Vacheron Constantin wins Watch of the Year Prize for its ‘Historiques American 1921’ wristwatch model

Geneva, Thursday October 29th 2009 – Just two years after being awarded the 2007 Watch of the Year Prize (for the Patrimony Contemporary Retrograde Date and Day model), Vacheron Constantin once again takes the top spot on the winner’s podium with the 2009 Watch of the Year Prize, this time for its ‘Historiques American 1921’ model.

Born of a determination to highlight the wealth of our heritage, its design is inspired by an avant-garde cushion-shaped wristwatch featuring a crown at 1 o’clock, created for the crown in response to the wishes of an American client in during the Roaring Twenties. It blends creativity embodied in the daring style of the 1920s, with rigorous technical sophistication expressed through the new mechanical manual-winding Manufacture 4400 movement bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva to which we are firmly committed.”



‘Historiques American 1921’

Born of a determination to highlight the wealth of the Vacheron Constantin heritage, the ‘Historiques’ line is intended to revive models symbolising the spirit and expertise of the brand through contemporary contemporary reinterpretations.

After presenting the reinterpreted Chronomètre Royal 1907 on the occasion of its 100th anniversary, in 2008 Vacheron Constantin presented the ‘Historiques American 1921’, a piece inspired by an avant-garde cushion-shaped wristwatch featuring a crown placed at 1 o’clock and confidentially produced for an American client during the Roaring Twenties. In keeping with the spirit of that era, Vacheron Constantin has once again returns to creative roots by combining inventive design with rigorous respect for history in this eloquent tribute to the 1920s.

Radiating classic and understated elegance as well as genuine originality, this ultimate ‘dandy-style’ watch faithfully echoes the original with a 40 mm-diameter cushion-shaped case crafted in 18-carat pink gold and distinguished by diagonal time read-off and a crown positioned at 1 o’clock. The sandblasted dial is graced with 12 painted black Arabic numerals arranged around an equally black-painted railway track minute circle. The hands are in black oxidised 18-carat gold. Topped by a slightly convex sapphire crystal, the case is fitted with a transparent back enabling one to admire the exceptional finishing of the mechanical manual-winding Calibre 4400, developed and crafted in-house by Vacheron Constantin and bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva. Beating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, it measures 28 mm in diameter, 2.8 mm thick, and is endowed with an approximately 65-hour power reserve. This new model is water-resistant to pressures of 3 bar – equivalent to 30 metres – and is teamed with a hand-sewn saddle-stitched strap in dark brown alligator leather fitted with an 18-carat pink gold pin buckle shaped like a half Maltese Cross.

Produced in limited quantities, the ‘Historiques American 1921’ is bound to delight connoisseurs and devotees of classic and daring fine watchmaking who are looking for distinctive timepieces and whose horological curiosity naturally draws them to its timeless aesthetic and functional qualities.














[Source: Vacheron Constantin International – Press Communication]

Audemars Piguet: The Royal Oak Carbon Concept

Carbon fibre has been the preferred material for high-performance applications that demand sturdiness. Formula 1 race cars, America’s Cup yachts and, even aerospace vehicles, have fully leveraged the material’s technical properties: strength and lightness.
Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet is a pioneer according to the use of carbon fibre for function as well as form. The Royal Oak Carbon Concept is surprisingly light thanks to materials such as forged carbon, amorphous carbon coatings, ceramics, titanium, and anodized aluminium, which forms the watch’s green central bridge. The absence of a dial provides a full view of the hand-wound Caliber 2895 movement’s key components: the tourbillon carriage—comprising more than 70 parts yet weighing a mere 0.45 grams—and the column wheel, which is the chronograph’s nerve centre. Audemars presents a novel twist on the 30-minute chronograph with a linear minute counter consisting of two columnar scales, with tens of minutes on the left and single minutes on the right. Tiny windows that correspond to each numeral mark elapsed time by changing from white to black. The wearer shifts from winding to time-setting by adjusting the stem.




