For 2008, Audemars Piguet has encored their many fine performances in dynamic haute horlogerie, by giving us the Royal Oak Carbon Concept Tourbillon watch. Studying this watch, and comprehending its many intricate details, one can get a sense of just how much Audemars Piguet has extracted from the full breadth of its rich history. It also demonstrates that the prestigious brand from Le Brassus, Switzerland continues to drive forward boldly, unafraid to make statements that will provoke reactions.

As a point, consider the distinctive selector function, which traces its heritage back to Audemars Piguet’s massive Royal Oak Concept piece from six years back. The use of groundbreaking movement materials, such as carbon and eloxed aluminum can be seen in AP’s recent Millenary MC12 Tourbillon watch. Forged carbon for case and movement bridges illustrates Audemars Piguet’s obsession with 21st century
horological techniques, and continues the accomplishments of last year’s eye-opening Royal Oak Offshore Alinghi Team Chronograph watch.

The many horological features of the [tag[Royal Oak Carbon Concept Tourbillon Chronograph Watch[/tag] are dizzying, when confronted for the first time-–most fascinating to me is probably the extremely cool chronograph minute counter with its two vertical readouts. Super neat! This timepiece really is a dazzling conglomerate of the traditional (for example, the tourbillon) and the ultra-modern (space age materials and futuristic design priorities). Then again, the merger of traditional haute horlogerie with a devil-may-care sense of technical creativity and expression is something of a brand signature for Audemars Piguet. In this sense, AP may considered the most rebellious member of the famous “Big Three” (that is, the famous watchmaking trio that also includes Patek Philippe, and Vacheron Constantin).

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Sean Combs is the John Cougar……I mean John Mellencamp…..I mean John Cougar Mellencamp of the hip hop world.

Sean Combs (aka “Puffy”) (aka (”Puff Daddy”) (aka “P Diddy”) (aka “Diddy”) has changed his name more times than Elizabeth Taylor, but he has managed to stay relevant within his own music genre. Combs larger than life persona was born in the mid-nineties when his record label Bad Boy Records was on top of the world claiming three of the biggest acts in the rap world.

During this time, Combs reinvented opulence with his outlandish spending habits which included yachts, couture clothing, high end automobiles, and personal servants. To this day, Diddy still has a penchant for luxury and spends in a way that might make Marie Antoinette jealous. So what does this over the top hip-hop mogul put on his wrist when he decides to go Swiss?

A Bovet Fleurier hand painted watch…

These wonderful watches come with hand painted enamel dials which can be customized so the owner has a unique, one of a kind timepiece. I wonder what picture Diddy had painted on his enamel dial?

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The big treat from IWC this year, for me at least, has to be the Vintage Collection.  A tribute to the brand’s 140th birthday, the collection is a fine pictorial snap of significant milestones of IWC history.  I appreciate the vintage-inspired nature of these designs, models which collectors hold in reverence.  I’m not sure that choosing a favorite is possible, since all of these watches are so distinctive, but if pressed, I’d have to go with the Portofino Hand-Wound.  While perhaps less distinctive than the iconic IWC Ref. 5251 which it is based upon, this is still an exceptionally beautiful timepiece, with a stunning moonphase indicator and a charming pocket watch-inspired aesthetic.  Also striking to my eyes is the Da Vinci Automatic watch, whose striking six-sided case gives it very unique appearance that is unlike any other watch on the market.  I am also drawn to the Portuguese Hand-Wound, because…well, any IWC Portuguese timepiece is bound to be nothing but beautiful.

Is the IWC Vintage Collection perfect?  No.  As some critics have pointed out, there’s the anti-magnetic issue with the Ingenieur.  What’s that you say?  Well, going back to 1955, the original Ingenieur watch was designed by IWC to resist magnetic fields, thus making it the ideal timepiece for engineers and such.  Well, the new model has done away with the anti-mag properties, in favor of a sapphire back so that you can see the movement.  The heart of the objection is that the new watch doesn’t live up to the raison d’être of the Ingenieur, which I can basically agree with (despite this watch’s very attractive vintage-inspired appearance). Other complaints have been leveled at the Aquatimer Automatic watch, which some feel isn’t water resistant enough to deserve the title of a dive watch.  This doesn’t bother me as much, because 1)–this model is not likely to be used as a diver’s tool in the first place, and 2)–120 meters is still technically “dive worthy” (for example, the regular IWC Aquatimer Chronograph is rated for 120 meters, an no one complains about that).

Other horological muckrakers have found issue with the large sizes of the Vintage collection watches as a whole, which somehow panders to the “bling mentality”.  Whether this is true or not, many prospective buyers will be delighted that these models are well over the 40mm mark.  The reality is, IWC is simply responding to the demand of the contemporary luxury buyers, who overwhelmingly favor large watches.

