The Luxury Watch Blog

When Alfred Cartier, the son of a goldsmith, started managing the production of jewelry, his three sons, Pierre, Jacques and Louis Francois Cartier were the ones to help the family business expand. They eventually turned the Cartier brand into the most known name in the world of jewelry and watchmaking.

Louis Francois, who had the same name as his grandfather, joined the family business in 1899. His abilities as a businessman later helped in making Cartier a famous brand worldwide. The expansion continued with the opening of the Cartier London store in 1902 and the New York store in 1909.

In 1910 the Cartier family opened two new stores, in Moscow and the Persian Gulf. However, the success of the New York store helped Cartier to receive world recognition. Between the two World Wars, Cartier was able to open stores in Cannes and Monte Carlo. Later the expansion continued with the opening of new shops in Hong Kong, Munich and Geneva.

In 1912 Cartier introduced the Baignoire and Tortue, which are two models still in production today. 1917 saw the debut of the Tank.

It was also during this period that Cartier began adding its own reference numbers to the watches it sold, usually by stamping a four-digit code on the underside of a lug. In fact, many collectors refuse to accept a Cartier as an original unless these numbers are present.

Louis Cartier died in 1942. In 1945 his brother Pierre took over the family business and became the president of Cartier International. Later Cartier International turned into a huge multinational organization. In 1972 its president, Robert Hocq, took over the branches of Cartier in London and New York, and re-established the prestige of Cartier. Today Cartier watches have the movements of such famous Swiss watchmaking companies as: Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, Movado and Le Coultre.

However Cartier also makes Gold Cufflinks

Back with another Luxury cufflink post! They are our Luxury Watches best and dearest neighbor so why not here in our Luxury Watch Blog also! A new cufflink design we will be looking at today is Mesh Cufflinks Classy and intriguing. Here have a look!

We have decided that Luxury Watches are great to talk about but a matching pair of Cufflinks always suits a powerful man. Now there are many designs of Luxury cufflinks but one that i feel is quite interesting is X Cufflinks There exciting design and bold appearance are breathtaking. Here take a look

Well it has finally happened! The 200th Luxury Watch Post! A lot has happened since our first post and we are now adding new exciting features to connect you with the Luxury Watch World

Today we have two exciting things to talk about. 1. Luxury Movado Diamond Watches 2. We are approaching our 200th post! WOW! How the word of Luxury Watches has changed since we first started and now we are all up to date!

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Looking for a Discount on Luxury Watches?

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In order to understand Luxury Watches we must also look into Luxury Goods

Certain manufactured products attain the status of “luxury goods” due to their design, quality, durability or performance that are remarkably superior to the comparable substitutes. Thus, virtually every category of goods available on the market today includes a subset of similar products whose “luxury” is marked by better-quality components and materials, solid construction, stylish appearance, increased durability, better performance, advanced features and so on. As such, these luxury goods retain or improve the basic functionality for which all items of a given category are originally designed.

There are also goods that are perceived as luxurious by the public simply because they play a role of status symbols as such goods tend to signify the purchasing power of those who acquire them. These items, while not being any better (in quality, performance, or appearance) than their less expensive substitutes, are purchased with the sole purpose of displaying wealth or income of their owners. These kinds of goods are the objects of a socio-economic phenomenon called conspicuous consumption and commonly include luxury cars, expensive watches and jewelry, designer clothing, yachts, and large residences such as McMansions, urban mansions and country houses.

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We have found many exciting discounts on Luxury Watches! We will list them as we find them.

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Louis-Ulysse Chopard, a hereditary watchmaker, opened the first Chopard watchmaking workshop in 1860 (at the age of 24) in a small town of Sonvilier located in the Swiss Jura Mountains. Having maintained his family horological traditions, Louis-Ulysse concentrated on developing precise pocket watches and chronometers based upon innovative ideas.

