Month: September 2013

On October 25, 2016, as early as October 24, 1994, the Saxony precision watch brand Lange launched a series of watches, including the well-known LANGE 1 series. It is no accident that Lange chose to release new works today. This day is reminiscent of 22 years ago when the first Lange series was displayed at the Dresden Palace. This limited edition of 100 watches also shows a vague detail: in the rotating city circle, Central European time is represented by Dresden.

  The event was located in the Shanghai Museum of Glass. Nearly a hundred media from all over the country participated in this event. The words ‘NEVER STAND STILL’ outside the main venue of the conference came from Mr. Walter Lange.

The bar is also ingeniously designed into the shape of a world time dial and marked with different time zones.

Lange History and Culture Wall.

LANGE 1 TIME ZONE special edition real shot.

LANGE 1 TIME ZONE Special Edition official map.

Differences in the new LANGE 1 TIME ZONE
  The special edition of LANGE 1 TIME ZONE, which was grandly released this time, is made of 18K honey-colored gold, a special material developed by the Lange brand. This precious material is stronger than other gold alloys. Since 2005, LANGE 1 TIME ZONE has become one of the most popular models in the LANGE 1 series. The well-organized dial structure makes the home time and the second time clear at a glance. The wearer can set the time zone through the button on the side of the case, and the city circle with 24 place names will rotate clockwise. In this special edition, Central European time on the city circle is marked by Dresden, rather than Berlin in the standard model. In addition, every time the button is pressed, the hour hand on the sub-dial also moves clockwise. The wearer can also transfer the regional time on the sub dial to the main dial through a subtle synchronization device.
  Another difference from the standard style is the subtle color shift in the urban area. The dot between the city name and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) changed from red to blue; the outer circle of the second time zone also changed from black to blue.
  The new case is made of 18K honey-colored gold and has a diameter of 41.9 mm. This precious material is stronger than other gold alloys. The beautifully decorated watch factory-made L031.1 movement is double-assembled and provides a power reserve of up to three days. LANGE 1 TIME ZONE Special Edition is limited to 100 pieces and is only available at 17 Lange stores.
Explore on travel, create on inspiration

Adolf Lange’s travel map.

  This time Langete invited the National Tourism Administration of Germany to recommend travel destinations in Germany: including 25 places of classical inspiration and 25 places of modern inspiration, showing Germany’s achievements in classical culture and arts science and modern industrial arts .
  15-year-old Ferdinando Adolf Lange learned from the then-famous watchmaker Gut Cases, and after seven years of professional training, he became a brilliant student and completed his studies with excellent grades. Encouraged by the master Gut Case, Adolf Lange left Dresden in 1837 to explore the world of watchmaking through travel. His first trip was to Paris, France. There he worked as a foreman at the watchmaker’s watch factory, where he studied advanced watchmaking skills with several Parisian watchmakers and studied astronomy and physics at Sorbonne University. Three years later, Adolf Lange went to Switzerland to continue his studies, eventually returning to his hometown of Dresden in 1841. The wealth of knowledge, experience, craftsmanship and creative inspiration learned and gained over the years helped Adolf Lange set up a watchmaking factory in 1845, laying the foundation stone for the watchmaking industry in Saxony. From this, Lange is convinced that ‘the world is to be explored through travel, to constantly learn and comprehend, to be created by inspiration, to contribute and shape a beautiful world’, which is the value of travel.
  
 Summary: The Lange 1 TIME ZONE special edition watch released by Lange this time adds a new design element to the previous standard version and reuses the special material of honey gold, compared to the standard LANGE 1 TIME The price of the ZONE rose gold model is 374,000, and the price of the standard version of the LANGE 1 TIME ZONE platinum model is 500,000, and there is a very memorable watch selection. This limited edition of 100 pieces in the world is priced at 460,000 yuan. Currently Only two arrived in China.

