Concord’s unique and hot-looking C1 Chronograph’s get a facelift with some new color combinations and some beautiful Crocodile straps that will bring some class out of the brand’s flaship Chronograph.

I picked up this watch a while back, but hadn’t gotten around to posting a short review on it. GJVB is a small swiss watch company that makes their cases and fits them with Valjoux 7750 Chronograph movements. All their watches use some variation of the 775x series of movements, and they all use the same case with different dial and hand combinations.

This one is the Sports model with white dial. One of the nicest features of this watch is the fine black out-lined hands, which looks fantastic against the white dial. The case measures a modest (by today’s standards) 40mm diameter, but is plenty wide enough for my wrist size and in fact is quite well suited to me.

The bracelet is all stainless as well, as I prefer the bracelet over the strap models. It seems like no matter how much I try to get into strapped watches, the bracelet always calls me back. Aside from Panerais and serious solid gold dress watches, I can’t get used to any other watches on straps. The fully polished case on the Von Burg goes very well with the watch, giving it some presence, but still a very understated overall appearance.

The body, while only 40mm in diameter, is quite long so sits bigger on the wrist than many 40mm watches do. Lume is very strong, with numbers and three central hands all glowing. Day-date is typical Valjoux 7750 configuration, and works correctly. Not much else to say other than at secondary market pricing around $500 for this watch is a fantastic deal. Quite a bit more satisfying than many other Hamilton and other brands of Valjoux 7750 watches for some reason. The quality of the bracelet is quite good. I’ve always felt that Hamilton lacked in that area a bit.

Just came across this Gerald Genta watch on ebay, and it was unique enough that I decided to write an short article on it. As many of you know, Gerald Genta is the many behind many watch designs, most notably the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. His own line of watches is extremely unique and uses some high complications with the higher end pieces.

Watch has a relatively small diameter of 40mm, with a crocodile strap and titanium case. Complications include retrograde hours, grand and petite sonnerie, westminster chime, 1 minute flying tourbillon, power reserve indicator. Movement is highly decorated as well… and the best part, retail price is 1.2 Millon bucks!

The other new Release for Basel 2009 from Breitling is the new Breitling for Bentley Motors Speed. This is really just another Motors with a new dial. The new Black Velvet dial does look interesting, with the raised chrome edges around the subdials. While I like this model, I already have a Motors T (and previously a Motors), and this would be too much of a duplicate.

Very nice. Same specs as the Motors.

Movement: Automatic, Breitling 25B calibre, COSC-certified chronometer, 38 rubies, 28,800 vib/h

Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, 30-second chronograph, 15-minute and 6-hour totalisers. Variable tachometer

Case: Steel or 18K red gold (limited to 500 pieces), 48.7 mm
Convex sapphire crystal, anti-reflective treatment on both sides
Ratcheted rotating bezel with variable (circular slide-rule) tachometer
Water-resistant to 100 m

Dial: Black Velvet, Silver Storm or Bronze for the steel or 18K red gold models
Neptune for the steel version only
6-hour, 15-minute and small seconds at 6, 9 and 3 o’clock respectively
Date window at 4.30

Bracelet/Strap: Barenia leather, crocodile or rubber strap, or metal Speed bracelet

Some pretty awesome stuff from Bulgari this year… mostly what I am really impressed with is the Sotirio Bulgari watch.. This thing is amazing. Check out the stuff below:

BVLGARI presents the new”Bulgari Bulgari” Moon Phase watch

The “Bulgari Bulgari” collection, the icon of the Bulgari watch line, is updated with a new model for women.
In this exclusive version, the 38 mm case has a characteristically linear and contemporary design that renders this precious timepiece unmistakable. The white mother-of-pearl dial is embellished with diamond pavé and hand-mounted markers. The white alligator skin strap has a folding steel buckle. Water resistant up to a depth of 30 metres, it features an automatic B77 Calibre mechanical movement with a 42-hour power reserve. It also marks the phases of the moon and is embellished by Côte de Genève and Perlage treatments.

The “Bulgari Bulgari” Moon Phase model will be available at all Bulgari stores and selected dealers starting from May 2009.

BVLGARI PRESENTS the new SOTIRIO BULGARI watch
125th anniversary edition

In the mid 19thcentury, Sotirio Bulgari articulated a vision of elegance that has since proven capable of transcending the boundaries of both time and space. The young Sotirio sensed the new spirit of his time and, assembling his formidable arsenal of artistic and artisanal skills, left Greece for Corfu and then went on to the recently unified Italy. His enterprising spirit upset many existing schemes, anticipating practises that would become standard only much later. It is to this remarkable man – multicultural voyager ahead of his time, entrepreneur, aesthete and founder of one of the world’s most respected jewellers and watchmakers – that Bulgari dedicates, on the occasion of its 125th anniversary, three watches as extraordinary as the history that began with Sotirio Bulgari.

Watches characterised by a classic style reinterpreted in a contemporary key. A perfect synthesis of innovative design and manufacturing skill, they are distinguished by their sophisticated workmanship and great attention to detail. These new timepieces represent the Bulgari’s vision of a formal watch, featuring manufacture movement, dials finished with exclusive treatments and a unique design. Unique as the exclusive flip-over back case and the pure bezel characterised by the absence of the Bulgari logo and the lugs. Characterised by a converging inclination they are a prominent feature in these Sotirio Bulgari. Their particular construction (they are integrated in the back case) meets the challenge of offering high shock resistance in spite of the reduced size. As testimony of the endless care for detail even the crown as been personalised (with the Sotirio Bulgari historical hallmark) as the sapphire crystal that is curved and enriched by the antireflective treatment

The argenté dial is made in house by Bulgari; the Roman numerals and faceted indexes are applied by hand. The skeleton hour and minute hands are faceted. The watch strap is made of black alligator skin with an 18 cts Bulgari ardillon buckle.

The BVL 250 calibre automatic movement is made of 250 components. The watch has 55 hour power reserve, 32 rubies and 28’800 vibration/hour (4 Hz). It has a diameter of 25.60 mm and is 3.73 mm thick. The bridges and the main plate feature an exclusive design and are embellished by côtes de Genève, diamantés and perlage treatments. The customised oscillating weight features colimaçonné treatments and its 18 cts weight is enriched by a satiné circulaire treatment. The shape of the bridges and the weight of this calibre were redesigned to highlight the creativity of the watch and reveal as much as possible of the movement with its sophisticated finishing. These testify to the sophisticated Swiss savoir faire that went into the making of this watch and were executed in full compliance with the qualitative parameters established for haut de Gamme movements. All edges are diamantes as are the sinks around the jewels. The 18 cts gold oscillating segment is finished with a satiné circulaire treatment, while the central part is colimaçonnée. The Swiss finisseurs’ standard of craftsmanship is evident by the exclusive care taken in decorating even the smallest components, such as the screw heads, which are polished.

Dedicated to our founder these new timepieces are the tangible proof of Bulgari’s tireless quest for perfection.