CLERC Hydroscaph LE Central Chrono STEEL

By TLex CLERC unveil a sublime new version of the Hydroscaph LE Central Chrono in STEEL at the JCK show in Vegas. The Hydroscaph has one of the if not the most complex luxury dive watch cases on the market with a total of 103 parts. Complexities aside it still remains a tough and highly efficient design that thanks to lateral reinforcement guarantees its water resistance to 500 meters.

CLERC's signature octagonal-shaped rotating bezel takes care of dive time. It is operable via a retractable flap on a dedicated crown integrated into the case. Returning the flap to its initial position securely locks the bezel, thus avoiding any risk of accidental deregulation while diving. The mobile lugs ensure a perfect fit on all wrist sizes and shapes, including over a diving suit.

The watch is available in three finishes: high-density steel, black DLC and 18K Rose Gold / black DLC Steel. Each of the three versions is fitted with a rubber or rubber-treated hornback crocodile strap with a folding clasps. The watch is issued in limited series of 500 pieces.

From CLERC Two central hands providing an original short-time display mode: such is the exclusive solution showcased by Clerc Genève. The first central sweep-seconds hand indicates the chronograph seconds, while its twin shows the minutes. This innovative display ensures exceptional readability for an instrument that tolerates no aesthetic or technical compromises.

In line with the landmark technical timers representing successive breakthroughs in the history of timekeeping, the new Hydroscaph Limited Edition Central Chronograph brings to the wrist the precise handling and perfect readability of competition instruments.

Its exclusive Clerc C608 self-winding movement features a central chronograph reading offering a technical and original display of short-time measurements.This mechanical movement beating at a high frequency of 4 Hertz (28,800 vibrations per hour) also drives the hour and minute hands, small seconds at 3 o’clock, a date display at 6 o’clock and a 24-hour day/night indication at 9 o’clock.

Maurice Lacroix Pontos S

By TLex Sleek animated video sequence detailing internal rotational divers bezel and safety locking system of the new Maurice Lacroix Pontos S, diving chronograph. Click HERE to read how you could win one!

ARMIDA A1 Bronze

By TLex The Armida A1 Bronze is here and it's spectacular. What else is there to say?!

VintageVDB RS Edition 1/1

By TLex Not quite hot off the press, but certainly a hot item, is the VintageVDB RS Edition. 

Its case is based on the Twenty11's case only in bronze.

Special features include a handmade dial and exhibition caseback with views onto a vintage Rolex caliber.

The piece is 1/1 . . .

HELSON Gauge 1000

By TLex More affordable, more wearable and with more mass-appeal - yet equally cool. The new HELSON Gauge 1000 is the most accessible Helson Gauge model to date.

Its early predecessor the 3'500m fixed bezel Gauge was considered by some as unwearable owing to its 22.5mm height, impractical because it lacked a rotatable divers bezel, but also a tad outside the budgets of some HELSON's customers at almost 1'700USD.

The Gauge 1000 features a Ø47mm x 16.9mm bead-blasted Titanium case, which has been fitted with a 3.8 mm thick double domed sapphire crystal with AR-coating on its inside, a screwdown crown (6 o'clock), a screwdown caseback with atmospheric-suit engraving and a HEV (12 o'clock).

It is water-resistant to 1000m and is powered by a Swiss ETA 2824-2 automatic with 25 jewels and a power-reserve of 40hrs. Its dial, hands and bezel markers have been applied with coated Swiss SuperLuminova.

Finally the watch is fitted on a rubber Helsofrane strap with Titanium buckle. It is priced at 899USD.

Previous HELSON Gauge models include: the Gauge, the Gauge Chrono, the Gauge V2.0 and the Gauge Turning Bezel . . .

ULYSSE NARDIN Black Sea CHRONO

From UN As authoritative as a steel-colored sea during a storm, the new Ulysse Nardin Black Sea Chronograph offers a commanding presence and the unfaltering reliability expected from master diver watchmakers. Below the water’s surface or on solid ground, this timepiece guides its wearers with exacting precision and endurance.

Steering divers to depths of 200 meters and sporting a rubberized screw crown for added water-resistance, the Black Sea Chronograph features Superluminova on the dial for sharp, luminescent visibility in the darkest of places. Another beneficial component is the unidirectional turning bezel.

