Among modern IWC watches, the Portuguese 7-Day Automatic is hands down one of the best.  The reason for this is many-fold: it follows the historical path set by the very first Portuguese watch IWC created back in the 1930’s (a large, super-legible, highly accurate wristwatch that would challenge pocket watch performance), it’s incredibly handsome, it has great wrist presence, and for timepiece aficionados–possesses one of the most interesting self-winding mechanical movements in current production.  Now that’s a strong resume!

While not a dress watch in the strict sense, being quite a thick piece, the IWC Portuguese Automatic watch can serve very well in this capacity, particularly for a man with robust wrists.  The dial certainly fits the bill, being incredibly elegant and timeless; take a look at the first IWC Portuguese, and you can see that this model has inherited all the good “DNA” of its ancestor.  Those slender leaf-shaped hands and the gleaming Arabic minute track are alone worth the price of admission.  Because the dial is so large, the addition of the subsidiary seconds and power reserve indicators don’t create a sense of clutter–on the contrary, they look superb and add just the right amount of technical interest to a face which might otherwise be almost too classical for some.  This aspect keeps the versatility factor high, and lets the Portuguese Automatic work equally well with finer attire, or casual wear like jeans and a sport shirt.

The backside of the IWC Portuguese Automatic is some very tasty frosting on the cake.  If you’ve grown tired of small movements in large cases, this timepiece will make you smile.  The in-house IWC 51011 caliber is the LARGEST diameter self-winding movement in current production, and fills the case right to the edges.  To accommodate this Grand Canyon of watch movements, the sapphire crystal viewing window occupies virtually the entire surface of the back.

That’s a very good thing too, because this movement is so neat to examine in detail.  Unlike watch movements where most of the mechanism is hidden underneath the bridges, this one allows you to see the interaction of various components, most notably the famous IWC “Pellaton” auto-winding system with its cam and click pieces.  The IWC Pellaton movement is as enjoyable to hear as it is to behold: placing the IWC Portuguese Automatic watch close to your ear lets you enjoy the exacting sounds of finely-tuned machinery in concert with the precise ticking of a screw-adjustable balance wheel.

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Guy Laliberte is the coolest artist that you’ve probably never heard of…

This French Canadian grew up in Quebec City – and knew at an early age that he wanted to be a performer. As a young man he did what most parents dread -  dropped out of college – started hanging out with street performers – and went to Europe and mastered the art of fire breathing.

I’m sure his parents were thrilled..

With a dream, and a good friend in Gilles St-Croix – the two friends started a summer faire which included performers such as stilt-walkers and acrobats. Within a few years – they were making a little money – as well as a name for themselves. That name was “Le Fete Foraine”.

The new found attention attracted the government of Quebec to endow them with 1.5 million dollars to produce a show to celebrate Quebec’s 450th anniversary. The two were so energized that they changed the name of thier show to “Le Grand Tour du Cirque du Soleil” and they have never looked back.

I’m sure his parents are NOW saying “We knew all along that the fire breathing would pay off…” (Take note all you parents of artsy fartsy kids)

So what does this avant garde former street performer turned “Entrepreneur of the Year” wear on his wrist?

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Grand Complication  watch – Arguably one of the coolest watches on the planet for one of the coolest artists on the planet….

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To those searching out an uncompromising luxury timepiece to take the summer heat and activity, I’d say “consider the Blancpain Leman Aqua Lung Grande Date.”  What makes this particular Blancpain watch so great as a summer companion is its long list of talents–the Aqua Lung watch is versatile (laid back enough for shorts and sandals, yet dressy enough to wear to a fine restaurant), it boasts the superlative degree of finish which has made Blancpain a watchword amongst connoisseurs, and on top of everything–it’s very solidly built, and water resistant to 100 meters.

I’ve long found the Leman Aqua Lung watch to be one of Blancpain’s most appealing all round offerings, because it gives me everything I enjoy in one tidy package.  I can look through the exhibition back to take in the finely decorated Frederic Piguet automatic movement when I want to appreciate some very fine watchmaking skill, or take a minute to admire the tidy workmanship of the case or dial.  I’m also a big fan of the durable screw-down crown, the strong sapphire crystal, and the resilient leather strap; the fact that I can wear the watch doing almost anything I enjoy doing–and not fret too much about my timepiece’s well being in the process–gives me a sense that the Blancpain Aqua Lung is not just a luxury object, but a companion for my life.  This adds volumes to the intangible sense of value, something that is undeniably important when purchasing a watch of this quality level.

On a technical level, the Blancpain Leman Aqua Lung Grande Date watch has a couple of features that are particularly endearing and useful in everyday life.  One of these is the extremely legible date display, which relies upon a particularly sophisticated mechanism developed in-house by Blancpain.  The other is the movement’s long-lasting 70-hour power reserve, which enables you to put the watch aside (if, say, you wish to wear something else for a change of pace) and pick it up a couple days later, still running and keeping time like a champ.

Come to think of it, the Blancpain Leman Aqua Lung is the sort of fine timepiece that is fantastic all year round!

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Amidst a veritable sea of fine timepieces, the Corum Ti Bridge watch stood out as one of the coolest novelties at the Baselworld 2009 exhibition.  A sort of 21st century variation upon Corum’s legendary Golden Bridge theme, the Ti Bridge radiates all the watchmaking brilliance of that creation, while giving us a new statement of modern design that is better suited for daily wear.

