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Milus Heritage Snow Star “Life Barter Kit” Watch

admin — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:37:39 +0000

First of all, who is that little character on the back of this watch? It looks like a disco dancing Roman whose head is the Milus logo. I like that little guy. Why haven't I see it before? Oddly, it makes the watch suddenly a lot more charming. Actually, it is apparently the historic logo. Anyhow, I was waiting for Milus to release this watch after I heard the story behind its origin.

A few years ago Milus learned an extremely interesting and beneficial fact about their brand. Apparently, in WWII the US Navy put something called a "life barter kit" in navy planes. Especially those who saw duty during campaigns in the Pacific. The idea of the kit was to offer a few valuables that pilots could use to trade or sell if their plane got shot down and they needed help, information, or transportation. In the worst case scenario the kit could be used to barter for one's life in enemy territory.

The life barter kit was different than a survival kit (which was usually first aid, rescue, and food items). Inside the life barter kit were two gold rings, a gold pendant and chain, as well as a Swiss wrist watch. That wrist watch was a Milus Snow Star - and Milus didn't know about that in the modern era until a few years ago. So the idea that the US Navy decided a Milus watch was good enough to be exchanged for a human's life was darn excellent news. I wonder if a life barter kit was ever actually used.

For 2011 Milus has a great opportunity to recreate the Snow Star watch and the life barter kit, especially as heritage watches are so in. So they created two limited edition Heritage Snow Star watch sets - one in 18k red gold and the other in steel. Each watch comes with a little kit. The kit includes a pair of cufflinks, and a nylon NATO strap. I love the idea of wearing a watch like this on a NATO strap - so deliciously "yesterday."

The kit also include a pair of cuff links - which are different in the steel or gold models. The gold cufflinks are a bit more fancy. Actually, Milus usually offers neat cufflinks. If you recall I wrote about their Kama Sutra rotor cufflinks here. The gold cufflinks have one with a working compass, and one with a little storage box (you know for keeping a cyanide pill or some ecstasy). Each of them fold open with a motif of a plane and gold propeller on the outside. The slightly more simple steel cufflinks are a pair of compasses. Really nice little items.

The Heritage Snow Star watch is super retro with some interesting design element. Most of which are in the unique applied hour indicators. I just wanna see the watch on that NATO strap. The watch is 40mm wide with a sapphire crystal and a water resistance of 30 meters (so much for plane crashing in the water). Inside the watches are two movement options. The gold one has the more interesting movement being a NOS (new old stock) Swiss ETA 2408 manually wound movement with a power reserve of 36 hours. Milus sourced the older movements and totally restored them for use in these watches. The couldn't get that many so only the red gold models which are limited to 99 pieces have the 2408 in them. Both models indicator "instant date," which means that at midnight the date instantly changes versus slowly changing.

The Heritage Snow Star in steel a more modern Swiss ETA (not sure the reference, probably a Unitas or similar) hand-wound movement with 42 hours of power reserve). The steel mode is limited to 1,940 pieces. The gold model comes with a black alligator strap while the steel model comes with a black calfskin strap. The straps have quick release pins to make it easy to switch them out (I really appreciate that touch).

As heritage pieces these are fun and the story that goes along with them is priceless (especially for Milus). Not sure about prices but look for them to be available now or soon. I think all people need to call around life bartering kits by the way, what would be in yours?

See Milus watches on eBay here.

See Milus watches on Amazon here.

Milus Zetios NEW Stainless Big Date Brown Dial Watch

US $2,125.00

Milus Zetios NEW Stainless Steel Mens 42mm Watch

US $2,125.00

MILUS WATCHES ERIDANA JOAILLERIE WOMENS WATCH STEEL BLACK SATIN DIAMONDS ERI014

US $1,399.99

BN MILUS WATCHES ZETIOS AUTO CHRONOGRAPH MENS WATCH BROWN LEATHER STRAP ZETC005

US $3,747.99

MILUS WATCHES HERIOS TRIRETROGRADE AUTO MENS WATCH BLACK LEATHER STRAP HERT001

US $6,298.99

Milus Ladies MOP Dial White Leather Band Watch

US $650.00

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Milus Herios & Tirion TriRetrograde Watches Hands-On

admin — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:16:03 +0000

These are some sexy watches, with the most fun to watch useless complication that I know of - the ever enjoyable TriRetrograde seconds that Milus has made so popular. It takes the 60 second minute and breaks it up into three 20 second segments. Each has its own retrograde dial that circles the dial. One the little hand on the 1-20 second counter reaches 20, it jumps back to 1, and the adjacent retrograde seconds counters stars from 21 on to 40, and so on, and so forth. Like I said, it is a useless complication, but you'll most certainly enjoy watching it in action. A novelty that doesn't wear off soon.

