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

Jaeger LeCoultre and Polo: the Reverso 78th Anniversary.

Polo is a team sport played on horseback; it was first played in Persia/Iran in 600 B.C. or much earlier. It was, at first, a training game for cavalry units, usually the king’s guard or other elite troops. It was often played with as many as 100 to a side, like a miniature battle.

It soon became an Iranian national sport played by the nobility and during the medieval times, it was the favourite sport of the Ayyubid and Mameluke dynasties of Egypt and the Levant. It later passed from Persia to other parts of Asia including the Indian subcontinent and China, were it became really popular during Tang Dynasty.

The game was played from Constantinople to Japan by the Middle Ages, it was known as the Game of the Kings. Its name, Polo, is said to have been derived from the Tibetan word “pulu”, meaning ball.

The modern game of polo, even though it was formalized and popularized by the British, it really derived from Manipur (India). It was then in 1834, where the first polo club was established in a little town in India called Silchar, in Assam.

According to Great Britain, the first polo club was established in 1862 by two soldiers who then spread the game to their peers in England. The British are credited with spreading polo worldwide in the late 19th century and the early 20th century.

Field polo requires two teams of 4 players. A full-size field is 300 yards long, and either 200 yards or 160 yards wide if there are side boards—these are generally 6" high. There are tall collapsable goalposts at each end of the field spread 8 yards apart. The object of the game is to score the most goals by hitting the ball through the goal. Ends are changed after a goal is scored. Polo found popularity in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Pakistan and the United States of America.




Jaeger LeCoultre has had a very closed relationship with equestrian polo sin 1931. Such closed relationship that the Reverso, by Jaeger LeCoultre, was designed speacially to withstand the rough and stumble, both characteristic of the sport.

In 2006 it was the Reverso 75th anniversary. In order to celebrate such event, the company sponsored numerous polo events like hosting the Maharaja Sir Pratap Singh Cup.

A Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso watch is distinguished among thousand of watches. Icon of the high watchmaking, Jaeger Le-coultre Reverso is distinguished by its elegant case that slides along its base to rotate on itself. Its sober and strong lines are based on the Art Déco style: clear and sober aesthetic, passion for the hand made "savoir-faire", for the precious materials and the good life style. The rotation of its case is an invitation to play with the time. Exaltation of the spirit , Jaeger Le-coultre Reverso shows its duality having a second face. Only a rotation is needed for the watch to become into a jewel that can be personalized with an eternal seal. It makes the people sights to follow the tic tac of its trains o shows a second esphera. In more than 70 years, not only has Jaeger Le-coultre Reverso become a legend, but also a jewel into the watchmaking. This big classic of the Art Déco is the inspiration of the best watchmakers and inventors who only wish to imagine new interpretation for this line.













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Ducati Binda Group New Wristwatch: Corse Line

The Binda Group, in one hand, established in 1906, is the Italian market leader located in Milan headed by the brothers Marcello and Simone Binda, grandsons of the founder.

With 8 subsidiaries (Binda Italia, Binda USA, Binda Brazil, Binda UK, Binda Deutschland, Binda España, Binda Portugal and Binda China), 50 distributors, serving over 12,000 retail stores worldwide and 47 Breil Milano monobrand boutiques and Group multibrand stores under the B-Hip! Name, the Binda Group has 3 main business units: watches, jewellery and leather. It produces and distributes its own brands, such as Breil Milano, Breil Tribe, Wyler Genève and Details and brands under license such as D&G Time and Jewels, Moschino CheapandChic Watches and Jewels, Ducati and Ducati Corse Watches.

Geneva Watch Group, on the other hand, established in 1974 and is today one of the leading US-based company in the design, production and distribution of watches in New York, Michigan, Hong Kong and China.

The company has two business units - Status and Advance. Status produces and distributes licensed brands (Kenneth Cole New York, Kenneth Cole Reaction, Tommy Bahama, Betsey Johnson, BCBG Maxazria, Ted Baker London, Mexx and Speedo) and its own brand Freestyle.

