Video Presentation of the BR 03-92 Military Ceramic Bell & Ross Instrument
by Marco Gagliano on August 14, 2010
tagged as: bell ross visit 2010 reviews videos ceramic watches Bell & Ross
The Bell & Ross BR 03-92 instrument is a remarkable watch. Its body is one of very few watch cases to be constructed entirely out of a specialized ceramic material, which endows it with extraordinary characteristics like extreme hardness. This fascinating and cool piece was presented in a Baily Blog article creatively entitled "Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Military Ceramic" published in April. Now we are releasing footage that was taken in Paris at the communications office of the manufacturer's headquarters. The camouflage-inspired BR 03-92 Military Ceramic is presented by Roberto Passariello, the company's communication director, who shows us all the angles and explains the ideas behind this awesome concept.
The BR 03-92 Military Ceramic is 42mm square and runs on the Swiss-made, 2892 calibre automatic movement by E.T.A. Its khaki colour is inspired by military camouflage. It is unusual to see colours other than white or black in ceramic watches because of the difficulty it represents at the manufacturing level. The heat used in the baking process, which hardens the ceramic material, is exploited in order to obtain the specific colour of the watch. The high level of technology combine with a distinct style to create a truly remarkable piece.
This post is a part of a series of videos and blog entries showcasing some of Bell & Ross' new watches for 2010. To view all the articles in the series visit the "Bell Ross Visit 2010" tag.
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Graham Silverstone Flyback GMT
by Jason Cormier on July 19, 2010
tagged as: flyback Chronograph gmt Graham
Graham has become a legend among watch connoisseurs, a company that produces quirky and beautifully finished watches of the highest quality. Graham is in a unique position in the market, taking the history and prestige of British watchmaking and updating it with Swiss mechanisms and manufacturing. The Silverstone Chronograph that I’ll be featuring in this week’s blog is an excellent example of Graham’s unique styling cues and peerless finishing, the details that have made it a favourite with watch aficionados.
When asked about British watchmaking, most people draw a blank. Perhaps they may recall the invention of the marine chronometer by John Harrison way back in the 1730s. Odds are they will stare at you blankly if you mention the name George Graham. But Graham (the man) was a highly respected and influential watchsmith in the heady days of the 18th century. Graham developed several key innovations that would push watchmaking forward during the 1700s, notably the dead-beat escapement, training the inventor of the now ubiquitous lever escapement, and developing an early chronograph design. He was commissioned to build a clock for the Greenwich Royal Observatory. He even loaned money to the aforementioned Harrison fellow to help fund his chronometer project.
Graham (the company) was founded in 1995 by Eric Loth, under the header of British Masters. BM also manages the Arnold and Son brand; in recent years, Graham has become the sporting arm of BM while Arnold and Son takes care of the classic designs and high-complication watches. Since its rebirth Graham has focussed on making extremely high quality watches worthy of George Graham’s legacy.
Not content with off-the-shelf movement designs, Loth contracted Jacquet Droz to provide highly-finished movements based loosely on Valjoux ebauches (movement bases). The results is a highly precise and extremely reliable movement. Our Silverstone exhibits excellent accuracy, and second-to-none function – the chronograph engages with a light tap of the pusher, and can be stopped and restarted with zero freeplay in the second hand to ensure perfect split-second timing. On top of that this Silverstone has a big-date and GMT function, as well as a flyback mechanism on the chronograph. Everything functions flawlessly – the date and GMT set nicely, the date clicks over instantly at precisely midnight, and the flyback function is extremely precise and instantaneous. Just by handling the watch you know that there is an excellent movement lurking under the colourful dial and beautiful case.
The dial adds a nice splash of colour to the design, featuring a bicompax subdials for the running seconds and chronograph minutes, as well as a blue inner dial that shows the 24 hour GMT index (which is indicated by the tiny yellow hand). The three-tiered tachymeter scale on the dial is coloured dark blue, green and red to distinguish the three levels – an unusual design, as most modern tachymeter indexes only show one level to measure speeds in km/h or mph. Everything is topped off with a nice set of white luminescent hands, with the chronograph seconds had featuring a red tip. The details look classic, but the execution is fun and modern and very easy to read despite the complexity.
Aside from the movement, the case of the Silverstone is a real highlight. It features a trademark tall, tapered bezel around the ever-so-slightly domed sapphire crystal. The main body has a bulbous form set off by a high polish finish, merged into a set of classically styled lugs. While the watch appears enormous in photos, it’s actually a very modest 40mm, but still has a lot of wrist presence owing to the exaggerated details and 15mm thickness. The crown and pushers are solid and big enough to manipulate easily, and the asymmetrical design of the pushers (the start-stop pusher is taller than the reset) is a nice touch. Everything is topped off with a hand-sewn black alligator strap and a nicely designed buckle. And if you are wondering about that little leather bag attached to the buckle, it’s a lead seal formed around the short length of string. To remove it, you need to cut the rope – it’s to ensure that you know when the watch is new and unworn, because you cannot remove the seal without cutting that string. As you may guess, this watch is brand new, never worn, and comes with the box and papers and a one year warranty.