After the end of World War II, civil and commercial aviation ushered in the golden age of development, and some watchmakers also benefited from the peaceful years. Breitling was one of them. Since its establishment in 1884, Breitling has established a close relationship with the aviation world. The flying wings on both sides of the brand logo letter B are the most appropriate symbol. In the 1930s, Breitling was the main supplier of watches for the Royal Air Force. In addition, the brand’s precision timepiece manufacturing has a long-standing reputation, including the world’s first chronograph watch with a separate button (1915). Later, more inventions came one after another. The stop / start and reset-to-zero functions were separated. The dual independent button design laid the foundation for modern chronograph watches.

Boeing 314 airliner

Pilot’s watch in history
   Of course, Breitling’s inventions don’t stop there. In 1942, the brand introduced Chronomat, the first chronograph with a circular flying ruler (the English word ‘chronograph’ for chronograph and ‘mathematics’ for mathematics). At that time, electronic instruments had not yet been invented, and a watch that could be used to perform flight distance, average speed, and fuel consumption calculations to make a flight plan was a major technological breakthrough. Ten years later, Chronomat evolved into Navitimer, which is the official watch of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). The production of ancient chronograph watches continues to this day. At the same time, Breitling also won the title of ‘official supplier to world aviation’.

Breitling Aviation Chronograph, produced in the late 1960s

Breitling Aviation Chronograph, 46 mm, produced in 2014

   In the good times of aviation watches, another manufacturer who had to mention was Rolex. In 1954, Grand Crown launched GMT-Master … debuting in the third James Bond series, ‘Golden Finger’, also earned it the nickname of ‘Pussy Galore’. Rolex also designed a pilot watch for Pan Am, the world’s largest airline at the time, with dual time zones. It is based on the Turn-O-Graph and was the first Rolex watch with a rotating bezel, produced in 1953. The movement of GMT-Master has been improved, and the second time zone has 24-hour and date display functions. In 2014, Rolex presented a new version of the GMT-Master II watch with a patented two-tone Cerachrom ring. The legend continues.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master watch, produced in the late 1950s

Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II watch, produced in 2014

Military pilot watch
   Following the trail of civil aviation, the popularity of military aviation has not diminished, and the development of fighter jets has changed with each passing day and has become more powerful. In 1953, the original North American Airlines developed the F-100 Super Sabre Fighter, the first generation of supersonic jet fighters in the United States, which can climb to an altitude of 46,000 meters and achieve supersonic level flight at a speed of 863 mph. A few years later, the Phantom 3 became the first fighter in Europe to fly at a speed of more than Mach 2 (1,500 mph). Watchmakers continue to accept orders from the Air Forces of various countries to supply them with assembly and escort. The French Ministry of Defence turned to Breguet, Auricoste, Dodane and Vixa for a flyback chronograph, and the technical specifications are more systematic: the dial must be set to black with a fluorescent digital time scale, with a daily error of ± 8 seconds, and at least 35 hours Storage and case diameter and thickness are 39 mm and 14 mm, respectively. In 1960, Breguet designed the famous first-generation Type XX watch for the French Navy aviation. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary, Breguet launched the Type XXII flyback chronograph, equipped with a silicon escapement, vibrating up to 10 Hz (72,000 times / hour) and accurate to 1/20 of a second.

Breguet Type XX flyback chronograph, produced in the late 1970s

Breguet Type XXII flyback chronograph, produced in 2010

   Jaeger-LeCoultre Mark XI, delivered to the Royal Air Force in 1948, was well received, but unlike Breguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre did not seem to have the intention of anniversary. Omega customized 6B / 159 for the Royal Air Force during World War II and now prefers to associate its name with the conquest of space. IWC created the brand’s first pilot watch in 1936, and responded differently to the Royal Air Force’s solicitation. ‘Since 1940, Schaffhausen IWC began to design and produce 52 TS C that meets navigation and reconnaissance requirements in accordance with military specifications. The large pilot watch, which is also the largest watch manufactured by IWC. The dial design refers to the aircraft instruments of the time, and the layout is reasonable, the arrangement is clear, and the design is extremely simple. The appearance of the aircraft instruments also became the source of inspiration for the Mark 11 that was produced in 1948. 11 is IWC’s most famous pilot watch, originally designed for the Royal Air Force and serving for up to 30 years. ”In 2012, with the release of the Top Gun Navy Air Force Perpetual Calendar Watch, Schaffhausen IWC once again turned the spotlight on This unique series was approved.

