Repost: Hublot = Jean Claude Biver & a Passionate Team.

Hublot's CEO Jean Claude Biver has brought Hublot to new highs.  His creative direction and innovations have launched Hublot into the forefront of the industry. The introduction of Hublot's Big Bang is credited with seducing the public's perception and making big watches "cool". These interviews with Mr. Biver illustrate his charismatic delivery as well as his genuine passion.

Why Hublot Kicks A$$ !

Why Hublot Kicks A$$ !

Article copied from HERE.

No doubt, gold is a beautiful and popular precious metal. But it's also soft and tends to scratch easily. Making it more resilient requires mixing it with other metals, but that reduces its quality.

Now a research team from the EPFL in Switzerland, with support from Swiss watchmaker Hublot, have created a very hard high-quality gold. And recently, they unveiled the shiny result.

“What is radically new is being able to make something that is both extremely hard and 18-karat gold. The challenge was to stick with that boundary,” said Andreas Mortensen, a metallurgy professor at the EPFL in Switzerland who led the work. Metallurgy lecturer Ludger Weber, postdoc Reza Tavangar and materials engineer Senad Hasanovic collaborated with Mortensen to develop the new gold.

WIDE ANGLE: Gold Rush

Others have been able to make hard gold in the past but they haven't been able to achieve the level of hardness required to meet the 18-karat standard, separating real gold from impure gold. Hublot filed for a patent on the new gold composite, Mortensen said. He called Hublot an adventurous company when it comes to designing with new materials.

To make the new gold, the EPFL team used boron carbide, a ceramic that’s one of the hardest materials in the world, along with diamonds. This material has numerous applications, including as a component in bulletproof vests.

WATCH VIDEO: Nanotechnology promises to make our lives better.

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First the ceramic was heated in an oven to more than 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit, producing a three-dimensional network almost like a scaffold, with just the right amount of pores. That network was then infiltrated with liquid gold, meaning the scientists pushed gold into the pores. Finally, the combination was solidified to form the composite material.

Mortensen said the new gold looks and feels distinctive. It’s harder to the touch than other gold, and has a darker hue. The material is so hard that no coating is needed to make it unscratchable. Although that’s an advantage to watch-wearers looking for durability, there is a trade-off because it’s slightly more fragile than pure gold that’s soft.

Since gold doesn’t oxidize, there could be other applications beyond jewelry, although the cost of the higher quality and its heft might limit the uses. Luxury goods conglomerate LMVH owns Hublot, so the unscratchable gold may end up being incorporated into other high-end products. Currently Hublot watches made with the new gold are being readied for a large jewelry show in Basel next year. The material still needs to undergo extensive testing, Mortensen added.

NEWS: Bacteria Make Gold Nuggets

Nikhilesh Chawla is a professor of materials science, engineering, and mechanical engineering at Arizona State University who specializes in metal composites.

“What Professor Mortensen and his group have done is to come up with a very nice material that has a combination of the luster of gold but it has the strength of other metals that are much stronger,” Chawla said. “The composite material really tries to give you the best of both worlds.”

Mortensen points out that metal combinations have been completed many times before. “Boron carbide has been combined with aluminum. The goal was different, but that’s been done,” he said. “The difference is that this is gold. It makes people dream.”

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 Hublot's achievements are beginning to sound like another watch companies prolific past. It is amazing that a company like Hublot, who many claimed would simply trend out have contributed to the world or horology.

-JKS

Swatch Out! Chariman Hayak Jr. Still Cocky!

Swatch Out! Chariman Hayak Jr. Still Cocky (Well, and maybe he can be !)

Nicolas Hayak Jr. (Son of Swatch group founder) is optimistic (for a change). For those unfamiliar here are a few brands under the Swatch umbrella:

Breguet, Blancpain, Glashütte Original, Jaquet Droz, Léon Hatot, Omega, Longines, Rado, Union Glashütte, Tissot, Calvin Klein Watches + Jewelry, Balmain, Certina, Mido, Hamilton, Swatch, Flik Flak, Endura and Tourbillon   ETA (The movement manufacturer!)

 Article below copied from HERE

Hayak Sees Growth in 2012

ZURICH -(MarketWatch)- The strength of the Swiss franc is affecting profit margins at Swatch Group AG but not reducing demand for the company's watches, Swatch Chairwoman Nayla Hayek tells Swiss newspaper L'Hebdo.

"The strong franc certainly affects our margins, but it has no influence on the demand for watches," Hayek says in an interview to be published Thursday.

"I believe that with all this uncertainty in the financial markets, people do not know where to put their money. A luxury watch is something that keeps its value, it is an investment, Hayek adds.

The current increases in watch sales show there are still enough people wanting to buy Swiss watches, Hayek says.

She said she doesn't believe there will be a change to market conditions in 2012.

"The signs in the market are currently not negative," Hayek says. "Even in Europe, with some exceptions." 

-JKS

My Rose Gold Bubbleback has landed.

