Hotel del Invalides from above

PARIS – Bell & Ross Time Instruments was on hand for year number 27 of the International Automobile Festival in Paris, France on January 25. The watch maker was there to present the Palme d’Or award and show off its exclusive watch collection.

This year the Festival was held at the luxurious Hotel des Invalides, near the famous Dome of the church right next door. The Festival is held to show off new concept cars from different manufacturers and to celebrate automotive innovation. Bell & Ross were there to strut their stuff along side auto manufacturers with their new exclusive line of watches.

The watch company also unveiled something that France had never seen; a new kind of item thatBell & Ross is not know for, a Harley Davidson. Bell & Ross teamed up with Shaw Harley Davidson and created the Nascafe Harley Davidson bike. The motorcycle has won many Custom Harley Davidson championships in the US and was well received by everyone at the International Automobile Festival.

Award winning Bell & Ross Harley on display at Automotive Festival

The Festival also bring out an exclusive watch collection from Bell & Ross each year. This year the watches were on display and available for purchase to anyone with the inclination to own such a luxurious timepiece.

Of course Bell & Ross was not only there to have fun and show off their award winning Harley, they had an award to present. CEO of Bell & Ross, Carlos A. Rosillo, presented the Palme d’Or to the Red Bull Racing F1 team who took the 2011 Championship title won by German driver Sebastien Vettle. The team’s owner, Dieter Mateschitz met Rosillo on stage to accept the award for his team.

French driver for the Citroën World Rally Team Sebastien Loeb was also presented with an award. Loeb has won the World Rally Championship (WRC) a record eight times in a row.

Rosillo is also a member of the jury which decided on 14 prizes championing the work of companies and people including the Palme d’Or were handed out at the Festival. A little more than 600 people attended the event in Paris.

The event celebrated 2011s innovators in the automotive field. The new years concept cars are unveiled and any new idea that involves automobiles will be brought to the floor. It has become a place where the future of the industry is born each year anew.

Seiko Go Red For Women Tressia

It’s Valentine’s Day again, gentlemen. That’s right.

You’ve probably already bought your wife/ girlfriend/ mother/ grandmother/ secretary/ secret crush the perfect gift and made reservations at the perfect restaurant where you’ll watch her eyes light up as she opens that beautifully wrapped symbol of your love and devotion. But, if that’s not the case and you find that you’re at a loss this year, fear not – Seiko has you covered. Yep, the Japanese watch guys. Really. Not only will this sweet gift impress the lady in your life with your sense of style, it will also show her how much you care about her heart. Literally.

Seiko Corporation of America, a subsidiary of one of the world’s best-known manufacturers of timepieces has launched a ‘Giving Hearts’ campaign this year in support of the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women® crusade.

Concerned that heart disease claims the lives of one in three women who suffer from it, The American Heart Association has committed to educate and raise awareness of a disease that many tend to associate primarily with older men. The website at GoRedForWomen.org provides a valuable resource for women seeking information, needing to connect or looking for solutions. “We are committed to fighting this #1 killer that is preventable,” says the site. “We encourage women and the men who love them to embrace the cause.”

To support and help publicize this noble endeavor, Seiko USA has designed a special watch this year and is contributing $15 of every one sold through March 1, 2012 (with a minimum $100,000 contribution.). The company has also launched a ‘Giving Hearts’ web page on their site where consumers are invited to design their own virtual hearts and dedicate them to loved ones via email or for display in the public forum. (You can pick from a variety of patterns, borders, decorations and dedications.) Visitors may vote on their favorite designs and enter to win a free watch.

Called the Go Red For Women Seiko Tressia, it’s a slender women’s dress watch with a black ion bangle-style bracelet with a jeweler’s clasp, Swarovski crystal accents and an AHA heart logo on the face. It’s selling for $177 online and is even water resistant up to 30 meters. “Tressia’s heart is in the right place,” says Seiko. Now you can be sure your special valentine knows that yours is too.

Save a woman’s life. Give her pretty jewelry.

While most luxury watch brands are decades, if not centuries, old, Timex Group’s luxury arm, TX Watches, was founded in 2006 to fill the niche it calls “TechnoLuxury”. Since its inception, TX Watches has produced several collections of fine timepieces. Although an American company by parentage, TX achieves an unique international appeal with German-engineered technology and Italian design.

