[ via HD3 Complication ]

After attending the Baselworld show this year we headed to Geneva to visit HD3 Complication. Instead of exhibiting at the SIHH or Baselworld shows, HD3 decided to have a private show aboard a boat on Lake Geneva. The SIHH show was about a block away.

The watch that really attracted me to HD3 originally was the Capture. This year they introduced the Capture 2, which was designed by Valerie Ursenbacher, who is one of the three designers at HD3 Complication. This watch comes in three versions; white gold with black PVD accents, rose gold with black PVD accents and titanium with white gold accents. All three versions are limited to 11 pieces and come with a natural rubber or leather strap. The one (pictured above) and after the jump is the titanium and white gold version with the natural rubber strap. It costs $250,000 and was not sold out at the beginning of the show, but I am sure all 33 pieces were sold out by the final day.

Read "PW EXCLUSIVE: Capture 2 by HD3 Complication" »

Posted by Jason Pitsch at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

[ via Certina ]

Certina who is part of the Swatch Group introduced the DS Furious line at Baselworld. The case is made of stainless steel with a satin finish and a black PVD-covered bezel. The watch is very sporty and looks great with carbon fiber on the dial. The chronograph pushers are PVD-covered and add to the overall sportiness. It comes with a steel or rubber strap and in at least two colors, black/orange (pictured after the jump) or black/blue (pictured above). I bet the black and blue dial will look great with the rubber strap.

Read "DS Furious by CERTINA" »

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I took this shot of an Aprilia race bike at the Lotus watches booth at Baselworld 2008. Their booth was on the second floor of Hall 1, so they did not spend a million on their setup, but even the less expensive displays can look great. As far as their watch prices and specs I am waiting on a press release from Lotus. I will update the site once I receive the official images and prices, but for now hit the jump for a few more shots.

Read "Lotus Watches booth at Baselworld" »

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[ via Watchismo ]

More sweet shots of the DeGrisogono Meccanico, and it looks like they added a cover to the mechanical digital display. The original press images showed no cover over this display. I think I liked it better without the cover. (Pre-production press images here.)

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Here is a video I took at the Hublot booth during Baselworld 2008. The Bat Bang Tourbillon looks really good close up. I will be publishing some high-resolution images of the Hublot Bat Bang in the immediate future.

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[ via Ball ]

Guillaume Nery is a three-time free dive world record holder and brand ambassador to Ball Watch Company. He makes dives without assistance or equipment on a regular basis to depths of 100 meters (330 feet). This is not only hard to do, it is hard to see while doing it. The ambient light is about 1% of surface light at these depths. This is where the 53 micro gas tubes (tritium) come in very handy and why he uses the EMII Diver GMT watch. The watch has a rotating inner bezel the utilizes 41 of the gas tubes with the remaining 12 being placed on the hands and dial. This illumination setup is very beneficial and allows divers to see their watch at any depth.

Read "Engineer Master II Diver GMT Black by BALL" »

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[ via HD3 Complication ]

HD3 Complication designer Fabrice Gonet created this revolutionary bi-axial tourbillon as a concept and it was so popular that they decided to make an ultra-limited edition of 11. Even at a price of $400,000 all watches were sold out quickly. It is made of titanium and platinum. It is water resistant to 50m and has an 80 hour power reserve. The coolest feature is the bi-axial tourbillon which rotates in 1 minute increments on the 1st axis and 30 seconds on the 2nd axis.

Hit the jump for original images taken in Geneva earlier this month.

Read "PW Gallery: HD3 Complication Bi-Axial Tourbillon" »

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[ via Baselworld/SwissTime ]

For 2008 the Baselworld Watch and Jewellry Show once again produced record numbers. Baselworld 2008 had 2,087 exhibiting companies from 45 countries spread across 6 halls and over 500,000 square feet of exhibit space. A record 2,981 journalists showed up this year which is up 8% from last year. Most importantly a record 106,800 (up 5%) visitors came to Basel from around the globe to view exclusive designs at the world's largest and most prestigious watch and jewellry event.

François Thiébaud, President of the Swiss Exhibitors Committee, said "Anyone who believed the reports of economic doom and gloom ahead of the Show has been misled: it may have been cold outside, but the sun has certainly shone in the halls. The results are excellent. Once again, 2008 has proved even better than previous years."

Baselworld 2009 - the World Watch and Jewellery Show will take place from March 26 to April 2, 2009 at the Exhibition Center in Basel, Switzerland.

Hit the jump for a slideshow image gallery.

Read "BASELWORLD 2008 Reports Record Numbers" »

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HD3 Complication watch designer Fabrice Gonet created this revolutionary bi-axial tourbillon as a concept and it was so popular that they decided to sell it. Even at a price of $400,000 all 11 limited edition watches were sold out quickly. It is made of titanium and platinum and is is water resistant to 50m with an 80 hour power reserve. The coolest feature is the bi-axial tourbillon which rotates in 1 minute increments on the 1st axis and 30 seconds on the 2nd axis. Watch the video to see the tourbillon in action. Original image gallery coming soon.

Posted by Jason Pitsch at 7:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

PRESS RELEASE [ via TAG Heuer]

The Grand CARRERA Calibre 36 RS Caliper Concept Chronograph
as featured on the dashboard of the limited edition Ken Okuyama-designed K.O. 7 futuristic, high performance and eco-compatible sportscar. Indeed Ken Okuyama has managed to design an high performance GT sportscar with a limited environmental impact thanks to the systematic use of advanced light weight materials such as aluminum, titanium and carbon, enabling him to achieve an extraordinary horsepower to weight relationship. It offers a chance to enjoy the thrill of stunning accelerations as well as the pleasure of sporty driving while being environmentally responsible! Ken Okuyama’s vision and commitment as shared by TAG Heuer may well become a must-have factor in the GT car industry in the near future.

Japanese Car Designer Ken Okuyama:
“The interior of the K.O. 7 was inspired by the Grand Carrera, and we mounted the extraordinary Grand CARRERA Calibre 36 RS Caliper Concept Chronograph on its dashboard. TAG Heuer chronographs are constructed in rich lightweight materials of the finest quality. Like the K.O. 7, their powerful proportions catch your eye first, and then you discover the depth of refinement, the beautiful craftsmanship, and the attention to detail. Collaborating with TAG Heuer made it possible to demonstrate something in common between our two industries: an endless quest for quality, performances and design innovations driven by new technologies.”

Hit the jump for the rest of the press release and for some more original photos from the TAG Heuer booth at Baselworld.

Read "TAG Heuer Inspired Concept Car" »

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Here is the very cool Raptor Alarm System from the Hublot booth at Baselword 2008. Watch in slow motion and you can see the second your hand gets even close to the watch it automatically drops into a secure area below.

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