I will be bringing it to the Watch Doctor to get the 100% approval tomorrow. The piece is working perfectly so far and wears quite nice for a classic approx 33mm timepiece.

-JKS

Random Act Of Beauty! Rolex Padellone 8171

Rolex ref. 8171

So called "Padellone"

 There is an interesting song out by Katy Perry (that plays quite often on the radio), it is called 

"The one that got away"

In my infancy as a collector, one of these magnificent pieces presented itself. There was a gentleman I was in contact with who had inherited the 8171 from an Uncle who was a respected but not extraordinarily well known musician. His Uncle, while not being a house hold name was friends with perhaps one of the best known entertainers of the 50s/60s (Think Vegas!). Like many 60s era celebrities by the 1980s their health and wealth had diminished. After the passing of this celebrity, his wife had large debts to pay. Remember, recording contracts in this period were nowhere near as lucrative as they are now. Artist sometimes didn't even own their own image after signing a  contract with an entertainment label. In effect, the wife of this celebrity entertainer called friends and family members and offered some of his belongings  to the people who would cherish them first. Subsequently other belongings were auctioned and or reclaimed. This rare Rolex 8171 "Padellone" and  a Rolex 5512 Submariner were sold.

In short, the current owner I was dealing with was not familiar with the piece nor the immense value (upwards of $100,000 + depending on condition, not to mention the celebrity affiliation) and I as a young collector did not have the experience or savvy to snag up the piece at what I now realize was a very humble offer price.

-The one that got away...

 So, what is special about the Rolex "Padellone" 8171?

It's 38mm: So it's size is more fashionably relevant today than perhaps ever before.

It houses a Rolex in-house automatic movement: This is something that makes this 1950s era watch truly amazing! Think about this, Rolex did not feature an in-house movement in their most complicated current watch, the Daytona until the year 2000 (Please note the introduction of the Yachtmaster II at Basel watch fair in 2007 has made the Daytona 116520 the second most complicated movement in the current line-up)

Most importantly: It is absolutely stunning!

P.S By in-house, I mean a 100% manufactured movement made in the Rolex factory/designed in the factory not based on upon another watch companies movement

-JKS

Random Act Of Beauty!

My Milgauss.

Interesting: Absence makes the heart grow fonder...

-JKS

Random Act Of Bling!

Alright Swiss Monsters,

I've been slacking with delivering a healthy dose of bling. So, I decided to share a video I came across on youtube. The video features a diamond encrusted AP that could make the Queen of England blush. It is blingtastic!!!

-JKS

Perpetually Yours, Rolex Cologne.

Did you know that Rolex had a cologne made for them in the 1970s?

It's true!

The pocket watch designed bottle is a awesome! One does not see these available for sale very often!

Hodinkee.com (Another Great Watch Blog!) had a similar post Here.

This unique piece is available Here. Warning: The asking price is extreme!

FS: Vintage Rolex Heaven! 1665 DRSD, 6239 Daytona.

Hello Swiss Monsters,
there are two amazing pieces available for sale. Both are extraordinarily rare Rolex offerings (both with tropical dials!) . The first is a DRSD available here: Link,  The other is an amazing  6239 available here: Link

 These pieces are currently out of my watch budget, but maybe one of you can snag one or even both!

Please note, I DO NOT OWN these pieces nor the photos. I am simply sharing to help the owner sell these... well, and to share some of the most beautiful pieces I've ever seen :)

-JKS

It's Bay Watch Tuesday!!

Alright, Swiss Monsters it's that time of year!  People have overextended and will sell virtually everything for some extra bucks, this includes vintage and modern timepieces. It seems the weeks leading up to Christmas are filled with inflated and fraudulent listings. It's not as if ebay is ever 100% or even 70% legit when it comes down to luxury goods but the deceit arises to a new level. Well, it may get worst now, as I said crime rises leading up to and a little after the Holiday season. I am writing this to alert you all to do your own due diligence. Remember, just because I feature an item on this blog does not mean I am vouching for the seller. So, be careful and remember to buy the seller before you buy the watch.

Now, enough doom and gloom. I've found two interesting ebay finds!

Check these out! (Clears throat) I mean the links below...

First up, A Patek Philippe 3484 w/ Arabic numeral dial. 

LINK 

Price: $5900.00

This piece is priced nicely and is quite unusual with an Arabic dial. This piece also has an original Patek buckle. It is important to note that so many vintage Patek's offered DO NOT feature a Patek buckle. This can cost buyers an additional $300 additional dollars. This piece is really one of the more interesting ebay offerings as of late. 

Seller Description:

Gent’s 18-karat yellow gold Patek Philippe wristwatch with black reptile strap, Silverstone Arabic dial, manual wind.  Model 3484 circa 1959, case number 2638939, movement number 797217.  The black reptile strap watch is in excellent condition, no scratches and in excellent mechanical condition.  Certified has normal wear.  Certified G.G., A.S.A., A.S.G. appraisal at $8,500. 

My second ebay find: Rolex Bubble back in 14k w/ great dial!

