Hamilton Khaki X-Landing - The Next Generation of Hamilton X-Watches

The Hamilton Khaki X-series of watches have offered an array of sporty, sizable watches with functional bezel systems and well-worked, impressive straps. The popular watch-geek destination www.timezone.com has reported a new addition to the Khaki X-watches that we should be introduced to in a few weeks by Hamilton themselves - the limited edition Khaki X-Landing.

The Hamilton Khaki X-Landing is encased in a 44mm stainless steel case that is equipped with the thick sapphire crystal and screw-locking crowns. The obvious difference between this and other X-watches is its GMT or multiple timezone function. This function is displayed by a red hand and the outer bezel, which is marked with the UTC differential (i.e -6 for Eastern Standard Time) 24 hour graduations. Also on the same bezel is the code words from the NATO phonetic alphabet that represent each letter of the English alphabet. This is the "Alfa, Bravo, Charlie" alphabet that was originally developed by the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) in order to avoid misunderstanding between communicators regardless of their native language. This feature may be useful during those times where you are trying to spell out your postal code or last name over the telephone and you cannot think of any words to represent one of the letters.

Judging by the picture of the Khaki X-Landing, the other bezel functions are unclear. Within the sapphire crystal lies a system of rotating bezels controlled by an auxiliary crown at ten o'clock that will surely distinguish the X-Landing from the other models in the series. The black and metallic, multilevel dial depicts the date and chronograph functions, all of which are calculated by ETA's automatic 7754 calibre movement. The perforated leather strap is reminiscent of the classic sport straps from the sixties and seventies, which happens to be the golden age of space flight to which - judging from the name - this timepiece may allude.

The Hamilton Khaki X-Landing fortifies the strong link between Hamilton watches and the world of aviation. As with the other X-watch models, it is 44mm in diameter and it sports a system of rotating bezels that can be used to calculate values associated with specific aspects of flight. For fans of aviation and of luxury watchmaking, the X-Landing and the other X-styles combine both these worlds at fantastic prices.

Please share your thoughts on this and our other watches on our Facebook fan page.

It is natural for fathers to want the best for their sons. When it comes to watches, a high-quality Swiss timepiece has often been too expensive to justify as a gift for a young man, even though many companies offer specifically suitable models. Traditionally, mid-size watches, which are smaller then the full, man sizes yet still considerably larger then woman's, have served the young market segment. But often these mid-size models are as expensive as their full-size counterparts. This probably explains why most young people's first high-end watch is handed down from their parents. If you are not quite ready to hand over your luxury watch however, Frédérique Constant revealed a new watch that targets young watch lovers and is priced accordingly to their tumultuous and dynamic lifestyles. A Frédérique Constant Junior is a good introduction to luxury watches for any young watch lover and, thanks to high quality Swiss manufacturing, will last for future generations as well.

The stainless steel case is 38mm in diameter, which is just below what you would expect from a modern watch for men. While the watch is intended for "young gentlemen 12-16 years of age," I see grown men wearing watches this size often. Other grown-up features of the Junior include a sapphire crystal and Frédérique Constant's automatic-winding FC 303 calibre movement. The movement's balance wheel and rotor are visible through a sapphire window on the back of the case. This mechanism is indeed a serious machine, based on ETA's infamous, 25-jewel 2824-2.

The style of the watch is classic and based on the sporty look of the race-oriented Healy Automatic. Photo-luminescent paint is applied to the hands and numerical hour markers. The leather strap is hand stitched and is black to match the black dial or light brown with the white dial. The style is simple and does not boast the true luxury of the watch. Thanks to its timeless style and superior quality, an FC Junior will surely be around for the next generation to enjoy.

The Frédérique Constant Junior is conceived to be an important, and meaningful gift for a young man. It can commemorate a milestone or carry a symbolic message with a personalized engraving on its case back, and high-end Swiss manufacturing assure that it will be enjoyed for many years.

Visit Frédérique Constant's Junior mini-site to design your own FC Junior. To leave comments on this and all our blog posts, visit the Matt Baily facebook fan page.