Technical data:

Movement
Calibre: 2895, hand-wound with tourbillon
Total diameter: 151/3 lignes (34.60 mm)
Casing-diameter: 33.80 mm
Thickness: 12.01 mm
34 jewels
384 parts
Power reserve: 237 hours
Cadence of the balance:
21,600 vibrations per hour
Finishing: hand-polished bevelling, sides hand-drawn with a file, matt surface, sapphire-blasted
Carbon mainplate, eloxed aluminium bridges

Case
Forged carbon
Ceramic bezel
Caseback ring in black PVD-coated titanium
Diameter: 44 mm
Total thickness: 15.85 mm
Sapphire crystal caseback
Water-resistance: 100 m

Display
Integrated onto the movement
Graduated dial ring with luminescent hour-markers and white minute markers
Openworked luminescent hour and minute hands

Strap
Hand-sewn alligator leather with large square scales,
AP folding clasp in titanium

Functions
Hours and minutes
Linear chronograph minute counter with central sweep seconds hand
Power-reserve indication
Selection indicator

Watches in Series: Magnun, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Miami Ink, The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalic and Man vs. Wild.

Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988)

Thomas Magnum is employed on the Hawaiian estate of a wealthy absentee whose owner’s name is Robin Masters. The estate is run by Jonathan Higgins and Magnum is private detective whose cases frequently have a humorous overtone and always just enough danger.

 Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck) wears a Rolex GMT Master Watch.

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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000-)
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CSI is a spin-off of the CBS network series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. The series is an American crime drama television one that trails the investigations of a team of Miami-Dade forensic scientists as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths and other crimes.

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Nick Stokes (George Eads) wears a Rolex GMT Master II Watch.

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Miami Ink (2005-2008)
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Miami Ink is a reality show focusing on a Miami Tattoo parlour run by a group of Tattoo Artist who are friends. All of them are highly skilled.

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Ami James wears a Breitling Super Avenger Chronograph Watch.

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The Librarian: The Curse of the Judas Chalice (2008)

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After retrieving the philosophical stone at an auction but losing his girlfriend, the librarian Flynn Carsen has a breakdown. Flynn travels to New Orleans and he has a crush on a French singer (Simone Renoir).
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Flynn Carsen (Noah Wyle) wears a Cartier Santos Watch.

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Man vs. Wild (2007-)
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Man vs. Wild, also called Born Survivor: Bear Grylls or Ultimate Survival, is a survival television series hosted by Bear Grylls, on the Discovery Channel. In the United Kingdom, the series is shown on both the Discovery Channel and on Channel 4.
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Bear Grylls wears a Breitling Emergency Watch.

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Barack Obama's Vulcain Cricket Anniversary Heart Watch

(Barack Obama's Vulcain Cricket Anniversary Heart Watch)

Swiss watch maker Vulcain presented President Obama’s Vulcain watch. Even thought Barack Obama usually wears his Jorg Gray 6500 watch, he does have other timepieces. Since the 1950s, it is a Vulcain tradition to give out watches to US Presidents and so, in order to continue with this habit, the latest timepiece they've sent to the oval office is quite stunning. President Barack Obama received a precious Stainless Steel Vulcain Cricket Anniversary Heart Watch. This unique timepiece is part of the classic Cricket Watches named after their loud alarms. According to the mechanical Vulcain Cricket V-18 movement’s alarm, it is one of the loudest on the market and it is also easy to set through the upper crown on the right side of the watch (using the central ring on the dial). The wristwatch also features a 42mm wide case, also water resistant to 50 meters.

The retail price of the stainless steel version of the Vulcain Anniversary Heart Watch is about $6,500. It is unclear whether versions such as the pictured one with the message to Barack Obama will be available at all to the public, as it is likely a one-off version reserved for the President himself. The Vulcain Anniversary Heart watches come in various tones as well as in 18k gold.


