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On the 30th May, whilst at the Rendez-Vous de l’Horlogerie in Monaco, over 1000 people expressed their preferences within the limits of the Grand Prix du Cercle de l’Horlogerie. The winners where chosen due to the result of the voting done by amateurs, collectioners and passionates who were present at the event.

During this Monegasque event each participant was to represent 3 categories: Men, Women, New Time Pieces and Avant garde. The event was organised by Deluxe society who had the support of the government and Barclays Wealth.

The Women category received the most votes followed by Men. (A difference of only 3 votes), Piaget stood out by showing its savoir-faire on watch making with its Emperador Coussin Tourbillon Automatique, yet another achievement and record is set in the domain of extra thin watches and also jewellery watches with its Altiplano diamond paved watch.

Winner of the Women category

Piaget Altiplano

38 mm
18-carat white gold case set with 78 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.7 cts)
Fully-paved dial set with 735 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 2.1 cts), 18-carat
white gold applied hour-markers, dauphine hands
Manufacture Piaget 430P ultra-thin mechanical hand-wound movement
Functions: hour, minute
Movement thickness: 2.1 mm
Casing dimension: 9’’’ (20.5 mm)
Number of jewels: 18
Frequency: 21,600 vph
Approximately 40-hour power reserve

Finishing: circular Côtes de Genève, circular-grained mainplate, bevelled
bridges, blued screws 18-carat white gold pin buckle set with 23 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.06 cts)

Black alligator leather strap
Ref. G0A36129

2nd place in Men category

Piaget Emperador Coussin Tourbillon iaget Automatic

46.5 mm
World’s thinnest self-winding tourbillon watch (10.4 mm)
18-carat white gold watch
Laser-printed glass dial revealing the movement
Tapering hour-markers pointing towards an off-centred dial
Manufacture Piaget 1270P ultra-thin mechanical self-winding tourbillon
movement
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve
Off-centred hour indication at 4 o’clock
Movement thickness: 5.55 mm
Dimensions: 15 ’’’ ½ (34.9 mm x 34.9 mm)
Jewels: 35
Vibrations: 21,600 vibrations/hour
Off-centred tourbillon carriage at 1 o’clock
Weight of tourbillon carriage: 0.2 g (3 titanium bridges)
Thickness of tourbillon carriage: 2.8 mm
White gold micro-rotor, off-centred at 10 o’clock
Power reserve: approximately 40 hours, displayed on the case-back

Finishing: circular Côtes de Genève (back), sunburst satin-brushed guilloché mainplate (face); sunburst, bevelled and hand-drawn bridges (face); circular satin-brushed wheels; sunburst satin-brushed barrel cover; blued screws; gold guilloché oscillating weight engraved with Piaget coat-of-arms, polished “P” on the tourbillon
carriage, hand-bevelled carriage arms 18-carat white gold folding clasp

Black alligator leather strap
Ref. G0A36040

Patek Philippe Advanced Research Patek Philippe presents the new GyromaxSi® balance in gold and Silinvar®  .In the past six years, the Patek Philippe Advanced Research department has repeatedly attracted attention with innovative components that contribute to the higher rate accuracy and reliability of timepieces.

• 2005:  Silinvar escape wheel. Requires no lubrication.
• 2006:  Concentrically breathing flat Spiromax® balance spring in Silinvar for improved isochronism.
• 2008: Pulsomax® escapement in Silinvar for more efficient power transmission.

Now, in the spring of 2011, the Geneva workshops are presenting a debut that rounds out the spectrum of high-tech rate control elements for mechanical watches: the GyromaxSi® balance in Silinvar® and gold as well as the next evolutionary step of the Pulsomax® escapement. This commitment to cutting-edge technologies is also intended to further optimize traditional watchmaking artistry. A case in point: thanks to the use of innovative Silinvar® components, the power reserve of the limited-edition Patek Philippe perpetual calendar Ref. 5550P was increased from 48 to a maximum of 70 hours, so it can be left on the nightstand for a whole weekend without having to be readjusted on Monday morning.

