The Luxury Watch Blog

Unlike white tie, a man has sartorial options in choosing his dinner jacket and accessories. The elements of a traditional black-tie ensemble are:

* Short or medium black jacket which may have grosgrain- or satin-faced lapels
* Black trousers with silk braids matching the lapels
* A black cummerbund or a low-cut waistcoat
* A white dress shirt with either a marcella or a pleated front
* A black silk bow tie
* Black dress socks, often made of silk
* Black patent leather shoes or highly polished black leather shoes

Jacket

The typical black-tie jacket is single-breasted, ventless, constructed of black, or midnight blue wool, which may be faced with either grosgrain (ribbed silk) or satin. The most traditional lapel type is the peaked lapel, derived from its tailcoat predecessor; the shawl collar (with rounded lapels) is used also. Currently, both styles can be either single- or double-breasted. A third lapel style, the notched lapel, is an American innovation; disdained by purists for its lounge suit derivation, it is has been accepted by other authorities as “a legitimate…less formal alternative.”[1] The traditional single-breasted jacket has a single-button closure, with two-button variants sometimes seen; jackets incorporating more buttons are fashion fads. (Also see: smoking jacket)

It’s also complemented with Gold Cufflinks

The colour black may have a green hue in artificial light, if aesthetically unacceptable to the man, midnight blue (introduced by the Prince of Wales) is the acceptable alternative colour; other colours are fads.

The white dinner jacket is often worn in warm climates. The American colour exceptions are its use in the celebratory high school graduation promenade dance, or “prom”, and concert conductors, i.e. the Last Night. In the U.S. and Canada a white dinner jacket is traditionally worn only from Memorial Day in the spring to Labor Day in late summer, this rule applies also to white summer clothes (shoes, suits, et cetera).

Stylistically, it is bad form (ill-mannered) for a man to take off his jacket during a black-tie social event; but when hot weather and humidity dictate, the ranking man (of the royal family, the guest of honour) may give men permission by noticeably taking off his jacket. In anticipated hot weather Red Sea rig is specified in the invitation, although this dress is esoteric in civilian circles, and is particular to certain communities.

Trousers

Black-tie suit trousers have no turn-ups (cuffs) or belt loops. The outer leg seams may be decorated with a single, silk braid matching the lapel facing. Customarily, braces (suspenders in the U.S.) hold up the trousers; they are hidden either by the waistcoat, which may be backless, or by the coat: hence it is bad social form for a man to take off his coat. Recently, flat-front, pleatless trousers feature in some styles of dinner dress; like all innovations in formal wear the feature’s appropriateness is debated.

Waistcoat or Cummerbund

The waist is dressed in either a waistcoat (vest) or a cummerbund (not both) when wearing a single-breasted coat. Usually, the waistcoat is low-cut, has a three-button stance, and of the same cloth as the jacket. The cummerbund sash (from military dress uniform in British India) is worn pleats up, and is of the same cloth as the bow tie and lapels. (White waistcoats with black tie are a rare alternative.)

Shirt
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First of all What are Automatic Watches?

They should be called Watches with an Automatic movement. Here is some historical information.

* Perrelet

The Swiss watchmaker Abraham-Louis Perrelet invented a self-winding mechanism in 1770 for pocket watches. It worked on the same principle as a modern pedometer, and was designed to wind as the owner walked, using an oscillating weight inside the large watch that moved up and down. The Geneva Society of Arts reported in 1776 that fifteen minutes of walking was necessary to wind the watch sufficiently for eight days, and the following year reported that it was selling well.

* Breguet

Perrelet sold some of his watches to a contemporary watch making luminary, Abraham-Louis Breguet who improved upon the mechanism in his own version of the design, calling his watches “perpetuelles” the French word for perpetual and possibly the source for Rolex’s name for its automatic movements, the “Perpetual”.

* Harwood

Self winding mechanisms were more successful in wristwatches because the rotor could operate every time that the owner moved his or her arm. However the first version did not appear until the 20th century. It was invented by a watch repairer from the Isle of Man named John Harwood in 1923, who took out a UK patent with his financial backer, Harry Cutts, on 7 July 1923, and a corresponding Swiss patent on 16 October 1923. The Harwood system used a pivoting weight which swung as the wearer moved, and which in turn wound the mainspring. The ratchet mechanism only wound the mainspring when moving in one direction. The weight didn’t rotate a full 360°; spring bumpers limited its swing to about 180°, to encourage a back and forth motion. This early type of self-winding mechanism is now referred to as a ‘bumper’.

When fully wound, the watch would run for 12 hours autonomously. It did not have a conventional stem winder, so the hands were moved manually by rotating a bezel around the face of the watch. The watches were first produced with the help of fine Swiss watch manufacturer Fortis and went on sale in 1928 and 30,000 were made until the Harwood Self-Winding Watch Company collapsed in 1931 as a result of the Great Depression. ‘Bumper’ watches were the first commercially successful automatic watches; they were made by several high grade watch manufacturers during the 1930s and 1940s.

