One of the many things I admire about Piaget, is their willingness and ability to create bespoke or unique creations for their often very elite client base.  One Piaget story I’ve never forgotten involved a sheik who wanted not a single custom watch, but 32 of them—one for each for the same number of ladies in his harem!  Each lady had a different (custom, of course) wallpaper pattern in her room at the palace, and this is what the Piaget designers ended up using as the basis of this amazing order!  If you, too, desire a unique Piaget watch, consider the gorgeous “Fingerprint Motif” Altiplano watch.

As its name implies, the swirling diamond dial of this Piaget timepiece is created by using the whorls of a fingerprint as a model.  Supply Piaget with your own, and they will create for you a ravishing pave diamond dial that truly lives up to the oft-misused word “unique”.  Once it’s completed, you will possess a classically elegant diamond dress watch that stands out from any other on the planet–and be sure here, even in so-called “standard” guise, the Piaget Altiplano is an exclusive timepiece that you need not worry about finding multiple copies of in the crowd.  Celebrities and world figures have taken note of the Piaget Altiplano Fingerprint watch, too: Hip-hop star Ludacris had one made up for a charity event related to helping runaway kids, and Prince Albert II of Monaco’s print went to made up another example that sold at the 2007 Only Watch Auction to raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy research.  It goes without saying that ladies can obtain their own version, and for them, a charming matching pendant can be created as well.

If you’re curious as to what kind of a movement runs the elegant time-only display of the Piaget Altiplano Fingerprint Motif watch, I want to reassure you that it’s not a nameless battery-powered quartz trifle.  This one, designated the Piaget 430P, has serious horological substance, being beautifully refined and just 2.1mm in height, making it one of the world’s slimmest mechanical calibers.  As with all Piaget movements, this hand-wound supermodel is produced and assembled in the brand’s own manufacture.

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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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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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The Roger Dubuis EasyDiver Chronograph has certainly been one of most popular timepieces within the brand’s so-called S.A.W. (”Sports Activity Watch”) collection–and for good reason.  Few watches manage as well as the EasyDiver does to hit that sweet spot between really outstanding luxury, stylish design, and sophisticated watchmaking.  It’s a potent combination, and Roger Dubuis has succeeded in creating a contemporary haute horlogerie icon that works equally well in casually elegant or more formal situations–at least for those
who prefer a wristwatch with some attitude!

As with all Roger Dubuis models, the EasyDiver Chronograph is extremely limited in production per dial variation.  As an example, the 46mm rose gold version pictured here will be made in edition of just 28 pieces.  While some might say this is nothing but marketing razzle-dazzle, there’s no question that it keeps your watch from ending up on to many other people’s arm–a good thing when you are spending the sort of money that this Roger Dubuis chronograph costs.  An exclusive feeling is just one benefit a great watch can impart to its owner, and this one delivers that intangible very well.

One significant difference between the current Roger Dubuis EasyDiver chronograph and the versions which appeared several years ago, is the movement.  Unlike earlier models which relied upon a manually wound movement, the current EasyDiver Chronograph (”ChronoExcel”) uses Roger Dubuis’ new self-winding chronograph caliber–the RD 78.  Turn the watch over and you can admire this refined example of high-end horology.  As is the case with all top-grade chronographs, the combination of intricate mechanics and refined finishing offers the eye lots to admire.  The all-important column wheel–an indispensable element in a high-end chronograph movement–is protected beneath a polished cover, a nice touch you don’t see very often.  Two particularly interesting features of the RD 78 caliber are the strikingly shaped arched bridge for the balance wheel, and a micro-rotor.  This latter element is given real prominence thanks to a pierced and relieved area that keeps the action visible.  Between the finely finished chronograph levers, the rapidly pulsating balance and this little rotor spinning on its large jewel, you have quite a stunning example of the watchmaking craft.

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For haute horlogerie fans seeking an exquisite tourbillon wristwatch not likely to be spotted on anyone else, the exceptional creations of Bovet Fleurier have provided all that can be desired.  However, up until recently, Breguet’s famous whirlwind complication was restricted to the supremely elegant Fleurier case design.  Those seeking a Bovet tourbillon with a more casual degree of refinement have had to bide their time. That time has arrived, and the Sportster Saguaro Tourbillon 7-Day is the Bovet you’ve been waiting for.

Simply put, these are impressive, artistic timepieces that make a very potent statement.  Let’s not mince words–they are large: the “small” version is 45mm, and if you prefer something even more impressive, there’s a 51mm version which Bovet is offering as well.  Call me carpally challenged if you like, but the 45mm Sportster Saguaro Tourbillon is my preference, largely because I feel the movement has better balance in the smaller case.  However, this swashbuckling Bovet tourbillon is magnificent in either interpretation, rife with all the impeccable artistry which has made Bovet a watchword in high-end horology over the last few years.

The aesthetic concept merges sport with classicism in provocative and surprising ways.  For instance, there’s the very artistic openworked dial with scrolling floral patterns paired up with luminous indices and red skeletonized hands.  Then you have the ruggedly constructed case with a screw-down winding crown (and 300M of water resistance), united with a supremely dressy strap in the finest crocodile leather.  While some might find these seeming contradictions odd, I think the Bovet Sportster Saguaro Tourbillon 7-Day succeeds very well as a watchmaking showpiece of distinction.  With its bold non-imitative design, hand-crafted Bovet Fleurier movement, and unquestioned exclusivity, it will make a fantastic addition to the well-diversified collection of a serious connoisseur.

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