All posts in July 2011

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Replica was created along these lines. British officers in India needed a watch with crystal that could withstand their frequent energetic games of Polo, and JLC co-founders Jacques-David LeCoultre and Edmond Jaeger dreamed up the answer. The Reverso allowed its wearer to conceal the delicate crystal by swivelling it out of sight, and out of harm’s way, within the case.

Legendary Dutch Post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh once said, ‘I dream my painting, and then I paint my dream.’ This is a sentiment that a lot of great watchmakers could undoubtably relate to. Many a groundbreaking timepiece has started as a dream, an idea to meet a need, before the watchmaker put their skills and passion to practice to create an exceptional timepiece.

Today, this innovative swiss best replica watch is considered a classic in the Jaeger-LeCoultre mens replica collection, and what better way to honour a visionary artist than with a visionary watch. The Jaeger-LeCoultre replica has partnered with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam to create the Reverso à Eclipse, tribute to Vincent van Gogh.

The watch features an exceptionally detailed enamelled miniature of Self-Portrait as a Painter, one of van Gogh’s most famous pieces, painted by the skilled enamelling artists at Jaeger-LeCoultre replica. The picture can be hidden and revealed buy a simple opening of the watch’s shutters. The case is made from platinum, and powering the watch is the experly engineered in-house calibre 849.

Not surprisingly, only four models of this piece of horological piece of art will be made—although it will be available to be admired, along with the great artist’s work, at the Van Gogh Museum.

Today I’m taking a close look at a watch that changed an industry, and can be largely held responsible for the ‘big watch trend’ that’s dominated design since its release a decade ago.Could the Hublot Big Bang replica watch please stand up?

Even though Hublot replica watch have released what seems like thousands of subsequent Bangs in every conceivable colour, flavour and material the original is still in their catalogues, and still a strong performer.

The Hublot Big Bang replica watch is all about the case. The complex construction, incorporating traditional and modern techniques and materials embodies ‘the art of fusion’ – a philosophy at the centre of the brand’s identity. In 2005 the combination of steel, ceramic and rubber was novel, but in the subsequent decade the rest of the industry has caught up with Hublot’s trend-setting ways. Still, the 44mm case holds up well, and is a pleasure to wear.
Fusion is about more than just unconventional material hybrids as the Big Bang replica watch demonstrates a stylistic fusion too; the traditional tropes of luxury sports watch design are partnered with a far more industrial aesthetic – heavy knurling on the bezel edge and exposed screws really works. It might sound like something cribbed from a press release but to appreciate the Big Bang replica watch you really do need to understand the importance played by the concept of fusion in their design process. The interplay of materials and textures is key to this watch’s appeal and what makes it so fun to wear.

The use of unconventional materials continues on the Hublot Big Bang replica watch’s dial with woven carbon fibre providing a texture that contrasts well with the mirror-like finish of the ceramic bezel. Happily, for all their fusion, Hublot replica watch haven’t confused the fact that the prime purpose of a watch is to tell the time. The dial is supremely legible – with broad luminova-filled hands, big rhodium-plated indices and unobtrusive printed subdials. I really loved the numerals and indices; they pick up on the industrial sensibilities that run through the watch. Each applied marker is cut-through with a machined groove, but while the groove itself is polished, the rest of the marker is brushed.
The rubber strap is an integral part of the Big Bang replica watch’s identity, grounding the luxury watch in practicality – and even here, Hublot have managed to inject personality. The diamond tread-like pattern is distinctive and almost aggressive. Certainly not boring. Visually the hooded lugs conceal the point where strap meets case, adding to the impression of a seamless whole. The strap is secured by a single fold deployant with a characteristically big and chunky buckle. While it’s solid and secure, I must admit I found the lines a little too sharply machined to be comfortable.