In 2008 Concord released its ground breaking, and breathtakingly stunning C1 Quantum Gravity, an imposing futuristic piece with a Tourbillon mounted outside the case of the watch and connected by cable-stayed bridges and featuring green phosphorescent nano-particles held in a vertical column used to indicate the battery’s power level!

Now they have just released a new edition called the C1 Tourbillon POP Gravity Collector’s edition.

For those who don’t recall the awesome C1 Quantum Gravity here’s a video refresher courtesy of Bruno Constans, Head of Design at Concord.

CONCORD – C1 Tourbillon POP Gravity Collector’s edition

2008 witnessed the launch of “watchmaking’s free spirit”, the C1 Tourbillon Gravity that propelled Concord into a whole new era of bold innovation through a resolutely futuristic approach.

2011 now brings the introduction of a new raft of unique and provocative new models from the explosive C LAB series: the C1 Tourbillon POP Gravity collector’s edition, issued in a titanium case measuring 48.5 in diameter and 18.5 mm thick. These eye-catching variations on a resolutely nonconformist theme feature skeletonized dials topped by perforated grids in four vivid shades of blue, pink yellow or green anodized aluminum straight from the psychedelic POP art color palette.

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The Geneva “Grand Prix Watch Of The Year” can be described as the equivalent of the “Watch Oscars” and is intended to “promote horology and its prime values – namely innovation …”

This year the winner was the De Bethune DB28 for which it was awarded the top prize of  Aiguille d’Or . The DB28 is an unusual watch with three striking features:

-3 dimensional moon-phase.
-Triple parachute system.
-Floating lugs.

The patented “floating lugs” are a clever innovation enabling them to pivot so as to follow the shape of the wrists and consequently make for a more comfortable fit. It also features a 3 Dimensional moonphase function , the only other watch I can think of with this would be the Konstantin Chaykin Lunokhod which we profiled earlier in the year. For its 3 Dimensional moonphase the DB28 uses a sphere made of platinum and blued steel and is accurate to within one day every 122 years.

The other feature is the intriguing “triple parachute system” , a technical innovation that protects the mechanism from shocks. It does this by means of a titanium bridge which is supported by a system of springs pressing on stones that have been inserted in the two axes that act as pillars, disturbances are reduced to a minimum and the pivots are protected. You will see this feature at the bottom centre of the dial.

Other points of note are:

- Handwound movement with a 6 day power reserve
- 276 components, twin barrels
- Titanium or rose gold

Priced at 80,000 Swiss Francs

The result of ten years of research and development the IWC Portuguese Sidérale Scafusia is an astronomical watch that is a technical tour de force and the most complicated watch created by IWC so far. Its a showcase watch that IWC hopes will attract new customers and also a way of displaying IWC`s technical prowess.

A reason for IWC deciding on an astronomical watch would be that astronomical watches have shown to be the most desireable watches to collectors. Astronomical complications possess a mystique and an allure due to their visually exciting displays, rather than their practical application. Given the watches special astronomical functions IWC chose the Paranal Observatory in Chile for its launch.

The new IWC Calibre 94900 movement has over 500 pieces and features a “constant-force” tourbillon, a new technological advancement .
Since the power provided by a mainspring varies dependant on its wound state, the purpose of a constant force escapement is to maintain a constant power rate. This in turn increases the watches accuracy.

The large tourbillon which displays the seconds adorns the front of the watch on the left, along with a subdial at the 12 O’clock position which displays sidereal time (true star time) , solar time and power reserve are also indicated.

The rear of the watch is no less impressive and displays various astronomical data. A section of the night sky is represented by a celestial chart , the location of which is chosen by the customer. According to IWC its capable of displaying between 500 and 1000 stars.

This celestial chart rotates depending on the position of the stars in relation to your position on earth. Surrounding the chart are small hands that indicate sunset/sunrise, day/night, sidereal and solar time. A perpetual calendar is also included at the top of the dial, it displays a count of what number day it is and the leap year.

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Available for order from November 18th is the new watch from Ziiiro, the Celeste.

Similar in style to their other models the Orbit and Gravity, the Celeste features a rather minimalistic and unconventional design that forsakes hands and markings for the use of overlapping coloured discs to tell the time (see the image below for an explanation). When these transparent coloured discs overlap they make various attractive colour combinations.

Its available in two colour designs, grey and blue and green and blue. They come in either matte-finished stainless steel in chrome, gunmetal or black cases. The wristband is made of stainless steel with a matte finish.

Price €149 / $205
Check out the video below to see it in action.

Greubel and Forsey have built a name for themselves creating high-end watch complications including four different tourbillon-based watches, such as the formidable “Quadruple Tourbillon à Différentiel” (QDT).

For their latest mechanical marvel they have turned their attention to creating a timepiece that displays a universal world time and a second time zone in a highly legible way. Lets explore its technical features.