Ducati, the leading high-performance motorbike company is now offering a wristwatch line, made by Binda Group, dedicated to true motorbike racing fans, with its tough and competitive spirit and strong personality.

The Ducati Corse features a Swiss-made quarts movement in a 44 mm black case accompanied with a stainless steel bezel, with red or black dial. The Ducati Course costs $955.

Ducati’s movements are exclusively Swiss Made. Case waterproofing is guaranteed up to a pressure of 10 atmospheres.

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Breitling for Bentley – Bentley Perpetual

As Bentley blends tradition and technology in each of its models, the Bentley Perpeutal Chonograph was manufactured following the same principles. Its mechanism features 500 pieces. This Chronograph with Perpetual Calendar indicates day, date, week, month, season, moon phases and it is also prepared to count the variations according to leap years. This watch, its mechanism, its machine, its engine and the way it works and the accurate is results is certificated by Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC).

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Eric Clapton's Rolex "Albino" Daytona was sold for $505.000 during Sotheby’s Important Watches Auction

In 2008, during Sotheby’s Important Watches Auction a very rare Rolex model called the “Albino” Rolex Daytona produced in 1971. This watch was formerly owned by musician Eric Clapton.




Eric Clapton was born in 30th March, 1945. Eric is an English blues-rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the Yardbirds, then Cream and also as a solo performer. He was often considered to be by critics and fans as one of a kind musician, one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Clapton was ranked fourth in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #53 on their list of the Immortals: 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Even though this wristwatch was supposed to reach a price between $100.000 - $150.000, according to estimations made by watch experts. It was sold for $505.000.
Nicknamed “Albino” because of the monochrome silver colour of its back round and subsidiary dial, it wasn’t quite popular between the Daytona models.












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Steve McQueen's former Tag Heuer Monaco and his Scott super Squirrel Bike were auctioned during the past New York Antiquorum's Auction

(Steve McQueen)

Finally, June 11th came by and so the so long promised Antiquorum’s auction was celebrated in New York.

(Steve McQueen)

According to Steve McQueen’s, his 1929 Scott Super Squirrel Bike, the one he owned together with Von Dutch, was sold in $276.000. Not only his bike was sold, but also his personal wristwatch, his TAG Heuer Monaco. The timepiece was sold for $87.000 together with other important wristwatches like The Pour Le Merite Tourbillon 18K yellow gold, which was sol for $156.000.

(Steve McQueen riding his 1929 Scott Super Squirrel Bike)

The auction was such a great success that Antiquorum is getting ready for the next auction, taking place in Hong Kong, next June 27th.

(Steve McQueen's 1929 Scott Super Squirrel Bike)












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Breitling news: NEW Raven Edition

Breitling has launched a very special collection: the redesign of the Airwold and the Skyracer Chronographs, two instruments easy to identify as they feature a rubber-molded push pieces and bezel.


The “Raven” timepieces, its coded name, feature a resolutely high-tech black and steel look. Both models, the electronic and the mechanical one, boast peerless functionality. The Airwolf features an exclusive SuperQuartz™ movement giving to this ultra-accurate instrument the full range of functions required by professional pilots: 1/100th of a second chronograph, alarm, countdown, 2nd timezone, UTC. It also has an NVG-compatible display backlighting system that 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.


On the other hand, the Skyracer was designed to be the most efficient self-winding chronograph in its category. Breitling has equipped the Skyracer with a Caliber 27, an exclusive mechanism that enables dual visualization of measured times. The 60-minute counter, with a central hand, guarantees peerless readability of any measurement under one hour. For longer durations, a single two-hand counter shows both, the hours and also the minutes. The rack-and-pinion mounted slide rule underscores the aviation-oriented vocation of both the Airwolf Raven and Skyracer Raven models.












