Timepieces- Christophe Claret 21 Blackjack

The three apertures for the blackjack game

The dice next to the crown. I think the push piece on the right sets it off?

Wow! If there is anyone in the world I would want to job shadow for a day (or a week!), Christophe Claret would be an easy and obvious choice. I'm not going to pretend I know enough about watches to provide any commentary on his work. What I will say is I'm always surprised and uplifted by his boundless visions.

This time, he combines the precise art of watchmaking with the game of chance- gambling! The 21 Blackjack is the third piece to be created under Claret's own name. From what little information the PR provided, it appears the watch mingles time-telling with the game of dice, black jack and roulette.

The dice can be seen on the side of the case while three windows at 12 o'clock seem to be where one can play a game of blackjack with her watch. The roulette wheel is on the back of the watch (no photos of that yet!).

I can't even begin to image how Claret came up with this. It definitely tops my list of the most anticipated watches this year!

Timepieces, Boucheron Haute Joaillerie watches

Crazy Flamingo, Crazy Seahorse, Crazy Hathi

I’m just hating on everything today! Got these photos from Boucheron a while back but have been too lazy to deal with them. Boucheron’s jewellery watches have always been on the flamboyant side- colourful, bold and imaginative. The brand is also very good at using animals as its inspiration- also evident in its collaboration with Vertu mobile phones. Its unique way of ‘mounting’ various jewels depicting animals or foliage around the bezel and on crystal sapphire is also interesting.

However, the mish-mash of bright colours seem tacky to me. And the depiction of the creatures feels a bit too lowbrow. Anyway, here they are, the Crazy Flamingo, Crazy Seahorse and the tackiest of them all the Crazy Hathi (the elephant one).

Timepieces- Omega Ladymatic in stainless steel

Omega Ladymatic in stainless steel

I’ve always been a firm believer in ‘go big or go home.” I would prefer to own a single, luxury mechanical watch than several mid range timepieces. This is one of the reasons why Omega never really appealed to me. Watches are obsolete for reading the time; so really, the only reason to have one is because of an appreciation for its aesthetical and mechanical values.

A watch like the Omega Ladymatic is one that just does not make sense to me. The watch does not look bad; it carries hints of the Cartier Pasha and comes in a diamond bezel rendition. It’s at an agreeable 34mm polished stainless steel case and powered with the Co-Axial calibre 8520, arguably at the top as far as women’s mechanical movements are concerned.

For the same price range, there isn’t much that appeals to me. However, for triple the price, you can easily get your hands on a Breguet Classique 5157 and I would argue it is a better watch by more than three times. While price-wise it is really a far stretch to compare these watches, there are much better options at around the same price. Cartier’s Ballon Bleu in stainless steel or Chanel’s J12 come to mind as more stylish options and better investments.

Timepieces- Urwerk at BaselWorld

Urwerk invitation BaselWorld 2011

I just wanted to share this invitation from Urwerk. I love the tagline and the photo of the watchmakers. I had the pleasure of meeting Christophe Claret last year in Hong Kong. He's a lovely, soft-spoken man who clearly has an incredible way of looking at things in life and in watchmaking. Sorry for the tiny photo I don't know how to save the weird type of file the. Here's the link for a better look.

Timepieces- Five most romantic watches

So, it's Valentine's Day tomorrow. I haven't got much going on in terms of dating so I've already made dinner plans with a friend. I never realised how much Valentine's Day gets in your face until this year, when, for once, I'm actually single. I'm not big on celebrating this commercialised holiday but somehow it just seems more exciting and important now that I don't get to celebrate it.

While being single gets me down on V Day, it's not going to stop me from ooohing and aaaahing at brilliant watches. So here are my top five picks of the most romantic timepieces. Enjoy!

#5 Chanel- Premiere

Chanel Premiere Ceramic

The oldest icon from Chanel Horlogerie, the Premiere is loved for its dainty design and an imaginative array of straps and gems sets. Its tiny case fits right in with the downsizing of women's watches recently seen from various watchmakers. From a metal links to satin straps, the timepiece is a timeless tribute to Coco Chanel's passion for simplicity. Combining one classic with another- the Chanel 5º bottle top and the straps of the Classic Chain bag, the chain bracelet rendition of the timepiece is the most recognisable one

My favourite rendition of the model features black ceramic and white gold links with a matching dial and a modest pavé of diamonds along the bezel and bracelet. This simple sample of watchmaking is exactly what love should be; timeless and always in style.

#4 Harry Winston- Talk to Me, Harry Winston

Talk to Me, Harry Winston

A guy who tells you he actually wants to have a deep, meaningful conversation with you? How is that not romantic? Talk to Me, Harry Winston is inspired by the great jeweller's habit of playing with loose diamonds in his pocket. Hence, concealed in side of the case is a little wheel that you can turn and play with. The oval case sports diamonds in sundial setting. It's spectacular shine goes perfect with a black satin strap.

I tried this watch on last year at Basel, and really, it's a lot of fun fidgeting with that wheel; you can easily get lost staring at the radiating gems! Harry Winston, you can talk to me anytime, seriously. (OK he's not around anymore but whoever brings me this watch can talk to me too, I guess.)