The Front:

The three dimensional titanium globe is fixed in one place: the south pole so it has greater freedom to rotate and it turns a full revolution in 24 hours anti-clockwise – the Earth’s natural rotational direction viewed from North pole.

Using the 24 hour day-night indicator via the equatorial chapter ring you can determine the position of the continents and the night-time hemisphere – 18:00 to 6:00 – is indicated by a blackened half of the ring around the globe, while the daytime hemisphere – 6:00 to 18:00 – is indicated by a whitened portion. The latter is superbly enhanced by a lateral window cleverly integrated into the case-band that lets in light to symbolize daytime.

Complimenting the globe is a second time zone dial at the 10 O’clock position giving the precise time in a second country of your choice and adjusted easily using the “quick-set” button top-left.

Radiating down from the top right are three main time-telling dials; the hour / minute dial at the top, below it a smaller seconds dial, and still smaller beneath that the power reserve can be read.

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Newly announced watch brand 2LMX has released its first watch . The brand has been created by Arnaud Tellier, the former head of the Geneva Patek Philippe museum.

A mechanical digital watch it indicates the time using a 24-hour format. It uses rotating drums on which the digits are displayed – see it working in the video at the end of the post.

The design is quite reminiscent of the Cabestan Winch Tourbillon Vertical and features two vertically mounted dials split either side with a tourbillon in the centre. Sapphire crystal is used extensively giving you generous views of the mechanics within.

Powered by a manually wound movement with 120 hour power reserve, it will be available in 2012 in titanium, platinum, white gold or pink gold.

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BRM – Bernard Richards Manufacture – Are French watchmakers whose watch designs closely relate to the world of automobile and motorcycle racing. Their “racing spirit” is evident in their watch designs and strong use of colour.

Their latest watch the “TB Records” has a unconventional design that lets you view the time without having to move your wrist, which is ideal when driving. You are able to glance at the time without it distracting you from the view of the asphalt and keeping both hands on the wheel.

Four years in development the “TB Records” has an automatic movement with a rotor thats been offset by 90 degrees. The case has been constructed from titanium, carbon fibre and stainless steel and is desgned to mimic the look of a dashboard.

Available from their current outlets from December 2011 at a maximum recommended retail of 8,200 euro.

The series will be limited to 25 pieces per color.

Specification

Automatic movement
Modified 2671

Case

Grade II titanium and stainless steel 316L
case
Size : 44 x 25.5mm
Carbon fiber plates
Acinox lugs 18/8 surfin shaped piston
Water resistance 100 m
Sapphire crystal
Stainless steel screws surfin

If you like the idea of being able to choose whether to wear your timepiece as a wristwatch or a pocket watch then the Oakley Full Metal Jacket could be for you, assuming you like the typically robust Oakley styling.

Part of the “High-end Elite” line of watches the FM Jacket is made from impact forged Titanium and comes with a separate pocket watch housing included. Its powered by a Valjoux 7750 25-jewel automatic movement, has a 46 hour power reserve and is COS chronometer certified. Its chronograph shows measured time in sub-dials that display elapsed seconds, minutes and hours.

The strap and chain for the pocket watch are also constructed from the same lightweight titanium as the case and it features a sapphire crystal, screw down case back and is water resistant to 330 feet.
Available from the Oakley store with a price of $8,995 USD.

Discover more convertible watches.

Israeli Watch brand Itay Noy offers an interesting and unique art-watch. Instead of an actual skeletonized dial the “X-Ray” line of watches features a dial that shows a visual representation of what the movement looks like rather than revealing the movement itself.

The X-ray line comes in four different colour variations and two different dial designs, the design on the dial altering depending on which movement is used. A Swiss ETA Unitas 6497-1 or 6498-1 manually wound movement is used.

A small section of the dial has actually been skeletonized showing a cluster of synthetic rubies within.
There are plates at the top and bottom of the dial indicating the watches number of the edition at the bottom and the Itay Noy name at the top.

The steel case is 41.6mm wide and each variation of the X-Ray is in a limited edition of 99 pieces and prices range from $3,640- $3,900. Itay Noy also offers actual skeletonized watches with his “Netline” series of watches.

Watch brand Artya known for their artistically designed electrically themed watches have released this one containing live ammunition, called “Son of a Gun” it should appeal to those watch collectors with a gun fetish or enjoy having long conversations with airline security.

The dial mimics the appearance of a gun barrel and features six real 6mm Flobert bullets which have been casually arranged around the dial and attached with copper wire. The dial combined with the bezel forms the look of a target.

The glass back of the watch shows the rotor which features three .38 Special cartridge casings and further reinforces the firearm theme. The back of the 47mm case has been inscribed 1/1 Unique, Swiss Made.

Check out one of their watches being struck by lightning: