Perrelet Introduces New Semi Skeletonized Split-Seconds Chronograph Watches

Following the success of their Split-Seconds Chronograph, Perrelet is announcing the expansion of the collection with three new variations. This amazing split-seconds chronograph represents the innovative nature of the Perrelet brand. Watchmaking enthusiasts will appreciate the elegance of the finish on the glass discs which has taken the place of traditional hands, resulting in perfect harmony between tradition and modernity.

Three new models are being introduced. A stainless w/ceramic bezel and back, a DLC coated stainless, and a stunning pink gold w/ceramic bezel and case back - all with different dial combonantions featuring painted Arabic numerals, luminescent indicies, and special open-work to allow the wearer to admire the semi-skeletonized Calibre P-241 automatic movement.

  

The movement features a fly-back feature, central hours, minutes, seconds with date on discs and sweep seconds with hours, minutes displays on discs. Either sapphire crystal front and back or sapphire/ceramic sandwich the elegant movement between into the 43.5mm case. The execution of this all is amazing to look at and is sure to stir up conversation whenever the wearer goes.

A natural black rubber bracelet embossed with the "Perrelet" logo and embellished with a deployment buckle complete the model's accessories. 

Pricing is from $12,950 - $25,500.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore "Queens Road" Limited Edition

One of the world's oldest and most respected watchmakers, Audemars Piguet, has created another Limited Edition of the Royal Oak Offshore. The AP ROO Queens Road is dedicated to the first road in Hong Kong built by the British administration between years 1841 and 1843.

Created to commemorate the AP Flagship store, the Carlson Boutique, that happens to reside on Queen's Road Central - one of the 4 sections of the famous road that slices through Hong Kong. Its other parts are Queensway, Queen's Road West, and Queen's Road East.

The Titanium case houses a jet black "Mega Tapisserie” dial with large Marxist red Arabic numerals and matching inner-bezel and hands. AP's calibre 3126/3840 movement offers hour and minute, small second @12 functions, a chronograph with a central seconds hand, 30-minute and 12-hour sub-dials The chronograph dials are set in a 12, 6, 9 pattern and the familiar ROO rubber crown and chrono-pushers grace the side of the 42mm case. A special "Queen's Road" engraving finishes off the caseback.

The strap is a beautiful black Hornback crocodile leather with high-contrast red stitching and titanium AP-branded folding clasp. This very limited edition $26,000. piece will be available to only 100 lucky (and well-off) collectors.

Lum-Tec Bull 45 A4 PVD Chronograph

Every now and then, my wife tells me I'm "bull-headed". I used to think that was some kind of an insult until I saw this new limited edition piece from Lum-Tec on Professionalwatches blog. The Bull 45 A4 Chronograph features a 45mm 316L stainless steel case coated in silky black PVD. I like to think that it has a bit of a Bell & Ross feel to it. It is a bullhead design, which means the crown and chronograph pushers are on the top of the case. It is a slightly harder to operate than a traditional side mounted configuration, however this design prevents the crown of pushers from poking into your wrist.

As with all of Lum-Tec's styles, emphasis is on visibility and when the lights go out, the Bull 45 does not disappoint. Their patented 8-layer MDV® LUM-TEC GX luminous treatment makes the dial visible even in the most extreme low-light conditions. Although the dial seems slightly busy with its three sub-dials, date window, and over-sized numerals and hour markers, it is very legible and in the dark it is even better. A double-sided Anti-reflective sapphire crystal protects it all.

Powering the Bull 45 A4, is a Japanese quartz OS10 chronograph movement (Lum-Tec also uses Swiss "ETA" mechanical movements in some of their models). The case, which is adorned with multiple screw heads is treated with a brushed hard black PVD finish, that provides a very stealth look to this over sized timepiece. There is no denying that this is a tool watch and ready to go to work!  It all makes it way on to your wrist via a top grade rubber strap with a signature black PVD buckle. Water-resistance is 100 meters and is listed at an unbelievable $599. (they are a limited edition so hurry!)

So the next time your significant other calls you "bull-headed" just smile and say, "Thank you for the compliment."

One of a Kind Lum-Tec California Dial Chrono Up for Auction

The guys over at Lum-Tec has a pretty cool prototype watch up for auction. Here is a great opportunity to own a one-off example from one of the hottest, new watch manufacturers out there. The watch has a unique blue California (Roman and Arabic hour markers) dial with chrono function and enough of Lum-Tec's MDV (Maximum Darkness Visibility) lume so our friends in the International Space Station can tell the time all the way from up there. Owner Chris Wiegand gives the watches specs on his companies forum:

"This is a handmade prototype watch, hand made dial with hand applied lume, handmade leather strap, sapphire crystal with double side AR, 44mm 316L SS case, Miyota OS20 chronograph movement. Only one like it in the world. This model will not ever be produced so it's a cool piece to have for a watch collector. "

Auction ends soon so visit WatchandClockForum.com now and place your bid. Good luck!

Omega Speedmaster Missions Watch Set - Earth to Omega...I want one of these!!

Back in the '60's and early '70's there was a race to Space in more ways than one. While the US and the Soviets raced one another to get into space, watchmakers Omega and Bulova were racing to be the first timepieces in space.

While Bulova had the edge by providing all of the on-board clocks for NASA craft no one had ever put a wristwatch on an astronaut...until Omega created the Speedmaster Professional Chronograph or "Moon Watch" and NASA strapped it on the wrist of the pilots of the 1965 Gemini V mission.


The Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph has to be one special watch to take the rigors of zero-gravity and space travel. With its Lemania hand wound movement and sturdy case it made for the perfect companion for all manned space missions. Pictures of it being worn by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11 lunar landing got it dubbed the "Moon Watch.


For the 40th Anniversary of the Omega Speedmaster Professional, Omega offered a collection of 22 Speedmaster watches presented in a case fitted with genuine cloth from a spacesuit. Each watch in the collection is adorned with a different NASA mission patch on it's dial at the 9 o'clock position: starting with the 1965 Gemini V to the 1973 Skylab SL-4. It also contains a replica of the original 1957 Speedmaster.
These sets are commanding some serious money at auctions such as Antiquorum's recent Omegamania where one set sold for a whopping $368,900. If you are lucky, you can occasionally find one popping up on Ebay every now and then like this example .