Every year, many watch lovers anticipate the publication of the Wristwatch Annual. This catalogue of the most important luxury watch brands is a sort of holy scripture for collectors, enthusiasts, and watch professionals alike. Each of the roughly 130 companies represented showcase their most important and newest models. Every watch displays important details such as case size, movement calibre and specifications, available variations, and a good estimate of the watch's USD retail price. The 2010 Wrist Watch Annual continues the tradition with some added features and an immensely handy and ever-growing illustrated glossary.

The main attraction to the WWA is the wealth of details presented. The information provided about movements is a good example. When looking at literature provided by the watch manufacturers - and sometimes even the press - the specifications are somewhat limited. Lets take Alpina for instance, as they have various sources for their high-end, Swiss movements. When you look at their site or catalogue, you will find the Alpina calibre demarcation for each watch's movement. The Avalanche Extreme Diver runs on the AL-525, the Avalanche Extreme Chronograph on the AL-850, and the Manufacture Regulator on the AL-950. What the calibres do not tell you is what they were before being modified to Alpina specifications. Using the WWA one can find that the AL-525 is a modified Sellita SW200 (a beautiful all-Swiss made movement very similar to ETA's 2824-2), the AL-850 is based on ETA's 2894 (same as the Bell & Ross BR-01 94s), and the AL-950 - of course - is a manufacture calibre. It was conceived and manufactured entirely at Alpina's Geneva factory. Like many, you may never have heard of Sellita. If that is the case, you can flip to the section of the WWA dedicated to movement manufacturers, where you can learn all about it. The Wrist Watch Annual strives to be as complete as possible within the limits of its 432 pages.

As I already mentioned, I think the glossary is one of the greatest features of the Wristwatch Annual thanks to its completeness and illustrated examples of the terms. It consists of nine full pages and explains 54 terms that are often used, but not explained, by the manufacturers. An other great feature in the WWA is the "Spotlight on Independent" section that reviews work done by Independent watchmakers during the last year. Here you can always find some of the weirdest, most fascinating, and sometimes controversial watches. Even the advertising within the book's pages is interesting, as companies showcase some of their coolest products and even contribute articles concerning aspects of the watch world that are important to them.

Other than eye-candy, the advertising has a secondary positive effect. It keeps the price of this indispensable book low enough to make its purchase a "no-brainer" decision. This along with the abundance of information found between its covers explains why the Wristwatch Annual is such a popular item at the store; and why it has become a tradition for many watch enthusiasts.

The Wristwatch Annual 2010 is available in-store. Visit the notes tab of our facebook fan page to comment on this and other Baily Blog entries.

Once a masterpiece is conceived in the mind of the artist, it takes time and care to completed it. It must satisfy the stringent demands and expectations of collectors. It took most of a year since Bell & Ross unveiled their Minuteur models for the first one to be available to the public, but for thirty lucky collectors it will be worth the wait.

One of the most striking aspects of the Bell & Ross Minuteur Tourbillon is that it is immediately recognizable as a BR "Instrument," but it is like no other watch in the collection. The case is rectangular rather then square and measures 50mm in diameter and 44mm in height. The size of the case, the strong, bold shape of the bezel and the weight of solid 18 karat rose gold make for a seriously impressive instrument. The case is equipped with a screw-locking crown and is awarded a water resistance rating of 100 meters. This means that one could take advantage of the BR rubber strap in the water where rubber straps feel most at home. This structural strength also represents Bell & Ross' dedication to making professional-quality watches.

The insides of the Minuteur Tourbillon Pink Gold are equally impressive as its golden outer shell. The manual winding, exclusive movement is conceived and manufactured with BNB Concept SA. This highly specialized, Swiss atelier has provide the world with some of the most exciting complicated movements of recent years. The Minuteur's movement packs a power reserve of 72 hours and is decorated with solid rose gold bridges and plates. When looking through the watch's exhibition case, the golden parts of the mechanism are proudly displayed. The sophisticated movement offers several complications including the flying one-minute tourbillon, flyback chronograph, and power reserve display.

