Hublot Official Timekeeper Copa del Rey

I am studing sales, marketing & communication and I found this interesting article about the marketing choices of Hublot. They were the official timekeeper of the 29th Copa del Rey sail competition. 

Early August saw the Hublot brand navigating through the royal waters of Palma de Mallorca. The scene was set for a memorable 29th Copa del Rey (King's Cup) competition: 90 yachts from all categories took to the starting line throughout the week. The sporting calibre of the teams was unprecedented and the weather conditions brought a touch of unpredictability to the event, with constant, sudden changes in the wind. It was a true test for the sailors from all over the globe, for whom this represents the most prestigious and competitive event in the Mediterranean. With the participation of yachts such as the TP52s Matador, Cristabella and Bribon, as well as Mini-Maxis Alegre, Container and Ran, along with Prince Felipe of Spain's own IRC 52 CAM, the Copa del Rey attracts many spectators each year to the event held on the stunning Balearic island. Guests were invited to stylish evening events on the terraces of the Real Club Nautico, to mingle, take in the enchanting summer ambiance and enjoy the musical accompaniment.

The winners in each category - the owners of the Matador, Ran, Rats on Fire, Tanit IV and Lelagain yachts - were presented with a magnificent Hublot chronograph by King Juan Carlos of Spain during a prizegiving ceremony held in front of the breathtaking cathedral of Palma de Mallorca (watchquote, 2010).

New Rolex Watchwinders

Last Christmas Rolex released a new watchwinder. Not many people know about it, because there wasn't an official press release. The winder is made by Swiss Kubik. There are two versions of the watchwinder. One is in Rolex green leather and the other one is in Rolex green but in Jubilee style ROLEXROLEXROLEX, which is also used in Rolex latest advertising campaign.

The winders are not programmable and pre-set for optimum Rolex watch winding. However there are some discussions on forums about the optimum watch winding. Some people are saying the winder rotates in a single direction only. This is not what Rolex require for their watches. They require 650 turns per day in both Clockwise & Counter Clockwise directions. A Rolex trained watchmaker said that the fact of the winder rotating in a single direction only is a serious flaw in the winders design. The winding in one direction will cause undue wear on the watch’s winding mechanism. He was shocked to discover this. Maby there are different versions? I would say: A big company like Rolex has not made this winder in collaboration with SwissKubik without doing research, so I have my doubts about these discussions!

I like the winder with the jubilee style more, because you don't see this kind of design very often. I already liked the watchwinder brands Scatola del Tempo and Swiss Kubik. I would choose between these two brands when im planning to buy one. I would say: this watchwinder a must have for the Rolex collector!

Written by: Tobias. S

Inauguration of the A. Lange & Söhne Park in Glashütte

I was surfing on the internet and found this interesting press article about the inauguration of the A. Lange & Söhne park in Glashütte. Enjoy it!

The unveiling of a monument to Ferdinand A. Lange by 15 apprentices of the company’s own watchmaker school was the highlight of a ceremony at which Lange Uhren GmbH inaugurated the A. Lange & Söhne Park in Glashütte on 15 July. With this, the company pays tribute to the founder of Germany’s fine watchmaking industry, who opened the first watchmaker workshop in the region in 1845 with 15 apprentices.

Also among the more than one hundred guests was his great grandson Walter Lange, who has carried on the family tradition since reunification, as well as the Vice President of the Saxon State Parliament, Andrea Dombois. In her word of welcome she honoured the social involvement of the company which is expressed in so many ways, even beyond the creation of highly qualified jobs. A current example is the tourist guide system for Glashütte, recently initiated by Lange, which guides visitors to the sights of the city.

The more than 3,000 square metre park was designed by the landscape architects Michael Wolf and Dirk Radzanowski from Penig in Saxony, and built by the company Grünkonzept from Bannewitz near Dresden. The bronze bust of Ferdinand A. Lange is the work of the Swiss sculptor, Beat Künzler. A musical setting at the ceremony was provided by the American mezzo-soprano Emily Righter and the Italian baritone Andrè Schuen. Both are stipendiaries of the “Young Singers Project” of the Salzburg Festival, with which the company maintains a close partnership.

This coming Sunday, visitors who come to the city of Glashütte can be the first to discover a new park abound with roses, hedges, ornamentals, and grasses. On the occasion of the summer festival organised by the Sächsische Zeitung, A. Lange & Söhne is opening the doors to its manufactory and inviting the public to get acquainted with precision watchmaking in many different ways. The planned ascents in a tethered balloon are likely to be very popular: they offer a totally new outlook on Glashütte as a hub of horology (A. Lange & Söhne, 2010).