In the 1960-s the Chopard Company was headed by Paul-Andre Chopard, Paul-Andre was the last master watchmaker who maintained the horological roots of the family . His sons followed another career and refused to manage the business. Paul-Andre agreed to sell the business to Karl Scheufele. Mr. Scheufele inherited his family’s jewelry business in Pforzheim, Germany. The new head of the company gained significant experience in both watch and jewelry making. He contributed to modernization of the company and added the jewelry segment into the Chopard watch production.

In 1975 the Chopard factory moved from the center of Geneva to Meyrin-Geneva. It marked a new stage for the company as it started producing ladies’ and jewelry timepieces. In 1976 Chopard introduced the Happy Diamonds collection. Watches from the collection featured mobile diamonds that floated freely between two transparent sapphire crystals.

In 1980 the Chopard Company debuted with sports watches on leather straps. The range of Happy Diamonds watches was enlarged by jewelry pieces. The first Chopard boutiques were opened in Hong Kong, Geneva and Vienna in the 1980-s.

In 1988 Chopard established the cooperation with the Mille Miglia, an annual Italian rally where vintage and classic cars take part. To mark the partnership, Chopard has maintained the tradition of developing a new special edition Mille Miglia timepiece every year.

The Chopard Happy Sport collection appeared in 1993. In 1996, the Chopard Company opened its independent movement factory in Fleurier. The first Chopard in-house movement was named L.U.C. It served as a base for other Chopard independently produced movements.

In 1998 the Company partnered with the annual Cannes International Film Festival. In 2000 the beginning of the new millennium was marked by the introduction of the Chopard L.U.C Quattro watch, powered by a technically advanced caliber with four barrels - an innovation that provided 9-day power reserve.

In 2001 the horology world was joined by the Chopard L.U.C Tonneau watch powered by the first-ever tonneau-shaped self-winding movement with off-centered micro-rotor. In 2002 Chopard new Golden Diamonds concept enlarged the jewelry range.

In 2003 the Chopard Tourbillon watch enlarged the Manufacture’s L.U.C. range and the Happy Spirit collection was born. In 2004 the Company unveiled the L.U.C. Regulateur watch and the Butterfly jewelry pieces collection. In 2005, Chopard presented the Copacabana and Golden Diamonds collections and introduced the L.U.C. Lunar 1. The brand became a part of the sailing world, having initiated the Grand Prix Chopard Decision 35 sailing regatta. In 2006 the company celebrated the 30th anniversary of Happy Diamonds watch collection and the 10th anniversary of the movement factory in Fleurier.

Mr. Scheufele is still the president of the Chopard Company. He has kept the Company as a family business. In the 1990s his children joined the business. Caroline Scheufele is the head of the jewelry division, while Karl-Friedrich manages the watchmaking department.

Chopard holds three production sites located in Geneva, Fleurier in Switzerland and Pforzheim in Germany. The Company has organized its products distribution through 13 subsidiaries placed all over the world. In addition, the brand has opened over 90 brand boutiques.

By 2007, the United States had Chopard boutiques in New York, Beverly Hills, South Coast Plaza, Bal Harbour, Palm Beach, Honolulu, Natick, and Houston. A 9th boutique will open in Boston in 2008, and in San Francisco in 2008, as well.

 Watch collections

The Chopard Company has developed a variety of watch collections, including quartz and mechanical timepieces, gem-set and technically complicated models, classic and sporty ones. The list of the leading Chopard collections is the following: Mille Miglia, L.U.C., Happy Diamonds, Happy Sport, Happy Spirit, Classiques, and Haute Horlogerie.

Chopard Mille Miglia watch collection comprises mechanical timepieces of sporty style. These timepieces appeared as a result of the brand’s partnership with Italian car rally, the Mille Miglia. The Chopard Happy Sport ladies’ collection features timepieces that unite sporty style with precious stones and bright colors. The L.U.C collection features massive sporty-styled chronometers and elegant classy men’s watches.

 Charity

Chopard has contributed to the development of medical research, taken part in different charitable events and helped a number of foundations, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Chopard has continuously cooperated in fight against AIDS with Sir Elton John who established the foundation in 1993 and still holds the post of its Chairman. The brand launches limited-edition Elton John watches to benefit the foundation. Chopard co-sponsors the charity events annually held by the foundation - Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party, White Tie & Tiara Ball and An Enduring Vision.

Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele, presently the co-president of Chopard worldwide, is responsible for supporting other charity organizations such as the International José Carreras Foundation involved in the fight against leukemia and the Sabrina foundation for sick children.

 Partnership

The Chopard Company and New York William Goldberg Diamond Corporation have established a close partnership. William Goldberg is found among the major suppliers of precious stones worldwide.

William Goldberg Diamond Corporation is responsible for recreating a classic diamond cut named the Ashoka. The cut is based on the distinguished original Ashoka diamond that represented a 41.37K D flawless diamond. The gem inherited its name after Ashoka Maurya, the Buddhist warrior-emperor. It was mined in southern India. The diamond is special for its unique cut and superior aesthetic characteristics received legendary status over the years. The William Goldberg Ashoka trademarked was patented by William Goldberg Corp. in 2000. In 2006 Chopard initiated the production of a new line of luxury watches set with Ashoka diamonds to be supplied by William Goldberg Diamond Corp. The new Chopard Ashoka Watch Collection will comprise six timepieces set with the rare diamonds.

 Chopard at Cannes Festival

The partnership between the Chopard Company and the Cannes Film Festival started in 1997. It was initiated by the meeting between Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele, Chopard Co-President, and Pierre Viot, President of the festival. By Viot’s request, Mrs. Gruosi-Scheufele with the team of Chopard master craftsmen redesigned the Golden Palm award. The Palme D’Or redesigned by Chopard was unveiled on May 24, 1998.

Chopard’s design is unlike Movado

The partnership between Chopard and the Cannes Film Festival continued with Chopard’s introduction of a new award to promote creativity in films. Since 2001, the Chopard Trophy has been awarded to two young actors as Male and Female Revelation of the Year.

During the festivals, for every red carpet, the Chopard Company dresses celebrities in its jewelry pieces and watches. The company employs a staff of over 100 people who work with the stars at a suite of offices at the Carleton Hotel. Chopard is credited in all the magazines covering the event.

To mark the 60th Anniversary of the festival, for the Cannes Film Festival 2007 opening ceremony the Chopard Company developed the Red Carpet Collection in cooperation with Valentino. Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele created 60 high jewelery pieces inspired by the celebrities at Cannes, while Valentino designed ten gowns to complement ten of the company’s jewels

Breguet is a manufacturer of luxury watches, founded by Abraham Louis Breguet in Paris in 1775. Currently part of The Swatch Group, its timepieces are now (since 1976) produced in the Vallée de Joux in Switzerland. Breguet is one of the oldest surviving watch-making establishments and is the pioneer of numerous watch-making technologies, the most notable being the tourbillon, invented by Abraham Louis Breguet. Breguet has recently introduced a line of writing instruments as a tribute to writers who mention or feature Breguet watches in their works. Breguet watches are often easily recognized for their coin-edge cases, guilloché dials and blue pomme hands (often now referred to as ‘Breguet hands’).

History!

Beginnings

Breguet was founded in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet at the Quai de l’Horloge on the Ile de la Cite in Paris following his marriage to the daughter of a prosperous French bourgeois. Her dowry provided the “financing” which allowed him to open his own workshop. The connections Breguet had made with scholarly people during his apprenticeship as a watchmaker and as a student of mathematics soon paid off. Following his introduction to the court, whereupon Queen Marie-Antoinette grew fascinated by Breguet’s unique self-winding watch, Louis XVI bought several of his watches. Marie Antoinette commissioned the watch that was to contain every watch function known at that time, including the following:

* A Clock

* A Perpetual Calendar

* A Repeater

* A Thermometer

* A Chronograph

* A Power-Reserve

* A Pare-Chute

Marie Antoinette never lived to see the watch, as it was completed 34 years later, long after she had been executed. This watch is now part of the watch collection at the Islamic Museum in Jerusalem - Israel.

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