[Source: Breitling press release]

NEW TAGHeuer MONACO Cal 11 1969 LIMITED Re-Edition

(Tag Heuer Monaco 1969 Re Edition 2009)

Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer has announced a special, limited edition Monaco Chronograph. The NEW Monaco1969 Original Re-Edition will count with just 1,000 pieces. It is launched in order to celebrate TAG Heuer Monaco’s 40 years of precision, immortalized by actor Steve McQueen in the film "Le Mans". The blue-dial Monaco Re-Edition comes with an exclusive case back signed by Jack Heuer and engraved in honor of its mythical ambassador Steve McQueen. Each of the 1,000 TAG Heuer Monaco 1969 Original Re-Edition Chronographs features a perforated leather strap with a steel buckle. The blue dial features sporty red accents on its hands, its distinctive horizontal diamond-tipped hour indices and also a hand-applied date window in polished steel. The signature of TAG Heuer honorary chairman Jack Heuer graces the stainless steel caseback. The Tag Heuer Monaco 1969 Original Re-Edition is limited to 1,000 pieces and in contrast to the new re-engineered Monaco Calibre 12 still features the Calibre 11 movement.












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Kobe Bryant: Nubeo's Black Mamba's new Ambassador.

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Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bean Bryant was born in August 23^rd, 1978(1978-08-23). He is an American All-Star shooting guard who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bryant and then team-mate Shaquille O'Neal led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002. After O'Neal's departure following the 2003–04 seasons, Bryant became the cornerstone of the Lakers franchise, leading the NBA in scoring during the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons. In 2006, Bryant scored a career high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, the second highest number of points scored in a single game in NBA history.

Kobe Bryant

Bryant was awarded during the regular seasons with the Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in the 2007–08 NBA. In 2008, he won a gold medal as a member of the 2008 Summer Olympics U.S. Men's Basketball Team, occasionally referred to as "The Redeem Team," a play on the name of the first Olympic team that featured NBA players, the Dream Team.

Kobe Bryant will be ambassador for Nubeo’s new Black Mamba wristwatch, a 48 mm ceramic and titanium cased chronograph. It is said to be a timepiece inspired in Kobe Bryant, “The Black Mamba”.

Black Mamba represents, as a symbol, the association of values between Kobe Bryant and Nubeo. Sacrifice, perseverance, adaptation, strength, speed, inspiration and creativity were the values chosen when creating and designing this unique timepiece.

Black Mamba Wristwatch

Nubeo features a black ceramic outside case with the shape of the snake across the case. The watch is made of thirty-five pieces, including a bezel with the twenty four marker numbers. All of them, all the parts composing this timepiece, come together in a titanium

case and six screws that undergo carbon like diamond treatment (CLD). The Black Mamba features a rubber bracelet attached to the case. According to its hands, it is said to resemble the bionic snake scales, covered with a white SuperLuminova.

Black Mamba’s watch

The are two models of Black Mamba’s watch: The black Mamba described one and The Black Mamba Ultimate, with a forty-eight baguette-trapeze cut black sapphires and the 30 minutes together with the 12 hours counters, are both framed with 38 black sapphire.

Black Mamba Ultimate

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Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo - 1st leg at Adria: A flying start and a podium for the President of Blancpain!

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The first race in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo got off to a flying start in Italy on Saturday May 16th, organised within the FIA GT championship on the famous Adria racing track. As title sponsor of a championship that is truly unique in the world, Blancpain is proud to be participating in this international sports event. Its President and CEO Marc A. Hayek took the wheel of a gleaming Gallardo LP560-4 decked out in the livery of the Manufacture Blancpain.

Competing alongside famous driver Peter Kox from the Netherlands, Marc A. Hayek placed third after the second round. This first leg of an exceptional automobile championship symbolises a fascinating alliance between two legends: Blancpain, the world’s oldest watch brand, and Lamborghini, one of the most iconic car manufacturers.

Featuring six events in the 2009 racing calendar, the Super Trofeo provides an opportunity to see the brand-new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 cars (delivering 570 horsepower and 540 N/m – 398 lb/ft torque enabling them to reach top speeds of over 300 km/h) in exciting action on racing tracks around Europe. Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Blancpain, is driving the speed machine bearing the brand colours. This powerful pairing embodies the dream of many devotees of exceptional mechanisms, and celebrates the pioneering spirit and the mechanical expertise of the Manufacture Blancpain.