The Herios is the square shaped watch, while the Tirion is the round watch. I am not going to go into a lot of details about the watches in terms of the movements or other details. I just wanna share with you a general overview of my impressions and what the watches are all about. The automatic mechanical TriRetrograde movements really put Milus back on the map. They first came out in the Herios watches that came in a series of fancy colors and intriguing square looks. Then other models started to come out when Milus realized how much people enjoys looking at the watch in operation. You have a lot of trendy skeletonization, but it works well and does not take over the movement. The Herios is more of a showy classy watch, while the Tirion models are pure sport. Please note that there are also other Milus watch models with the same style movement.

The Herios is a great, eye catching design. I wrote about the Milus Herios watch first here. The steel case is gently curved and while big, sits on the wrist well. The many strap options give it a lot of character, and the look of the dial is a wonderful combination between Art Deco and modern mechanical watch design. A fantastic timepiece of the "cleaned up type" who enjoys positive attention. The watch is also quite easy to read (but does not have lume).

Then you have the Tirion collection, which really blew me away. If I had the $10,000 - $20,000 that the watches cost, I would have totally gotten one. The case is so beautifully made. Tight, nice edges and seams. Graceful shapes, and a lightness that the titanium construction brings. You can see there are two versions here. One has rose gold with the titanium, and is proof enough that the combo of materials makes for a good marriage. Also, the high quality straps are well attached to the case.

The dials of the Milus Tirion TriRetrograde may appeal busy, but are actually welcome. They have a depth to them, and a feeling complexity that you want in such a watch. The large, lume covered light color hands contrast well with the dial making them easy to read. Plus, you have the interesting stacked numeral hour markers on the dial. The TriRetrograde dials have hands that look like pulled back bows with arrows. The movement is a pleasure to operate. Even doing little things like adjusting the date feels fun and new. The movement as seen through the sapphire caseback window is well decorated. Likely a base ETA with a module on it - though I am not sure about the movement at this second.

For me the Tirion in titanium and gold is a sweet spot between luxury, mechanical interest, sportiness, and a classy demeanor. If you've been looking at Milus watches from afar, and not sure what to think, you might want to take a closer look. I was much more impressed with the watches than I thought I would be, and you might be too. I got to check out these watches at the watch store Lussori in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.

See Milus watches on eBay here.

See Milus watches on Amazon here.

Milus Zetios NEW Stainless Big Date Brown Dial Watch

US $2,125.00

Milus Zetios NEW Stainless Steel Mens 42mm Watch

US $2,125.00

MILUS WATCHES ERIDANA JOAILLERIE WOMENS WATCH STEEL BLACK SATIN DIAMONDS ERI014

US $1,399.99

BN MILUS WATCHES ZETIOS AUTO CHRONOGRAPH MENS WATCH BROWN LEATHER STRAP ZETC005

US $3,747.99

MILUS WATCHES HERIOS TRIRETROGRADE AUTO MENS WATCH BLACK LEATHER STRAP HERT001

US $6,298.99

Milus Ladies MOP Dial White Leather Band Watch

US $650.00

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Milus Kama Sutra Butterfly Watch Themed Cufflinks With Rotors

admin — Sat, 23 May 2009 07:04:05 +0000

These cufflinks (cuff links? Space, no space?) might make you blush, but they are nice right? To me they combine a few thinks I like. Let's delay the obvious for now and focus on the awesome integration of the automatic rotors in the cufflinks. These are new 18k rose gold men's cufflinks from Milus, a Swiss watch maker who also dabbles in jewelry and accessories. Â These nice looking men's accessories here are called Kama Sutra Butterfly cufflinks and are made in a casting process to help reproduce the look of a watch movement, which is the point. The cufflinks feature beautiful real rotating rotors (which wind nothing) that attached like normal rotors with a ball bearing mount. The casted gold has perlage polish and the look of a real movement engraved in the design. How cool! I've seen cufflinks similar to this, but none as well done. I imagine price will be up there.

