The Breitling Watch Blog

I decided to start a new site called Strapaholics, since I have found myself gravitating more and more towards watch straps in recent years. At first, every single watch in my collection was on a bracelet, but lately, that number has become more like 50/50. Half my collection is watch straps now, and I want to bring strapmakers and strap collectors together now. I don’t want to just focus on Panerai Straps.. I want to focus on all sorts of straps… Everyone is welcome, come to the site and join the forum!!

Richemont has opened a second school of watchmaking, this one in Hong Kong. The art of watchmaking has become much more popular with as mechanical watches once again become status symbols and coveted objects of desire, even more so than they ever were before.

Visit the IOSW site here to see their info on the new school in Hong Kong. The first school that Richmont opened was in Texas, USA.

The partnership between the bladesmith Johan Gustafsson and watchmaker Patrik Sjögren aims to provide truly unique watches with inspiration from the cold north of Scandinavia.

GoS proudly presents Blizzard and Aurora, two new designs based on an dramatic explosion Damascus steel pattern. Both dials are etched to enrich the contrasts but while the Blizzard is uncolored, the dial of Aurora has been given a lustrous green-orange color to resemble northern lights, Aurora Borealis. Traditional Lappish techniques has been used to make the reindeer strap of Aurora, which leather has been naturally tanned without any chemicals.

The watches are equipped with a beautifully finished Unitas/ETA 6498 pocket watch movement. The finishing has been done by the swiss company Soprod, that also have further improved the movement to chronometre grade standard with a screwed balance.

Specifications Blizzard – GoS 010:
– Case: 44mmx12mm
– Lug width: 22mm
– Glass: Flat sapphire glass (case back mineral)
– Movement: Swiss manual movement ETA 6498-1
– Modifications by Soprod
– Cote de Geneve finishing
– chronometre grade adaptations, screwed balance
– Dial: Hand forged Damascus steel with a hand shaped chapter ring in grade-5 titanium
– Crown: Oversize in Damascus stainless steel with large gold fitted diamond
– Hands: polished steel finish
– Polished stainless steel mesh strap

Specifications Aurora – GoS 009:
– Case: 44mmx12mm
– Lug width: 22mm
– Glass: Flat sapphire glass (case back mineral)
– Movement: Swiss manual movement ETA 6498-1
– Modifications by Soprod
– Cote de Geneve finishing
– chronometre grade adaptations, screwed balance
– Dial: Hand forged Damascus steel with grade-5 titanium index markers.
– Crown: Oversize in Damascus stainless steel with large gold fitted diamond
– Hands: Polished and blued
– Handcrafted and naturally tanned reindeer strap with traditional Lappish tin ornamentation

Find out more about these watches here:
http://www.urmakare.eu/pressrelease/GoS-watches-Blizzard-Aurora.pdf

The Patek Philippe Caliber 89 is going on sale on Antiquorum. This unique watch only has 4 peices in existence: One in white gold, one in yellow gold, one in a rose gold, and one in platinum. There are 33 different complications on this watch… Patek Philippe Caliber 89, stuff that dreams are made of. Hit up Antiquorum if you have the scratch 😉 Estimated 4,500,000 to 5,500,000 Swiss Francs selling price. Auction is Novemenber 14-15th, 2009.

More info on the Patek Caliber 89

So, Sly Stalone wins this award for “Glory to the Filmaker” in September, which is some sort of visionary filmaker award. Stalone has admittedly been putting out some damn good films lately, and the Upcoming movie “The Expendables” looks awesome… but an award with a JLC Reverso? Not that I have anything against those Ugly-gotta-have watches, but Sylvester is a dyed-in-the-wool Panerai Loyalist… Will he ever wear this?

At any rate, it is a huge honor for Sly to be awarded this at the Venice Film Festival awards, especially given that most people thought he was a one-dimensional actor with little talent. The last Rambo movie was an excellent film, and most of his recent stuff has been as well.