Setting the crowning touch to this partnership, Blancpain has created a new horological gem: the Super Trofeo Chronograph. Like the ultra-powerful Gallardo, this timepiece equipped with a flyback function displays sophisticated character and cutting-edge technological features. Sporty by nature right through to the last component, the Super Trofeo Chronograph is issued in a limited edition of 300*. The next five European legs of the season are scheduled to take place between June and October of this year, as follows:

• Norisring (Germany), June 26-28

• Spa Francorchamps (Belgium), July 23-25

• Silverstone (UK), August 15-16

• Catalunya (Spain), September 18-20

• Paul Ricard (France), October 2-4

* For further details of this exceptional model are provided at Blancpain's web site.

Source: Blancpain web site.

Watches in Movies: Click, Bridget Jones’s Diary , Crank and Hollywood Homicied.

Michael Newman (Adam Sandler) wears a Hamilton Khaki in Click (2006).
Michael Newman is a workaholic married guy who doesn’t have much time to spend with his wife and children as he wants to earn a promotion. He meets Morty (Christopher Walken), a sales clerk that gives to him a magical remote that allows him to bypass life as it begins to programme on its own.

(Adam Sandler wearing a Hamilton Khaki Watch in Click)

Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) wears a Panerai in Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001).
Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger) is an average woman struggling against her age, her weight, her job, her lack of a man and her many imperfections. As a New Year's Resolution, Bridget decides to take control of her life, starting by keeping a diary in which she will always tell the complete truth. The fireworks begin when her charming though scandalous boss (Hugh Grant) takes an interest in the peculiar Miss Jones. Thrown into the mix are Bridget's band of slightly eccentric friends and a rather disagreeable acquaintance that Bridget cannot seem to stop running into or help finding quietly attractive.

(Hugh Grant wearing a Panerai Watch in Bridget Jones’s Diary)

Chev (Jason Statham) wears a TAG Heuer Carrera in Crank (2006).
Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) is a professional assassin working for the West Coast crime syndicate. Chev's girlfriend Eve doesn't know what Chev does and Chev is planning to quit the crime syndicate so he can spend more time with her. But for Chev, things about to get very bad, when he learns he has been injected with a poison called "The Beijing Cocktail" by his rival Verona, which will kill him if his heart rate drops. Trying to stay alive and seeking help from friends, Kaylo and Doc Miles try to keep his heart pumping. Chev sets out to find answers as well as protecting Eve, and get his revenge on those who have betrayed him before the poison kills him.

(Jason Statham wearing a TAG Heuer Carrera Watch in Crank)

Det. K.C. Calden (Josh Hartnett) wears a Panerai in Hollywood Homicied (2003).
Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett are LAPD’s (Los Angeles Police Department) detectives on the case of a rap group assassination while attempting to juggle their moonlighting gigs as real estate broker and willing to be actor (respectively) with a more-miss-than-hit attempt in the laughs department.

(Josh Hartnett wearing a Panerai Watch in Hollywood Homicied)












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Steve McQueen's former Tag Heuer Monaco, his Scott super Squirrel Bike and a Rolex Submariner will be auctioned during next New York Auction

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(Steve McQueen)

Terrence Steven "Steve" McQueen was born on March 24, 1930 in Beech Grove, Indiana (Marion County). Steve was an American movie actor nicknamed “The King of Cool”.

McQueen is known as the highest paid movie star of the sixties and seventies. He is also known as one of the best actors in film history and his films are considered classics. Even though he participated in 26 movies, some of his greatest films are The Great Escape, The Sand Pebbles (Academy award nomination), Bullitt (exciting car chase), The Getaway, Papillion or Le Mans.

(Steve McQueen Rolex Explorer II (1965))
[Available at Interwatches.com]

The real Steve McQueen, not the one in the movies, wore a Rolex. He wore a Rolex known as the "steve McQueen Rolex", the Rolex Explorer II, model 1955, with an orange 24hour hand.

