If America is a country for dreaming big, then Las Vegas is the place where dreams – with a little luck – can come true. Inspired by this city, Audemars Piguet, the world’s most daring and audacious luxury watchmaker, presents the Royal Oak Las Vegas Strip Collection.

Renowned for its unique designs and unparalleled technical achievement, Audemars Piguet has taken the spirit of the Las Vegas Strip and translated it into a vision of bold and sophisticated creativity. The Royal Oak, originally conceived by Audemars Piguet in 1972, was a revolution. The world’s first luxury stainless steel sports watch, with its iconic octagonal bezel, has become one of the world’s most admired and desired timepieces.

Now, destined for a fortunate few, Audemars Piguet presents four superb paragons of the watchmaker’s craft.

Following on from the ONLY WATCH 2009 auction held in Monaco, during which the one-off model from Vacheron Constantin went for the sum of 50,000 Euros, and with a view to providing a more lasting financial contribution to the Monaco Association against Muscular Dystrophy, Vacheron Constantin has decided to launch a special series of 100 numbered watches dedicated to this cause and which will enable the watch company to donate the additional sum of 100,000 Swiss francs.

Deeply touched by the charismatic approach of Luc Pettavino and loyal to its historical tradition of generosity, Vacheron Constantin quite naturally sought to pave the way for a more lasting means of funding for the Monaco Association against Muscular Dystrophy, in addition to the Only Watch auction that takes place every two years.

The Geneva-based manufacturer has therefore decided to launch an exceptional series of 100 Quai de l’Ile watches with a case made in tantalum and in palladium; equipped with the mechanical self-winding 2460 movement bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva; numbered and engraved on the back; and specifically dedicated to this noble cause. Stemming directly from the development of the one-of-a-kind model created for the auction, they will soon be available from the 100 Vacheron Constantin points of sale around the globe that already offer the exclusive Quai de l’Ile collection.

Source: Vacheron Constantin
www.vacheron-constantin.com

Alternately reddish or ochre-coloured, brilliantly luminous or veiled in black, the moon reveals an infinite palette of subtle nuances to the naked eye. Nonetheless, the accounts given by astronauts who have seen it from close up testify to an entirely different reality. When viewed at close range, it turns out to be a bleak and grim landscape composed of dreary shades of grey, oceans of dust and ashes, cliffs and craters of cooled lava that scientists date back three billion years. To create this light which is foreign to human perception, Romain Jerome has used a revolutionary treatment to coat the dial with a mineral layer comprising authentic moon dust combined with natural pigments. Limited edition of 1,969 watches.

You would think it is a symptom when a watch manufacturer’s main novelty at a fair is a mobile phone. If it is, then I am certain that it is not a good one. When Ulysse Nardin presented the “Chairman” I was sort of surprised to see then embark on this route. Actually, the last watch manufacturer y expected to see in this battle. The design was interesting initially although after further inspection it turns out that the product is flawed in many, many ways.

The first flaw is what in a way makes it special. The kinetic rotor. For one I do not think that this would be an adequate power source for a mobile phone. There is no way that a mobile phone gets the activity that your wrist does. Inside your pocket or on a table the rotor is completely redundant. Hence, if you wish to charge it by means of the rotor you will end up embarking on a rather “obscene” workout. Quite stupid for a phone that will most likely be priced in the absurd range. So, the result is that you paid a whole lot of money to look like a fool once your battery is down… I wonder how this would look in a bar when you are trying to pickup a girl and she has a friend. You need to call your buddy to team up for the kill… It’s 2 o’clock in the morning… your battery is almost dead… will you go to the bathroom to give it a good, jerk? I guess I have no need to go any further.

The second flaw is the software. Support will be highly doubtful. Believe me, if they say otherwise they are lying! Software support was less than satisfactory when Vertu first started and they had Nokia behind them. It is a fact that all smartphone software is still crapy and buggy unless you are an iPhone. Lest face it, if you want a smart phone you would go with and iPhone or a Blackberry. If you want a good looking high-end phone you want a Vertu with a straightforward, clean, not-so-buggy Symbian 40 software.

The third and fatal flaw is its size. It just HUMONGOUS! Way larger than an iPhone, any Blackberry, all HTCs and even Sony-Ericsson’s P1. Hell, it’s practically the size of a PSP!!! In these days you really have to be a whole new level of retarded to come up with something like this and think it will sell. Believe me, in the mobile phone business the LAST thing you want to do is go Panerai!

