Watch & Jewellery - Passion Luxe

The Montblanc Worldsecond

By Marc Menant on Wednesday, November 14 2012, 21:58 - Watch & Jewellery

The international luxury maison Montblanc introduces its new mobile campaign to capture and experience the same instant together. Inspired by the idea of recording time, Montblanc introduces “The Montblanc Worldsecond”, a vivid photo contest inviting everyone to photographically capture moments of beauty. At exactly the same instant, all over the world, various images will be created. A specially developed mobile photo app, for iPhone and Android, features a unique countdown function, ensuring that the smartphone cameras of all participants worldwide will take a picture at the very same moment.

The photos taken within the involving app are uploaded to the website Worldsecond.montblanc.com, creating a stunning mosaic of globally shared moments – being the “Worldseconds”. Over the course of the campaign, Montblanc will “record” 60 digital Worldseconds until end of December 2012. That is, 60 opportunities for participants to let their imagination and creativity run free.

From November 1st, 2012, app users and visitors to the website can choose from the uploaded photos to compile their own photo galleries, having the opportunity to share them through a variety of social media channels. The contest ends on December 31st, 2012. In early January 2013, the winner in each category – Worldsecond Photo and Worldsecond Gallery – will receive a watch from the Montblanc TimeWalker collection.

The Montblanc Worldsecond mobile app is available for free for Apple iPhone and Android phones since November 1st. Every second counts!

New management team for Worldtempus

By Marc Menant on Saturday, April 21 2012, 10:12 - Watch & Jewellery

The Edipresse group, owner of Worldtempus, has chosen Caroline Buechler and François‐Xavier Mousin, founders of Opus Magnum, to handle the management and development of the website. They are taking on the Executive Management under the presidency of Michel Lamunière.

Launched in 2001, Worldtempus comes in French, English, Chinese and Italian versions, with editorial and commercial teams based in both Europe and Asia. Over the past decade, Worldtempus has established itself as a benchmark provider of high‐quality watch‐related information, thanks to special partnerships with the greatest brand

New ambassador of charm for Saint Honoré

By Marc Menant on Monday, April 9 2012, 14:10 - Watch & Jewellery

Ballet Dancer Kateryna Shalkina is the new Saint Honoré ambassador of charm. She will promote the watchmaker internationally and will help the company to strengthen its presence of the lady market segment.

Aymes opens in Paris

By Marc Menant on Monday, December 26 2011, 10:59 - Watch & Jewellery

Confidential jewelery Brand Aymes just opened a boutique in Paris, located at 4 place de Valois, 75001 Palais Royal.

The place seems pretty original (See picture above) with its white design, made of lacquer and futuristic lights. To be honest, it looks to me much more like a fashion brand' flagships than a jewelry shop and I wonder how the customers will perceive the place as they might be used to jewelery boutiques with very different design...

New boutique for Hublot in Courchevel

By Marc Menant on Sunday, December 25 2011, 20:02 - Watch & Jewellery

A couple of days after its boutique opening in Gstaad, Hublot opened a new point of sales in Courchevel, a French well-known sky resort.

With this new opening, Hublot aims at reinforcing its legitimacy on the sport-casual segment and at increasing its visibility in a place known for the quality of its clientele.

Hublot Boutique Courchevel Rue du Rocher, Courchevel 1850 T.+33 (0) 4 79 41 18 82

Post in French here

So Bill Clinton is a Jaeger-LeCoultre fan…

By Marc Menant on Thursday, November 10 2011, 19:10 - Watch & Jewellery

Sometimes, buzz can be very efficient for brand visibility, even if uncontrolled. I guess that’s what is happening right now with swiss watch brand Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Let’s go back a few months ago. We were in winter, probably in October or November 2010. I was reading an English newspaper during a flight when I found an interesting article on Former US president Bill Clinton’s involvement in Haiti, following the terrible earthquake. This was pictured with a black and white low res visual. Mr. Clinton was wearing a watch that looked like a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Diving Alarm.

Nice memories: Me trying Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Diving Alarm Navy SEALs

Without unveiling too much about me, I can say that I know this watch very well (I let you find on the net why). It’s a very powerful timepiece with a ceramic rotating bezel and one of my favourite JLC calibre, the 956 movement, a mechanical alarm that has been created during the fifties, improved over the years, even though the current construction is very similar to the first and original version. Vintage watch lovers can chase this mechanical beauty in old Memovox from the 50’s/60’s…

Snapshot of Bill Clinton and his Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Diving

A couple of days ago, Former US president, Bill Clinton was (again) wearing a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Compressor Diving Alarm Navy SEALs on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart when he made a guest appearance to promote his new book "Back to Work".

Seems Mr. Clinton is not only a cigar lover!

Piaget celebrates Elizabeth Taylor

By Marc Menant on Tuesday, November 1 2011, 17:13 - Watch & Jewellery

October, 27, 2011 - Los Angeles - It was a star-studded evening at the Piaget sponsored amfAR Inspiration Gala, as Hollywood’s finest came out to honor legendary Dame Elizabeth Taylor, the organization’s most inspirational supporter. Held at the Chateau Marmont, the glittering black tie affair was hosted by Bravo TV personality, Andy Cohen. Academy Award winner, Sandra Bullock, gave a moving tribute to Dame Elizabeth. Also in attendance to lend their support were two-time Oscar winner, Sean Penn, Golden Globe winner, Colin Farrell, along with actors, Selma Blair, Josh Duhamel, Jesse Bradford, Rose McGowan, Ryan Kwanten, Garcelle Beauvais, Keegan Allen, model, Alek Wek, Decades co-owners, Cameron Silver, Christos Garkinos and singer Estelle, among others.