(Steve McQueen)

He was an enthusiastic racer of both motorcycles and cars. While he studied acting, he supported himself partly by competing in weekend motorcycle races and bought his first motorcycle with his winnings. He is recognized for performing many of his own aerial tricks, especially the mainstream of the stunt driving during the high-speed chase scene in Bullitt. In addition, McQueen also designed and patented a bucket seat for race cars.

(Steve McQueen riding his Scott super Squirrel Bike )

He found out he had lung cancer, and with only two months to live he and his wife went to Mexico for treatment. At the Mexican clinic, he underwent an agonizing three-month regimen of animal cell injections and was taking over 100 vitamins a day. Still, his body continued to weaken. He had surgery to remove an abdominal tumor and soon after that it was all over for the celebrated actor.

(Patek Philippe Geneve Ref. 1463 - 18K Pink Gold)

McQueen died on November 7, 1980 at age 50, in Juarez, Mexico. An open Bible lay across his chest and Steve McQueen lay in death with a smile on his face. It is said that his body remains in ashes, as he was cremated and scattered over the Pacific Ocean.

(Steve McQueen's Rolex Submariner Ref 5512 )

Steve McQueen’s TAG Heuer Monaco, his Scott super Squirrel Bike (1929) the historically one he shared with Von Dutch and, last but not least, a Rolex Submariner (Ref 5512) will all be available to buy during next New York Aintiquorum’s Auction.

(Steve McQueens historical Scott Super Squirrel Bike)

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The Omega Co-Axial Ploprof 1200M. Omega's 2009 launching timepieces.

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(Omega Co-Axial Ploprof 1200M)

In 1970 Omega launched a watch created and specially designed for withstanding the crushing pressures endured by divers working deep below the ocean’s surface. The Seamaster 600, also-called ‘Ploprof’ (the acronym formed from the first letters of plongeurs professionnels) was one of the roughest, robust and seaworthy divers’ wristwatches ever manufactured.
In 2009, Omega is introducing an updated version of the classic and instantly recognizable Omega Seamaster 600 wristwatch. Equipped with a Co-Axial calibre 8500, the new Ploprof 1200M is, as the name suggests, is surprisingly water-resistant to 1200 metres (4000 feet). It also deviously combines its ancestor’s famous features with the brand’s state-of-the-industry Co-Axial technology for its movement.

Source: Europa Star Magazine Issue

Breitling Emergency: The Watch that would have saved the Lost Oceanic Flight 815 passengers.

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(Breitling Emergency - White 18K gold)

If only Jack and the lost crew had had the possibility of keeping in touch or connecting to radars when the plane crashed onto that particular island, if only one of the passengers of the Oceanic Flight 815 had had the Breitling Emergency watch that features emergency frequency, the story would have been much different and the whole crew would have probably survived.

Lost is an American serial drama television series that follows the lives of the survivors that could make it from the plane crash on a mysterious tropical island, after a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney, Australia and Los Angeles, United States crashes somewhere in the South Pacific.

According to the Breitling Emergency, the wristwatch was designed for pilots and aircrews featuring a built-in microtransmitter broadcasting on the 121.5 Mhz aircraft emergency frequency. If something not regular during a flight occurred, the Emergency will send a signal through which the aircraft could be found. This Emergency’s transmitter is activated by unscrewing a protective cap and pulling the antenna out fully starting the broadcast for the next 48 hours.

(Breitling Emergency - Yellow 18K gold)

This Breitling Emergency watch is available nor with a titanium case (with black dial and a titanium bracelet), 18K yellow gold case (with black dial and a 18K gold Professional bracelet) or in 18K white gold case (with black dial and an 18K white gold Professional bracelet).

The Breitling Emergency features a Breitling 76 Caliber. According to its movement, it is a SuperQuartzTM, thermocompensated quartz electronic, analog and 12/24hr LCD digital display; EOL indicator. It is a Chronograph watch that features: 1/100th second, max 23hrs59min, 59.99 sec. It also features a calendar, a digital one, with day and date programmed for 4 years. Water resistant to 3 bars, incl. With transmitter in operation. Bidirectional bezel with compass scale.