* Rolex

The Rolex Watch Company improved Harwood’s design in 1930 and used it as the basis for the Rolex Oyster Perpetual, in which the centrally mounted semi-circular weight could rotate through a full 360° rather than the 300° of the ‘bumper’ winder. Rolex’s version also increased the amount of energy stored in the mainspring, allowing it to run autonomously for up to 35 hours.

* Omega

Most mechanical watches sold today are automatic. A notable exception is the Omega Speedmaster Professional “Moonwatch”, the model first used by NASA astronauts during the Apollo Program, and which remains standard issue on all manned space flights.

* Patek Philippe

Because a manually wound wristwatch does not require the weighted rotor which is necessary for an automatic watch, some extremely fine watch companies, such as Patek Philippe, continue to design manually wound watches, which can achieve a case thickness as low as 1.77 millimeters.

We will be adding some new Features in the coming days to enhance user experience when looking up information on the Luxury Watch Blog

What is left for a manufacture to do after it has broken almost all records in the domain of horological complications? Patek Philippe built the most complicated portable mechanical watch ever made (The Calibre 89), devised the world’s most ingenious ensemble of complications (the Star Caliber 2000), and crafted the most fascinating Grande Complication wristwatch with astronomical indications (the Sky Moon Tourbillon). The answer is simple: It reasserts its leadership by combining challenging complications in a way that has never been attempted before. The result is the Ref. 5101P wrist chronometer with a power reserve of 10 days and a tourbillon.

A closer look reveals a few cues that point to the remarkable personality of this watch: The dial has a 10-day power-reserve scale, displays the discreet inscription “Tourbillon”, and bears the individual serial number of the movement. Once again, Patek Philippe transcended boundaries with the Ref. 5101P “10 DAY TOURBILLON” by fitting two mainspring barrels plus a tourbillon in the compact space of a rectangular form movement.

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GoldWatches.com is having a Movado Gold Watch blow out sale! Check out the page for more information!

We have decided to show some interesting links to our valued readers! Enjoy!

Moon Phase Watches

White Gold Watches

Square diamond watches

Ruby Cufflinks

Diamond Watches

Diamond Cufflinks

Our Tip: SCDB.info - the most up-to-date speed camera database in Europe for your Navi

Horology is the study of the science and art of timekeeping devices. Clocks, watches, and marine chronometers are examples of instruments used to measure time. The name of the study is derived from the Latin word hora, meaning “hour” but can be taken to mean “time” or season.

People interested in horology are called horologists. That term is used both by people who deal professionally with timekeeping apparatus (watchmakers, clockmakers), as well as aficionados and scholars of horology. Horology and horologists have numerous organizations, both professional associations and more scholarly societies.

Horological libraries

Horology has a long history and there are many museums and several specialised libraries devoted to the subject. An example is the Royal Greenwich Observatory, which is also the source of the Prime Meridian (longitude 0° 0′ 0″), and the home of the first marine timekeepers accurate enough to determine longitude (made by John Harrison). One of the more comprehensive museums dedicated to horology is the Musée international d’horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland). One of the better horological museums in Germany is the Deutsches Uhrenmuseum. The two leading specialised horological museums in North America are the National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, Pennsylvania, and the American Clock and Watch Museum in Bristol, Connecticut.

One of these companies is Movado who are proud makers of Movado Watches

One of the most comprehensive horological libraries open to the public is the National Watch and Clock Library in Columbia, PA (USA).

Breitling is a brand of Swiss watches from the Canton of Jura. The watchmaker offers Certified Chronometers designed primarily for aviation use, though most frequently worn as high-end luxury watches. Breitling’s watches offer aviation functions, though their chronograph functions have become more of status symbols than practically applied tools. They typically have a large face (e.g. the Breitling for Bentley Motors edition has a 48 mm Case Diameter) for better visibility and to allow display of more information on the analog dials. Many other models feature an automatic winding mechanism that is purely mechanical (i.e. using no electronic components). A lot of Breitling watches are equipped with additional functions such as the flyback function, split-second, moon phase, date display and other complications.

All Breitling watches are manufactured in Switzerland and are made from Swiss components. Raw movements are obtained from ETA and Valjoux and are modified in the Breitling Chronometrie Workshops (former Kelek S.A.) before undergoing extreme COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres) certification.

Quartz models such as the Breitling Aeromarine Colt start at $1,650.00, while typical prices of mechanical, steel cased models are $7,300 (US) for the Breitling for Bentley Motors model. The expense is clearly in the 38 jewel self-winding movement as these steel cased models are more expensive than some of Breitling’s Titanium or Gold models. Some special edition models also include diamonds on various parts of the watch.

Breitling was a sponsor of Team Bentley during their Le Mans 24 Hours campaign, running from 2001-2003. To commemorate this event, Breitling created the Limited Edition Breitling Bentley 24 Le Mans Watch .