What exactly do I mean by that?  Well, while the Corum Golden Bridge watch in its various guises is extraordinarily lovely, it also has a delicate and formal appearance–rather like a lovely museum exhibit.  While absolutely superb for formal wear or special occasions, pulling the Golden Bridge off as an everyday watch might be quite the challenge for all but the dandiest dressers.  Corum’s new Ti Bridge watch, on the other hand, showcases a fantastic new titanium case that is super stylish, beautifully finished and most importantly–versatile.  It looks great on the wrist regardless of attire, and draws attention right where it belongs: the amazing C0 007 handwound movement!

Speaking of the Ti Bridge movement, it’s worth making just a couple of brief comments on its origins and visual presence.  While Corum has clearly drawn inspiration from the legendary baton caliber in its Golden Bridge (a brainchild of famed watchmaker Vincent Calabrese) the new caliber presents its own unique constructive and technical features.  It reminds me of the skeleton within a grand skyscraper with its quartet of finely beveled V-shaped supplementary bridges, none of which obstruct the fascinating straight-line layout of the gear train.  Despite the deceptive simplicity and minimalistic beauty of this mechanical gem, Corum managed to achieve an impressive power reserve of 72 hours.

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Precious red coral has been incorporated in jewelry designs for thousands of years, dating back to ancient Egyptian crafts.  This striking substance displays a range of vibrant red and pink hues.

Among the most coveted varieties of coral is “Angelskin,” a pale milky pink variation which is particularly entrancing.  Like its oceanic cousin, Pearl, Angelskin coral is an enchanting gemstone with a delicate radiance.

Making use of both Angelskin coral and the more common red coral, jewelry designer Gurhan Orhan breathes new life into this material by incorporating it into his incomprable 24k gold designs.  The natural sheen of coral is perfectly matched by the unadulterated richness of 24k gold.  The purity of these organic material imparts an earthy quality which is enhanced by Gurhan’s metalworking techniques.  The overall effect is a magical synthesis of terra and mortal which is both primal and essential.

Harper’s Bazaar features a pair of these Gurhan coral ring designs in their August issue.  The “Rouge and Rose” collage highlights the feminie nature of this jewelry, and once again proves that Gurhan is one of the most brilliant and talented modern jewelry designers.

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Many people will argue that Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in Soccer today.

What you couldn’t argue -  is that he currently is the highest paid player in soccer. Cristiano is currently under contract with Real Madrid and his deal is worth somewhere in the range of 120 million dollars.

This wasn’t his first big payday either. He received his first contact from Manchester United in 2003 at the tender age of 18. That contract at the time was worth approximately 20 million. The short of it is – the kid has some buying power. This week he is featured in MARCA magazine wearing a Corum Admiral’s Cup Diamond watch. At least he has good taste in watches…

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When i think of Dita von Teese, words like avant garde, provocotive and racy come to mind. Dita has classic style and grace that draws attention to her wherever she goes. She is a burlesque dancer, but calling her that just seems a little….insulting.

She has a classic throwback style about her – but her look ins’t cheap.  Dita Von Teese is the modern day Betty Page who has completely assimilated into modern day society culture..

When you see her at fashion week, she is either in the front row of the show or walking the catwalk commanding huge paydays…something Betty Page could never accomplish in her era. Her style is hautely fashionable and exacting – she always looks the way she wants you see her.

So if someone asked me to guess which kind of watch she wears, I might guess Chopard, de GRISOGONO, or Harry Winston..

So I was really surprised to find this picture of her wearing a Tag Heuer Link…

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For Swiss watch brand Milus, its the exciting TriRetrograde models that get the lion’s share of the attention in the watch press.  So much so, in fact, that one might forget that the brand offers a number of other extremely classy timepieces for both men and women.

As an example, ladies seeking out slim, totally feminine and very stylish jewelry watch would do well to have a look at the lovely Eridana collection.  As much an elegant bracelet as it is a watch, the Milus Eridana watches combine superb ergonomic comfort with a fine degree of goldsmithing and gem-setting.  The small rectangular dials with their minimalistic look hearken back to a bygone time when ladies watches were sharply distinct from those worn by the gents.

Various degrees of diamond setting allow each Milus customer to obtain an expression of traditionally feminine luxury that is just right for her own personal tastes.  I will say, however, that the full pave diamond set Eridana watch in 18K white gold is particularly ravishing–those ample surfaces make a perfect canvas for a field of round brilliant diamonds! However, the various models with two rows of brilliants are fantastic too, because then the focus becomes the captivating texture of finely brushed 18-karat gold or stainless steel.  These more subtle Eridana timepieces also have the versatility to accompany any clothing, from casually hip to formal evening attire.

Ladies in love with the Eridana, but seeking the ultimate in exclusivity, will certainly find the haute joaillerie versions most captivating of all.  These works of art from Milus combine precious metal, diamonds, pearls, and even enamel to produce exceptional creations of high luxury.

Will Ferrell has been a staple in comedic Hollywood for a number of years now.

He was born and raised in Irvine California, a safe southern California suburb which Ferrell says helped him develop his keen sense of humor – mainly because Irving was such a boring place to to live.

After graduating from college at USC, he took a gig with a local comedy troupe in LA – A job he quickly parlayed into a spot on Saturday Night Live where Ferrell came into his own.

After seven seasons with SNL Ferrell graduated to the big screen starring in massive hits such as Elf, Old School, Anchorman, The Wedding Crashers, and Talledega Nights commanding up to 20 million dollars a film.

So what does this one of the world’s highest paid comedians wear on his wrist when he hits the red carpet? An IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph of course…

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