The first time I eyed something that I really felt were both, were A. Lange & Sohne watches. It was actually first at their factory that I saw some of the female senior workers adorning the timepieces, and it really made me question what other watch brands were doing wrong that Lange was doing right. The luxury component of the watches was simple and straight forward, but impressive. Totally in-house made movements in mostly all-gold cases (with the occasional platinum case), and the highest level of fit and finish (not to mention careful construction), that I’d personally seen. What struck me as interesting is that all the watches seemed to start with a simple concept – that being easy to read, perfectly designed instruments to tell the time. Every other women’s watch of this magnitude that I’d seen for the most part sacrifices form over function. Not Lange. Then on the side of jewelry you see mother-of-pearl dials, diamonds galore, and colors verging on the side of “girly,” here in these watches.

This in a sense is the case with the new Cabaret Soirée watch line. They used the existing rectangular women’s Cabaret watches, and apply a fine level of diamond decoration to the 18k white gold cases, as well as the option of baby blue, or soft pink color tones. On the one hand it is a simple way of creating a new model, but on the other hand you have a charming and approachable timepiece in trendy tones, with the DNA of pure smart function. For me, the concept is sort of like putting makeup on Einstein. You get all the good “brains” inside the watch with the movement and the traditional design theory, plus you get the glitziness only found from the luxury watch world.

Interestingly enough, these Lange Cabaret Soirée watches are highly limited. Just 10 pieces each. A total of twenty for a collection is thin even for A. Lange & Sohne. I suspect it has to do with the economy, and because the usual buyer of a Lange watch is a bit more conservative than the type who goes light blue or pink. Plus, for the price that such watches command (well over 50,000 euros I am sure), you’d have to wear them on more than just “special occasions” to get the most blue or pink bang, for your buck.

Ariel Adams publishes the popular luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

The Millenary Precieuse collection of timepieces is surely one of the most ravishing in Audemars Piguet’s contemporary lineup.  Produced exclusively in various colors of 18-karat gold, and displaying satin straps and the finest in gem-setting, these can truly be said to embody delicate grace and refined feminine beauty.   Naturally, they are also definitive examples of the artisan’s craft. 

I particularly admire the resolute purity of the Audemars Piguet Millenary Precieuse as a ladies evening watch–while they just might be a bit too “precious” for general daily wear, their specialization increases the aura of no-compromise luxury.  This is a timepiece for a woman who delights in the finest, and enjoys matching her timepiece to the occasion.  In a landscape awash with ladies watches (many admittedly very fine) that are basically downsized versions of models for men, this is a welcome and refreshing attribute, indeed!

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A few other details are clear.  The Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Liquidmetal timepiece will be a limited edition of 1,948 pieces, that number being a nod to year in which the first Omega Seamaster made its debut.  As with other Planet Ocean automatics, movement is the Omega 2500; as many know, this is the proven ETA 2892 base modified for the innovative Omega Co-Axial Escapement.  

I’m looking forward to learning more about this Omega watch, and the development and manufacturing processes behind this Liquidmetal material in more detail.  It certainly seems promising.  Metal bezel inserts are the “old school” technology and while they’ve worked well for decades, they aren’t perfect and tend to wear out prematurely.  Materials such as ceramic and sapphire are taking their place in high-end sports watches, with brands such as Rolex, Hublot, Blancpain and others leading that charge.  

Of course, there’s a downside here, too–while beautiful, nearly scratch-proof and certainly exotic, bezels manufactured from such materials can crack or shatter if exposed to particularly sharp blows.   The Liquidmetal-ceramic bezel featured on this Omega Seamaster might just offer the best compromise yet, and take us one step closer to realizing the “perfect sport watch”.

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Carmen Marc Valvo’s Spring 2010 presentation was recently broadcast live over Times Square in New York City. For this special runway show, each of the participating models was adorned with 24k gold bangle bracelets from master goldsmith Gurhan Orhan. These stacks of radiant pure gold provided an extra element of pizzazz which was the perfect accent to Valvo’s hip designs.

Known throughout the world for his breathtaking gold jewelry, Gurhan Orhan is a modern legend in the fashion world. With handcrafted creations that embody the essence of beauty, luxury and sensuality, Gurhan’s offerings represent the pinnacle of jewelry design. There are countless stackable bracelet designs out there, but none which capture the warmth, dazzle and pure luxury of Gurhan’s creations.

This unique collaboration has been a complete success by elevating the work of each of these talented designers and presenting a vision of pure elegance and glamour.