A limited-edition timepiece has been dedicated to each Patek Philippe Advanced Research innovation so far, and this also applies to the GyromaxSi® balance: integrated in the Patek Philippe Advanced Research Ref. 5550P, the new components will be tested and prepared for implementations in the Patek Philippe collection. Additionally, all self-winding caliber 324 movements as well as the CH 28-520 chronograph calibers have been fitted with a Spiromax® balance spring since nearly a year ago. Gradually, other Patek Philippe calibers such as the 215 and the 240 will be endowed with the new hairsprings as well. The new Pulsomax® escapement has already been integrated into the highly complex caliber R CH 27 PS QI of the Ref. 5208 which had its grand Baselworld debut this year.

Before expounding on the whys and wherefores of Patek Philippe’s innovative GyromaxSi® balance, it is important to outline the decisive technical and  design-related features of the new balance. The GyromaxSi® balance is a highly innovative construction with two diagonally opposed circular sectors crafted from Silinvar® and 24K gold. The chassis is etched out of silicon wafers with the DRIE process and converted into a Silinvar® component by way of oxidation. The centrifugal masses are gold inlays integrated into the chassis with a technique patented by Patek Philippe. Additionally, the GyromaxSi®balance features four small slotted poising weights that can be precision-adjusted according to the Gyromax® principle (variable moment of inertia). The Gyromax adjustment concept was developed by Patek Philippe in the 1940s and received patent protection in 1951. Now, at the age of 60, it is being superseded by a worthy successor: the GyromaxSi® balance.

www.patek.com

It was an A-list gathering at The Museum of Modern Art last night, as Piaget hosted the New York premiere of Robert Redford’s new film, ‘The Conspirator.’ Young starlet, Alexis Bledel, arrived at the screening looking stylish and chic in Piaget jewels as she walked the red carpet for one of her first dramatic roles in a feature film. Alexis, a long time friend of Piaget, chose a pair of simple Possession earrings in white gold with black jade and a Piaget Possession Celebration chain ring in yellow gold and diamonds to accent her sparkling beaded dress. Along with Bledel, actress and model, Kiera Chaplin. the great-granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin and guest of Piaget, looked radiant in a pair of Piaget Limelight Party earrings in yellow gold with diamonds and the new Piaget Possession yellow gold cuff.

The entire cast came out to support the film, including James McAvoy, Robin Wright. Evan Rachel Wood, Kevin Kline, Tom Wilkinson, James Badge Dale, and legendary director, Robert Redford. Also in attendance was AI Roker, Candice Bergen, Julian Schnabel, Karen Allen, Chazz Palminteri, artist Marina Abramovic, and fashion designers Anna Sui and Chris Benz, among others. Following the screening, Pia get hosted an intimate after party at The Royalton Hotel where guests enjoyed champagne and cocktails

APRIL 2011 – The first Panerai application specifically designed for iPad and aimed at fans of Radiomir and Luminor watches is online and available free from the Apple Store. The new Panerai Magazine offers information, images and videos of the new Panerai models presented at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2011 in Geneva.

Panerai Magazine presents a wealth of different images, videos and articles, so that Panerai watch enthusiasts can admire and get detailed information about the Florentine brand’s new watches, plus much, much more: the technical specifications of the new hand-wound P.3000 calibre with three-day power reserve, entirely developed and produced at the Neuchâtel factory; the performance and features of the innovative materials that Officine Panerai uses for the cases of its watches; the link between each detail of a Panerai watch and the long history of the brand.