The evening began with cocktails by the pool where models showcased the latest men’s fashion. Afterwards, guests moved to the Chateau’s beautiful courtyard for a formal dinner. Blondie lead singer, Deborah Harry Deborah Harry Deborah Harry Deborah Harry, and singer/songwriter, Sinéad O’Connor Sinéad O’Connor Sinéad O’Connor Sinéad O’Connor, treated the audience to live performances that elicited standing ovations. The festivities concluded with Christie’s President, Andrea Fiuczynski, leading a live auction, which helped to raise valuable funds to benefit AIDs research.

Piaget North American President, Larry Boland, hosted a table of luminaries including Sean Penn and Sinead O’Connor, along with Los Angeles socialites, Jacqui Getty, who looked stunning in a Piaget Possession cuff, chain necklace and Celebration ring, all in 18-carat yellow gold. The talented filmmaker, artist, writer and Hollywood ‘It Girl’, Liz Goldwyn, accessorized her look with Piaget’s Possession watch in 18-carat white gold and diamonds. And celebrated photographer, Douglas Friedman, wore the Piaget Altiplano 38mm in white gold.

Los Angeles marks the conclusion of the 2011 series of amfAR Inspiration galas, following on the heels of sell-out events in São Paulo, New York and Paris. Piaget has been a leading sponsor of the series from the beginning and will continue its support in 2012.

New boutique for Jaeger-LeCoultre

By Marc Menant on Saturday, October 22 2011, 14:56 - Watch & Jewellery

Jaeger-LeCoultre just inaugurated a new Boutique located in the very heart of St. Petersburg at Bolshaya Konyushennaya Street. On this special occasion Jaeger-LeCoultre that celebrates this year the 80th anniversary of its iconic Reverso watch that was born in 1931, presents a limited edition Reverso designed as homage to famous Russian painter Kazimir Malevich. His painting “Peasant Woman” (1931) belongs to the last and most complicated period of his creative work. To this day, the painting “Peasant Woman” is owned by the State Russian Museum.

The Reverso à eclipses homage to Kazimir Malevich was created with the assistance of the State Russian Museum of St. Petersburg as a limited edition of 5 pieces commemorating the 80th anniversary of the legendary Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. This reversible watch in pink gold case equipped with in-house Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 849 revives one of the rarest fine art traditions, the painting on enamel, which demands special virtuosity and patience. One simple gesture is enough to open the shutters of the dial which hide a refined miniature work of art – the painting “Peasant Woman” by Kazimir Malevich.

Kazimir Severinovich Malevich (1878 - 1935) was a painter famous for his works in genres of avantgarde, impressionism, futurism, and cubism. In the spring of 1915 he pioneered abstract geometric art, which was soon known as “suprematism”. In late 1915 at the exhibition “0,10” he first introduced 39 paintings under the general title “Suprematism in Painting”, among them his world famous work “Black Square”.

Harry Winston Avenue C Large

By Marc Menant on Saturday, October 22 2011, 12:57 - Watch & Jewellery

Originally inspired by the refined geometric forms of Art Deco, the Avenue collection is an ode to New York City – its long thoroughfares stretching their slender silhouettes off into the distance, its soaring, vertiginous aerial architecture. The teeming city has always fed Harry Winston’s creativity.

Newcomer in this iconic collection, Avenue C Large varies its geometry by playing with straight lines and curves, asymmetry and contrasts. Avenue C Large uses the mirror effects of skyscrapers, with its dial set with 156 baguette-cut diamonds (7.5 carats). As a frame of light, the 7.8 carats case reflects the beauty and the brilliance of each diamond.

Unrivaled, the glittering bracelet in white gold, set with 260 baguette-cut diamonds (19.5 carats), extends the brightness of the watch to infinity. A total of 34.8 carats embodies a unique style, which is the culmination of efforts and skills between gemologists, designers and craftsmen, working together to create incredibly beautiful timepieces.

AVENUE C LARGE Reference 335/UQWW.DB/BD/BD Movement: Quartz Functions: Hours and minutes Case: 18K white gold, 47.6 x 34.8 mm, water resistance 30 meters, case setting Set with 40 baguette-cut diamonds and 13 brilliant-cut diamonds (7.8 carats) Dial: 18K white gold, sunray dial set with 156 baguette-cut diamonds (7.5 carats) Bracelet: 18K white gold set with 260 baguette-cut diamonds (19.5 carats) Buckle: 18K white gold Folding clasp

PuristSPro Introduces New Roger Dubuis Forum

By Marc Menant on Saturday, October 22 2011, 09:28 - Watch & Jewellery

The Purists is probably the best watch forum. Several top brands, such as Piaget or Jaeger-LeCoultre already have their own space on it. The forum has now opened a new dedicated area for niche brand Roger Dubuis, a brand that has been the outlet for an ongoing stream of creativity since 1995.

Link to the forum here