In order to celebrate F1 Williams Team’s 30 year’s anniversary and continual partnership of another 3 years, Oris has launched its TT3 Formula Gold Limited edition of 300 pieces. This beauty is fitted on a 18k Solid Rose Gold with the Oris caliber 680 (ETA Valjoux 7750) and 25 jewels certified chronometer. The size has not changed from the regular model, it is 42.5mm width and 15.85mm in height. The timepiece only comes in a leather strap with gold accents. At $11,000 this great wristwatch is not only made for Williams and F1 fans, but also for Oris and watch enthusiasts.

Oris TT3 Formula Gold Limited Edition

Louis-Francois Cartier was the name of the founder of what it was going to be later such a prestigious company. He started his business in Paris in 1847, and in 1853 he opened up to a private clientele. In 1859 his business was growing so fast that  he opened a store in a better shopping area in Paris.

In 1899, his son Alfred Cartier, took the store to a higher level, opening at the heart of Paris, in a very luxury and expensive street, 13 rue de la Paix nearby Place Vendome. After that, this area became in the centre of international jewelery.

Alfred Cartier gave his three sons Louis, Pierre and Jacques, the management of the Maison. Pierre and Jacques established the company in London and New York, while Louis was in charge of the Parisian House.

In the early 1900’s, the famous aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont tells his friend Louis that he could not read the time on his fob watch while flying, so he asked him for help.

Later with the assistance of watchmaker Edmond Jaeger, Louis Cartier as a brilliant jeweler came up with the idea of a practical wristwatch in 1904 so his Brazilian aviator friend could keep his hands on the controls and read the time without any problem.

In 1907, Cartier signed a contract with Edmond Jaeger who would provide the movements for Cartier watches.

Baignoire and Tortue are the models introduced by Cartier in 1912, followed by the Tank model in 1917.

Louis Cartier designed the Cartier Tank watch in 1917 inspired in the war machines of the Western Front.

In the early 20’s Cartier established a joint company with Edmond Jaeger (Jaeger-LeCoultre).

The watertight watch came later in 1932 when it was specially made for the Pasha of Marrakesh.

Jacque’s son, Louis’s son and Pierre’s daughter sold the business in 1964.

Nowadays, Cartier is the base of the Richemont Louxury Group. Other brands like Vacheron Constantin, IWC, A. Lange & Sohne, Piaget, and Jaeger-LeCoultre are also in this group.

This is the beautiful Richard Mille RM 008 – V2. What is so special about that watch? Well first it is one of the models dedicated to Felipe Massa, Brazilian F1 Racer. Well, not only that since the watch is beautifully presented on red gold and white gold 40 X 50 mm oversized case. It really displays Richard Mille’s true expertise and design. The timepiece has a tourbillon movement , chronograph with split seconds, a 30 minute counter , power reserve indicator, and Torque Indicator. They are also high vibration resistant like other Felipe Massa’s models, specially designed for the F1 Racing Car’s Cockpit.

On the face we are able to see yellow and green colors around the inner case, also the hands are green as well. The reason for the those bright colors is that it carries the colors of the Brazilian flag, home of Felipe Massa . This marvelous model is only available in a limited edition of 10 pieces, 5 in pink gold and 5 in white gold.

Since this watch is so hard to find the price is very generous, may go as high as $500,000 + .

Richard Mille Felipe Massa RM 008-V2

Today we would like to introduce the Quartet 1833 collection of Jaeger-LeCoultre. The purpose of this collection is to celebrate the brand 175^th (2008)anniversary. They are four limited edition pieces that show off Jaeger-LeCoultre expertise in the field of watchmaking. The four models are: Master Minute Repeater, Mater Eight Days Perpetual SQ, Master Grand Tourbillon and Master Ultra Thin. They all come in pink gold case and chocolate brown leather bands, each of these timepieces passed a rigorous test of 1000 hours as all master control editions.

• Master Minute Repeater: This watch not only shows beautiful design and complication but also its features are breathtaking. The 18k Rose Gold skeleton 44 mm design looks outstanding, but what really sets it apart is the 15-day (360 hours) power reserve and its extremely high volume chime. The model will come in limited 175 pieces.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Master Minute Repeater

• Master Eight Days Perpetual SQ: This model carries a 41.5 mm pink gold case with skeleton face. It features an 8 day power reserve mechanism along with the perpetual calendar. The Master eight days is a limited series of 175 as well.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Eight Days Perpetual SQ

• Master Grand Tourbillon: The Master Grand Tourbillon series limited to 575 pieces is nicely presented in a chocolate face and a 18k Rose Gold. The Automatic self-winding tourbillon complication is also accompanied by a dual time that help those who travel.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grand Tourbillon

• Master Ultra Thin: The watch has a case of 38 mm of diameter in rose gold and chocolate face. It is not a mere coincidence that it is named ultra thin since this fine timepiece showcases an ultra thin design of 1.85 mm in height yet not compromising its movement. This is what really make it a complex craftmanship since it is not easy to fit the Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 849 of 123 pieces in such a small space. This timepiece will be limited to 575 pieces .

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin 38

When the 1833 quartet collection collection is purchased it will come with an additional box to store all four pieces along with a cleaning cloth and a loupe. The watches may be also purchased individually.

This curious invention of the Tourbillon in 1795, belongs to Abraham-Louis Breguet, who was known as the watchmaker of all Kings and the King of the watchmakers.

Even in its most conventional version, Tourbillon watches are very hard to manufacture and there are many differences between a hand-crafted cage, and a certain industrially fabricated creations.

A Tourbillon equilizes the effects of gravity by mounting the escapement and balance wheel in a rotating cage in order to negate the effect of gravity when the timepiece is rotated. This mechanism usually shows off on the face of the watch.

To define better a Tourbillon, we can say that it is a mechanical device consisting of a rotating cage carrying at least the balance and the escapement. The cage is rotated by the gear-train. It turns co-axially to a toothed crown placed on to the plate which serves to maintain the oscillator by means of a pinion carried by the cage.

The first Tourbillon mechanism was made by Breguet for Napoleon in one of his carriage clocks weighing almost 200 pounds.

In 2003 Thomas Prescher developed the Double Axis Tourbillon, for the Thomas Prescher Haute Horlogerie, powered by a special constant force mechanism called Remontoire. This mechanism equalizes the different forces caused by wound and unwound mainspring, friction, and gravitation effects.

Later in 2004 Thomas Prescher presented the Triple Axis Tourbillon, which comes with a constant force in the carriage in a wristwatch called Remontoire as in the Double Axis Tourbillon. In this high-end complication is that the tourbillon is turning around 3 axis. The first and the second axis both complete one rotation every minute and the third axis turning once every hour.

The Tourbillon is one of the most valued features of collectors’ watches and premium timepieces.

Breguet Tourbillon

We always get this question from our customers since both watches look pretty much the same. The difference between the Rolex Datejust (Ref. 16200, 16000, 1600) and the Rolex Date (Ref. 15200, 15000, 1500) is that the Datejust case measures 36 mm while the Date measures 34 mm. In other words there is a 2 mm difference in size. Also the bracelet of the Datejust is 20 mm in width while the Date is 19 mm. Apart from the 2 mm difference in case size and 1 mm on the bracelet both watches look the same.

Rolex Date

Rolex Datejust