Overall, I think the IWC Vintage Collection is a winner; the watches are beautifully detailed, striking, and have superb movements.  Is IWC “cashing in” on historical nostalgia to make a buck off of watch fans?  If so, I’d say their scheme is no more sinister than what many of the greatest Swiss and German watch brands have done, and continue to do.  Those who accept these models for their many fine qualities, will be able to enjoy some of the nicest IWC watches created in the last decade.

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Shaun Toub has been a working actor for 20 years, picking up small roles in TV show and movies but his latest small role could be the biggest of his career. Shaun plays Yinsen in the summer blockbuster “Iron Man” which co-stars Robert Downey Jr.

In Iron Man Toub’s character helps Downey’s build the original Iron Man suit in rural Afghanistan with a welding unit, a couple of paperclips, and some tin cans. With any luck, Taub will be saying goodbye to small roles in TV shows like “Married with Children” and “Malcolm in the Middle”….

So what does this working actor like Toub buy when he finally gets his biggest role of his career? A Milus Triretrograde watch of course….

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The Audemars Piguet Offshore.  Those three words stir the desires of multitudes of watch collectors, as visions come to mind of the world’s most desirable and expensive sports watches–watches such as the Royal Oak Offshore T3, the Royal Oak Offshore Juan Pablo Montoya, and the Royal Oak Offshore Rubens Barrichello.  All of these precariously limited timepieces are long gone, snapped up by eager and passionate buyers, and only available now and again from capitalistic collectors who let them go at insanely high prices.

Limited is limited, but how about absolutely unique?  Audemars Piguet has created a Royal Oak Offshore Limited Edition Rubens Barrichello watch to commemorate the phenomenal career and record 257th start of the great Brazilian racecar driver.  But, don’t bother phoning in your reservation: this one won’t be available to the market.  It is the only one of its kind, and the single lucky owner will be Rubens himself!  (Can you imagine the possible value of this watch, if it should ever emerge for sale, or at auction?)

This is an absolutely stunning timepiece, which allows us to reflect on why these Offshores are so coveted.  Gold, ceramic, and titanium all unite in the most beautiful way to create something that is as dynamic as an F1 race car; if only there had been more to go around the first time!  As luxury sports watches go, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore and its fabulous variants will continue to be the “gold standard” for a long time to come.

Many Omega watch enthusiasts expressed their pleasure upon seeing the Museum Collection No8 Racend Timer, which was shown at this year’s Baselworld exhibit. This stunning pink gold chronograph presents a number of charming elements that are taken directly from the page of historically important Omega watches from the 40’s and 50’s.

The squared chronograph pushers are one of those minute aesthetic features which endear me to this Omega timepiece (they look as good on this watch as they do on Patek Philippe’s coveted Ref. 5970 chronograph). And how about the Racend Timer’s incredible dial, with its applied faceted triangular indices, leaf-shaped gold hands, and the bi-colored tachymeter and pulsometer scales in blue and red? The execution is superb, resulting in a chronograph which can truly be described as beautiful, without any hyperbole.

The Omega Museum Collection No8 Racend Timer, despite all its vintage charm, is horologically advanced, thanks to the Omega 3201 caliber which ticks inside. This chronograph movement has all the technical goodies, including a column-wheel and vertical-clutch coupling (meaning the chronograph will leap into action without shuddering; what’s more, you can keep the mechanism running continually if you prefer, something not considered a good idea with horizontal-clutch chronos). Another nicety is the acclaimed Omega Co-Axial Escapement, which has received a lot of press for its many long-term potential advantages over the “good old” Swiss lever escapement found in the vast majority of mechanical watches.

Just 1,949 of these luxurious Omega chronographs will be made, the number commemorating the year in which Omega introduced its revolutionary photo-finish camera, which was given the name “Racend Timer”.

Technorati Tags: Omega watch, Omega

Cats may have nine lives, but Robert Downey Jr’s career has ten. This ultra talented actor’s life has been plagued with substance abuse though out his life - but somehow he always managed to turn it around and remain extremely relevant in the movie and film industry.

His first memorable film “Less Than Zero” foreshadowed his career as he played Julian, a drug addicted teen whose friends go to extremes to help him get clean. In 1997 Downey was arrested and jailed for missing court mandated drug testing.

Shortly after his stint in the Corcoran State Prison, he managed to boomerang back into the spotlight playing Ally McBeal’s love interest in the self-titled television show. The darkness of addiction wouldn’t stray too far as he was fired from the show right around the time he won a Golden Globe Award.

On the go-forward film companies refused to pay his full salary until his movies were complete. A true survivor, Downey managed to stay sober taking small roles in different films and taking Kung-Fu which he says helped him fight off his demons.

In 2008 Robert Downey Jr. has the biggest role of his career playing the lead in the highly anticipated summer blockbuster film “Ironman“. With an all-star supporting cast, including Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jeff Bridges, this film is sure to be the biggest draw of the summer.

People say the watch one wears represents a part of their soul. So what metal does this incredibly talented “Ironman” choose to wear on his wrist, a Bulgari Gold Automatic Watch of course…

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