Technical Data:

Diameter 42,00 mm

Caliber Vulcain Cricket V-18

Power reserve 42 h

Water resistance 50 m / 160 ft

Functions Hour, Minute, Second, Alarm

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[Source: Vulcain Watches Web Page]  [[

Tiger Woods' TAG Heuer Quartz Chronograph 1/10th Ref CJ1110.BA0576

Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods was born December 30, 1975. He is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Currently the World No. 1, he was the highest-paid professional athlete in 2008, having earned an estimated $110 million from winnings and endorsements.
Woods has won fourteen professional major golf championships, the second highest of any male player, and 71 PGA Tour events, third all time. He has more career major wins and career PGA Tour wins than any other active golfer. He is the youngest player to achieve the career Grand Slam, and the youngest and fastest to win 50 tournaments on tour.
Woods has held the number one position in the world rankings for the most consecutive weeks and for the greatest total number of weeks. He has been awarded PGA Player of the Year a record nine times, the Byron Nelson Award for lowest adjusted scoring average a record eight times, and has tied Jack Nicklaus' record of leading the money list in eight different seasons. He has been named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year a record-tying four times, and is the only person to be named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year more than once.
Since his record-breaking win at the 1997 Masters Tournament, golf's increased popularity is attributed to Woods' presence. He is credited for dramatically increasing prize money in golf, generating interest in new audiences as the first person of colour to win the Masters, and for drawing the largest TV audiences in golf history.

Tiger Woods' TAG Heuer Quartz Chronograph 1/10th

CJ1110.BA0576

Movement: Quartz movement/ Elapsed and total time chronograph functions with split-seconds and close consecutive times register
Water resistance: 200 m
Crystal: Curved scratch resistant sapphire crystal
Case: Cut from a block of solid Steel/ Shaped push-buttons
Bezel: Fixed or unidirectional turning bezel according to models/ set with diamonds according to models
Dial: Hand applied faceted indexes in Steel or Diamonds according to models. Luminescent hour-markers and hands.
When applicable: Top Wesselton (VVS) diamonds. A certificate featuring the quality, size and carat of the diamonds is delivered with each timepiece set with diamonds.
Crown: Screw in
Bracelet: Steel or enamel calf leather strap according to models
Clasp: Double safety clasp with folding buckle
Specifications may depend on the model.













[Source: TAG Heuer Web Page]

Ulysse Nardin: The Imperial St. Petersburg Maxi Marine Chronometer Enamel, Limited Edition.

The Imperial St. Petersburg
Maxi Marine Chronometer Enamel, Limited Edition.

Ulysse Nardin has produced a new and once more unique Limited Edition timepiece: The Imperial St. Petersburg, which belongs to the Ulysse Nardin Marine Collection. This precious timepiece features a genuine hand-crafted oven-cured enamel dial with an applied gold double-headed Eagle (emblematic of St. Petersburg).

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The Maxi Marine Chronometer is available in a Limited Edition of 30 pieces in platinum. The exhibition case back reveals the spectacular movement equipped with a 22 ct gold rotor.

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It is officially certified self-winding movement (C.O.S.C) features the legendary oversized small seconds register and a large date display at 6 o’clock. According to its elegant 43 mm case, it is individually numbered and equipped with a screw-crown and sapphire crystals. It is also water-resistant to 100 meters.

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The Imperial St. Petersburg is presented in an elaborate multi-layer white translucent enamel Egg of the Tsars decorated with 4.25 carats of diamonds. The diamonds have been employed in recreating legendary symbols of St. Petersburg. The Admiralty Spire, the Rostral Columns, the Arch of the General Staff Building and the famous drawbridges that open at night to allow for passage of large vessels can be seen picked-out in diamonds. Ulysse Nardin’s anchor serves to link the egg to the white marble base.

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Both the Imperial St. Petersburg and its accompanying Egg of the Tsars are destined to become highly sought-after by collectors.

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Technical data:
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Réf. 269-69/STP
Movement Caliber UN-26, 28 jewels, 22 ct gold rotor
Power-reserve Approx. 42 h
Winding Self-winding
Functions Chronometer C.O.S.C.
Small seconds and round date
window at 6 o’clock
Case Platinum
Dimensions 43 mm
Water-resistance 200 m
Dial Genuine white enamel dial
Crystal Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Case-back Open case back with sapphire crystal
Crown Screw down security crown
Bracelet Alligator leather strap with platinum folding buckle
Limited Edition 30 pieces in platinum

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[Source: Ulysse Nardin Web Page]

NEW 8C Spider Alfa Romeo LIMITED EDITION

(8C Spider Alfa Romeo)