Enhancing its ability to withstand the most challenging environments are the materials from which it is constructed. Its 45.8 mm diameter case is made from stainless steel coated with rubber and finished with a sapphire glass case back. Its buckle, as well as other segments of the watch, is crafted from ceramic, while its rubber strap brings comfort and flexibility.

Black Sea Chronograph also presents a special personalized chronograph seconds hand adorned with the iconic Ulysse Nardin anchor. The permanent seconds indicator is at the 3 o’clock position, while 9 o’clock marks the 30 minutes counter. The date is located at 4 o’clock, and 6 o’clock indicates a 12-hour counter detailed with a red and blue hand. Rubberized pushers offer ease when a hurried start or stop function is necessary.

Complementing its functionality and strength is its styling. Monochromatic in rich black with accents of blue and red, Black Sea Chronograph is masculine, as it is elegant. It is the ideal timepiece to accompany the bespoke and diving suit, alike. Black Sea Chronograph is for the man who counts the hours before he can return to the sea.

MOVEMENT Calibre UN-35, 13 ¼ ’’ 57 jewels, 42h power-Reserve, self-winding.

FUNCTIONS Chronograph with central chronograph seconds hand and permanent seconds in a counter at 3 o’clock, 30 minutes counter at 9 o'clock, a 12-hour counter detailed at 6 o’clock Date at 4 o'clock.

CASE 45.8mm Stainless steel treated by vulcanization process with a matte-black rubber coating Vulcanized rubber pushers Unidirectional rotating bezel Grained dial, anti-reflective sapphire crystal, screw-down security crown, open case back with sapphire crystal.

WATER-resistance 200m.

BRACELET Rubber strap with two ceramic elements and deployant clasp.

TAG Heuer Aquaracer 500M CERAMIC FirstLook

By TLex TAG Heuer have updated their 2009 Aquaracer 500M model starting with the 3-hands Cal. 5.

Its new 43mm case has been given softer curvier lines to create a more classic look.

The ugly wave pattern bezel has been binned in favor of a lovely new shiny ceramic bezel, a first for TAG and a feature that has become quite a familiar sight these days.

The dial, too has been toned down considerably, no more cyclops either. It's still no Submariner, but starting at 2'500USD it should garner itself a few new supporters . . .

Along with the new Aquaracer 500M CERAMIC, TAG have also released a Limited series of watches for the America's Cup Defender, Oracle Team USA, which we saw early this week. 

Check out Calibre11.com to see more on TAG's new Aquaracer 500M collection.

IWC Aquatimer Photoshop'D

By TLex What happens when an Aquatimer obsessive just happens be a wizard with Photoshop?

You get one man's creative take on one the greatest contemporary dive watches on the market today.

IWC passionate, George Tsatalios has certainly given his favorite watch company something to think about should they ever need any inspiration for expanding the Aquatimer family.

Some of the creations such as the 2000m GMT, the 2000 Alarm, the Chrono Ceramic (top) or even the Rattrapante Chrono (above) are very appealing.

Others such as the Aquatimer Moon Phase (above) might take a little more persuading to get the green light from IWC!

Certainly food for thought, though. My thanks to George for allowing me to share his great work with us.

Here's to more of his Aquatimer creations; perhaps an Aquatimer OceanicTime Edition!

© George Tsatalios

Girard-Perregaux Seahawk 1000 BIG BLUE

By TLex Girard-Perregaux & the Seahawk 1'000m once again partner with environmentalists Susan & David Rockefeller Jr. for another great cause and once again this modern legend gets itself an apt new color.

The Seahawk 1'000m Big Blue was created in celebration of World Oceans Day. It boasts a new blue rubber divers strap and dial, which is complete with a 'world map' power-reserve indicator. Its caseback which bears GP's Sehawk logo is inscribed 'Protect What is Precious' a gentle reminder that we ought to take better care of our oceans . . .

From GP Susan and David Rockefeller, Jr.will celebrate World Oceans Day in New York City on June 5, 2012 from 6-9pm at The Museum of Modern Art, in partnership with the iconic, luxury Swiss watch brand Girard-Perregaux. Avid environmental conservationists, Susan and David created this event to celebrate the world’s oceans and raise public awareness to the plight of ocean health and the need for its protection.

