Bell & Ross Goes Goes International For the First Time and Lands In Singapore

As you can see from the lengthy title of this article, Bell & Ross, renowned French Swiss watch company have made the bold move to launch their first international boutique in Singapore. Obviously the brand is not facing hard times like the rest of the watch industry and expanding into foreign territory. This is a smart move for the brand because it gives them more control over their brand and to launch something so monumental, especially in one of the most die hard watch capital’s of the world like Singapore just gives them more credibility and power worldwide. To further launch this boutique and make collectors perpetually wet, Bell & Ross decided to produce a 50 piece limited edition left-handed crown Phantom ref BR 01-92 exclusively for the Singapore Boutique.

According to Bell & Ross worldwide CEO “The opening of the first Bell & Ross flagship boutique in Singapore symbolizes a very significant milestone for our brand, and it is only possible with the strong support of Bell & Ross’ loyal followers,” said Carlos Rosillo, CEO of Bell & Ross. “We are very pleased to present a unique left hand crown timepiece for our first stand-alone boutique, which we believe our collectors will appreciate” adds Bruno Belamich, Creative Director of Bell & Ross. I am really fucking happy for the Bell & Ross because they are one brand that have stuck to their guns, making innovative instruments that collectors have to have for today and tomorrow!

The Return Of a Digital Revolution

Pretty Fucking Cool!

Digital watches are either considered cheap and disgusting or culty pop culture sensations. Today, there is a style of digital that is purely utilitarian without design. The design is just as important as the function in my opinion, and no watch company other than Ventura, has been able to execute this vision so effortlessly. Ventura is known for MGS (Micro Generation Systems) which is a clever system that uses an automatic self winding rotor to generate electricity to power quartz digital movements. In 2007, Ventura went bankrupt.

Today, with the resurrection of this cool brand and their original founder, Pierre Nobs back on the scene, this once sought after analog and digital minimalistic Bauhaus inspired timepiece is back with a vengeance! The timing couldn’t be better because their isn’t a hell of a lot of interesting shit out there today. Everything is played out and recycled, and this is a refreshing resurgence that needed to happen. The price point is modest between $1500-$5000 and will be available for sale on their website for purchase sometime in the very near future. With a new round of financing this time around, we are in the midst of the return of a digital revolution.

A Downward Spiral

The last two years have been extremely trying for the watch industry in every way. From sales, to distribution, to marketing, allocation and production. These things are all so intertwined. Everything is really fucked up. Consumers have been having a field day in this down economy, because they are able to get prices on watches that were never possible before. This is all supply and demand. So, What’s really Happening? Because consumers aren’t buying nearly what they were 5 years ago. and retailers are stuck with crazy inventories, the retailers are forced to give this shit away to pay their bills which means giving 30% of on everything , and that’s just to start with. Some retailers are giving consumers 5 to 10 % over cost just to move inventory and stay in this blood bath of a game.

Now, this creates a serious problem for the watch companies. Their product ain’t worth shit! To counter this, the watch companies are seriously cleaning house in the most severe ways. Cartier, has recently just cut a hundred plus doors in the US and dropped their margin by a couple percentage points with their retail partners in order to preserve and hold their reputation and value. The new Cartier President’s attitude in my opinion, is cut retail partners and strengthen their boutique presence world wide to uphold their image and control their distribution. What does this mean for the you as the consumer?

This means it will be nearly impossible to get a discount on Cartier which translates to buying something that actually has value. This is for the greater good for all the watch brands for the time being, but the issue is still not resolved because other countries will be the source to buy watches at a better price in the near future. It’s not just Cartier, it’s the entire watch industry. Every brand is cutting distribution and retailers to validate who they are. It’s pretty sad that it has to come to this but the last five years have been a downward spiral because of greed and power. We will have to wait and see what happens next?

What Will The Almighty King, Rolex Do At Basel 2010?

We all love to speculate. It keeps things interesting and fun. Whether it’s The End of The World? or Haiti relief, it makes you think, as long as it doesn’t become obsessive. In the watch world, much is the case with Rolex. There are so many interesting brands out there but the one that everyone including the entire watch industry is on the edge of their seat for is the Almighty King, Rolex. They are the benchmark that everybody follows regardless if they want to admit it or not.