Production of the 8C Spider began in 2009, in Modena, with Maserati in charge of building the cars. As previously announced, 500 cars will be built, each priced at €175,000 (US$241,000) excluding taxes. The production version was unveiled at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. 35 of 500 Spiders are going to United States.
Alfa Romeo claims that the 8C Spider's top speed is 290 kilometres per hour (180 mph), which makes it slightly slower than the coupe version. The brakes on the Spider are Brembo carbon-ceramic units. The Spider has a two-layer electrically operated fabric roof. The windshield frame is made of carbon fiber to try to maintain a 50/50 weight distribution.
The Spider version of the super sports car, designed by the Alfa Romeo Style Center, and derived from the Alfa 8C Competizione, the Gran Turismo model that has been so successful throughout the world.
This new car highlights the excellence of the brand in this sector, in the same way that several of its Spiders from the past are acknowledged as being some of the most beautiful cars in the world, cars such as the Giulietta Spider from the 1950s or the legendary Duetto, made famous by the 1967 film ‘The Graduate’, starring a young Dustin Hoffman.
The distinctive feature of the 8C Spide is its fold.away roof, available in a choice of colours and fitted with an electrohydraulic system activated with the simple push of a button on the dashboard. The roof consists of two overlapping fabrics: a weather-proof multi-layer outer fabric and an inner layer ensuring total acoustic comfort in the cabin. The result is the last word in style, aerodynamics, practicality and comfort.
Its engine: Type V8 -90º / Displacement (cc) 4691 / Location Front Longitudinal / Max. power (bph) at (rpm) 450 (7000) / Max. Torque (Nm) at (rpm) 480 (4750) / Specific output (bhp/l) 96 / Maximum revs per minut 7500.
Its gearbox and transmission: Architecture transaxle / driver wheels – torque splitrear / gearbox MTA / Numero of speed 6 / Limited slip differentia.
Its chassis and body: Chassis architecture steel frame/ body material carbon / dashboard carbon / front suspension double wishbone / rear suspension double wishbone / front brakes (mm) 380x32 / rear brakes (mm) 360x32 / standard front wheels 245-35R20 / standard rear wheels 285-35R20.
Dimension and Weight: Overall length (mm) 4381 / Overall with (mm) 1894 / Wheelsbase (mm) 2645 / Fuel tank capacity (lit) 88 / Weight distribution 49%-51%

Maximum speed: (km/h) 290
Acceleration 0-100 km/h(s) 4.4
Braking 100-0 km/h (m) 33[Source: Alfa Romeo Web Page

[Source: Alfa Romeo Web Page]

NEW TAG Heuer Monaco LS Calibre 12 Automatic Chronograph

Tag Heuer celebrates the 40th birthday of the original Tag Heuer Monaco. At the BaselWorld 2009 Tag Heuer already unveiled several new Tag Heuer Monaco wrist watches. TAG Heuer has now presented the new Tag Heuer Monaco LS.

When Steve McQueen was driving His Porsche 917, he was wearing his TAG Heuer Monaco Wristwatch. The timepieces producing company is now unveiling the new version of what became an icon a few decades ago: the Monaco LS Chronograph Calibre 12.

According to its movement, the new Monaco LS features a TAG Heuer Calibre 12 Automatic Chronograph based on a Dubois Depraz 2008 where the chronograph minutes are displayed at 9 o'clock and the chronograph hours markers are displayed at 6 o'clock. It also has the date indicator at 12 o'clock.

About its dial: it is a black one with technical fine brushed bridges inspired by the MONACO Calibre 360 concept which featured a faceted chronograph, polished and fine-brushed minute and hour hands with luminescent markers. It also features hand-applied and faceted indexes with luminescent markers and a rhodium second hand with a touch of red.

Its case: with a diameter of 40.5 mm inspired by the V4 case design, it features a curved sapphire crystal glass polished and fine brushed stainless steel case and push-buttons. It is water resistant up to 100 meters.














[TAG Heuer Press Release]

Theo Mavrostomos' Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date, Ref. 16600 COMEX, Sea Dweller

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date, Ref. 16600 COMEX, Sea Dweller
Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified Made in the late 1990's, sold in 1998

Former property of Theo Mavrostomos, Hydra X team member, world's deepest dive record holder Rolex, Oyster Perpetual Date, COMEX, Sea Dweller 4000ft=1220m.Made in the late 1990's, sold in 1998.