The Corum Romvlvs Tourbillon watch is exceptionally beautiful in every way.  It’s particularly impressive to me how seamlessly this watch combines elements of classical elegance with an appealing contemporary size and general “feel”.  The hand-wound tourbillon movement with a 130-hour power reserve is equally impressive; it too, suggests the best of the old and the new.  “Old” is the elongated, hand-beveled red gold bridge supporting the intricate rotating tourbillon cage; “New” is the way in which the PVD-treated bridges of the movement replace a conventional dial, allowing finishing details and movement function to create a fascinating voyeuristic experience into the heart of exceptional haute horlogerie.  

As with all the new generation Corum Romvlvs watches, the Romvlvs Tourbillon has the stately wide bezel featuring an exquisite brushed finish and deeply engraved Roman numeral hour figures.  The effect is particularly handsome on this red gold wristwatch, where it allows the lovely Corum tourbillon movement to take center stage; gone is any distracting clutter (i.e. hour markers or inscriptions) that might otherwise take away from the delightful view provided by the mechanism.

With such a high degree of perfection, you know there can’t be many available.  With just 10 pieces planned, the Corum Romvlvs Tourbillon promises to be an even more coveted prize than is the Romvlvs Perpetual Calendar watch.  A Romvlvs minute repeater watch, or possibly a minute repeater combined with tourbillon (a wonderful combination the house has used in the past)–would be the next logical step, and a fitting pyrotechnical finale in Corum’s horological tribute to the mythical founder of Rome.  

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Not-so-clever commentary aside, the Bell & Ross BR01 Airborne One is quite an appealing timepiece within the high fashion-meets-jewelry watch niche.  While such elements as white diamonds, black diamonds, and matte black stainless steel might seem unlikely bedfellows, Bell & Ross proved that such a combination can not only succeed, but be very striking in the process.  With the stealth factor of the black diamonds and the DLC stainless steel, the glittering field of round brilliants which form the skull and crossbones produce an astonishing visual effect.   The strap, made from stingray leather, is another fine touch and the perfect accessory for this timepiece’s unusual but spectacular aesthetic concept.  

Only one question remains—was the winning bidder for the Bell & Ross BR 01 Airborne One watch a lady, or a man?  While I’d be inclined to assume the former, you just never know.  No matter the model  or variation, Bell & Ross Instrument watches have a powerful androgynous appeal that is surpassed by few luxury timepieces. 

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The Cullinan Diamond Mine is one of the world’s most noteworthy diamond mines having produced the largest diamond ever discovered. Appropriately named The Cullinan Diamond, this extraordinary diamond was extracted in 1905 and weighed 3,106.75 carats. Other noteworthy finds at the mine include a 460 carat piece of rough which yielded a 101.27 carat shield cut diamond which sold for $6.2 million.

Along with significant white diamond discoveries, the Cullinan Diamond Mine is known as the world’s sole significant source of blue diamonds. Amongst the rarest and most desirable natural colored diamonds, blue diamonds fetch large sums of money when they come available to the public.

This new 507 carat diamond discovery is thought to be one of the 20 largest high-quality diamonds ever discovered, and will surely yield some extraordinary faceted diamonds. We’ll keep our eyes and ears open for further developments with this monumental find.

Piaget of course is thrilled to be working with the important fashion brand as it means excellent exposure for the brand’s watches “in action,” as opposed to just sitting inside of a pretty display case. Reportedly the collaboration worked so well for the two involved, that Piaget and Michael Bastion will work together again for the designer’s Fall fashion show.

Ariel Adams publishes the popular luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

The mixture of organic elements, ancient craftsmanship and innovation results in one of the truly extraordinary modern designer jewelry houses. As a constant tinkerer, Gurhan releases an abundance of new designs on a regular basis, and often, these designs showcase exciting new materials. Though Gurhan is known for his use of hand-hammered 24k gold, over the years, he has successfully incorporated a vast assortment of materials into his jewelry, far exceeding what most of his contemporaries choose to explore.

Featured in the September/October 2009 issue of Elite Traveler magazine is a gorgeous Gurhan diamond necklace. Crafted in his usual 24k gold, the necklace showcases a quartet of bezel set champagne diamond slices. Looking significantly more raw than a traditional diamond cut, these gems have an organic quality that is perfectly complemented by the rustic design of the mounting. The necklace has the aura of a precious and powerful talisman. Once again, Gurhan has created a rare treasure of inspired artisan craftsmanship.