LOUIS MOINET – Treasures of the World Collection: A Success!

Treasures of the World is a series of unique pieces in which has harnessed the wonderful talents of Daniel Haas – a world specialist in the realm of semi-precious stone craftsmanship – to create some of the most sublime and eye-catching polished-stone dials to ever grace a timepiece.

The collection was launched at the GTE (Geneva Time Exhibition) in January with dials crafted in striking blue-turquoise Australian opal, rich brown Biggs jasper and ancient, eye-catching red stromatolite.

As some of the oldest fossils on the planet, stromatolites provide some of the earliest records of life on Earth – the stromatolite stone used in ’s unique piece is believed to date back more than three billion years. Although dominated by crimson tones, stromatolites are formed by the gradual accumulation of ‘blue-green’ algae.

At Baselworld in March, two new models featuring dials crafted in wonderfully iridescent blue-green labradorite and intensely blue lapis lazuli further enhanced the Treasures of the World collection.

In each Treasures of the World piece, the natural beauty of the polished-stone dial is perfectly complemented by the mechanical majesty of a tourbillon escapement. Central hour and minute hands as well as hour markers are thrown into sharp relief by the striking stone-dial that surrounds the tourbillon at 6 o’clock and the open mainspring at 12 o’clock.

Each Treasures of the World is a unique piece in either a natural or diamond-set 18k rose gold or 18k white gold case.

Kisai Uzumaki – Concept to Reality

Kisai Uzumaki is the sixth fan-submitted concept to become reality from the Tokyoflash Design Studio Blog. The conceptual idea for Kisai Uzumaki was submitted in February 2011 by a reader of the blog and fan of Tokyoflash, Firdaus Rohman from Malaysia.

The concept design was voted one of the most popular designs by fans on the blog and is now available to buy exclusively at Tokyoflash Japan.

If you have a unique idea for an original watch design, submit it to the Tokyoflash Design Challenge and there’s a chance that your idea will become reality too.

JORG GRAY ADDS CLINT DEMPSEY TO ROSTER OF BRAND AMBASSADORS

Jorg Gray, an American watch brand designed to change the way we view time, today announced its partnership with the internationally renowned, all-time leading American goalscorer in the English Premier League, Clint Dempsey. The Texas native, currently residing in London, is known for his aggressive, high-intensity performances for Fulham Football Club and the United States Men’s National Soccer Team. Dempsey joins the Jorg Gray family in the midst of the Fulham FC season – just before the highly anticipated match between the U.S. Men’s National Team and Italy on February 29. Recognized as one of the most talented players in his sport, Dempsey continually garners the respect of the soccer world with his unstoppable scoring ability and charismatic personality. With over 18 goals already logged in 2012, Dempsey is currently the seventh leading scorer in the league for a single season and boasts an unprecedented two hat tricks in competition. Additionally, the attacking midfielder has scored more goals than any other player since the 2010 World Cup and holds the record for the fastest goal in U.S. history. “Soccer is about passion, heart and being true to what you stand for,” said Dempsey. “Jorg Gray has grown their incredible brand of watches with a passion for the craft and a strong belief in no compromises. I look forward to promoting Jorg Gray on and off the field.” As the newest face of Jorg Gray, Dempsey will appear at retailers around the globe as he showcases Jorg Gray’s entire collection. A limited edition timepiece will be introduced to the market in the coming months – incorporating the style and attitude of the world’s leading footballer. “We are eager to watch Clint build upon his incredible momentum during the rest of the soccer season,” said Trevor Gnesin, president of Jorg Gray. “His creativity and instincts on the field make him an indisputable fit for the Jorg Gray brand. We’re proud to have him on our team and look forward to this amazing opportunity to work with a world-class athlete at the top of his game.”

ROMAIN JEROME – Black Mood, Steel Mood and Red Mood

 

In its ongoing journey from Earth to Moon, RJ-Romain Jerome has dreamed up a new generation of time instruments. The Black Mood and Steel Mood chronographs are enriching the Moon Dust-DNA collection with new aesthetic statements. 

 

Black Mood expresses lunar time with a PVD-blackened steel instrument featuring a round 46 mm case carrying the iconic RJ-Romain Jerome “paws” and topped by a carbon fibre-coated bezel with a soul forged from fragments of Apollo 11. The date of that historical mission has naturally inspired the number of this limited edition: 1969. Its “instrumental” vocation is further highlighted by two large notched pushers in black PVD, one with a red insert at 2 o’clock, serving to start and stop the chronograph driven by a self-winding movement and the reset button at 4 o’clock. 

The black dial is a hand-sculpted depiction of the lunar surface and its material contains a small amount of the precious Moon Dust – of which only a few thousand grams have been brought back to Earth. The circular seconds counter at 9 o’clock features a four-blade “hand” evoking satellite solar panels (one of the blades is red in order to serve as a time marker). The deliberately oxidised black hour and minutes hands are enhanced with “blue emission” Superluminova. Devotees of astro-horological missions will be able to opt for the alligator strap with woven textile and carbon fibres recovered from ISS spacesuits…

With the Steel Mood, the Moon Dust-DNA treats itself to a poetic flight of fancy into the dreamlike purity of watchmaking Moonlight. The chronograph carries all the distinctive RJ-Romain Jerome design codes (a round 46 mm case with four “paws”, screw-locked lugs, large notched pushers, and a four-blade propeller shaped like satellite solar panels with a red seconds marker), but the dial appears in a “lunar grey” livery (also containing dust from the Moon of which it evokes the surface); and the bezel is made from carbon fibres (with a steel base made as always from a fusion between steel and fragments of the Apollo 11 capsule – hence the 1969-piece limited edition). The black rubber strap confirms this dreamlike dimension of a Moon that transcends changing times and fashions, although future owners may also choose a black leather strap reinforced by technical fibres from an ISS spacesuit.

Stellar Brilliance for the Red Mood 

In its ongoing journey from Earth to Moon, RJ-Romain Jerome has dreamed up a new generation of time instruments. The Red Mood chronograph lights up the Moon Dust-DNA collection. 

After the Black Mood and the Steel Mood, the Moon Dust-DNA collection treats itself to a new cosmic radiance with the Red Mood Chrono. This lunar time piece carries all the distinctive RJ-Romain Jerome design codes: four “paws”, circular satin-brushed 3 and 6 o’clock counters, screw-locked lugs and large notched pushers. The round 46mm red gold case is topped by a carbon fibre-coated bezel. 

The lunar grey dial is a hand-sculpted depiction of the lunar surface and its material contains some precious Moon dust. The circular seconds counter at 9 o’clock features a four-blade “hand” evoking satellite solar panels. The satin-brushed red gold-coloured hour and minutes hands are enhanced with “blue emission” Superluminova. 

The black rubber strap confirms this dreamlike dimension of a Moon that transcends changing times and fashions, but devotees of astro-horological missions will be able to opt for the alligator strap partly woven with carbon fibres and fibres recovered from ISS spacesuits…