Fine and rare with center seconds, self-winding, water resistant to 4000 ft, stainless steel diver's wristwatch with date, heliumescape valve and a stainless steel Fliplock Oyster bracelet. The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date, Ref. 16600 COMEX was accompanied by its original box with its Guarantee Certificate, anchor, 2 instruction booklets, bracelet tool, diver's timetable and Rolex documentation. (All in perfect conditions, as Antiquorum’s auctioneering description specified)

Theo Mavrostomos is one of Comex’s most renowned divers. Mavrostomos is known as the master of the underwater welder. His greatest accomplishment came when in November of 1992, under hyperbaric chamber conditions, he broke the world diving saturation record in a dive that took 43 days to be completed and he reached an incredible depth of 701 meters during Hydra 10 experiments carried out by Comex.

Lot Estimates
75,000 USD - 95,000 USD60,000 EUR - 75,000 EUR90,000 CHF - 110,000 CHF

[Source: Antiquorum's Web page]

Best Driver's Car 2009: The Lotus Evora

On 12 August 2009, British Car Magazine Autocar named the Evora as Britain's Best Driver's Car 2009. In order to win this price, The Evora had to compete with 29 rivals (like Lamborghini, Porsch, Aston Martin or Ferrari) in a specific series of tests in which cars were driven by the Le Mans winner, Darren Turner.

(Lotus Evora)

The Lotus Evora is a sports car produced by British car manufacturer Lotus. The car, developed under Project Eagle name, was launched as the Evora on 22 July 2008 at the British International Motor Show.

Lotus Evora is based on the first all-new vehicle platform since the introduction of the Lotus Elise in 1996 as the Exige, introduced in 2000, and the 2006 Europa S are both derivatives of the Elise. The Evora is the first vehicle of three vehicles to be built on the same platform.
The Evora, weighing an estimated curb weight of 1,350 kg (3,000 lb), it is currently the only Lotus model with a 2+2 configuration, although it has been announced that it will also be offered in a two-seater configuration, referred to as the "Plus Zero" option. It is also the only 2+2 mid engined coupé on sale. "Evora" keeps Lotus’ tradition of beginning model names with an "E". The name is derived from the words evolution, vogue and aura.

Performance
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds
Top speed: 162 mph (261 km/h)
CO2 emission: 205 g/km
Fuel consumption: 32.5 miles per imperial gallon (8.69 L/100 km; 27.1 mpg-US)
Drag coefficient: 0.337

Manufacturer Lotus Cars Parent company Proton Production start 2009 Assembly Hethel, Norfolk Class Sports car Body style(s) 2- or 2+2-passenger coupé Layout Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive Engine(s) 3.5 L Toyota 2GR-FE V6(280 PS (206 kW; 276 hp)) Transmission(s) 6-speed manual Wheelbase 2,575 mm (101.4 in) Length 4,342 mm (170.9 in) Width 1,848 mm (72.8 in) Height 1,223 mm (48.1 in) Kerb weight 1,350 kg (3,000 lb) 2-passenger variant1,380 kg (3,000 lb) (2+2-passenger variant) Designer Russell Carr.

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The World Most Innovative: The Hotel Marmara Antalya (Turkey)

The first entirely rotating building in the world.

In 2007, it won the Marmara Antalya a Worldwide Hospitality Award for the Most Innovative Concept in Luxury Hotels.

Antalya is a city on the Southern Mediterranean coast of Turkey and the capital city of Antalya Province. It is situated on coastal cliffs and surrounded by mountains. According to tradition, in the 2nd century BC, the Pergamum king Attalos II ordered his men to find "heaven on earth". After an extensive search, they discovered the region of Antalya. With a population in 2008 of around 800.000, has played host to a revolving cast of empires over the centuries, from the Romans, to the Byzantines to the Ottomans and Turks. It's known as one of the most beautiful cities in Turkey and it's also the city that built one of the world's most unusual hotels: The Hotel Marmara Antalya, which features the only fully rotating hotel building in the world.
The Hotel Marmara Antalya's main building is an ordinary 214-room hotel building overlooking the dramatic scenery around one of Turkey's most beautiful. It features only 24 rooms. With a cylindrical tower, which cost US$12 million to build, the whole building is designed to gently rotate through 360 degrees over a period of between 2 and 22 hours. The lower three floors are submerged under the water, while the upper 3 floors are treated to a slowly rotating panoramic view of the area.
Rooms can be had for under 100 Euros (US$150) or over 400 Euros (US$600) depending on what you go for.

Watches in Movies: Undercover Brother, Collateral Damage, In the Electric Mist, Traitor and The Thomas Crown Affair

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Undercover Brother (2002)

Even though Anton Jackson, an African-American man, seems to be harmless he is a secret agent working in the all-black Brotherhood (the entity that levels the playing field against the all-white establishment).

(Anton Jackson -Eddie Griffin- wears a Breitling Counterfeit)

Collateral Damage (2002)

Firefighter Gordon Brewer is plunged into the complex world of international terrorism after he loses his wife and child in a bombing credited to Claudio "The Wolf" Perrini. Frustrated with the official investigation and desiring justice, he takes this matter into his own hands and tracks his quarry ultimately to Colombia.

(Gordy Brewer -Arnold Schwarzenegger- wears a Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore)

In the Electric Mist (2009)

New Iberia Lt. Dave Robicheaux is trying to link the murder of a local hooker to New Orleans mobster Julie (Baby Feet) Balboni-back in his home parish as co-producer of Hollywood director Michael Goldman's Civil War film.

(Dave Robicheaux -Tommy Lee Jones- wears a Breitling wristwatch)

Traitor (2008)

Samir Horn (Don Cheadle), a devout American Muslim, and a former U.S. Army Special Forces expert in explosives, has been mysteriously showing up on the FBI's radar for being in the area of terrorist bombings. FBI agent Roy Clayton (Guy Pearce) heads up the force investigation to link Horn to these bombings. Clayton is able to question Horn after he was arrested in Yemen for attempting to sell explosives to an Islamic terrorist group. Clayton must capture Horn (after he run away from prision) before he strikes his next target.

(Omar -Said Taghmaoui- wears a Breitling wristwatch)

(Iqbal -Elias Zarou- wears a Rolex President wristwatch)

The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

A bored multi-millionaire struggling to find new challenges arranges for the theft of a Monet painting from a museum. This sets a sexy insurance investigator after him, but unexpectedly the two fall in love.

(Thomas Crown -Pierce Brosnan- wears a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Duo)

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The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Liquidmetal Limited Edition watch

An innovation in bezel materials from luxury watchmaker Omega: one new timepiece from the spectacular Seamaster Planet Ocean collection. The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Liquidmetal Limited Edition watch features the fundamental specifications of other Planet Ocean 600m watches. Case diameter is 42mm, and the stainless steel bracelet incorporates the Omega dual-pushbutton folding clasp with a concealed dive extension that allows for wear atop a wetsuit. Applied Superluminova hour indexes and arrow-tipped hour hands contribute to outstanding legibility under conditions of poor or nonexistent lighting. The thick sapphire crystal features a gentle convex profile, and offers excellent legibility, thanks in part to an anti-reflective coating applied to both sides. The caseback, winding crown, and helium release valve all screw down securely, and contribute to the impressive water resistance rating of 600 meters (2000 feet).
Ticking beneath the screwed steel caseback decorated with the famous Omega Seahorse logo is the Co-Axial 2500 caliber. Based upon a highly elaborated ETA 2892 base, this movement offers a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. The balance pulsates at the distinctive pace of 25,200 beats per hour, a technical necessity implemented to assure reliable operation within the framework of the innovative Omega Co-Axial Escapement. Bridges and the central winding rotor display Cotes de Geneve patterns, while the mainplate is decorated with circular graining. The caliber features both a stop seconds function for precise setting and convenient, rapidly-adjustable calendar. A confirmation of the caliber's precision comes from the Controle Officiel Suisse des Chronometres (COSC), which has subjected each caliber to a highly specific range of tests over a period of 15 days.
Omega has plans to produce 1,948 examples of the Seamaster Planet Ocean Liquidmetal Limited Edition watch. As astute fans of horological history will readily note, that number pays tribute to the year in which the first Omega Seamaster timepiece was introduced.