For this years Basel Fair 2010, I believe we are going to see three important new novelties the world has been waiting for. This is not confirmed, so please? sit back let your mind wander and enjoy the mental masturbation that I am communicating to you all. I think it’s safe to say as I have already written in an earlier post, now that legendary ref#16610 Stainless Steel Submariner has been officially discontinued in it’s current version, the upgraded version will be unveiled with the new bracelet, ceramic bezel and maxi dial.

Some of my readers got their panties majorly twisted and told me Rolex never releases this information. My answer, as kindly as I can say Wake Up! and get a clue. I have connections and insight from many credible sources all over the world, and it amazes me how serious and anxiety ridden people get. The second watch I feel that we are going to see from Rolex at this years Basel Fair is an upgraded stainless steel Rolex Explorer 2. I believe it to be available in both variations black and white dials, with a throwback to vintage with an orange GMT hand instead of the current model which has a red GMT hand, as well as the upgraded bracelet and possibly bigger case. Finally, the one the world has been salivating for would be The Stainless Steel Daytona is getting bigger in a 43 or 44 mm case in both black and white dials, and we are finally going to see a date although this could be far fetched because it’s not in line with Rolex heritage. There you have it people. Please weigh in and email me your thoughts as I would love to know what you all think?

Zenith Gets Classically Refined For Basel 2010

I am happy to report as far as I can see for the moment that Zenith has finished producing ugly watches like the Dephile, I mean Defy. Zenith is known for superior robust movements like the El Primero and within the last few years they have done nothing but put these movements in watches that have no character and look like they belong on American Gladiators. For this years Basel 2010, Zenith have taken a more classically refined approach to watch making by digging deep into their arsenal to revive the classical aesthetic they were once known for.

So the watch that I speak of for this years Basel Fair 2010 is the new Zenith El Primero Foudroyante 1/10th Chronograph. I must say the words debonair, handsome, technical and all around vintage come to mind when I look at this watch. From the case shape and design to the gorgeous silver dial with multi colored subdials to the chronograph pushers and the red chronograph register hand which are so flawlessly put together to make this The First Automatic El Primero Integrated Chronograph with 1/10th of a Second Display.

El Primero 4052 B automatic calibre,
the new El Primero Jumping Seconds chronograph comes in a choice of 18-carat rose gold or stainless steel
42mm case
water-resistant to 100 meters and fitted
sapphire scratch resistant crystal front and back.

A Charitable Time

Chronoswiss is a brand I strongly dislike. They are known for their clunky tuna can cases and their penis shaped watch crowns. I am happy to say that I don’t own one because I think they are hideous to look at and I may suffer all kinds of humiliation wearing it. Although,I can recognize when a brand I don’t love does something great, and yes in this case it’s PornoSwiss I mean Chronoswiss. Recently they auctioned off a watch that famed actor Steve Carrell was wearing at this years 2010 Golden Globes.

This watch was the Chronoswiss stainless steel Kairos which is the best selling watch in their collection because of it’s modest $3800 price tag. This watch was auctioned off at their NYC boutique this past Valentines Day weekend From February 11-14 and the sale of this watch went to The Red Ribbon Foundation which raises money to help fight AIDS. Read on for Specs on this watch.

Automatic (self winding) ETA 2892-A2 21 jewel Swiss movement with a 42 hour power reserve.
Guilloche sterling silver dial with printed numerals and blued polished steel hands.
Stainless steel case with the classic Chronoswiss decorative coin edge front and back and Chronoswiss Onion crown.
Sapphire crystal front and back.
Exhibition back allows you to view the beautifully decorated movement.
Genuine Louisiana crocodile leather.
Steel Chronoswiss buckle.
Case Dimensions: 38 mm in diameters and 9.5 mm thick.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers wears Pro Hunter

In the recent Feb 4, 2010 interview with Movie Phone, promoting his new film Paris With Love, famed actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers was wearing the 2009 Rolex Pro Hunter GMT edition on green nylon strap. This is great for Pro Hunter and once again are establishing themselves as the cult watch to have. Here are the specs of the watch.

Diamond Like Carbon Coating
31 jewels
Black dial with luminous markers
Black rotatable bezel
Sapphire crystal
Anti reflective coating on Case and Glass
Individually engraved case back (001-900)
Fixed Lugs (Military Style)
Black or Green Military NATO Strap
Date Function
Waterproof to 300m/1000 feet

It’s all about the new F.P. Journe Vagabondage 2

MUST HAVE NOW!


I think I am going to Cum!

F.P. Journe is a true watch collectors wildest fantasy. It’s bold, yet understated, technical yet simplistic round and now touneau? This brand is known for it’s round cases and complicated movements the last ten plus years, which has arguably earned them the number one spot for finest watch in the world. Alas, we are now confronted with a new case design, which is a refreshing addition to the Journe repetoire. The new F.P. Journe Vagabondage 2 has officially become my favorite watch of 2010, in a touneau shaped case and get’s a Rock On Award for it’s excellence in execution. Where do I even begin? The Digital display? The smokey sapphire crystal? The 40 hour Power Reserve? The amazing clear back. Every aspect of this watch is mere perfection. The windows of the digital display of hours and minutes are in the same shape as the case. The cote de Geneve finishing of the movement is arguably the best finishing I have seen, and the fine brushed strokes of the case are almost poetic. The watch is a cross between a Richard Mille and Berguet Tradition, and even if these two companies merged to make one watch, they are still nowhere near this. F.P. Journe has achieved everything and more that A Lange & Soehne wishes the could have achieved with the Shitewerk, I mean Zeitwerk. Try not to have an accident in your pant while enjoying the technical specs.

The case, available in platinum in a limited edition of 69 pieces, or in 18kt rose gold in a limited edition of 68 pieces, measures 45mm x 37.5mm x 8mm.
Movement is the manual wind FP Journe in-house caliber 1509, in 18kt rose gold, measuring 29mm x 28mm x 5mm, with 30 jewels, 21,600 vph and with a power reserve of 40 hours.

Not at all Impressed by the Concord C1 Code Chrono for Basel 2010

Oh! What is that spooge on the dial?

It’s been a while since I have written about Concord. If you remember two years ago they came out with the new C1 which was Concord’s way of turning into a futuristic brand by stealing design concepts from AP. They even came out with their own Tourbillion! How original? Now for this years Basel 2010, they seem to think they can dazzle the collectors g-spot somehow by having the algebraic formula of the case design inscribed on the crystal of the new Concord C1 Code Chronograph. The watch is very cool to look at from a distance, but the problem is that when you look at it closely, it looks as though someone came all over the crystal. As it is a chronograph function in the C1, which is quite distracting as there is always a lot going on, to ad this formula to the watch is kind of taking the piss. The watch hasn’t even really been a major success for the brand to make these kind of experiments. Although, I do appreciate their balls to execute something different. Overall this watch gets a piss off! from me for Basel 2010. Enjoy the technical specs, and if you do buy this watch make sure to request for a squidgy.

Case Black PVD steel,
44 mm diameter,
3.3 mm sapphire crystal,
anti-reflective on both sides,
mathematical formulae engraved in the crystal,
PVD steel and black rubber crown,
Water-resistant to 200 m,
Black carbon fibre dial

Hublot and Depeche Mode Violate us with the release of 12 watches for charity!

1.’Speak and Spell’

2. ‘Sounds of the Universe’

3. ‘A Broken Frame’

4. ‘Construction Time Again’

5. ‘Some Great Reward’

6. ‘Black Celebration’

7. ‘Music for the Masses’

8. ‘Violater’

9.’ Songs of Faith and Devotion’

10. ‘Ultra’

11. ‘Exciter’

12. ‘Sounds of the Universe’

My suspicions were correct. As you may recall, I wrote an article on how Hublot and Depeche Mode are making 12 limited edition Big Bang watches benefiting the Teenage Cancer Trust, which were Auctioned off on February 1, 2010. The end result. VIOLATING! Cheap and diminishes the value of both brands associated with it. I am really at a loss of words, all I can say is Thank God it’s for charity and not available for normal retail consumption.
These watches look like they belong in vending machines. The idea is great and I do give Hublot kudos for fusing parts of the album cover art into the movement. There is no question that this is for an amzing cause, but I don’t think a brand like Hublot should have been involved in this because it comes across as really hokey and the same message could have been achieved with a lower end brand watch. Since the band is an electronic band and have pioneered the whole digital electronic movement, it would have been more fitting to partner up with a watch brand like Ventura, who are known for their digital asthetic, which would have also executed their triumphant return.
Please weigh in, I would love to hear your thoughts?