Graham has gone from humble beginnings and a storied past to become a true enthusiast’s brand – a little-known company that produces superb watches with unique designs that have become a favourite of watch lovers. This Silverstone is an excellent example of the quality and finishing we have come to expect from Graham. If you’d like to know more about this watch, or any others we have in stock, give me a call at 514 845 8878 or visit our contact page.
Cheers
Jason Cormier
5 Great Summer Luxury Watches at Matt Baily
by Marco Gagliano on July 15, 2010
tagged as: fashion style hamilton alpina u-boat Bell & Ross watches summer
The summer is a great time for watch enthusiasts. Coats are gone, sleeves are short, and wrists are naked and in plain view. Not only is your watch more evident, but this gives you the opportunity to peruse other people's wrists; something like a watch buffet. For a timepiece to be a good fit for this season it has to go with the feel, colour, and fun of summer, and it has to be suited for activities like swimming, travelling, or enjoying the cool evening breeze with friends. In this article I have chosen five Matt Baily watches that make fine luxury accessories for the summer.
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BR 03-94 Heritage
Like all the Bell & Ross BR Instruments, the BR 03-94 Heritage is a watch that you want people to see. It is not conspicuous, but it offers a remarkable style that is well balanced and simple. As good as this 42mm square watch can look poking out from under the cuff of your shirt, it looks even better when the contrast between black and beige is fully displayed on your wrist. This brings up an important aspect of great summer watches, the strap. A tanned leather band like the one on the Bell & Ross Heritage watches, feels summery and light. Furthermore, all of the brand#39;s BR Instruments come with a secondary strap and specialized tools to interchange between it and the original. In the case of the BR 03-94 Heritage, the secondary strap is of black rubber. A quick swap and the watch, which boasts a water resistance rating of 100 meters, is ready for a relaxing day at a waterfront near you.
Alpina Avalanche Extreme Auto w/ Black PVD
Summer activities play a big role in our love for the hot season. A timepiece that is suitable for all these and also for more formal events would be a reasonable addition to this list. All Alpina watches in the Extreme collection are designed to be as rugged as they are beautiful. They are all awarded with a water resistance rating of at least 100 meters and come fitted with a rubber strap. The Avalanche Extreme Auto with black PVD is particularly well rounded. The large, decorated crown is screw locking and the watch has a water resistance rating of 200 meters. This designation means that the Avalanche Extreme Auto can not only be submerged in water, but is suitable for recreational water sports like water skiing, wind-surfing, and very light diving. The rubber strap is very comfortable and dries quickly, so you can take the watch from the beach to the restaurant. Thanks to the stylish design of this 48mm Alpina timepiece it can be worn for a multitude of occasions all through the summer.
Avalanche Extreme Auto. With original dial (left) and numeral dial (right)
Hamilton Jazzmaster Slim 43 With a Milanese Bracelet
There is a definitive style for summer apparel. It is light in colour and in feel, and simplicity often dominates regardless of how bold the design may be. Hamilton#39;s Jazzmaster Slim 43 collection captures the simple elegance of vintage watches from the sixties, and fuses it with contemporary size and technology. The model that particularly stands out as the perfect summer watch is the one with a silver dial and the Milanese strap. The Milanese strap is a modernized version of the metal mesh bracelets that were once welded to the case of watches. The mesh strap adds a fashionable, elegant aspect to the Slim 43, but allows air to pass through it unlike bracelets made with wide, solid links. I always have visions of tennis players from the Sixties and Seventies when dealing with this watch. Their style was light, airy, and summery for the sake of performance, but also a basis for the design of much fashionable apparel.
U-Boat Classico CAS 2
Large watches love summer. There are less shirt cuffs to impede and a naked wrist is a far better stage than one that is covered with a jacket or coat. The U-Boat Classico Chronograph Automatic Steel (CAS) Beige is amongst these large, luxury timepieces. As mentioned before, lighter colours are ideal for summer, matching the lighter moods of people. The Classico CAS 2 is fitted with a beige dial and a tan, leather strap. Rubber straps are also available for these models, which are tested for a 100m water resistance rating. The Classico CAS is available in 45 or 53mm. However large the diameter of these watches is, a large wrist is not a prerequisite. A few women, for example, wear the 53mm Classicos, and for good reason. It looks really great.