The evening includes a special screening, and the New York City premiere, of Susan’s most recent documentary film, Mission of Mermaids. A true love letter to the ocean, this 15-minute call to action views the ocean through the eyes of the mythical mermaid, and explores ocean acidification, overfishing and pollution. The film delivers a message of hope that provokes viewers to rethink how they relate to their global waters.

Presented by Girard-Perregaux, the sentiment of the night is to “Protect what is Precious” which relates both to the state of the world’s oceans and the rare art of fine watchmaking. In honor of the evening and of Susan and David’s efforts, Girard-Perregaux will launch a limited edition timepiece. The Seahawk 1000 “Big Blue” features a steel case and blue rubber strap with blue highlights on the dial and showing the world map, the focus of this important cause.

The evening at MoMA also coincides with the launch of Susan’s jewelry collection, inspired by Susan’s love of the ocean, which is now available at www.susanrockefeller.com. Susan Rockefeller jewelry is designed to start the conversation and engage people in creative dialogue about the oceans. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Oceana.

“Time is truly the only limited and precious resource that we have in this world,” describes Susan Rockefeller. “The message that Girard-Perregaux, David and I are sharing is that by giving our oceans time to rest and replenish with simple acts of thoughtfulness, they can continue to provide a bounty of necessities for human life.”

“We are very proud to have partnered with Susan and David to celebrate World Oceans Day”, says Sowind (Girard-Perregaux and JeanRichard) CEO Michele Sofisti. “The clock is ticking. We need to act fast, now, in order to protect our oceans. We have a limited amount of resources available for human consumption, a fact we seem to have let pass by. It is time to raise even more the awareness about this critical issue.”

As a direct result of his work on the Pew Oceans Commission coupled with his more than 40 years of experienced sailing, David founded Sailors for the Sea, a nonprofit organization to galvanize the sailing and boating community around ocean health issues. Sailors for the Sea’s core programs, which include Clean Regattas, Ocean Watch Essays, Certified Sea Friendly, and Rainy Day Kits, are designed to connect knowledge with action. David is also the Chairman of The Rockefeller Foundation.

In addition to her documentary film efforts and jewelry design, Susan sits on the board for Oceana and the global leadership council for the NRDC, as well as the Program Committee for Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. She and David have co-chaired the Christie’s Green Auction for three years, while Girard-Perregaux has created unique timepieces for auction. The Christie’s Green Auction has raised nearly $6 million in support of environmental charities.

ATLANTIC Blackshark Red GOLD

By TLex Atlantic release the latest successor to their Seashark line, the new Blackshark Red Gold. Its 44mm 316L Stainless steel case with Couche PVD noire et éléments en or rouge has a water-resistance of 300m or 1000ft as indicted by the red text on its black wave-patterned dial.

It is fitted with an extra thick domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating and features screw-down, crown pushers and caseback to further ensure its water-resistance.

Its dial and hands are with SuperLuminova. It is powered by a Swiss Quartz caliber, the ETA 251.272 with hours, minutes, seconds and date.

Finally the watch is presented on a black and red gold PVD coated 316L Stainless steel bracelet with Atlantic's unique shark-tooth center links and divers clasp with security pushers. Can't say I'm totally bowled over by the design, but the black and gold looks pretty stunning.

TAG Heuer AQUARACER 500M TEAM USA

By TLex Introducing the new Aquaracer 500M Calibre 16 Chrono 44mm & Calibre 5 Auto 43mm TEAM USA Limited Edition models.



TAG Heuer invite you to join the adventure, as they partner with the Oracle Team USA in the 34th America's Cup.

The black, red and white sails of the Oracle Racing boat flying above the sea, undertaking all types of conditions are a breathtaking sight.

TAG Heuer pays tribute to the so-called 'F1 of the Sea' boats with two new Limited Editions Aquaracer models.

These exclusive timepieces proudly display touches of red, the official 'Team USA' and 'Defender' logos and the iconic boat that has been stamped on their case backs. Both models are Water-resistant to 500m and are fitted with helium valves.