Appealing to word travelers and international watch connoisseurs, TX Watches specializes in allowing its wearers to tell, not only their own local time, but the time in important jet-setting destinations. The 500 series contains the best of TX’s world time models. Introduced in 2009, the 530 series World Time Airport Lounge watch incapsulates the TX image of glamour and adventure.

The Airport Lounge 530 artfully combines vintage design elements with advanced world time technology. The watch displays the season of the year and the time for 24 major world destinations: Azores, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Caracas, New York, Mexico City, Denver, Los Angeles, Anchorage, Honolulu, Midway, Auckland, Noumea, Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Dhaka, Karachi, Dubai, Moscow, Athens, Paris and London. The Airport Lounge even accounts for daylight savings time with a special provision that allows the wearer to travel confidently. The TX Airport Lounge World Time 530 features:

The TX Airport Lounge World Time 530 tells the time and season in 24 international destinations.

• TX proprietary World Time six-hand movement and four independent motors
• 44mm solid 316L stainless steel case
• Premium hardened mineral raised crystal
• Available with either genuine leather or stainless steel bracelet
• Available with rose gold or silver case
• Mirrored globe finishes, multi-color accents and tone-on-tone graphics
• Super LumiNova® indices and hands
• Dual multifunction retrograde display
• Screw down crown
• Water resistant to 160 feet
• All styles feature a logo clasp and some styles feature a deployment clasp (push button)
• Embossed signature TX globe graphic

The TX Airport Lounge series comes in six styles with a wide combination of colors and designs to fit every taste. TX Brand Director Stephen Scholz calls the Airport Lounge watch “the fusion of past, present and future- it creates a timeless aesthetic that speaks to the essence of the TX brand.” For those looking to expand their technical fine watch vocabulary, TX’s official website offers an informative technical glossary to make anyone an international timepiece expert.

Fancois Bennahmias and Lebron James pose for a picture at An Audemars Piguet Fundraiser.

MIAMI, FL – Superstars Lebron James and Celine Dion teamed up with Audemars Piguet to help raise money for an expansion of Miami’s Cardiac & Vascular Institute on January 16.

The evening began with a private concert for 1,700 by Celine Dion and was followed by a dinner/auction sponsored by Audemars Piguet. Dion gave the sold out show at the Jackie Gleason Theater at Miami Beach in thanks to the Institute for a procedure they performed that saved her husband’s life, René Angélil. The Institutes founder and medical director Dr. Barry Katzen carried out the procedure.

“It started a little over two and a half years ago. We had quite a scare. Our family doctors discovered that René had a critical narrowing of the artery to his brain, the carotid artery, putting him at a high risk for stroke,” Dion said in her video which was played after the concert.

Celine Dion accepts a gift after performing at Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami

Fracois-Henry Bennahmias, President and CEO of Audemars Piguet, spared no expense at the dinner and auction, providing many elegant pieces to be put up for bid. NBA megastar James was there as well to promote his affiliation with Audemars Piguet and help raise money for the Institute.
One of the most prized pieces of the night was an 18K Jules Audemars Chronograph Tourbillion watch drenched in white gold and baguette diamond. Bennahmias was joined on stage with Dion to promote the watch, with Dion even taking stealing the show for a while by singing songs to help the crowd with their bidding.
James also added to the auction package, offering up two floor seats to a future Miami Heat and Boston Celtics match-up.
The show and auction was put together to support a new expansion on the Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute. The expansion that will cost upwards of $60 million will include the development of a national Center for Advanced Endovascular and Heart Therapy, Center for Aneurysm Therapy and more centers specializing in specific areas.
“Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute has been ahead of its time for the past 25 years, and this expansion will allow its leadership team to take the Institute to the next level in cardiovascular excellence,” said Brian Keeley, President and CEO of Baptist Health South Florida.
The concert pulled in nearly $6 million and the auction raised more than $500,000. Up to $5 million was matched by event benefactor and Baptist Health Foundation board member Victor E. Clarke.

Philip Stein luxury watches was founded in 2002 by husband and wife, Will and Rina Stein. Their combined business and watch designer knowledge led to the development and success of the Philip Stein brand. After discovering that natural frequencies had positive health properties, they decided to be the first to introduce a luxury watch that featured frequency-based technology.