The design on the other hand is a matter of personal taste. Personally, the more I look at it, the less I like it.

Set against extremely graphic backgrounds in shades of black and blue, the brand’s corporate colours, close-up shots magnify the distinctive nature and fascinating details of the Piaget Polo FortyFive, or Piaget Emperador watches, as well as the legendary Piaget Altiplano with its ultra-thin profile.

In parallel, the jewellery campaign revisits the works of artists Pierre & Gilles, who created the previous visuals. Pink, orange, blue and purple: a colourful fantasy world reflecting the brand’s image of extravagance and audacity welcomes packshots of the jewellery and watches from the Limelight, Possession and Piaget Polo collections. The new visuals exude a soft and exquisitely feminine aura.

Source: Piaget
www.piaget.com

The colour contrast of the all black case, hands and indexes against the bright yellow luminous hour markers and strap stitching adds to the unique allure of Linde Werdelin watches.

The new series, retailing at €4,920, is limited to 88 pieces and is available to pre-order on Lindewerdelin.com or from any LW authorised retailer.

Source: Linde Werdelin
www.lindewerdelin.com

Evocatively code-named “Raven”, the resulting timepieces feature a resolutely high-tech black and steel look. Both models – one electronic and the other mechanical – boast peerless functionality.

The Airwolf makes the most of the performances of its exclusive SuperQuartz™ movement driving this ultra-accurate instrument providing the full range of functions required by professional pilots: 1/100th of a second chronograph, alarm, countdown, 2nd timezone, UTC. An NVG-compatible display backlighting system enables night-time read-off, while a turbine-shaped construction on the caseback serves as a resonance chamber for the alarm and other audible indications.

Source: Breitling
www.breitling.com

The Felipe Massa RM 004-V2 in an edition of 40 pieces and the Felipe Massa RM 008-V2 limited to 10 pieces. Both watches sport the colours of the Brazilian flag on the inner bezel as well as a red collared crown.

Caliber RM 004-V2 Felipe Massa. Limited Edition of 40 pieces: 25 in 18ct red gold, 10 in 18ct white gold and 5 in titanium.

As always with Richard Mille Watches, these two highly complex timepieces combine innovative technical characteristics with handmade finishing that respects the grand traditions of Swiss watchmaking.

With totally ergonomic cases and state of the art movements they are fully adapted to the most intensive environments, such as participating in a Formula 1 Grand Prix race on Felipe Massa’s wrist.

Caliber RM 008-V2 Felipe Massa.Limited Edition of 10 pieces: 5 in 18ct red gold and 5 in 18ct white gold.

Source: Richard Mille
www.richardmille.com
Contact:bwaldbillig@peter.fr

Swiss watchmaker Hublot showed off its one-of-a-kind (piece unique) One Million $ Black Caviar watch in Hong Kong recently. Charismatic Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver presented the watch to a gathering of lucky enthusiasts, including the Luxury-Insider.com team. While caviar was certainly on the menu, as you can see, the watch does not feature the substance of course. It is simply a reference to the black diamonds adorning the case, dial, crown and deployant clasp, all set via the invisible setting style (note that the power reserve is indicated via white diamonds). Do take note also of the tourbillon at 6 o’clock. You may recall a similar piece Hublot made in 2007 and this watch is definitely its successor, both having been graced by the touch of diamond-setters Bunter SA. Like the 2007 watch, this one does not reveal more than a glimpse of the white gold case, with the diamonds being set extremely close together, with no visible prongs.

Luxury watchmaker Officine Panerai brings its know-how to Hong Kong in July with the Manifattura Collection exhibition at the Atrium, The Landmark, Central.

A perennial favorite amongst watch enthusiasts and collectors, Panerai has shown its commitment to innovation and raising standards in haute horlogerie with a series of magnificent mechanical movements. Headlining the current exhibition, which is the brand’s second such showing in Hong Kong, is the P.9000 range of calibres introduced this year at the trade show in Geneva.

The exhibition will be opened for free admission to the public at the Atrium, The Landmark, Central from 26 to 29 July 2009, between 11am to 8pm daily.

The P.9000 calibres are the P.9000, P.9001 and P9002 and all three share certain technical design characteristics unique to Panerai. Of course, they are also hallmarks of the brand’s technical excellence and watchmaking prowess. Calibres P.2002, P.2003, P.2004, P.2005 and P.2006 will also be on display, along with historical pieces and other key elements of the brand’s storied past.