#3 Ulysse Nardin- Circus Minute Repeater

Circus Minute Repeater

Any woman who claims to not to want to be treated like a little girl by the man she loves is lying. I think love is truly real when you can reveal your most childish self. I've always dreamt of the being with a man who treats me like his little princess, (a little princess with very expensive taste. Yes, I know.) There's really no better way to embrace your inner child than with a fun complication like the minute repeater. Not just any minute repeater, but one inspired by the circus!

At first glance, Ulysse Nardin's Circus Minute Repeater isn't very feminine. But as soon as you lay your eyes on its playful mechanism, nothing else matters. The movements of the circus acts, a tiger with his trainer, a bear with a ballerina and a monkey with a clown, coincides with the chiming of the hours, quarters and minutes. The shimmering blue aventurine dial gives it an extra facet of mystique.

#2 Breguet- Reine de Naples 8908

Reine de Naples 8908

It's the first wristwatch ever created for a queen; if it's good enough for a queen, it's probably good enough for me. Breguet's Reine de Napel is my all-time favourite watch. If I could only wear one watch for the rest of my life, it would be this one. It's the first watch I fell in love with when I started learning about timepieces. For that reason, it'll always have a special place in my heart as being my window into the world of watches.

It was first commissioned by Napoleon for his sister Caroline, the Queen of Naples. While one sibling's gift to another might not seem very romantic to many; let me remind you that V Day is about all sorts of love, not just that between lovers.

The moonphase makes this watch especially lovable. My man might not be able to give me the entire universe, but I guess the moon will do just fine. It doesn't have to be drenched in diamonds to be precious. This watch is not tacky. It's tasteful, it's elegant, but it's anything but simple. It is sophistication masked by a veil of simplicity; it's exactly what every woman should strive to be.

#1 Van Cleef and Arpels- Pont des Amoureux

Pont des Amoureux

This must be a very special watch to have made my most coveted Breguet sit at second place. I don't think a watch can display the theme of romance more overtly than the Pont des Amoureux.

The retrograde movement, displaying the hour and the minutes at the top of the dial, also powers a pair of lovers crossing the bridge over the Thiou River in Annecy, France. When the clock strikes 12, the couple closes in at the centre of the bridge for a quick kiss before the jumping hour kicks in, bringing the two back to opposite ends of the river.

It's pretty, it's got lots of diamonds, it's VCA and it's just so much fun to look at.

Happy Valentine's Day. I refuse to drown myself in sorrow on this love-soaked day. So instead, I'm going to submerge myself in some diamonds and dials.

Timepieces- Hublot Big Bang King All Back Green Carat 322

Big Bang King All Back Green Carat 322

I've never been a huge fan of Hublot. It's geometrical corners and its round dial are neither rugged nor refined. It sits uncomfortably between edgy and soft and fails to achieve an aesthetic that appeals to neither the sporty or dressy side of me.

But I was pleasantly impressed when they launched the Tutti Frutti series last year and vamped up the signature silhouette in rose gold and bright shades. Being a freak for anything green, I was especially drawn to the Green Apple. It looks so lavish with the rich red of the gold, and for me really hitting the mark on both the precious metal and loud colour trends.

Tutti Frutti in rose gold and green rubber, launched last year

Today I got an email from the Hublot people with an image of this year's take on flashy hues. The Big Bang King All Back Green Carat 322 holds the same shape but something about the granny smith green really turns me on. The black ceramic, something everyone seems do be doing now, makes this a more wearable rendition compared to last year's rose gold.

But just because it's back it doesn't mean it'll go unnoticed. The baguette tsavorite and diamonds are functional and add a good dose of sparkle. Inside is the HUB4100 mechanical with automatic winding caliber with a 42 hour power reserve.

It's got an alligator strap with a gummy underside for durable wearing. Hublot's rubber strap is amazing! I was given a camera strap of the same material from the brand and I've been putting it to major abuse for the past three years. It still looks as good and as soft as new.

Specs

322

HUB1400: Mechanical with Automatic winding

No. of components: 180

Bridges: Satin-finished, bevelled & polished

Jewels: 23

Date: Rectangular Window at 3 o’clock

Oscillating Weight: Tungsten Carbide with Black PVD, Dimpled Surface Barillet

Main Plate: Sand-blasted & Rhodium-plated

Barrel: With Reinforced Spring

Escapement: Glucydur Hairspring

Power Reserve: 42 hours

Timepieces- BaselWorld 2011!!!!!!

BaselWorld!!!

So BaselWorld is from March 23 to 31 this year. It's a week later than last year so I'm hoping it'll be even warmer in Basel, Switzerland. I don't want to run around the halls lugging my suitcase and a huge-ass coat. I can't wait to start getting my hands on some pre-Basel stuff. I'm going to try to post as much as I can on here between now and BaselWorld. And hopefully I'll have enough energy after my 10-hour days during Basel to post some interesting things.

My brother and I recently chipped in together to get a new camera- the Olympus E-PL2. He has three other massive DSLRs, which means I pretty much monopolize the PEN2! I'm so excited about using it for Basel! Here are some photos from BaselWord last year.

Me wearing some crazy bracelet smothered in diamonds at DeGrisogono

Breguet Crazy Flower (no, I'm not a very good photographer)

Amazing dolphin cuffs with white, blue and black diamonds at DeGrisogono

Because I had a photographer who came along with me, I didn't take that many photos. But I'm going to try to take as many as I can this year because I just can't get enough of my new camera!