Hamilton Seaview Medium Automatic 37 - For Women
Considering that some women have no qualms about wearing 53mm U-Boat watches, it is clear that the days when ladies#39; watches had to be tiny and fragile are over. For 2010, Hamilton considerably expanded their offerings of automatic, luxury watches for women. Amongst the new models, the Seaview Medium Automatic, in particular the variation with a white dial, is perfectly adapted for the summer. The company describes it as a timepiece for busy individuals, but these "action-packed agendas" eventually give way to summer vacation, to which the Seaview Medium is well adapted. It offers a robust water resistance rating of 200 meters, suitable for swimming and light water sports. A white rubber bracelet completes the impermeability of the piece. The white dial Seaview Medium is delivered in a special presentation case that also includes a white leather strap and a metal bracelet. All the straps an bracelets are equipped with pushers so that they can be interchanged easily by hand, a feature appropriate for such a versatile watch.
Summer is here. We can forget our parkas and insulated boots, and feel free and airy within our warm-weather-wear. Short sleeves make wearing our watches more enjoyable. The hot months are the best time to adorn our favourite timepieces.
A Video Review of the Hamilton X-Landing Limited Edition Watch
by Marco Gagliano on July 14, 2010
tagged as: videos hamilton visit 2010 hamilton watches reviews baselworld 2010
The Hamilton Khaki X-Landing was one of the first releases for 2010 and officially unveiled at Baselworld this year. I wrote an article to preview the Hamilton X-Landing a few months ago, and in May I had the opportunity to go see it live directly at Hamilton Headquarters in Biel/Bienne. As with all the other models, I shot Full 1080p HD quality video of this fantastic piece. Make sure you set the video player below to play at 1080p to see the details of the watch as clearly as possible. Even then, the video still does not perfectly capture subtle aspects like the perlage finish on the dial, so visit Matt Baily in Montreal or your nearest authorized retailer of Hamilton watches. The X-Landing will be produced in two variations and both are limited editions of only 999. This aviation-inspired timepiece is worth taking a look at while it lasts.
If you do not see a video embedded here, please visit the original post about the Hamilton X-Landing Video on the Baily Blog.
This blog entry is part of a series of videos and articles presenting this year's newest and most exciting Hamilton watches. To read the whole series please visit www.mattbaily.ca/blog/tag/hamilton_visit_2010/.
Extreme Regulator Embodies Alpina's Uniqueness - With Video Review
by Marco Gagliano on July 13, 2010
tagged as: reviews, video watches al-650 avalanche extreme alpina
The Alpina Extreme Regulator, once known as the Avalanche Extreme Regulator, is a very important model in the Alpina watch line-up. It captures two important aspects of the manufacture's personality. The first is the large, bold, sporty case. The other is the Regulator function, that is found on many of Alpina's desirable models. Apart from an important reason for Matt Baily's desire to become an authorized retailer of Alpina watches, the Extreme Regulator has attracted many watch enthusiasts to Alpina Genève.
The 48mm wide case is suiting for a watch with the word "extreme" in its name. While rather large, the watch has a relatively low profile, which makes it very manageable to wear on any wrist size. My wrist is seven inches in diameter and I wore the similarly sized Extreme Automatic for months, loving every second of it. The individual features of the case are worth looking at. The thick bezel is coated with a protective, but also attractive, layer of black metal via a PVD treatment. It is held to the case with six specially manufactured screws that display the company's triangular logo. The crown is also quite bold, and a rubber grip is fitted onto it. The crown is protected by shoulders on either side of it, and these are reflected on the left side of the case thanks to the stylized shape of the watch.
The reason that the Alpina Extreme Regulator is so extreme is that it is inspired by adventurers. Switzerland is full of these types, which is not surprising considering the presence of the Alps. Alpina's ambassadors span many activities including skiing, scuba diving, climbing, and more. Alpina watches are inspired by these extreme activities and this explains why all the models in the Extreme collection are water resistant to a minimum of 100 meters and are delivered on a rubber strap. The remarkable strap that Alpina has developed is resistant, but also soft and comfortable. Its texture is velvety.
Inside the Alpina Extreme Regulator you will find the AL-650-5 calibre, which starts off as an ETA 6498-2 ébauche and gets modified by the company's watchmakers to add the regulator function. It is also receives a finishing suited for much more expensive watches. It is decorated with côte de geneve and all engravings are burnished. Alpina is still a relatively small company, with a yearly production of only about 10,000 watches. Its name therefore is far from being well known, but the beautiful movement, traditional regulator complication, unique style, quality construction, and great value speak for themselves. This probably explains why so many of our clients that purchased the Alpina watches when they first arrived at the boutique were collectors.
The Alpina Extreme Regulator offers unique design that mixes tradition with innovation, quality manufacturing, a simple but impressive complication, and great value. It is no wonder that it is such a hit amongst collectors.
If you do not see a video embedded here, please visit the original post on the Baily Blog
This blog entry is part of a series of video reviews and articles presenting this year's newest and most exciting Alpina watches. See entire series ...