Philip Stein Watches with Frequency Technology

So, what is frequency-based technology? Frequency technology was discovered in 1986 by a group of scientists who went on to patent the technology into a “TESLAR chip.” What these chips do is emit a signal that can make the body’s natural defenses stronger through a type of collaboration with its natural electromagnetic energy field. One study by Dr. Anthony Scott-Morley showed that the presence of a “TESLAR chip” allowed the body to obstruct ambient signals within the surrounding environment. Test results of the chip on patients showed positive results in the health field including improvement of sleep and reduction of the effects of stress. Also, the chip showed signs of reducing electronic pollution such as the use of a cell phone.

With this knowledge at hand, the Steins worked to combine a luxury watch that could affect the well-being of a person. Not long after launching their brand, testimonials soon poured in about the positive effects of wearing a Philip Stein watch. What really gave the Steins a major push into the commercial world was an endorsement by Oprah Winfrey who was gifted with a Philip Stein watch by Madonna.

And then came the design! With Rina’s 25 years of watchmaking design, the Steins incorporated distinctive features and beautiful textures to create the Philip Stein watch with Frequency Technology. The now well-known dual time zone dial and the window in the back of the face which shows the Frequency Technology metal disk are a sure sign it’s a Philip Stein watch. If you’ve never had the pleasure of looking upon a Philip Stein watch, be sure to check out their Collections which include:

• Prestige
• Signature
• Classic
• Active
• Bracelet

You can choose by dial color, single or double case, diamond or no diamond case or dial, and interchangeable straps.

We should thank the Steins. What other watch company has taken such steps to promote well-being and health? Who doesn’t want to be more resistant to stress and sleep better? There’s never been a better reason to wear a Philip Stein watch.

Detailing on the Maestro Quantième à Aiguille

Musical watch aficionados will delight in Swiss luxury watch manufacturer Raymond Weil‘s new Maestro Quantième à Aiguille. The Maestro collection not only appeals to the exquisite eye of the music-loving watch connoisseur, but its connections with music symbolize the deep love and source of inspiration of the watchmaker’s founding family and owner.

The Maestro Quantième à Aiguille has indicators at 3 and 9 o’clock, with the small second hand at the former and date hand (quantième) at the latter. A 41.5 mm by 10.3 mm stainless steel case encloses the watch, which has a brown alligator strap and an AR-coated sapphire crystal. Equipped with 33 jewels, the watch is water resistant up to 50 meters and has a power reserve of 38 hours. Its movement is directed by the Swiss automatic RW caliber 4800 and runs at 28,800 vph. Vph stands for vibrations per hour and is the standard unit for representing how fast a watch ticks, with 28,800 vph equating a little over 4 Hz or 8 ticks per second.  A sunray guilloché decoration and a concentric musical staff image act as embellishments to the silver dial in the central zone, and black transfer Roman numerals denote the hours.

The word “Maestro” means “master” in Italian, and is used to designate an individual who excels at his or her artistic field. In the musical world, maestro is a title of extreme respect for a composer, conductor or renowned personality. Raymond Weil’s collection of the same name certainly reflects this mastery of an art in watchmaking itself, successfully merging patterns of both tradition and innovation. Created in 2010, these timepieces synthesized fine-tuned workmanship and knowledge handed down from generations before to truly befit the title of Maestro.

The Maestro collection and Raymond Weil have also helped fight the battle against cancer. The Swiss brand has been committed to helping many organizations throughout the years, and has been dedicated to combating cancer since 2010. The end of 2011 marked the sale of the Maestro Special Edition via the RW Club & Community, with 25% of the proceeds donated to three organizations related to fighting cancer.

Raymond Weil represents all that is superb about the Swiss watchmaking industry, from precision and quality to reliability and nobility. The brand’s distinct models combine ergonomics with modernity to truly depict aestheticism, one of the preoccupations of the prestigious watchmaker. The Maestro Quantième à Aiguille embodies all these qualities and more, bringing a decidedly musical overtone to the brand and its excellence.

Raymond Weil's watches display intricate machinery

Daniel Craig as James Bond with an Omega watch

The James Bond film series will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. To honor the British spy and his escapades, Swiss luxury watch brand Omega is releasing a special edition of its prized Seamaster Diver 300m, a timepiece Agent 007 has worn in the films since GoldenEye.