Aside from the brand name on the cufflink, you have the red and black motif of a butterfly, which is sorta feminine, but in masculine colors. It is applied by hand using an enamel champleve technique. When you take the image with the who execution of the watch, it makes sense. Which leads me to the blue enamel image on the rotors themselves. These display a couple in the Kama Sutra "butterfly" position in all its "R" rated glory. You'll have to search harder for more graphic luxury horological timepieces, but they are out there. Save that for another article. So now the butterfly name makes sense right? In one respect the erotica component of the cufflinks is not necessary to make them cool watch movement-esque cufflinks. On the other hand it adds an interesting character to a neat little item.

I can imagine a stately gentleman with quite the gesticulated manner of speaking, while adorning these Mulis Kama Sutra cufflinks during an energetic conversation. The participant listening noticing that with each expressive movement of the gentleman's wrists the cufflink rotor spinning into action, trying to notice precisely what the image on the rotors is, and what the incredible accessory is all about. Only to eventually observe the rotor in a still position long enough to decipher the image with a slightly excited, slightly embarrassed response. That, is what I think these cufflinks are all about.

See Milus watches on eBay.

See Milus watches on Amazon here.

Milus Zetios NEW Stainless Big Date Brown Dial Watch

US $2,125.00

Milus Zetios NEW Stainless Steel Mens 42mm Watch

US $2,125.00

MILUS WATCHES ERIDANA JOAILLERIE WOMENS WATCH STEEL BLACK SATIN DIAMONDS ERI014

US $1,399.99

BN MILUS WATCHES ZETIOS AUTO CHRONOGRAPH MENS WATCH BROWN LEATHER STRAP ZETC005

US $3,747.99

MILUS WATCHES HERIOS TRIRETROGRADE AUTO MENS WATCH BLACK LEATHER STRAP HERT001

US $6,298.99

Milus Ladies MOP Dial White Leather Band Watch

US $650.00

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Milus Herios TriRetrograde Seconds Skeleton Watch Give More To Stare At

admin — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 23:33:13 +0000

This name is not uttered so easily, but the Milus Herios TriRetrograde Seconds Skeleton Watch is an instant classic. It even requires two full breaths to say the entire name, a quality that luxury watches seems to pride themselves on. This long titles does the Milus Herios Triretrograde Seconds Skeleton proud. A quick glance reveals a perfect square tank watch. The perimeter of the face has art-deco fashioned numerals running around a partially skeletionized view of the circular movement. No matter how square a watch is, that vast majority of movements inside these watches are round. Luckily, this movement features an automatic movement which winds the watch as you wear it. Many watches of this ilk possess manually wound watches for two reasons. One, the watch can be a bit thinner, and two, it provides unobstructed viewing of the movement which is at issue in a partially skeletonized watch. The decision to make this an automatic watch increases its everyday practicality, and thus the appeal in my opinion.

The "TriRetrograde" name refers to the three seconds counters. A retrograde counter is one that goes in one direction only without making a circle. When the hand or counter reaching one end it "jumps" back to the starting point. This watch has three retrograde counters each counting twenty seconds. Operating in a clockwise manner, when one counter finishes counting twenty seconds, the hand jumps back and pauses to allow for the next retrograde counter to display the next twenty second increment in the sixty second minute. Thus each minute is displayed using all three retrograde counters, one at a time, for a total of sixty seconds. The effect is more visually pleasing than functional, but as gimmicks go, this is a very well done as viewing the seconds elapse can be a pleasure in itself.

The combination of the affluent classic styling and the unique TriRetrograde seconds counters has earned this Milus Herios several design awards. As the Hublot Big Bang did for Hublot, it is my feeling that the Herios TriRetrograde Seconds will add new life in Milus, at least in many markets. Available in a number of color schemes and in highly polished steel or gold, the Milus Herios TriRetrograde costs between $5,000 and $20,000 depending on the materials and where you purchase it. A rare and desirable watch, it should be instantly recognizable to those able to appreciate the distinct appeal.

See Milus watches on eBay.

See Milus watches on Amazon here.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

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