IWC Mark XI watch, produced in 1951

IWC Top Gun Navy Air Combat Force Perpetual Calendar Watch, produced in 2012

   The practical needs of aviation development and the ingenuity of watchmakers gave birth to pilot watches with precise timing, complete functions, ruggedness and recognizability. What about today? Electronics control the cockpit, and mechanical pilot watches are downgraded from indispensable to spare tires. What is the function of diving watches today? Wear when doing housework and washing dishes. Similarly, pilot watches are no longer a necessity for those chartered on vacation to sunbathe. However, style lasts forever! The watchmaking art that reminds us of the pioneering spirit of the past is forever! Aviation travels the world, but this is a wonderful journey to explore the inner world.
Pilot’s Watch Adventure (Part 1)
Pilot’s Watch Adventure (middle)

Usain Bolt, the fastest sprinter on the planet, has an unparalleled track and field legend; he holds 8 Olympic gold medals and 11 world championships. Now the world champion visits Hublot Kyoto as the Hublot brand ambassador. The exclusive store witnesses the glorious unveiling of a new milestone for the top Swiss watchmaking brand in Japan.

   I am honored to unveil the new Hublot exclusive store in Kyoto, Japan’s most prestigious ancient capital. I am also glad to join hands with our friend Usain Bolt to witness this glorious moment. Hublot looks to the future and continues to push the boundaries of traditional design and watchmaking, all from a deep understanding of history. Let’s enjoy Hublot’s explosive energy in Kyoto! Hublot Global CEO Ricardo Guadalupe
   I am very happy to be in Japan again to celebrate the birth of Hublot Kyoto. Best wishes to Hublot for a better future in Kyoto! Hublot Brand Ambassador Usain Bolt
   The unique architecture of the Hublot Kyoto store is a creative interpretation of the traditional Japanese style of the mid-Edo period—Kyomachiya. Hublot is constantly evolving in the traditional watchmaking field under the guidance of the brand concept ‘Art of Convergence’, creating new cultural values. The new fusion between Kyoto and Hublot is perfectly displayed in Gion Street View Room. Hublot also pledged to donate 1.5 million yen to the Gion-South Regional Council to jointly maintain the historical and cultural sites in Gion and protect and inherit Japanese traditional culture.

Hublot Kyoto store is located in Kyomachiya, a traditional Japanese style in the middle of the Edo period.

Hublot’s Kyoto store is uniquely designed to incorporate the essence of the brand into Kyoto’s traditional space.

The design of Hublot’s Kyoto store embodies Hublot’s ‘art of fusion’ concept.
   Usain Bolt also enthusiastically participated in the mirror opening ceremony that blessed the opening of the new store, using special mallets to knock on specially designed sake barrels, symbolizing happiness and good luck. The local children of Kyoto also participated in charity races with Usain Bolt, challenging Usain Bolt’s amazing 9.58-second 100-meter record, and successfully challenged Hublot to provide donations of 500,000 yen. In the witness of Kyoto Mabuki, Usain Bolt gave the children Teach the racing tips, although the children did their best to sprint, they eventually failed to break the track and field legendary record. In order to encourage children’s courage, Hublot Global CEO Ricardo Guadalupe decided to donate 500,000 yen.

Usain Bolt and Hublot Global CEO Ricardo Guadalupe enthusiastically participated in the mirror opening ceremony that blessed the opening of the new store, using special mallets to knock on specially designed sake barrels, symbolizing happiness and good luck.
   In addition to the opening event of joy and enthusiasm, Hublot Kyoto store also prepared exquisite fans specially designed by Miyawaki for sale, as a gift. The first Hublot Japanese-style tea room is also presented here. The black ‘tatami’ printed with the brand’s logo gives a sense of tranquility. The spacious and comfortable VIP lounge is equipped with a custom sofa decorated with Kyoto brocade. The unique style will The essence of the brand is integrated into the traditional space of Kyoto.

Local children in Kyoto also participated in charity races with Usain Bolt.