The Breitling Navitimer

Breitling Navitimer wristwatch with circular slide rule.

In the 1940s, Breitling added a circular slide rule to the bezel of their chronograph models for use by aircraft pilots. This became the famous Navitimer model. During the 1950s and 1960s, a version of the Navitimer was offered by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association with the AOPA logo on the dial.

In 1961, Scott Carpenter, one of the original astronauts in the Mercury space program, approached Breitling with idea of incorporating a 24 hour dial instead of the normal 12 hour dial. This was needed because of the lack of day and night during space travel. Breitling complied, and produced the 24 hour Navitimer which Carpenter wore on his 1962 space flight. Breitling then proceeded to produce the 24 hour version as the so-called Cosmonaute Navitimer - under both Breitling and AOPA logos.

The Breitling Emergency

Breitling Emergency

The Breitling Emergency version contains a radio transmitter for civil aviation use which broadcasts on the 121.5 MHz distress frequency and serves as a back-up for ELT-type airborne beacons. (For military users, Breitling has equipped the Emergency with a miniaturized transmitter operating on the 243 MHz military frequency.) Under normal conditions-flat terrain or calm seas-the signal can be picked up at a range of up to 90 nautical miles (167 km) by search aircraft flying at 20,000 feet (6,000 m). As of 1 February 2009, the Cospas-Sarsat Satellite System will no longer monitor the 121.5/243 MHz frequency; however, the signal transmitted by the Emergency was never strong enough to be picked up by satellite, and Breitling has announced that, as these frequencies will still be monitored by aviation, particularly during the localization phase of a rescue attempt, there are no plans to modify the signal’s frequency.

We still like Movado Watches 

In an incident that demonstrates how the Emergency can be used to save lives, Reuters reports that two British pilots, Squadron Leader Steve Brooks and Flight Lieutenant Hugh Quentin-Smith, crashed their helicopter in Antarctica and were rescued after activating their Breitling Emergency transmitter watches. The two pilots were in their lifeboat when a Chilean Otter aircraft found them after homing in on signals from their watches.

The Emergency is available for customers who do not hold a pilot’s licence, but they must sign an agreement stating that they will bear the full costs of a rescue intervention should they trigger the distress beacon. The model was heavily advertised by the Breitling Orbiter 3-both Brian Jones and Bertrand Piccard were wearing the Emergency. Also, Bear Grylls wears an Emergency with yellow face and rubber strap in many episodes of Man vs. Wild.

Baselworld Watch and Jewelry Show is a trade show for the watch and jewelry industry organized annually in the city of Basel, Switzerland. The international show unites about 2,100 exhibitors from over 45 countries, including the leading watch and jewelry brands, as well as companies specializing in precious gems. The exhibitors display their latest products to the industry’s experts, mass media representatives, watch collectors and connoisseurs, just everyone interested in the most recent industry novelties.

Visitors of the show get acquainted with an exclusive range of products. The exhibition area covers more than 160,000 m2 with different halls situated on several floors. Products are divided in specialized sectors placed in six exhibition halls - Hall of Universe, Hall of Elements, Hall of Visions, etc. The Baselworld management takes care of updating the halls’ design.. In 2007 the Hall of Dreams has been entirely redecorated.

Watch and jewelry companies and other brands related to the industry exhibit their products in their own halls. Baselworld also comprises national pavilions. The show provides a thorough market overview and offers the participants a suitable business platform for discovering new opportunities and finding new partners. Baselworld traditionally takes place in spring. The show attracts over 94,000 visitors, with retailers and wholesalers from different parts of the world. Show visitors get surrounded by business and networking atmosphere and become aware of the latest industry trends and innovations.

BaselWorld Village

The event’s participants may also visit the Baselworld Village located in the neighborhood. The ‘village’ provides special facilities, including bars and restaurants, lounges and outdoor areas where partners may discuss their business matters in a cozy atmosphere. The Baselworld Village is open every evening from 6 pm to 2 am during the exhibition. To visit the ‘village’, the show participants have to take a 10-minute journey by taxi, tram or bus.

History

The history of the show dates back to 1917 when there was established the first ‘Schweizer Mustermesse Basel’(MUBA in short) with a special section devoted to watches and jewelery. In 1925 MUBA organized the show which included several watch manufacturers, while in 1931 there appeared the first ‘Schweizer Uhrenmesse-Swiss Watch Show’ in a specialized pavilion. The year 1972 marked an important event in the history of the exhibition - MUBA held ‘Europe’s meeting place’ exhibition which gathered the companies from France, Italy, Germany, and United Kingdom.

In 1983 the show changed its name - it was called BASEL plus two numerals denoting the exhibition year - BASEL 83. Basel 86 included companies from outside Europe, having resulted in the increased number of visitors coming from outside Europe.

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Hello Everyone!

Things are really confusing this holiday! So many choices and it’s so hard to choose! So we have decided to show you some of our suggestions tell us what you think about them!

Dress Watches
Sleek Watches

And of course Movado Watches