Celebrities Houses: David and Victoria Beckham, Reese Witherspoon, Salma Hayek & Francois-Henri Pinault, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes and Madonna.

David and Victoria Beckham

Estimated purchase price: $18.2 million
House specs: 1.25 acre lot, 6 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, pool

Reese Witherspoon

Estimated purchase price: $6.9 million

House specs: 5 bedrooms and a 4 car garage on a 7 acre lotA Spanish Style ranch in Ojai, California. It also features a horse paddock and pool.

Salma Hayek & Francois-Henri Pinault

Estimated purchase price: $20 million +House size: 7,500 square feetHouse specs: 5 bedrooms, pool

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

Estimated purchase price: $30 millionHouse size: 9,858 sq ftHouse specs: 7 bedrooms and 9.5 bathrooms, pool & tennis courts

Madonna

Wiltshire, England
In 2001, the Material Girl went through yet another transformation, this time to lady of the English manor. She and her husband, film director Guy Ritchie, bought a 1,200-acre estate that once belonged to late photographer Cecil Beaton. The pop star learned how to fish, hunt and ride horses. This year, she said she would build a jumping course on the property, despite having taken a bad fall last August. The couple also owns a mansion in London.
























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Watches in Series: Entourage, Burn Notice, Bizarre Foods, Biography and The X-Files

The X-Files (1993-2002)

The X-Files is an American cult science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. It first aired in September 1993 and ended in May 2002. The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans (e.g., "The Truth Is Out There", "Trust No One", "I Want to Believe") became pop culture touchstones in the 1990s.

Vintage Omega

This vintage Omega was seen in the season six episode "Arcadia".

Biography (1987-)

Popular Arts and Entertainment Network series which profiles the lives of notable figures in the history of entertainment, sports, arts, science, politics and warfare. The show is notable for its in-depth research, which often provides viewers with little-known information about well-known people.

TAG Heuer Super Professional

Hunter S. Thompson wears two watches in his episode of Biography. Even though the upper one is unidentified, the second one is a TAG Heuer Super Professional with a gold bezel.

Bizarre Foods (2007)

Andrew Zimmern hosts a program on The Travel Channel called "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern" in which he claim that he will apparently eat any creature that can be captured and served up for him, alive or dead.

TAG HEuer Formula 1

Andrew Zimmern wears a Tag Heuer Formula 1 with red dial and red rubber band

Burn Notice (2007)

Burn Notice is an American television series broadcasted on the cable television channel USA Network since June 28, 2007. The show follows the life of protagonist Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan), a covert operative who has been "burned" and tries to find out why.

Panerai Ferrari Chronograph

Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell) wore a Panerai Ferrari Chronograph.

Entourage (2004-)

Entourage is an American comedy-drama that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 created by Doug Ellin and chronicles the rise of Vincent Chase, a young A-list movie star, and his childhood friends from Queens, New York City, as they navigate the unfamiliar terrain of Hollywood, California. The show completed its sixth season and is renewed for a seventh.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) receives an Audemars Piguet as a gift.

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The Hublot Big Bang King All Black Blue watch

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The Hublot Big Bang King All Black Blue watch gets to be a perfect diver's style timepiece. With 48m wide, it includes the 300 meters of water resistance, a diver's style face with large legible dial, and the rotating diver bezel (made of matte finished ceramic). The fact of being blue on the hands and hour indicators makes it seem to almost exist only on the periphery, even the insides are coloured black, the edges are all deep blue. Most of the watch is in matte ceramic. Inside is the HUB1400 automatic movement. The blue alligator strap makes it more flexible. According to its dial, it is a sandblasted and rhodium plated one. The watch is available in a limited edition of 500 pieces.













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Blancpain Super Trofeo Chronograph The high-powered alliance between two legends

Blancpain and Lamborghini have joined forces in creating an exceptional automobile championship. Played out over six events per year, the Super Trofeo stars a fi eld of the newest Lamborghini Gallardos. To celebrate these superlative races, the Manufacture in Le Brassus is presenting a Super Trofeo fl yback chronograph, a resolutely sporting watch with a production run limited to 300.

Encounters between two myths are bound to engender exceptional events. The alliance between the world’s oldest watch brand and one of the most iconic car manufacturers has resulted in the creation of an exceptional automobile championship. The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo is not only the fi rst Lamborghini racing series, but also to become – right from the start of the fi rst race in May – the world’s fastest and most demanding single-make championship.

Gleaming Lamborghini Gallard LP560-4 cars – the latest version of this legendary model – are to face off on six equally fabled race tracks during the year 2009. Each of these speed machines bears the colours of the watch manufacturer, while the car driven by Blancpain’s President and CEO, Marc A. Hayek, is entirely dedicated to the brand.

For Marc A. Hayek and Stephan Winkelmann, respectively at the head of Blancpain and

Lamborghini, this partnership in a joint championship enables them to fulfi l the dreams of many devotees of exceptional mechanical engineering. When Lamborghini decided to join the race to push the boundaries of speed, its decision to work with Blancpain – a watch brand renowned for its pioneering sprit and mechanical expertise – was a natural choice for this high-octane union.

The fi rst single-make racing series in Lamborghini’s history, the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo 2009 features six European events scheduled from May through October, at Adria (Italy), Norisring (Germany), Spa Francorchamps (Belgium), Silverstone (United Kingdom), as well Catalunya (Spain) and Paul Ricard (France).

Cutting-edge technology

Boasting exceptional performances fuelled by 570 HP and 540 N/m torque enabling it to reach top speeds of over 300 km/h, the latest racing version of the Gallardo line from Lamborghini is a truly exceptional car. Its mettlesome character and its taut, sophisticated lines have inspired the Blancpain designers and master-watchmakers in creating the latest gem from the Manufacture in Le Brassus: the Super Trofeo Chronograph endowed with a fl yback function. Like the powerful engine of the Gallardo, this new Blancpain chronograph displays state-of-the-art design and all

the attributes of cutting-edge technology.

The case specifi cally designed for this prestigious line is inspired by the sleek profi le of the Lamborghini Gallardo. Crafted in steel coated with a DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) treatment – blacker than ruthenium and more resistant than PVD – the 43.5 mm-diameter case that is waterresistant to 100 metres features alternating satin-brushed and polished surfaces. Highly sought after for its hardness and its anti-allergenic nature, as well as its intense colour, DLC treatment combines the properties of diamantine carbon (hardness, insulation, chemical resistance) with those of graphite (black colour, elasticity). Based on state-of-the-art technologies, DLC is a treatment applied in thin layers (sometimes less than 2 μm) by a “ vacuum deposit ” process.

Moreover, DLC boasts an extremely low friction coeffi cient and remarkable chemical inertia, two qualities that ensure excellent resistance to wear, corrosion and friction, as well as a flexible kind of hardness.

Black is black

At this heart of this new sophisticated and performance-oriented case, the Blancpain Super Trofeo Chronograph, lies its throbbing “ engine ”, Calibre F185. To reinforce its dynamic nature, the movement of the Blancpain Super Trofeo has been coated by NAC – a state-of-theart electroplating treatment that blackens the movement bridges and main plate. The mechanical self-winding Calibre F185 is endowed with a 40-hour power reserve and comprises 308 parts.

This movement powers a range of functions including hour, minute, small seconds and date display at 6 o’clock, as well as the chronograph indications with a central sweep seconds hand, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock and 12-hour counter at 9 o’clock. For instant-measurement enthusiasts, the Calibre F185 also drives a “ fl yback ” function. The unmistakable black dial is distinguished by two red and white 9 and 12 o’clock numerals stylised to evoke the numbers painted on the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 racing cars. Another exclusive feature of this exceptional model is its gold oscillating weight engraved with the inscription “ Super Trofeo 2009 ”.

A sports model through and through, the Blancpain Super Trofeo Chronograph is teamed with a strap in alcantara – like the seats in the Lamborghini Gallardo – secured by a steel folding clasp. Available in a limited edition of 300 with its individual number engraved on the case-back – the Blancpain Super Trofeo Chronograph comes in a presentation box inspired by the taut, opulent lines of the ultra-dynamic Gallardo.

[Source: Blancpain's Press Release]


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