The Breitling Watch Blog

HUBLOT – F1™ King Power Tourbillon

As the Official Formula 1™ Watchmaker, Hublot presents the first tourbillon ever developed with and for the prestigious world of Formula 1™. Available in a strictly limited series of 50 numbered pieces, the F1™ King Power Tourbillon Gold Ceramic is 48 mm in diameter and equipped with a HUB7300 tourbillon chronograph movement. It features a 5-day power reserve, a special tourbillon cage and a balance decorated like a F1™disc brake, as is the circular-satin-finished ceramic bezel. The strap, stitched on rubber, is made of Nomex®, a synthetic fibre used in the manufacture of racing-driver suits. A very balanced timepiece with cutting-edge technology, maximum precision and a vibrant sporting character.

Movement
Automatic, HUB7300 tourbillon calibre, 27 jewels, 238 components, black gold-plated and sand-blasted plate, micro-bead-blasted, satin-finished and black gold-plated bridges, 120-hour power reserve

Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds and chronograph

Case
18K King Gold, 48 mm
Anti-reflective sapphire crystal, front and back
Black ceramic bezel with 6 titanium screws
Black PVD titanium pushpiece with red rubber insert
Water-resistant to 100 m / 10 ATM

Dial
Black, multi-layered
Gold-plated hourmarkers and hands coated with red Superluminova
Tourbillon small seconds indicator at 6 o’clock
30-minute and 60-seconds counters at 10 and 2 o’clock

Strap
Black Nomex® stitched on to rubber with F1™ logo on the inside and 18K King Gold folding clasp

A nice new design from D&S, which I like very much. It combines Dubey’s unique case style with a more modern dial design and a raised bezel to give it an updated look and fresher feel. Kudos to Dubey on this one. After seeing a large number of Dubey watches on the secondary market liquidation I was starting to wonder if they would go the way of many of the failed Watch companies of recent demi-decade.

DUBEY & SCHALDENBRAND – Grand Dôme DT

True to its heritage, the latest creation from Dubey & Schaldenbrand, the Grand Dôme DT, has taken the emblematic shape of the tonneau. And yet it couldn’t be more contemporary with its finely worked Valjoux 7751 chronograph movement, original interlacing circle design for the counters on the dial, and interplay of chequered guilloché and sunray satin finishing. A vertical arrangement of practical functions – date, day, month, moon phase and chronograph – for a balanced effect and excellent legibility.

Movement
Automatic, Valjoux 7751 calibre, 28,800 vib/h, 25 jewels, personalised rotor, 48-hour power reserve

Functions
Hours, minutes, day, date, month, moon phase and chronograph

Case
Tonneau in 316L stainless steel, 37 x 52 mm
Anti-reflective convex sapphire crystal and sapphire back
Water-resistant to 50 m / 5 ATM

Dial
Black, chequered guilloché and sunray finish
Minute counter and day and month discs at 12 o’clock
Hour counter and moon phase at 6 o’clock
Central date hand

Strap
Black alligator leather with folding clasp

Yet another Ball Watch that looks almost the same as all the others.. While I like Ball watches, I really am waiting for something to stand out and attract me to the brand. While its a nice watch, this one fails to impress me.

BALL WATCH – Storm Chaser DLC Glow

A robust model with unpretentious lines, the Storm Chaser DLC Glow from Ball Watch pays tribute to those courageous men who brave the most extreme conditions in the name of science, storm chasers. Excellent legibility is provided on this all-black chronograph by 66 luminescent gas micro-tubes doubling as hourmarkers. As well as the basic functions, this watch features a tachometer and a rangefinder, both of which can rapidly become life-saving functions when it is a matter of evaluating the distance and speed of a discharge sometimes exceeding 100 million volts. The final tribute to this most unusual of professions is the engraving on the back of Josh Wurman’s Doppler on Wheels. He was the first man to mount a weather radar on his truck to analyse and understand the structure of these phenomena. Limited edition of 1,999 watches.

Movement
Automatic, ETA 7750 calibre

Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, chronograph, tachometer and rangefinder

Case
Black PVD stainless steel, 43 mm
Anti-reflective curved sapphire crystal
Back engraved with Josh Wurman’s Doppler On Wheels
Water-resistant to 100 m / 10 ATM

Dial
Black
Equipped with 66 micro-tubes of gas for unparalleled night-time legibility
Hour, minute and small seconds counters at 6, 12 and 9 o’clock
Tachometer scale on bezel, rangefinder on flange
Day and date windows at 3 o’clock

Strap/Bracelet
Black leather with buckle or stainless steel with folding clasp

Martin Braun is back with a new brand after his Martin Braun brand was wound down by parent company Franck Muller Watchland. Martin Braun is back in full force and he will be launching his new line at Baselworld 2011. I’ve always been a fan of Braun’s work and designs as his complications are unique and his styles are sensible. Something that is lacking in the watch market.

ANTOINE MARTIN – Quantième Perpétuel QP01

By establishing the Antoine Martin watch manufactory at Alpnach, in the heart of Switzerland, master watchmaker Martin Braun realised his dream of manufacturing a contemporary movement and creating unique, state-of-the-art modern timepieces. Two years of work were needed to envisage, create and produce this extraordinary watch, with its high aesthetic and technical standards. Among many other surprises are an oversized grade 5 titanium balance and a high-tech silicone escapement requiring no lubricant for extreme efficiency. As well as the talent displayed by the artist-watchmaker, the watch is an aesthetic joy to behold, with the case specifically designed to house the large movement. A work of art that perfectly sets off the manifold displays of its perpetual calendar.

Movement
Hand-wound, AM 39.001 calibre, 39.5 x 8 mm, 18,000 vib/h, 60 jewels, 324 components, 6-day power reserve

Functions
Hours, minutes, day, date, month, leap year, day/night indicator, power-reserve indicator

Case
18K pink gold, 18K white gold or black DLC steel
Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Water-resistant to 50 m

Dial
Silvered
Day/night indicator at 9 o’clock, leap year at 12 o’clock, centre days and months
Large date window at 6 o’clock, power-reserve indicator on back

Strap
Brown Louisiana alligator leather with 18K pink or white gold folding clasp, or black rubber with black DLC steel folding clasp

ULYSSE NARDIN – Freak Diavolo

The Freak Diavolo follows in the footsteps of the iconic Freak that revolutionized the watchmaking world and incorporates the latest advances in technology, materials and concepts. While the carousel tourbillon, acting as a minute indicator, makes one complete rotation an hour, a flying tourbillon sits above the carousel. Its cage, which makes one revolution a minute, is equipped with an arrow indicating the seconds on a semi-circular dial. Technically impressive with its extended use of silicium, the Freak Diavolo is also extremely attractive with its clean lines, black and charcoal tones, hints of colour and white gold case. The ultimate symbol of unbridled imagination and elegant originality, the Freak Diavolo is faithful to the spirit of inventiveness that defines both this collection and the brand.

Movement
Hand-wound, flying tourbillon, 28,800 vib/h, 8-day power reserve, silicium balance spring and escapement

Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds and power reserve

Case
18K white gold, 44.5 mm
Bidirectional rotating bezel for setting the time
Bezel on back for winding the movement
Water-resistant to 30 m / 3 ATM

Dial
Open-worked
Carousel tourbillon for the hours and minutes, flying tourbillon for the seconds

Strap
Black crocodile leather with folding clasp