The newest addition to the Seamaster series will be available in two sizes, 41 mm for men and 36.25 mm for women. There will be a repetitive 007 monogram on the lacquered black dial, and the ceramic outer bezel rings feature the number 50 filled in with red. The rest of the grey outer ring displays the minutes in a 10-minute interval pattern with white enamel. White dots on the inner ring point out hours, and the geometric hands flit across hours and minutes. By contrast, the red seconds arm is thin and quite the opposite of all the shapes on the dial.

Each version of the watch screw-and-pin bracelets and their cases are made of stainless steel, and both watches are also certified chronometers. While the 41 mm watch has 11 applied indexes, the 36.25 mm women’s watch has 10 with a diamond marker at the 7 o’clock position. This special marking signifies the creation of the watch honor Agent 007, and also adds a touch of femininity.

Stamped with a gun-barrel design, the back of the watch continues to reflect the aesthetics of James Bond. The winding rotor is in the shape of a bullet and can be viewed through a sapphire crystal. The watch is water resistant up to 300 meters and showcases Omega’s revolutionary caliber 2507 self-winding, co-axial movement. Released in 1999, this component of Omega’s watches has since driven a revolution in mechanical watchmaking. A particularly advanced feature of the watch, the helium escape valve, should appeal to professional divers, as this is necessary for divers working with diving bells.

Although James Bond is a fictional character, he still represents quite the ambassador to the Omega brand. The James Bond 007 50th Anniversary Collector’s Piece, created in his honor, duly parallels the spy’s timeless sophistication. Take note that only 11,007 of the 41 mm version and 3,007 of the 36.25 mm version will be produced, as these watches are truly a limited edition. Look out for these classic timepieces as well as 23rd film in the James Bond franchise, Skyfall, coming out later this year.

The back of the new Seamaster with special inscriptions

IWC Schaffhausen presents the Pilot's Watch

2012 is the year that the Pilot’s Watch takes flight. IWC Schaffhausen presents the TOP GUN line, containing the Big Pilot’s Watch that was first launched more than 70 years ago. Originally designed for professional pilots, the Big Pilot’s Watch was revived 10 years ago and now is entering the jet age with the release of the TOP GUN line.

The original Big Pilot’s Watch established a cockpit-style design, pocket watch movement and large central seconds. In 2002, IWC relaunched the Big Pilot’s Watch with the 52 T. S. C. pocket watch caliber, retaining the classical design and movement.

This year, the Big Pilot’s Watch TOP GUN Miramar shines as the star of five new TOP GUN models being released. The timepiece pays homage to the pilots’ school of the US Marines in Miramar, CA, displaying many of the attributes of historic IWC deck watches: The metallic gleam of the zirconium oxide case and the dial made from matte anthracite achieve the desired military-style design, while the camouflage colors of the green textile strap, beige hands as well as the chapter ring top off the look. An elaborate engraving on the back of the case pays further tribute to the aviation school. The TOP GUN Miramar exhibits the maximum automatic movement that IWC manufactures, with its pawl-winding system building up a 168 hour power reserve. However, the reverse mechanism only allows the watch to run perfectly for seven days when fully wound.

While the TOP GUN line generally retains the same characteristics as the original Pilot’s Watches from the 1930s and 1940s, IWC has made several conspicuous improvements to the new models. The vertical triple date display at 3 o’clock is the most obvious change in all the new pieces besides the Big Pilot’s Watch, outlining a form better suited to the cockpit-style design. Quite a few watches have been made larger as well, with the Pilot’s Watch Mark XVII two millimeters larger than the previous model. The Pilot’s Watch Double Chronograph has new red design features and a larger case diameter of 46 millimeters, and the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph has also increased to 43 millimeters.

IWC Pilot’s Watches have offered maximum reliability and legibility since the mid-1930s, much like the magnificent military men themselves. The Big Pilot’s Watch TOP GUN line reinvents tradition while combining different styles with luxury elements, creating premium watches with a rugged feel.

IWC has made Pilot's Watches since the mid-1930s

Last year, Tissot held a Valentine’s Day contest to give away one of their Tissot Lady Heart watches. The Lady Hearts have a heart-shaped cage on the face, making them a literal luxury watch valentine. But this year, Tissot is taking a new and more independent approach to the traditional holiday of love.