LINK

Price: US $14,500.00

Seller's description:

MOVEMENT: Mechanical Automatic Movement. Exclusive ROLEX MANUFACTURE CALIBER  Working condition. Signed also ROLEX CHRONOMETER NO:35678 and Swiss Made...

FUNCTIONS: Hour, Minute, Secondrecorder.
CASE: 14K massiv rosegold  case has 32mm diameter with out crown. The crown is signed with Rolex and screwdown.
CASE BACK: 14K (0.750 ) Yellowgold. Signed ROLEX NO:472364
DIAL: Beautiful  baseball player dial with gold and hour markers signed ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL CHRONOMETRE and Swiss Made.
GLASS: Plexiglass
WRISTBAND: old used Rolex  strap with rolex plaque buckle
BOX AND PAPER: No Box and Paper...

-JKS

Merry Christmas, From The Swiss Monster!!

The Swiss Monster hopes everyone has a Merry Christmas and a happy new year! 

 

-JKS

Forum Find: Merry Christmas!!!

A fellow collector on TZ (Timezone.com) shared this Holiday Rolex Ad !

-JKS

Vintage RG Bubbleback.

Early Christmas Present for myself!

 

-JKS

Random Act Of Beauty! Patek 2526

Today's "Random Act Of Beauty!" is the legendary:

Patek Philippe ref. 2526.
Introduced in 1953, the ref. 2526 was Patek Philippe's first automatic offering. The piece features the 30-jewel caliber 12-600 AT (automatic) movement. The case and dial design of the piece is still  relevant today. Echoes of the design are even found in the current collection "Calatrava".  This beautiful piece is one of the most desired non complicated pieced from the company and commands quite a sum at auction. One of the most interesting and significant features is the Porcelain/Enamel dial with applied markers. This feature is interesting, as most other Patek watches from this period featured metal dials with only a few applied baton markers. Another interesting variant found in this piece is the double "P' on the crown as opposed to the more commonly found Calatrava cross logo.

For more information visit: Here & Here.

-JKS

Random Tidbit of Knowledge: What is a Lingne ?

Many Swiss Monsters have heard the word "Ligne" in reference to a movements size. I should clarify by saying many Swiss Monsters have read the word. The pronunciation and meaning were most likely guessed by non-experts.

So, What is a  Ligne?

Ligne: Ligne is an a French system of measurement used in horology.   1 ligne= 1/12".   A 10 ligne movement would measure approximately .833" or 21.2 mm. A 12 ligne movement such as the Patek 27-460 would measure about 27mm.

So, now you and I are both on the Expert road. Knowledge is like a cup of hot Coffee, wonderfully refreshing.

-JKS

Spotlight: Santa Wears a Rolex!

This just in, Santa wears a Rolex!!!

Well, actually it's just a Swiss Monster fan who sent in a picture!

-JKS

2 Mission Objectives Whis Week :

Alright Swiss Monsters, I have a few objectives this week. The first is to finish my review of my recent trip's AD (Authorized Dealer) report. The second is to finish a bit of research I am doing on vintage Omega.  It has become apparent to me that in the next few years ( * This is of course, just my humble opinion) two strong collecting trends will emerge. I feel vintage Omega timepieces (vastly under priced currently) and 18k dress watches (including Omega & Rolex Bubblebacks, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet +) will be of immense interest again.

But, more on that later!

-JKS (The Head Swiss Monster & Soothsayer)

It's Bay Watch Tuesday!!

Merry Christmas Guys, I don't think I have to say this but...

Stay away from ebay for a bit. There are sharks all over this time of year.

In short, Bay Watch Tuesday is Cancelled this week.

-JKS

It's Monday , So How About An Act Of Bling !!!

Someone say bling?

How about a mint Rolex 6062 in unpolished/stellar condition. This piece was reportedly found in a sock drawer! This beauty even has a bit of "toning" (as the patina that forms on metal that has not been disturbed is known in the coin world).

So, How much $$$ did this fetch at a recent Chrisitie's auction. Grip your seats... $542,500 USD!!!!

Click Link Below For More Info.

Christies Link

-JKS

The Swiss Monster is Back!

Alright Guys, I am back in my home country of the United States of America. I enjoyed visiting the Cayman Islands, Jamaica & Mexico. The people were warm and inviting and made visiting a joy.  I have some interesting articles coming up! I visited several ADs (Authorized Dealers) of Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Panerai, Hublot, Ulysse Nardin, Omega, Blancpain & a Patek Philippe dealer (In Jamaica!) + More !

I plan on writing a full article/ review of the ADs I visited. As always, I was pleased with some and disappointed with others. So, please keep checking TheSwissMonster.com!!

I will also give advice for Americans on buying Cuban Cigars. I saw so many fake Cuban cigars it was shocking (I even saw some in Cruise approved port shops!)

For now, I will post some spoilers pics of my travels!

Click to ENLARGE any of the photos!

Mexico has gotten expensive!

-JKS