Zenith launches limited edition in HK

The new CEO of Zenith, Jean-Frederic Dufour, hosted a launch event in Hong Kong. Zenith presented a new limited editon watch to the press. The new limited edition is called the Christopher Columb. Its named after the famous world explorer Christopher Columbus. It is a beautiful watch, the dial is classic and reminds people to the roots of Zenith and the front and backside of the case are sapphire glass. The design is spectacular because of the curve in the glass at the front side and the backside. The diameter of the watch is 45mm and it is available in 18crt white or rose gold. The movement is the manual wind Zenith Academy 8804 with a unique gyroscopic system that ensures perfect horizontal positioning of the regulating organ housed in a gyroscopic cage made of 166 components.

Personally I think Zenith will win their lost collectors over the years again because this watch is part of the back to the roots strategy. People who loved Zenith, because of their lovely El Primero watches and their classic looks. I would say, Zenith is back in business again!! Here are some beautiful pictures and the technical specifications.

TECHNICAL DATA
References
18.2210.8804/01.C631 (Rose gold)
65.2210.8804/01.C630 (White gold)

Movement
-Academy 8804, Manual
-Unique Gyroscopic system that ensures perfect horizontal positioning of the regulating organ
-Gyroscopic cage made of 166 components, 10 conical-geared wheels (with 6 spherical wheels) & 6 ball bearings
Jewels: 45
Frequency: 36’000 V/h – (5 Hz)
Power reserve: 50 hours

Functions
-Hours and minutes excentered at 12 o’clock
-Self-regulating gyroscopic module at 6 o’clock
-Small second display at 9 o’clock
-Power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock

Case, dial & Hands
Material: 18-carat Rose or White Gold
Diameter: 45 mm
Crystal and Case-back: Box-form sapphire glass with anti-reflection treatment on both sides with excrescent domes that cover gyroscopic module
Water-resistance: 30 ATM
Dial: Silver rounded “Grain d’Orges” Guilloché with straighted “Clou de Paris" on the small second counter
Indexes & Numerals: Black laquered
Hands: blued stainless steel

Strap & Buckle
Strap: Black crocodile leather strap
Buckle: 18-carat gold triple folding buckle

Written by: Tobias. S

Anonimo Firenze, another Italian master creator!

In 1972 Dino Zei made his step from the marines to the luxury market. He becomes director of “Guido Panerai e Figlio”, a company which produced top secret projects for the Italian marine. 25 years later he was one of the starters behind Anonimo, an extravagant Italian brand which connect Zei’s specialists from Firenze to the top of the luxury market. The vision of founder Federico Massacesi – former director Salvatore Ferragamo – and the expertise of Dino Zei resulted in limited series of handmade watches which made the big watch collectors thrilling!

Dino Zei’s career at the marine began in 1958. Zei was responsible for the weapon department of the marine, one of the best teams who made electronic- and weapon systems. Zei wasn’t only responsible for the production of weapons, he also custom made watches for the divers of the marine. These watches were much more specific then the watches who were already on the market.  “Time is definitely a dominant thing in the world of the marines” said Zei. Why is that we asked? The military living is always marked by time, all the activities are programmed and performed on a précised time schedule. So much attention to time might be looking obsessive for a person who isn’t an expert, but it is crucial for complex operations whose success depends on following operations which must connect perfectly!

The importance of a watch of high quality which is accurate, reliable and easy to read is not only important in the world of the marines. The luxury market also attaches great importance to these characteristics. That’s where Anonimo stands for!

The moment when Zei became responsible for the mysterious top secret department, the Panerai Company already worked together with the Italian Marine. “That was my chance to work together with Giuseppe Panerai during his last three years of live” said Zei. ‘After that period, which I talk about in my book (The PANERAI book by Dino Zei), I left the marines and began to work for Panerai. The continuity of the projects designed for the marine was assured by this career step.

Until 1997 the brand was known as Officine Panerai Firenze. This brand was bought by the Swiss Richemont Group (also known from Cartier, IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre), then the entire production of Officine Panerai moved to Switzerland. The production facilities and staff remained in Florence. Zei’s high tech expertise combined with the feeling for luxury of the flamboyant person Federico Massacesi resulted in 1997 in Anonimo. A new standard is set for solid, mens watches in limited circulation. Research, experiments and new features in design and technology are the characteristics of a collection which focuses only on man who go for the best. The typical Anonimo man likes beauty and cannot only allow the normal. They definitely go for the best, knows Zei. The choice of shops where we want to be is crucial.  Our watches, you find only in shops where they offer the best of the best is the vision of Zei.

Tom Cruise was recently spotted with an Anonimo San Marco on his wrist at a Lakers game. He isn’t the only celebrity with an Anonimo. Also Ivan Basso, Luca Toni, Hermann Maier, Oliver Kahn, Paul Stanley, George Hincapie, Eric Singer and Caroll Shelby are spotted with an Anonimo Firenze watch.

Nowadays Anonimo is an upcoming brand which stands for quality and passion. The watches are classy, rough and sporty. ‘I consider myself a lucky man’ Zei’s laughing. My family, a wife and sons, the operations I successfully completed. Always useful, effective and honest. I am a man who has made mistakes like everyone but I always wore the consequences.’  

Written by: Tobias. S