watch itself is made from teak and titanium and the mechanism inside includes 45 rubies. It is water resistant to 100 meters and shockproof. The strap is made of canvas and leather. The speeding up and slowing down mechanism is controlled by “a marine tourbillion function”.
Seiko Unveils Luxury Watch Collection Abroad
Up until now, in the U.S. Seiko has been known as a manufacturer of sporty, high tech watches. But that image is about to change, since for the first time, their Elite Collection will be brought to the U.S. as well as be available internationally.
Seiko watches are built using four technologies: Spring Drive, Kinetic (quartz watch powered by human movement), Mechanical and Quartz.
Seiko has achieved many “world firsts” in its time, these being some of them: world’s first LCD quartz watch with six-digit digital display, world’s first multi function digital watch, world’s first TV watch, world’s first watch with computer functions, and Seiko Thermic, world’s first watch driven by body heat, among others.
The Elite Collection are all mechanical watches, representing another “first” for the brand and asserts them in a competitive place with other watch brands. The Elite Collection brings with it three calibers, two of which are brand new developments by Seiko. Each watch within this collection uses Seiko’s SPRON 510 alloy, and classifies these watches as the “only luxury chronograph (that can) measure elapsed time in a unique, glide motion and not to the nearest tick, like its competitors.” The design of both the case and the dial is reminiscent of Katana, the ancient art of sword-making first developed over 800 years ago.
Seiko has received many awards over the years for its innovation. You can be sure they are standing by to see how this new collection will be received by the global watch market.
Time to Go: Send Them Off with a Watch
Eighteen years at home and your kid is about to leave for his first day of college. You’re either rejoicing your new found freedom and independence again or weeping at the thought that you’re baby is all grown up. Like any parent, you’re probably a mixture of both feelings.
Either way, if you’re looking for the perfect “send off” gift, get him or her a cool, designer watch. A good, solid watch will come in handy in many ways. First of all, every time they look at it, they’ll think of you! Second, they won’t have an excuse to be late to class. Third, watches last a lifetime; it’s the gift that won’t ever stop giving; it can one day be something that your son or daughter will be able to pass on to their own children. And fourth, (again, back to you), your baby will think you’re super cool if you get them a watch that they’ll feel cool wearing.
Whether it’s a top notch watch like Bvlgari, Cartier, Baume & Mercier, or something less expensive (Gucci watches are priced well), like a Tissot, Omega or Movado watch.
A great, fun watch for young women is anything and everything by Michele watches. For young men, try a sporty watch, like a T-Touch by Tissot or a Raymond Weil.
Whatever you choose, remember these two things when weighing your options. #1: don’t pay retail and #2: don’t buy a replica.
Oh and lastly, don’t go with some cheese ball watch from a celebrity’s line. Why people like Jessica Simpson and Paris Hilton even bother to design watches they think people will buy is beyond me, but I can tell you, that it’s definitely not cool for your college-bound baby to sport something designed for teenagers.
Cartier Great Watchmaking History
Cartier Santos
The Cartier brand is one of the most recognized luxury trademarks in the world. The name is synonymous with sophistication and luxury design. To truly admire the greatness of their legacy, one should read the history of the grand watch and jewelry Maison. The luxury brand’s overbearing presence in the jewelry, fragrance, accessory and watch industry are undeniable evidence of its massive international success.
The Cartier Company is a subsidiary of Compagnie Financière Richemont SA. Before 1964, the company was owned and controlled by the Cartier family of French jewelers. The Cartier family was renowned as artists of elaborate jewelry, commissioned by royalty from all corners of the earth. The brilliance of their technique and exotic choice of jewel ensembles created such grand pieces as the “Bestiary” (illustrated by the Panthère brooch in 1940, created for Wallis Simpson,) the diamond necklace that Yadavindra Singh Maharaja of Patiala wore in 1904, and of course the famous Santos wrist watch, made for the Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos Dumont.
The company’s origins lie in Paris 1847, when young Louis-François Cartier took over his master’s workshop. Soon after, the apprentice became one of the most skilled jewelry-artisan of his time. In 1874 son Alfred Cartier took over the company. Although the company basked in success, it was not until Alfred’s sons Louis, Pierre and Jacques took the reins of the company, that the Cartier brand would enjoy such international notoriety.
In 1899 the company decided to expand internationally. Louis Cartier remained in Paris to control the local branch. He has been credited for some of the most famous Cartier designs such as the “Mystery Clock” and the employment of “Tutti Fruti jewels.” In 1907 Cartier rose to the challenge of making the world’s first men’s wristwatch. The watch was made for the great aviator Santos Dumont, who complained of the impracticality and unreliability of wrist watches. The watch was named after him, and is still in production today.
Inspired by the powerful and newly-born war machines of the western front, Louis designed one of the most famous Cartier watch designs of all time. The Tank series debuted in 1917 and has been in production for more than 90 years.
In 1920 The Cartier Company formed a joint venture with Edward Jaeger. Jaeger would provide movements for the Cartier timepieces on a contract of exclusivity. This venture and the mass production of Cartier watches with trustworthy, precise movements mark the beginning of Cartier’s unstoppable rise to the top of the international watch industry.