The complications of the Minuteur Tourbillon come together on the watch's dial. The first thing that the dial does is to meld the beauty and sophistication of rose gold with the functional and modern nature of the timepiece. This is achieved using carbon fiber. The sporty material is framed by rose gold and gold hour markers and hands are applied. The beauty of the flying tourbillon is accentuated by the used of rose gold for the its carousel. The dial also gives the watch its name as the chronograph minute counter is specially configured to read the time as a decimal value. For professionals that can afford the pink gold Minuteur tourbillon, every tenth of an hour counts.

The BR Minuteur Tourbillon Pink Goldis another example of how Bell & Ross have become masters of the balancing act. It is a sporty, water resistant watch, built with numerous sophisticated components on both the inside and outside. It also echoes the company's dedication to providing watches fit for exacting professionals of all vocations.

We would love to hear your feedback for this and other blog posts. Please visit our facebook page and leave us a message.

Luxury, Beauty, Exclusivity of Exotic Sports Cars for Your Wrist

Now in its second year of collaboration with the exciting endurance race, Alpina is celebrating this year's event with a new, limited edition, chronograph watch. The Official Timekeeper 12 Hours of Sebring 2010 commemorates the 58th anniversary of the race, which attracts over 150 000 spectators every year and kicks off the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) season. The decisively sporty allure of this new limited edition of 158 pieces will appeal to motor-racing fans thanks to its themed styling and specifically selected features.

The Official Timekeeper is quite different from the other models in the Alpina collection thanks to its unique case and gmt function. The complications offered by the automatic movement are chosen specifically to relate to racing. A second timezone is calculated on a 24 hour dial reflecting the international character of the sport and the indispensable chronograph function is conveniently calibrated to measure time in twelve hour cycles. While the second feature is quite standard for automatic chronographs, this does not detract from the fact that the twelve hour register at six o'clock is perfectly matched to the race format of the Sebring circuit. The 30-minute counter at twelve o'clock offers better legibility than a more crowded 60-minute counter. The spectator - or professional driver - wearing the Alpina 12 Hours of Sebring watch will have a clear and accurate marking of the race's progress.

As always Alpina, keeps up with the demand for large size watches. The black PVD coated stainless steel case is 47 mm in diameter with a relatively low profile and comfortable ergonomic design. The large crown, consisting of rubber, steel, and enamel is screw-locking to add to the resilience of the timepiece. It suits the complexity and sportiness of the other case elements. The back of the case, also securely screw sealed, is fitted with a sapphire window to exhibit the automatic movement and its black, decorated rotor.

In its young past, Alpina has delighted their fans with numerous cool straps. The new strap fitted onto the Official Timekeeper 12 Hours of Sebring continues this tradition. Supple, grained leather is the base for vinyl sheathing that acts both to protect and beautify the strap. The red stitching adds contrast to the case, and mirrors other red accents present on the dial.

Aside from the high quality movement and case, what really makes the watch what it is is the many stylistic details incorporated all over the watch. The rotating, all-black bezel with its surprisingly photo-luminescent markings and the integrated, aerodynamic look of the chronograph pushers are two examples, but small, defining details are peppered all over.

The 2010 Alpina Official Timekeeper 12 Hours of Sebring offers the style of a modern, exotic, sport car's dashboard, with its functional features and quality adding to this likeness. As only 158 of these watches will be produced, the exclusivity factor is also taken care of.

You can leave a comment on our blog posts by visiting the notes tab on our facebook fan page.

• Subscribe by RSS Feed
• Be a Fan on Facebook
• Follow Us on Twitter

admirals cup   alpina   avalanche extreme   azimuth   baselworld   bell & ross   bell & ross   br-s   br01   br02   br03   bridal   calgaro   canada   carbon   cars   catalog   celebrities   celebrity   challenge   chronograph   classico   competition   concord   contest   corum   designer   facebook   flightdeck   frederique constant   gem   gift ideas   gmt   gold   golden bridge   graham   hamilton   history   hydromax   italo fontana   jewelry   mens   military   movement   new model   omega   orbita   phantom   photo   pianegonda   poker   pre-owned   quartz   rebecca   reviews   ring   rolex   romvlvs   ron hami   sports   style   switzerland   tides   tips   titanium   tourbillon   u-boat   video   watch straps   watches   white ceramic   winders