For Valentine’s Day 2012, Tissot released a special edition of their famous touch watch collection: the Tissot T-Touch II Lady Diamonds. More than just a watch, the T-Touch Lady Diamonds is the perfect gift for the bold, adventurous woman. First introduced in 1999, Tissot’s T-touch technology adds versatility through touch-screen sport features perfects for climbers, divers, sailers and racers. The Lady Diamonds features a touch screen altimeter, barometric pressure meter, thermometer and compass. The diamonds are set into a white mother-of-pearl dial in trapezoids at the 2, 12 and 10 positions and partially at 4, 6 and 8. The combination of advanced functionality and classic design makes the T-Touch Lady Diamonds unique. The Swiss-made Tissot T-Touch II Lady Diamonds features:

The Tissot T-Touch Lady Diamonds is the perfect unique Valentine's Day gift.

• Anti-magnetic polished titanium case with rotating bezel
• Water resistant to 100 meters
• Tactile scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with antireflective coating
• White mother-of-pearl dial with Top Wesselton inset diamonds
• Genuine white leather bracelet
• Electronic LCD movement (caliber E48.311)
• Dial size 42.7 mm wide and 43.4 mm long
• Quartz movement with battery end-of-life indicator
• Butterfly clasp and push-buttons
• Alarm function
• Accurate compass, thermometer, altimeter and barometric pressure gauge
• Tissot signature T-touch technology

Tissot’s Valentine’s tribute combines Swiss timekeeping precision, advanced sport features and sophisticated design. Tissot says, “Through this gift you will be helping her reach for the stars, making sure she is never caught off guard by the cold winter temperatures and even shielding her from the storms ahead. But more importantly, no matter how far or high she goes, she will always be able to find her way back to you. Your love and protection will only be a touch away thanks to the timepiece’s amazing functions.” Those wishing to test out Tissot’s revolutionary touch technology can check out their app on the Apple App Store: Tissot T-Touch Expert. The fun app is free and simulates some of the features of the Tissot T-Touch watches.

Chanel J12 Chromatic

Chromatic. The J12 Chromatic version is a very desirable piece for any man to own. This durable time piece is made of titanium ceramic. On the outside of the case one will find a unidirectional rotating bezel. The movement of the watch is Quartz and contains rhodium plated mirrored polished second, minute, and hour hands. All of these hands point to matching rhodium plated mirrored polished numerals. A great feature of this time piece is the little date window located between the four hour and five hour. This watch is resistant in up to 200 meters of water, making the J12 perfect for a day of water sports at the lake or that summer cruise you’ve been wanting to take. To ensure that water never makes its way inside of the watch, the J12 contains a screw down crown. The band incorporates a steel triple folding buckle to promise the owner it will never leave its wrist. This watch is retailed at $5,900.

Chanel J12 29 MM Diamond Dial

Jewelry. The jewelry collection of the J12 offers many different models. A popular selling watch from this particular collection is the J12 29 MM Diamond Dial. This J12 model is made from white high-tech ceramic. It’s very beautiful and stunning with its white mother-of-pearl dial which happens to also be set with eight diamond indicators. This time piece also contains the valued Quartz movement and contains a second, minute, and a hour hand. A great feature of this watch is that it is water resistant in up to 50 meters of water. The diameter of the case measures at 29 millimeters, making it a pretty small watch. To ensure that the watch will be with you at all times, it contains a steel triple folding buckle. This J12 retails at $6,150.

Chanel J12 Superleggera Chronograph

Chronograph. The J12 Superleggera Chronograph is made from a black-matte high-tech ceramic, titanium, rubber and aluminum. This time piece is water resistant in up to 200 meters of water, making it one of the J12′s prized features. The case diameter measures in at 41 millimeters, making it a larger sized watch. The watch not only contains a second, minute and hour hand but it also has a date window as well as the chronograph and tachymeter functions. This watch retails at $6,850.

Chanel J12 GMT

GMT. The J12 GMT is made from black high tech ceramic. The appeal of this watch isn’t just for the second, minute, hour hands and the date window. This watch contains a second time zone (GMT). This J12 retails at $6,300.

If you are genuinely interested in purchasing any of these fine time pieces it is best to do so through an authorized Chanel dealer. Chanel watches are often counterfeit and it would be a shame to fall victim to a scam. For more Chanel J12 models you can visit Chanel’s website.