(Breitling Emergency - Titanium)

Lost characters weren't chosen for being Breitling's ambassador but, Evangeline Lilly (Kate), was chosen by Baume & Mercier for representing the watch compa

ny.

Baume & Mercier & Me, the slogan adopted by the Swiss watch brand Baume & Mercier, is embodied this year by two new personalities: Evangeline Lilly & David Duchovny

Evangeline Lilly, the Canadian actress playing Kate’s role on the ABC television series Lost, is associated with the fourth edition of the BAume & Mercier & Me campaign as ambassador of the Geneve – based brand as a charity project supporter. All royalties for the celebrity are donated to charities, selected in cooperation with Evangeline Lilly, including cancer research, child education, helping underprivileged woman and the struggle against poverty.

(Michael Nieto, Baume & Mercier's CEO and Evangeline Lilly)

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Pictures from: Baume & Mercier and Breitling

Napoleon Bonaparte's Telescope

An extremely fine late 18th Century gilt brass and enamel 1 1/2-inch three-draw refracting telescope, engraved on the largest draw-tube "J.J. Cambacérès à Napoléon Mai 10, 1800"

(Napoleon Bonaparte)

Napoleon Bonaparte's telescope



One of the greatest military leaders in history, and emperor of France from 1799 until 1815, he conquered much of Europe. He helped remake the map of Europe and established many government and legal reforms, most notably the "Napoleonic Code".
According to the engraved inscription on the draw-tube, this telescope was given to Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 - 5 May 1821) by Jean-Jacques de Cambacérès on 10 May 1800. It was given to him in Geneva on this date as 'Napoleon had left Paris, to join the blockaded army in. He stayed for 3 nights with de Saussure, studied maps of the St. Bernard, arranged the timetable for the march and made the necessary appointments for the commanders of the advance guard (Lannes) and cavalry (Murat).



It is interesting to note that the famous oil painting depicting Napoleon on a prancing steed ("Napoleon crossing the Alps" by Jacques-Louis David, 1800, oil on canvas, 260 x 221 cms), is from exactly this period, when Napoleon crossed the St. Bernard in May 1800.





Jean-Jacques Cambacérès, a notorious bachelor and heavy smoker of Virginia tobacco, had a preference for subjects "à l'antique", and his importance for the history of freemasonry should not be neglected. These two characteristics are perfectly reflected in his collection of gold boxes which also witnesses the change of taste in the applied arts in France from the Louis XVI style to Neoclassicism and Empire.



Fifteen fine enamel snuff boxes from Cambacérès' collection were sold at Christie's Geneva on 15 November 1994.












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Impotant Collectors’ Wristwatches, Pocket Watches & Clocks Auction. Geneva – Saturday, May 9th and Sunday, May 10th.

On May 9th and 10th Antiquorum will auction over 300 fine timepieces at the Grand Hotel Kempinski, in Geneva. Previews were held in Shanghai April 26 and 27, Hong Kong April 29 and 30, and Geneva May 7 - 10.

The highlight of the sale is the Patek Philippe Ref. 1436 featuring stainless steel split-seconds chronograph. More than unique, only four examples of this model were produced and only three survived. It is said to be one of the first two watch generation to ever exist. This wristwatch was produced in 1945 and then sold on May 11, 1949. It is the first time ever that this watch will be offered at auction. The pre-sale estimated goes from $ 600,000 to $ 800,000.





The action will also offer a Patek Philippe Tiffany split-seconds wristwatch produced in 1928 and sold on September 23, 1938. This 18K yellow gold wristwatch features a single-button split-seconds chronograph, vertical 30-minute register, constant seconds, and mobile lugs. The pre-sale estimated goes from $ 800,000 to $ 1,200,000.




Between many other significant timepieces, another watch included in the auction is another Patek Philippe Ref. 5016 P that features a unique dial. This watch was originally sold on November 13, 2001. This piece in platinum includes a minute-repeater, one-minute tourbillon regulator, retrograde perpetual calendar and moon phases. This piece is estimated goes from $ 600,000 to 800,000.













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