Panerai Magazine is the first application created by Officine Panerai specifically for iPad, is available to the public, and joins the Panerai application for iPhone launched in 2010. It can be downloaded free from this link:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/panerai-mag/id427601907?mt=8

Officine Panerai

Founded in Florence in 1860 as a watchmaker’s shop, workshop and school, Officine Panerai was for many years the official supplier of precision instruments for the Italian Navy, mostly for the underwater special corps. The projects developed by the company at the time – including the Luminor and Radiomir watch – were covered by military secret until 1997, when the brand was purchased by the Richemont Group and launched on the international market. Officine Panerai is today the only Italian fine watch making company, developing and producing its own calibres and watches – a blend of Italian history and design with Swiss craftsmanship – in its own manufacture in Neuchatel, Switzerland. Panerai watches are distributed worldwide through an exclusive network and in the Panerai boutiques in Florence, Milan, Portofino, Geneva, Madrid, Moscow, Paris, Los Angeles, New York, Boca Raton, Buenos Aires, Beijing, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo, Beirut, Doha, Dubai, Riyadh. www.panerai.com

Gwyneth Paltrow is the new ambassador for luxury watchmaker Baume & Mercier.

Although Gwyneth will not appear in any promotional campaigns for the brand, the 38-year-old beauty will be involved with “communication projects” including attending the upcoming Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) – the annual showcase for exclusive timepieces – later this month.

Read more: Gwyneth Paltrow becomes ambassador for Baume & Mercier

Prepare to be shocked, luxury watch world. One of the most seasoned names in fine timepieces, Baume & Mercier, launched a contest appealing to fans on social media.

That’s right—not readers of high-end magazines or owners of fancy cars or private jets; the Swiss watch brand is appealing to folks who’re connecting on Facebook, that oh-so-democratic online platform that everyone—from teens to soccer moms to politicians—seems to be using.

Click the link below to read the full article....

Entries are being accepted through Nov. 30 on the Baume & Mercier Facebook Fan Page/VSR tab.

The luxury watch brand gives social media fans a chance to become one of its “Very Special Reporters.”

Loyal as ever to its spirit embodying a blend of elegance and high-tech, Piaget is taking a further step in modern communication methods by entering the touch-screen era with a special iPad/iPhone compatible version of www.piaget.com.

By opting for a mobile adaptation of its website, Piaget is providing users with a chance to discover the splendid world of its watch and jewellery creations by simply brushing their fingers across a screen.

Featuring an extremely pure, clean-cut graphic design entirely in tune with the “tablet” spirit, the new iPad website version enables immediate and simple access to the boutique network, the entire set of collections, as well as to the brand’s history and expertise.

Piaget will progressively install a range of service intended to strengthen the brand’s very special and personal ties with its customers.

A Bulgari blue diamond ring, featuring the largest triangular-shaped fancy vivid blue diamond to appear at auction, sold for $15.7 million, or $1.4 million per carat at Christie’s New York on Wednesday. The total auction sold for $52.5 million with 90 percent of the 448 lots sold.


Click on the link below for the complete article…
Bulgari Blue Fetches $16M at Christie’s NY

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed)
Oct 14th 2010 at 11:02AM

I am not a woman, nor do I wear rings, but I will be the first to admit these are very cool. They are so cool, I think most people will almost forget these are high-end luxury goods. From the Limelight collection by Piaget, these are a new line of cocktail rings that actually look like real cocktail drinks. And I’ve always wondered why they were called cocktail rings… These rings are very fun and well designed. Piaget did an excellent job replicating the look of popular cocktail drinks in jewelry.

Click on the link below for the complete article…
Piaget Limelight ‘True’ Cocktail Rings

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed)
Oct 8th 2010 at 10:01AM

If you’re looking for a premium vodka, it doesn’t get much more up-market than Grey Goose. not without its share of challengers, the French vodka has earned itself a solid place atop the vodka market. But of course there’s always someone looking for something a little more special. And for just such a market, the Grey Goose has teamed up with Swiss watchmaker and jeweler Chopard on a very exclusive limited edition bottle.

Click on the link below for the full article…
Grey Goose Vodka Magnum by Chopard